A Glimpse of Us
Author’s Notes
This week was @lizzybeth1986 ‘s birthday and I wanted to write her a little something for this! This isn’t much but it’s made with love <3. This explores my MC Eclipsa and Liam’s friendship, as well as a glimpse of Fabian and my TRM MC, Olive, and their platonic marriage.
BTW, I made a few winks to several Renaissance queens in the fic, lmk if you spot them!!
English is not my first language, so please forgive any typos/ grammar mistakes
For better experience, listen to ‘A Glimpse of Us’ the song that inspired the fic
Summary: A late visit to the museum makes Liam and Eclipsa have a heart-to-heart conversation
Rating: G
Word Count: 1.6k
Pairing: King Liam Rys & Eclipsa Ice (TRR MC) & King Fabian Rys & Olive Aster (TRM MC)
Category: Fluff, a small bit of angst
Book: The Royal Romance, book three & The Royal Masquerade
When the security guard saw the new king enter the private collection of the Cordonian Museum, he was flabbergasted to say the least. Liam greeted him and told him he was expecting company and kindly asked for an hour so they wouldn’t be disturbed. The guard eagerly accepted.
He observed the section dedicated to the Cordonian Renaissance, marvelling at the many beautiful paintings and statues, among them a portrait of King Edward, who was then prince. He must’ve been at least five, and was dressed in adult garments of children. He had warm brown skin and soft features, not touched yet by time and royal training. He certainly resembled the queen. Historians of the century had now saved a few letters that revealed the magnificent queen’s true nature: like his Lipsa, she too had loved women, though hadn’t been lucky to love freely her beloved female guard, Kayden. He then observed a personal portrait of Queen Olive that had been revealed during the Regency era, in 1814 to be exact by his ancestor, King Lionel II, who, like many monarchs following Napoleon’s example, wanted to bring back the splendour of the Renaissance and Ancient Rome back by any means. The Queen in that portrait was in state of undress, only her dressing gown on, that was slowly falling from her shoulders. Her raven hair was down, and my, was it long! The curls went far away from the painter’s sight, and indeed, it had been said that Olive’s hair was so long, that during her coronation, she could sit on it. She had a small smile on her face, and fondness on her eyes. Unlike his ancestor, Liam knew that the King and Queen never loved one another. He had grown up with legends of the magnificent monarchs’ supposed love, joined by a strong sense of duty to the country.
Poor Olive had been the true power behind her reign over Cordonia, from 1600 to 1617, dying of a stroke at the age of 38. Fabian took the reins and ended Olive’s work. It had been a time of peace, but everyone agreed that the old king missed dearly his queen, and that nostalgia was passed on their only child, Edward, who followed into his parents’ footsteps. He then noticed a familiar figure behind him. His heart was beating faster and the hairs on the nape of his neck stirred. How long it’d take for him to stop reacting like this? She was a promised woman, for heaven’s sake! He couldn’t do this to Hana, who definitely deserved love and be loved back after all the neglect and suffering.
“When you look at the painting,” Eclipsa finally spoke “what do you see?”
“A bond between man and wife,” Liam smiled “a bond that surpasses many. The unification of duty and peace. And you, Eclipsa?”
He finally dared turning around, and saw her beautiful brown skin, basking in the moonlight, her warm brown eyes and her blonde hair. It was very unusual for someone to combine brown with blonde, but this was Eclipsa! If someone could make it look ethereal, that was her. Her eyes narrowed as she pursed her lips together, signs of concentration. Her nose also scrunched, and he wondered if Hana noticed it. He was sure she did.
“I see fondness and a certain intimacy. But… there’s something in her eyes that speaks to me. She appreciates and respects Fabian, but she cannot bring herself to love him as her husband. The sad glint in her eyes and the way her shoulders slump… I know the feeling.” She then looked at him and bit her lip “You and I… I adore you, and you’re the best man I’ve ever met, but we would’ve been miserable, Liam.”
He winced and closed his eyes “I—I know that now, Lipsa.”
She took his hand and he gasped “When you proposed, for a moment, I considered it. I closed my eyes and asked my head and heart to tell me what would happen if I said yes despite my heart’s cries. We would’ve worked, but—,”
“I would’ve made you miserable, you’d end up hating me and—,” He exhaled shakily “I wouldn’t have forgiven myself. I’d rather be alone than hurting the woman I love the most on earth.”
She placed a hand on his cheek “There is no world or alternate universe where I would hate you, Liam Rys. You know that, right?”
