Little did Nana realize that the cloud she was floating on could so quickly dissipate, leaving her to plummet to the ground.
Still reeling from such a tender, passionate moment, Nana smiled as he spoke. She was to be his wife. Nana of Valaoritis... Valaoritis?
Her eyes widened as she stared at him, a mix of confusion and horror playing on her face as the truth came hurtling down to hit her.
Timaeus was not a prince. He was a Valaoritis. What in Zeus' name was a Valaoritis? A house? A province? Was he a merchant? She could not abide.
After a few seconds of silence, the stare she'd fixed him in ended, the blonde blinking and swallowing the lump that had quickly settled in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to find her words.
"Nana of... Valaoritis." Her lip quivered as a sliver of anger snuck in. Eyes turning away from the man, she let out a laugh that could not be misconstrued - she was trying her hardest to remain calm.
What had she done to deserve this treatment? Did Aphrodite hate her so much, to let her be smitten with a man whose family she had never heard of? She could feel her eyes watering up - she could feel his arms, still wrapped about her waist - she could barely keep herself from shuddering at the thought - no matter how sweet or handsome or charming he was, the thought of marrying a no-name peasant was worse than death.
With shaking hands, she pulled his own from around her, scooting away from the man as she reached for her sandals and looked about them for the horse he'd brought her.
"I...I've just remembered - dinner is about to start, and my father will be expecting me." No matter that her father was a two-week ship ride away or that dinner would not be served for at least another two hours.
There was no explanation as to why she put such an effort into being kind - she had never done such before. Perhaps it was his face. He had a beautiful face, she could say that much about him.
Eyes focused on her sandals, she began the work of fastening them to her porcelain feet with shaky hands - it would take little for her to snap.
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