Part 15

At her voice, he turned around and took a step forward. His features were striking, sharp even where they shouldn't have been but his smile was a mask, lips full and curved up at the edges. It wasn't a genuine smile, like the ones Lukas always gave when he saw her; instead, his teeth concealed behind his mouth.

Ajaxson's strides were lengthy, purposeful, and elegant. The way his footfalls were silent like a predator reminded Talia of a wolf in plain sight. His shoulders were simultaneously neat and muscular beneath the chiton, and his hands were carefully grasping a glass of water which he then rested on the nearest table. She couldn't help but stare at his hair, caramel brown. It swooped gently over his forehead.

Despite the notably unmodern hairdo, he was almost overwhelmingly handsome.

Nothing had been said yet, no greeting or indication from his side that made her feel welcome. Just the sweeping gaze of the man as he stepped towards her. When the Greek God stopped inches away, he was a marble statue. Imposing and regal, looking almost as if he could be made of stone himself.

She swallowed thickly, unnerved at the silence blanketed over them. "Hello"

"Hello." The man didn't falter, though, and stared for a moment before speaking again. "S-Sorry."

The moon princess brushed off his apology, instead greeted him again. "Welcome to Olympus. I'm Talia, moon princess and daughter of Zeus."

Ajaxson slightly shook his head, and he can have as well said duh like that's exactly what he wanted to convey. She held her breath, waiting for him to continue.

"I'm Jackson, but because my father is Ajax, they call me Ajaxson," He said, his voice clear and yet entirely raspy and ridiculously sultry. His eyes beneath that brown fringe remained closely on her face. "I'm honoured to meet you finally. Your parents have told me so much about you. Especially Hera."

Of course, she did. Her stepmother derived pleasure from tormenting Talia in some way or other. If she was so insisted on making this match happen, then it will happen. No matter what.

Talia swallowed strenuously and reluctantly extended her hand, feeling his firm but careful grip close around her own. When they shook it for a second, she let go as fast as manageable. The thought of touching another man who wasn't Lukas didn't sit right with her.

"Nice to meet you also." She drawled, biting her tongue as not to scream out loud. The moon princess couldn't believe that this was her fate. She was getting married to a guy she barely found tolerable. Talia didn't deny that he's incredibly attractive, but that still didn't make any difference.

Ajaxson licked his lips. "So Talia, tell me something about yourself."

The moon princess chose to ignore his question and instead focus on her surroundings. It was utterly tranquil in the room, and outside, the only thing that could be heard was the occasional sound of a soldier's sandals against the rocky road.

Inching towards the huge window, she peeked outside. A couple of acres stretched before them, perfectly attended to bushes and trees adorning the grounds with colourful flowers. Her most dear instalment of the garden was the gazebo. It was located at the end of the property, under the high oaks, near the wicket that constructed the very origin of a stone temple.

The gazebo itself was relatively hidden, too far from the mansion to be spotted behind the garden. It had been painted a summery yellow with white corners when Talia was merely fifteen and wanted to do something. That's how Zeus got involved. It's still her fondest memory with her father. They built the tiny porch in pale grey marble.

She used to love spending her afternoons there, reading and having the occasional tea party. All alone.

"Talia?" Her name was called out again.

A knock echoed around the walls before she could answer. The moon princess smiled gratefully as she spotted a maid entering the room, carefully carrying a tray. She began to fill their afternoon tea cups.

Suddenly, Talia heard the sound of wind lightly shaking the branches of the trees outside. The noise was somehow calming, and it distracted her from her worries. Ajaxson joined beside her, standing too close for her liking and peeped outside the window.

"The view here is so beautiful." He said, surveying the breathtaking view in front of them.

Talia hummed, nodding at the flowers. "They do add a bit of brightness, don't they?"

"I'm going to credit the extra brightness to a certain

someone in this room," Ajaxson teasingly smiled at her.

"Oh, are you talking about Karisa here?" Talia innocently blinked, pointing towards the maid mixing their tea.

The Greek God laughed. "You are funny. I like it"

***

Fortunately, it was time for lunch so they didn’t get to talk much. Zeus wanted to have a private lunch with both of them. The moon princess dreaded that, and it only got intense when she noticed her stepmother along with her father, a fake smile plastered on her face.

Feeling Ajaxson gaze on her, Talia gnawed on the inside of her cheek, trying and failing to quench that prominent sense of discomfort in her gut. It would've been easier if that Greek God didn't look at her with such intrigue.

"Well," Zeus said good-naturedly. "Now that we are all here and sound, shall we take a seat?"

"Yes," Ajaxson agreed instantly, and rounded her with fast steps. The man was so much taller than Talia and also older; he held himself to a much greater extent and light-years more authoritative. Furthermore, the way his eyes kept settling on her was slightly unnerving.

Zeus naturally claimed the head of the table, and his wife sat down on the other end. Talia managed to sit by her father's side, with Ajaxson across the table from her.

Helena, the maid, began to serve beverages at command, and Talia completely disregarded her stepmother's scowl as she asked for black coffee. At her side, her father was drinking whiskey just before lunch. No wonder Hera wanted to annoy the living daylights of him every now and then.

"So," Zeus cleared his throat, addressing their guest of honour. "Ajax tells me that you love to travel."

"Yes, my lord."

"Do you have a favourite then?"

"Earth."

Her father coughed at that, "Oh? Any specific reason?"

Talia rolled her eyes at that. She was sure that her father was thinking about finding her on Earth with Lukas.

"It's very quaint," Ajaxson continued. "I love the different seasons and people. They are more civilised than we give them credit for."

Quaint was the last word Talia would have used to describe Earth.

"Sounds marvellous," Hera said amiably.

"Have you ever been to earth, Talia?" Ajaxson inquired, all the attention landing on her.

The moon princess forced her lips to move and subsequently buried her nose in the coffee cup. "Once or twice."

He nodded expectantly. "And what did you think?"

Talia cleared her throat, shrugging testily as her eyes traced the pattern on the porcelain. Her thoughts automatically drifted to Lukas, the time they spent at his mansion, the clear skies and warm wind, the food and tangled in sheets with him. "It's romantic."

Zeus coughed loudly, "Tea, anyone?"

The guest smiled. "Please."

The brunch resumed with conversation solely consisting of Ajaxson, his leisures, and his love for art and education. The interrogation was ridiculous, although Talia did enjoy watching her parents' favourite suitor hardly catch a moment of reprieve throughout the long process of their queries. She was devotedly prepared to watch him break, to find the fracture in the bone that had got to be hiding somewhere, and hear the man eventually reply with an answer that would be far from good enough. He couldn't be stainless, could he? Every person had flaws, and Zeus would expertly find it and change his mind.

Unfortunately, that moment never came.

Ajaxson spoke good-naturedly and freely, never once breaking a sweat at the many questions slung his way. And throughout, he didn't stutter, didn't fumble over his words, and every so often, his eyes would wandered towards Talia, speaking as though to her even though she never uttered any sound.

It vexed her disturbingly.

"And are you engaged in politics?" Zeus asked eventually, arching a critical brow. For the first time, her eyes willingly flickered to Ajaxson, who let out a barely decipherable, nervous breath as a light blush began to creep up his neck. Her lip tugged in amusement, finally seeing him shed some sweat under the hot interrogation.

Her father loved politics considering he played a significant role in one. She wanted Ajaxson to say the wrong thing and be out on his way.

"I'm afraid only as an occasional recreation, my lord", He confidently admitted, lips twisted.

Hera giggled, throwing her head back as if it's the funniest thing she heard all day. She turned to Talia and smirked. "He's a keeper, Talia. You're very luck, young lady."

***