Numbness overtook me at the one thought that kept repeating itself.

All this time I was doing all that... with my friend's greatest grandad?

A violent shudder ran down me. I couldn't breathe. It was as if someone was constricting my airway.

Greatest granddad...

This was so so wrong.

Lorenzo had an equally odd expression as me, "Uh isn't it... weird?

"I mean he hates me with a burning passion. No one does that to their greatest grandkid right..." he trailed away.

"Bish," Dunkin snorted, "Why the heck would he know you're his grandkid?"

"But seriously though, even your ancestors are bombshell hot," Cheryl sighed dreamily.

I was seconds away from losing my shit altogether.

Lorenzo's eyes shot towards her, but a slow grin spread across his jaw as he fixed the meaning of her statement. Aarmen and Dunkin began wafting a hand at themselves in an act to cool off when Cheryl and Lorenzo gave each other a weird as hell smile.

"I used to play dirt bike games," Dunkin munched on his snack, stressing on those two words, "I miss it now, but it's nice knowing two people are playing it right now in their heads." That snapped both of them out of whatever daze they'd gone into.

I wanted to laugh out loud like Aarmen and he did, but I couldn't.

My fingers clutched at my dress, and I shifted my head aside, sweating like crazy. I'd need a word ten times stronger than Embarrassment to describe my situation.

This was so so wrong.

Crushing on someone's granddad is wrong beyond measure.

It was the moment I knew my time was up.

I can't bear to stay here even for a day longer. The thought of what I was doing this morning made me want to hit my head so hard that I could get amnesia.

Fuck, Coretta Hayes. For real, fuck!

"Also, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but Lorenzo sucks on his upper lip when he's nervous. Julian does that too?" She turned to me.

I was going white with fear.

Julian sucked on his upper lip all the damn time when he was in thought.

"Hey, Cors, what's your stand is this?" She tapped my shoulder, her voice enthralled at what she'd discovered.

"It's so cool!" I yelped, a wide grin on my face that I tried hard not to waver, "Isn't it great, I was writing about Lorenzo's ancestor all this time?!" I exclaimed with an over-enthusiastic smile.

But she looked at me with an odd expression. My breath hitched.

"You've gone all red Cors, what even?" she huffed, "I told you to bun up your hair or else you'll die of this Egyptian heatwave."

I so wanted to die! I cried inwardly.

"But..." Aarmen was still looking confused at Julian, who was now staring up at the statue of Aphrodite.

"Look properly," he muttered, "Lorenzo looks like a baby in front of him."

A strangled laugh escaped me and Dunkin was full-on howling. Lorenzo narrowed his eyes.

"Moreover, family titles don't change that easily," Aarmen rolled his eyes, "Romanowski and Swarwoski are two different things."

Cheryl laughed lightly, wanting to ease the hot head that Lorenzo had become, "That's what I meant when I saw Julian for the first time," she heaved a breath, "That he looked like a very manly version of someone I knew. And that someone was," she waved beside her, "Lorenzo."

"What the fuck I don't look man enough?" Lorenzo snapped.

"No silly, haven't you read how ancient men looked much masculine than modern men, that's why, duh," she wiggled his cheek, "you're such a baby, Lore."

"My room's free, but you'll have to do it on the ground," Dunkin offered, "Don't want a half-broken bed to sleep on." That caused Lorenzo to clasp his neck, as he attempted to strangle him.

"Aah," Despite that, Dunkin was still guffawing, "Choke your Cheryl, not me!"

"You bastard!" Lorenzo couldn't stop the threatening grin as he continued to strangulate him. Aarmen tried to pry his hands off, stating he'd kill Dunkin for real. But they all were laughing.

"Pervy and priest don't go hand in hand, Remun Ra," Cheryl grumbled, but it was amusing her, "you're waiting for Aphrodite to punish you, oh wait that would..." and she also joined them.

But I wasn't listening to their banter anymore, having shifted away from them.

The wild beating of my heart was the only thing that stated I was still alive. Teeth clattering, I peeked a glance at Julian, who had craned his neck to look at the crowd behind him. Probably finding someone.

Finding me.

