Chapter 31: Chapter 31

After that Layla saw the past life entirely unfolding with her own eyes. Her son who was a pure soul had attained the blessings of gods with his selflessness and reincarnated as Marianna. Despite having no memories of her past life as Arvaram, Marianna was still fiercely protective of Layla and devoted to Icarus.

It was maybe a connection of blood that could never be forsaken.

After her own death unlike Illaria, Layla received a proper burial and Icarus let her to rest while he himself lived for the sake of Marianna till he died at the age of forty while in deep sleep. He still loved her but it was not a desperate beastly obsession but more of a wish that she would be happy in heaven and they would reunite soon.

Living with her memories wasn't so burdensome anymore for him for he asked about each and every wish of Layla and fulfilled it by doing it himself so that when she would watch him from heaven she would not be sad anymore until he died and followed her there.

The death of the monarch ushered a new era of the Empress. Marianna was crowned the new monarch and ruled alongside Helios for next fifty years but at her last moments the wish of her previous life as Arvaram repeated once more.

"Let them be together."

As persistent as his father.

Selfless sacrifice of Layla, Icarus and Arvaram was not in vain and thus Layla was not given a new body but her birth again as Layla was repeated with the time turning its wheels back for them. The gods could not see the ill fated family and had blessed them immensely this time.

"Layla, do you have any regrets?" the scenes unfolding of children playing in the imperial palace and laughter echoing of Marianna and Helios ended and Ilaria as beautiful as ever appeared infront of Layla in utter darkness.

The female thought for a long time before she lifted her face and smiled.

"Not one" Ilaria patted her back and seemed to look joyous.

"Layla I am going to take away all your memories of past from you, after you wake up Icarus would also be only Icarus and shall not remember his life as Zyram and his conquest of your soul since so long. All you would have is this life and this shall be your last...this shall be our last.

Do you accept?" Recalling the memeories made her so filled with mirth that Layla was contented. She knew the dynamics between Icarus and her might alter and he would not love her like he do now but she was willing to let go of all the trauma.

"Please make me forget all bad things, I am willing to love Icarus even if we both have to start our relationship from the beginning. Make us forget our past."

The words were said and after so many lives Ilaria who was bound by the chains of destiny disappeared like sand leaving all but herself as only Layla,

"Wakeup and win his heart again. All these years he had sacrificed everything for you, now this time it must be you who must win him over." The topic was serious but Ilaria while leaving said it in such a humor that Layla smiled.

"Okay"

********†******PRESENT***********

Darkest of onyx covered the skies of the Ardos making it seem like a canvas sprinkled with glimmering flowers yet the emperor did not had time to enjoy such pure events for he was buried in his tedious work.

"What is this rubbish?" The male while sorting his personal belongings found many ancient manuscripts containing historical books of kings and queens of past but they were so boring that his head ached thus he tossed them aside, these might as well serve as charcoal for upcoming winters.

The documents piled up like a tiny hill when there was a knock on the door and Icarus was going to stay silent while not giving his permission to enter before the door was gently pushed with a pink head peaking inside.

"Can I please come inside."

"Layla? Oh yes, what is it?" He just gave her a glance and then resumed scribbling with his head down, it was only when the angel opened her mouth did he really looked up.

"The head maid told me that the NorthStar is meant to shine the brightest today and I really wanted to see it, its not like I haven't seen it before but its like the cake you eat regularly but just one day you really crave it...like really really crave it so yes I kept awake late to see it but then there are so many stars today so I could not find it and ended up falling asleep on the roof b-but then I had a nightmare and it was so scary...I am scared."

Layla twiddled with her fingers as her voice got low at the end and she looked down while not knowing why she ran to Icarus. They were married out of the obligation for Avesta's king, it wasn't like he really liked her...but she, well she did liked him.

Icarus looked at the tiny princess who rambled on about god knows what but her voice was so soothing that Icarus felt like if the female would keep speaking then he would be asleep in no time it was as if she was singling a lullaby, plus she looked so adorable in her silk night dress with just one socks on her while she might have forgot to wear another.

"Do you want to sleep here?" The male was by her side in no time and the carmine irises lit up gazing at him in hopeful expectation

"Uh, I can?" Calloused palm rubbed her soft head gently before he smiled.

"You don't want to?"

"N-No I want to sleep with you!" When the male's brow raised it sent of alarming signs to the little angel as if she had finally realized what she had said.

"OH! n-not sleep like that..well I want- ah-" Layla blushed like a tomato and looked anywhere but at Icarus.

"Okay"

"Yes?"

"Lets sleep together from now on."

"B-But" The male cupped the small face gently and unknowing the female nuzzled his palm making Icarus's eyes widen before his jaw clenched.

"I promise if you don't entice me like this I will protect you from all your nightmares and you will only have beautiful dreams." Layla tilted her head unable to understand his meaning.

"Entice? What happens when I do that?"

"Then there would be no dreams little dove for you won't be sleeping." Layla nodded without deciphering his meaning at all. Climbing into the emperor's bed and asking him to come over to help her she soon settled to have a good sleep.

Moments passed.

Not sleeping the whole night

Suddenly the mind which was slower than a snail was ignited when the deep rice voice of the male whispered in her ear as his tongue licked her earlobe while hands pulled her close to his chest.

"So naïve." After that Layla could not look at Icarus and resembled a tomato making him laugh.

Thankyou for patiently bearing with me, although I could not find the time to update a full chapter but I promise to start updating on every alternate days soon after mid oct.