On My Way: The Demon King Made Me His

Chapter 61: Hidden Unrequited Love because every backstory is important

"Hey that's not fair, how is that possible?" Aqua would complain everytime he won the chess.

"Okay then, one more game and let's see who wins,"

"Okay fine, come," she would always say too. "If you lose, take me to the hotel in the market and eat grilled meat and wine with me.

Aiden ould always cheat just to see her get hyped then he would request for another game and lose in it purposefully see her getting all excited and happy. He always liked the way she would make bets asking him to take her to eat something though the palace fed her with amazing menu everyday.

He enjoyed it whenever she laughed and smiled wide. That suited her the best. That alluring smile, more than enough to shake his heart. He would watch her with dews in his eyes but she was oblivious to his feelings or probably ignoring everything to not make it awkward for them. But he was sure about what he had for her though he couldn't tell whether there would be family conflicts because of it. 

"Wow this is so cool Aiden come try it you will love it," she would call him everytime would get some crabs and ask the kitchen maids to cook for her. And Aiden wondered what are the things he didn't like actually, by seeing how he looked simple, and listened to opinions others would hesitate to. 

Aiden was always at beck and call for Aqua while Milan always tried to pursue him secretly wondering why he is still not noticing her even after the death of her sister. Aiden knew well about Milan and her feelings but never wished to complicate things with her. Aiden would always remain neutral with her for her loud personality since he liked messing with her and see her only as a little sister he would do anything for. 

"Aiden, " Aqua would walk into his room or his bath. She was never shy. But he was, very aware of his feelings for her. 

"Get out, can't you see am taking a bath?" He would shout at her, reaching for his towel. But she wouldn't listen to him.

"We grew up together, I have seen in you in every way all the time, why are you shy? When did you grow up for that? Jeez!" She would say. It made him clear that she do not see him as nothing more than family, but his heart couldn't handle it and irrevocably fell in love with her. He would beg her to wait outside his room and she would walk out waiting outside the doors. Or some other times she would barge in and being him more elegant clothes whenever she designed for her. It was love there was no doubt in that, from her side, but not exactly as he wanted it to be. 

"Put this on," she would say and help him. He always liked it when she did it too. That was the only time he got her close to him and to look at her face when she never noticed him. And the way he always tried to keep himself calm to not let her know about his feelings, it was always hard for him. The smile on his face as he watched her while helping him. She missed them. She never saw them. Maybe she should have, so that he at least got a chance with her, to show her. 

Aiden always bought her ribbons every time he went out and smuggle some first quality osmanthus and plum wines without showing them to the elders. Aqua always enjoyed drinking with Aiden since he would never get drunk easily while she did.  He was there to take care of the mess she would cause. He would carry her back home when she blacks out and put her two bed where she would sleep for next whole day or sometimes even longer. But never once had she known about the scolding Aiden had taken from the elders for bringing the princess back home in such a condition.  But Aiden still let her do it, to console her from all the hardships she has been put through since her very young age. 

Aiden was always against it. His heart always broke to see her practicing and cultivating at higher levels that was beyond than what her body could take till she left home and joined the school. He always accompanied her and practiced along with her, to keep her company and tire himself. And to her, Aiden was the only person who supported her and made her keep going through the difficult times. She was well aware of it. But still he couldn't understand why she never fell in love with him failing to understand that he has always been like a brother to her than a man.

Ever since she left ti school for training, life has been utterly boring for Aiden. He secretly would take off form the palace and come to school though he wouldn't directly meet up with her. And couple of time, he caught Huo'er watching over her, just like he did, in his place , instead of him. It made Aiden lose his confidence a little. He wondered if Aqua would really fall for him. 

It was then one day during his secret visit to the school he found out about Aqua's missing. He went in all directions and finally decided to search the woods where he found her. The look on her eyes, it always triggered him. He could tell from her reaction that she was happy to see him. She was glad. 

He lied to her saying King Aenon her father found out about her wandering around outside school and asked him to go find her. She easily believed him and begged him to not report about her. He liked whenever she asked him a favour since he could always do it for. Aiden had never once stood against her decisions even though some of her decisions had been wrong. He would support her and try to make them all successful for her. And there was no other way for him to find to express the depth of his love for her. 

But he never knew that she always kept her love for him away and treated him like a sibling  for her family's sake and for her sister. She never let her cross it since she couldn't afford it  and he failed to understand that too. 

Aiden has been there for Aqua lending his shoulders everytime she cried. But just like, Aqua has always been there like a shield that protected him. Aiden is the only different descendant in the family. He have had meridian issues in his body, he had weak immune system when he was young and often got sick. At that time, Aqua has already been being used by Beast Kingdom for there sickly prince. But she never cared about herself and would spend time with Aiden every single day and give him candies. He never knew what those candies were until he grew up and found out about the crystal healing accidentally from her on mouth. 

"What do you think those candies were, or else you could have had difficult meridian and core even now," she spilt the truth while she got drunk after graduation when she reached back home and asked to search about the moonchild. She was upset at that time. 

"Those were your crystals?" 

"What else then?" She asked him smiling. Her cheeks looked pink and plum lips all pink from drinking. She had finished only jar and it got her drunk. Aiden's eyes filled with tears and he suddenly moved closer and took her face in his hands. Aqua was not aware of it and smiked at him. 

"What?" She asked him, drunk. He shook his head and  moved his face closer to hers, only an inch away. He closed his eye in the hope of kissing her  but soon stooped himself from doing anything. He didn't wish to do anything to her while she was drunk and without her consent. He let go of her and stroked her hair giving her a hug and carrying her back to her Sea Palace.

He failed to notice that Milan has been watching over him all the way. It broke her heart to think they are in such difficult situation. She felt bad for her , for him and for her sister who reached nowhere in her lovestory falling for a demon. She always knew about Aiden's feelings but she was ignoring them along to not stir troubles in the family that is going well and in harmony. She didn't want to cause a havoc in between for her selfish reasons and let go of it.

Aiden was angry and upset when she confessed about her feelings for the moonchild. It broke his heart.  He did not like it but it happened just like he feared it when he caught Huo'er watching over her at school. He hated it and got really angry when he found out about Aqua spending the whole night with Huo'er in his chamber during his coronation.  He had no choice but watch it, accepting the reality. He scolded her but Huo'er backed her.  It was the same day he understood how Aqua has always been aware of his feelings for her. For a couple of days he tired to keep his distance with her. He wanted an explanation but couldn't bare to hear to the truth either and gave up on it. He tried his best to root for Aqua and Huo since he was righteous man. He was not a wrong choice. 

He regretted it. He regretted giving up on her like that. He regretted when he witnessed her dying in Huo'er's arms. He thought if it was him with whom she spent time with, she never would have died like that.

The bloody image of Aqua filled his head and Aiden jumped up from the coat, sitting up straight, sweating. "I shouldn't have let her go," he said panting and took another jar of wine and gulped it down. He felt tired and laid back again. He slowly drifted off to sleep. 

Milan who had followed him to the cottage has been waiting outside for him to fall asleep. Once she made sure of it, she entered the cottage and cleaned the place, stacking the jars, cleaning the wine that spilled on the table and the floor, and covering him with a quilt. He caught her hands while she watched him sleep. Milan panicked. But he was not aware of her presence.  He held on tight to her, " Don't leave me," he muttered while he slept and she sat there still, afraid of leaving him alone. 

"I will never leave you, I can never do that, just like you can't get over her," she said back to him smiling with tears whelming her eyes.