There wasn't a doubt he had the same jaw as Lorenzo. Even the light caramelised brown eye colour perfectly matched my friend's. I could even make out the structure of the shoulders and neck that approximated Lorenzo's frame. Only his ink-black hair didn't match with the light bronze colour of my friend.

It was just that he appeared a bit wild as compared to his apparent grandkid. How hadn't I noticed it all along?!

My eyes watered at the revelation as a sudden sob escaped me. I gulped, trying hard not to let the tears stream down my face.

I was loving everything that we were doing...

It was the first time I'd felt like that, that I wanted to experience it, just a bit more. But God forbid me for the abhorrent thing I was doing.

I'd thought I wouldn't hurt him and tell him a valid reason before I would depart, but that wasn't happening now.

I rubbed my eyes from the back of my hand, letting the truth seep into me. As much as it resurfaced my sobs, I knew now that I had to reach the palace, destroy my AI book and get out of this century.

My Rendezvous in the Romanowskian Empire had come to an end, I breathed in shakily through the tears as I tore my gaze away from the mesmerising ruler that was Julian Romanowski.

It would be all good, I shut my eyes tight, controlling the tears, fisting my hands in my lap. After returning, I would immediately start the excavation activities with the help from the department, to discover about him, and show the world that such generous rulers existed too.

And I would just disappear. Julian could never know the reason why...

Drums started to roll in, indicating the completion of the offerings ceremony, as everyone stood up and started showering flowers at the couple. Julian watched on with a stoic expression.

Two guard-like people came to stand in front of the crowd, seeming like some town crier as they held a type of announcement instrument, "The kingdom of Romanos wishes the new groom Jakov Swarwoski and the beautiful bride Helaine Swarwoski, a happy married life!"

"Happy married life!"

"Happy married life!" The crowd cheered.

I staggered against the carved wall in front of me.

"Whoa..." Lorenzo yowled, leaving Dunkin at last, "What in Aphrodite's beautiful temple, huh?"

Aphrodite saved me, yet again, I tried to stop my trembling frame.

Cheryl was equally shocked, "Jakov's got deep bronze hair while you have a lighter shade, and if I..." she squinted her eyes at the bride's direction, "look properly, you kinda look like your greatest grandmom, Helaine...?"

"Julian must've seduced her," Lorenzo snickered.

"No!" All eyes came on me as I yelled out of nowhere, surprised by my outburst.

Julian wasn't that type...

"I mean... uh, he did say Helaine was like his... sister, that's why," I laughed awkwardly.

But they just had this amused look on their faces, given I almost sounded like a jealous woman, oh my God!

"Now shut up with this crap, you all are crazy," Aarmen intervened the awkward silence, "There must be hundreds and thousands of Swarwoski in this world, how can you be so sure that Julian or Jakov can be your ancestor?" he rose a brow in question.

That was a damn great point he made.

"Cheryl, you did DNA testing in your previous high school. You'll be able to tell, right?" Lorenzo looked up at her.

"And how are we getting his blood?" she questioned back.

"Bahaha you guys," Dunkin wheezed, "I bet you'll be dead before you can even poke so much as a needle into him."

Aarmen looked unimpressed by this whole situation as he said nothing, reclining against the wall.

They've gone out of their senses, Coretta, he messaged me, Even if they get his blood, hair or anything for that matter, how the heck are they gonna test his DNA here?!

I chuckled. Wise minds like him got easily irritated when faced with stupidity like this.

He was right. Swarwoski and Romanowski are two different family titles. And if I used my brain some more, Lorenzo's build was pretty much like any warrior. Maybe his ancestors really were warriors, but not Julian.

I looked at the ruler of Romanos again as his gaze darted to the crowd in search.

So close, I kept a hand over my heart to calm its violent beatings.

I was so close to becoming maddeningly guilty for the rest of my life.

Everything appeared dull if it didn't involve Althea Rosemary in my view.

I couldn't see her even once during the offerings at Aphrodite's temple, much to my annoyance. It was only in this afternoon feast that I could catch up with Ashtor. He'd told she had some work with her sister.

How I wished I could send the food and for her to my room, so we could eat as we did in the morning.

"This was a heavenly feast, Julian! I'm glad for the invitation!" General Logan smacked my shoulder, shaking me out of my trance.

