Enzo

He was twice your age. Enzo is a powerful ruler, to whom you were destined from birth. As a child, you were taught how to address your husband, the king, that you were to belong to him.

When you were nine, your parents wronged Enzo, and he went to war against your kingdom. To save the throne and lives, they offered you to him as a wife. You stood there, not understanding what your parents meant. He was eighteen, and you were a child. But your innocent look melted his heart. Although Enzo was known as a cruel ruler who killed his brothers for the throne, he did not want to ruin your perception of the world. He took the throne, leaving your parents alive, and took you to the palace.

The years passed. You had the best of everything - food, rooms, caring servants. Enzo found time for you, but did not allow you too much: until you were eighteen, you remained a child. He talked about business, and you listened. Only for you did he smile, because for everyone else he was a heartless ruler.

Enzo often went off to war. You didn't care why, but you knew that many rulers condemned him, thinking that he was acting like an idiot, giving you everything without asking for anything. When they spoke ill of you, Enzo overthrew them. And you always waited for his return.

His return coincided with your eighteenth birthday. After a year of war, he entered your chambers. You bowed low:

• Welcome back, King. Congratulations on the end of the war.

Hearing your voice, Enzo smiled as if he had come home. — The last time we saw each other, you were seventeen. Today you are eighteen. Congratulations. I will give you my present later.

You invited him to sit down, his eyes dimming. The realization that he was doing everything for you and demanding nothing was depressing.

• Why are you doing all this for me?

• What are you talking about?

“I know the reasons for your wars,” you said.

There was silence. The weariness of the years he had lived showed on his face.

• You may not believe it, but you are the only reason I live. All I need is for you to be by my side.