He nodded, and both stared at the beautiful and deep painting. Liam looked back at Eclipsa and squeezed her hand “I hope that I am not in the way of you having your happily ever after.”
Eclipsa smiled and shook her head “Of course not. You are a part of my heart, Liam. You’re my best friend in the world, and my soulmate. I don’t know if you feel the same—,”
“I do. How could I not? I could marry seven times and none would have the place in my heart that you have, Lipsa.”
Eclipsa’s eyes softened and both stared at one another “I owe you so many things. I wish I could take back the pain I’ve caused you in your heart.”
“I’m not in pain, Eclipsa. It’s certainly not easy, but you’re not making me miserable. I promise, it’s not what you think. I will be alright. You ought to worry about having the best wedding, not fretting over a poor king.”
“That poor king is my friend, and I feel responsible for it. Don’t let my rejection ruin you and your best years. Promise me, once healed, you’ll give it a chance.” She was squeezing his hands and looking at him in the eyes “Liam, I beg you.”
“I will.”
They hugged, and he closed his eyes, basking into her perfume and forgetting for once the weight in his heart since the words spoken by the woman hugging him pierced his heart.
23rd of March, 1610
Olive closed her eyes, basking into the morning sunlight, warm and welcoming. She could hear her son training outside, and the brush of her husband touching the canvas. She looked back at Fabian, who was biting his lip in concentration. They locked eyes and he teasingly said “Do not move or I’ll end up giving you a nose the size of Sardinia!”
They both laughed. Olive looked again through the window, where Kayden taught Edward how to do a good stance. They locked eyes and she smiled at her, and Kayden’s eyes softened at the sight of her queen.
“Ahem. Olive?” Fabian called. Olive looked back at him and raised her eyebrows in question “I had been wondering… had I been a woman, would you… have given me a chance?”
Olive chuckled and nodded negatively “Woman or not, my heart is Kayden’s. Not even Aphrodite herself would’ve made me change my mind about her.” She sighed “Sometimes I hate the way God created me. I wish I could rip off my poor, needy heart and let my head reign.”
Fabian left the easel and placed his hands on her shoulders “I remember a wise woman told me once that love, passion and devotion are a part of the human experience, and that to love and be loved back was the reason she had endured for so long.” He squeezed her shoulders “You are a wonderful woman; kind, devout, passionate, intelligent, and with a heart of gold. Kayden, Cordonia, and I are thankful that you are here in our lives. We wouldn’t want you any other way.”
Tears rolled down Olive’s cheeks and Fabian embraced his wife, and she asked between sobs “Do I make you miserable, Fabian?”
He wiped her tears and smiled “Never, Olive. I’ve yet to find a woman like yourself in my lifetime. I knew what I was doing when I proposed this arrangement, and I would do it again. Not many men can say they’ve married their best friend. If so, I should be asking you if I make you miserable.”
“Of course not, Fabian. No matter how many times my mind wanders, I wouldn’t take back my decision. I know I did well. Duty is sacrifice, is it not?”
Fabian smiled and arranged a wild strand of hair on Olive’s face “Just promise me you’ll allow yourself to have some joy with her. You’re the best queen we’ve had in a while, and I can handle the kingdom well until you get back.”
Olive kissed his cheek “I will think of such generous offer. Now, get back to painting, Your Majesty.”
“As you command, my queen.” He laughed.
Back in the present, when Eclipsa broke apart, she whispered “If it helps, I don’t think Olive was that miserable. They seemed to have a strong bond and a better relationship than many of their descendants. Besides, it’d be impossible to be unhappy by your side, Liam.”
Liam smiled for a brief moment “Thank you. It means the world to me, Eclipsa.”
She was about to say something when a big yawn came to her and she covered her mouth. They both looked at one another before breaking into laughter “Good Lord,” Liam laughed “it’s nearly two in the morning. We ought to go back before anyone worries.”
Eclipsa checked her phone and giggled “Bertrand’s already had seven aneurysms.”
They laughed again. He, too, had missing calls from Bastien and Drake, which made them get out of the museum and both parted ways. Liam looked back at Eclipsa’s black clothes vanishing from his sights and smiled for a brief moment. Maybe his romantic feelings would go away, but he was sure that he’d love her in another way for a very, very long time.
Maybe they had been meant to meet and have a jolly good time, but he was not Fabian, and she was not Olive, but what he lived and felt made him relate to the 500-year-old king very much, catching in his marriage a glimpse of them.