Everyone was strolling around in the drinks and dessert section after lunch as I made sure everything was going accordingly. General Logan grinned through his bearded face, "Even my daughter loved it. Have you met her yet?"

Before I could speak, he was already yelling, "Esthera! My dear, His Honour would love to meet you!"

The noblewoman covered in jewellery sashayed her way to us, a goblet of wine in her hand, "It's an honour you've asked for my presence, my Lord," she bowed gracefully, looking up with a suggestive smile.

"I hope you are enjoying the festivities, noble lady," I offered a polite smile. A scowl was creeping up my face, but I kept it at bay when her father, the senior warrior in Alexander's army, cleverly frisked away. Moron.

"Julian..." she slurred, "you used to call me by my name," she pouted, "Didn't you say you loved the name, Esthera?" She reached out for a plum on the feast table, making sure to brush my arm in the process.

"I do," I popped in a grape, "But I don't want to upset warrior Zadrov," I grinned, "He's in love with you."

Everyone knew she was going after him for a few years, but this one time when I'd attended a feast held by Alexander's father in Athens, she wasn't in her right mind anymore.

Guess my politeness was hitting back at me.

Her cheeks coloured as she hushed it away, laughing softly, "But don't they all look up to be like you?" She raised an interested brow, "Everyone aspires to be like you, my King, so why should I bother with them, hmm?"

A smile crept up my face, and she visibly shied away. But that was because all I could think of was my Althea.

Straddling me, trying to keep in my rhythm as we kissed like anything.

Holy Zeus, that kiss. What a beautiful way to start a day...

"Well, I aspire to be like Alexander, so you should alter your standards, no?" I laughed.

One of her hands rested against the table, head tilted, looking slyly at me. Her red hair was swirled up her head, pinned with dozens of jewellery. Kohl swiped neatly around her eyes.

Tch, too spicy for my taste.

"Esthera! You never told you were spending time with His Honour!" Three of the women clad in expensive linen came rushing by, but they had their eyes fixated on me.

"Hey, Julian. Long time no see, mate," Thanks Lord, I exhaled at the voice.

"I hope you enjoy yourself, Esthera," I passed her a quick smile and walked away with another friend.

"Felipe," We shared a hug, "How's it going in Letopolis?"

"No, no, not about the states right now," he visibly drooped, looking haphazardly at the brimming crowds.

"You were right, Julian," he sighed, "When you said why you weren't marrying anytime soon...

"I miss Celestia and my son so much," He was younger than me, but looked way older now, "I was just there for his birth, and it's been close to a year since I saw them. Back in Corinth."

"Things are turbulent in Egypt," I nodded, "You never know what Alexander's brewing in that alcohol-intoxicated head of his," I said, wondering when would things stabilise so we could visit our hometowns someday.

"Damn yeah," he rubbed his face, "He's been acting like a Persian lately. Look there," he pointed to the alcohol section where Alexander was raising toast after toast to Jakov.

"My Persian people say, Happy Married Life Jakov!" he yelled, "Don't worry lads, your king's gonna marry soon too!" he sang as the guests screamed after him.

"Yeah, nice one. I'm that, what do y'all say?" he downed another goblet, "Yes, Shahanshah! I am the Shahanshah now!" He was going insane after receiving yet another title of the Persian 'King of the Kings' in his collection of titles.

Dressed in the long, heavily embroidered dark green Persian Jameh, with a matching headband, he was revelling in his victory.

Thankfully, the groom wasn't gulping down on the drink because he knew well not to face Helaine's wrath.

I looked behind Felipe and smiled, "I've got a surprise for you," I motioned to the small group of women where his wife Celestia stood talking with the others, their one-year-old son in her arms.

A sob escaped him, "Y- You sent her the invitation. Didn't you?" I nodded with a smile. He gave me a crushing hug before rushing away to his little family.

Just when his wife parted from the group did my eyes glazed off at the utterly beautiful sight. So beautiful that it halted my breath.

There she was. My dream, walking in daylight. With the myrtle wreath over her head, I never knew she'd look heavenly in this soft red dress. She was talking with the women, delicately holding a newborn in her arms. The smile on her face was so bright that my heart wasn't under my control anymore.

She looked down at the baby to say something and laughed as he raised his tiny fingers to her face. Talking some more with the baby's mother, she laid a gentle kiss over the newborn and carefully passed him to his mother, tucking her hair behind in a shy smile.

My heart was squeezing itself in and out. Twisting from every direction. I moved my fingers through the back of my neck, pulling at my hairs.

Dear God. I would go mad.

The thoughts that were rushing through me like a tide of desire, the picture I was painting of the future, was disastrously beautiful.

So beautiful that it looked impossible to achieve that beauty.

Aphrodite, have mercy, that's what I was praying in the temple. Why was this goddess entangling her devotee in this alluring web that was... Althea.

Because the moment she left the group to step up the marble stairs and enter the palace, I was already walking.

Doing a quick check around the celebration hall, I followed her out and into the palace's hallway. It would be a great disappointment if she goes to my room to fetch her book for the day's writing, and I wouldn't be there.

Instead, she entered the concubine's garden where two children were playing. Dimitra's seven-year-old son Leo and my now three-year-old niece.

"Roseme!" Leo shrieked as I kept myself at the entrance, leaning against the pillar with a stupid smile on my face.

She was weaving her web of charm around me, and I was happily accepting.

"Awh, you are a big girl now, aren't you?" I heard her as she bent to their level. Little Lyra watched her in awe.

"Leo say Roseme is Angelos!" she squeaked out with a tiny giggle, "wee you gimme somethin if aa close mi eyes," she gave a tiny grin.

My blue-eyed fantasy made an adorable noise and motioned them to close their eyes. Then she carefully plucked a myrtle from her wreath, before tucking it in their little hands.

Leo opened a single eye and noticed me. I kept a finger over my lips and walked behind her, as he nodded enthusiastically, suppressing his giggles with his hand.

"Leo is such a good boy, taking care of little Lyra, hmm," she was laughing softly as Leo nodded and hopped after my niece, who was amazedly looking at the myrtle that her angel Roseme had bought by magic.

My heart would melt into nothing if I saw her with children anymore.

Taking one quiet step behind her, I gripped her hand and kissed the back of her neck. She stilled. Her elbow instinctively positioned at my stomach before she decided to turn slightly to look who was there.

Goodness, I'd totally forgotten her fighting instincts.

Here I was, about to have children laugh at me as I fell again.

But the moment she knew it was me, a tremble ran up her frame, and she became the delicate woman again, who couldn't hurt a thing in her life.

"T- There are people around," she wanted to yell but couldn't as she whispered urgently. I snickered. Because there wasn't a single being present around.

"So you are willing to do where people aren't there?" I whispered back, taking in her scent.

She gulped softly and I could see the subtle blush rising over her cheeks, "There are kids, Jul- ah," her whisper softened into a breathy whimper when I couldn't handle her fragrance anymore, planting my lips by the side of her neck to suck gently.

I wonder which sweetened milk bath had she taken to taste this sweet.

"Kids are innocent, Mila, and you are not," I licked my lips, chuckling into her ear.

"Juli!" Lyra trotted up to us, her cheeks puffed, "you give Roseme a kisi, I wan a kisi too!" she pouted.

Althea blushed furiously at my little niece's words and turned her head aside, probably wanting to go hide in a cave. I kneeled to her level, beaming, "Why not my love," I gave her a soft kiss across her cheeks. She giggled, looping her tiny arms around me.

"Mah! Mah!" She noisily kissed my cheeks and passed me her sweetest little smile before grabbing Leo's hand to drag him to her toys.

"She looks like you," Althea smiled gently at their playing selves, "even though you are her uncle. I guess she'll be taking after her grandmother, mistress Armonia."

"I'd want my daughter to look like her mother though," I raised from the ground, brushing off my knees.

She turned to look at me, the admiration in her eyes so much that I almost didn't understand what she said next.

"I hope you get a beautiful wife," she gave a delightful smile. And I wasn't smiling anymore.

A thought occurred to me that made me snicker.

How the heck had I forgotten I had a much more beautiful, witty and charming prize than Althea.

She had me entranced in her beauty. A Persian prize I gained a few days back, and she already had me wrapped around her little finger.

"Have you met Elaheh?" I asked her, looking around to find Thalia and Cicero entering the hallway. It would be good to keep the children with them so they don't wander off.