The following day, Celeste had her personal guard follow her as she left the castle in disguise to find him. She had done some research about that particular pottery shop and also had found out that he was usually there most of the time tending the shop as his father had grown older and most of his students were the ones who supplied the wares they sold now. So she made her way there while wearing a shawl to cover her face which wasn't quite peculiar in the region as they had many different cultures visit the nation in recent days due to the suitors. She found the shop and seemed to remember it vaguely from years ago. She entered the shop and there he was behind the counter with another cheap book and he was sketching. He was so focused he didn't notice her come in. She came up to him and saw him draw her as she was yesterday and her breath caught at the way he brought out her essence. She was silent for a minute and then coughed. He was caught off guard and almost fell down. She couldn't help giggling a little at his silliness.
. She asked him if he was okay and he laughed awkwardly and assured her that he was fine. She came close and looked down at the image and remarked how beautiful it was. He grinned up at her and told her that it was not even a fraction of the beauty of the true thing. This made her smile behind her shawl. She teased him about how smitten he was and he only smiled sadly. He told her that he wasn't worthy but he was content to see her smile once in his life. Which he had done that day. She then introduced herself as Alia, talking about how she was new to town and didn't know how to find the things she needed to settle down at her new home. Michael looked up at her smiled good-naturedly and surprised her by offering to show her where to find the best shops with the best prices. She was pleasantly surprised and asked about his store to which he replied that it was a slow day for business. So he closed up shop and she discreetly told her guards to stay out of sight. They walked together around the market and talked. She was surprised to find that he was quite intelligent although not as educated as her and had a love for the world and life. He spoke of wanting to travel it someday and experience more from life. All the things he said resonated with her and she found herself getting more interested in him with time. She found herself finding more excuses to extend their walk around the market and sampling different stores with all kinds of things which quite frankly some of them did not really seem necessary for someone who was trying to settle into a house. He didn't seem to mind though, she could sense friendliness from him. It seemed he was content to keep her company as someone new and alone in town.
It came time for farewells and it felt like they had known each other for years. When she shook his hand goodbye he suddenly pulled her in and hugged her which took her off guard and also led to some of her guards almost running towards them but she waved them off. She hugged him back and the embrace felt both foreign and like coming home to her. It was peculiar but she liked it just the same. He suddenly whispered into her ear that his life would be worth it if he could see her smile once more. This shocked Celeste as she realized he had known who she was the entire time. She pulled out of his arms and looked at him seriously searching his face. But all she could see was a strong and genuine yearning for just what he had asked for. Her smile. And so she removed her shawl and smiled at him and told him she had seen his gift, which made his eyes go wide. She then gave him her father's grin and told him she loved it and would treasure it her whole life and thanked him. At that moment she saw what it meant for someone to fall in love with her truly in his eyes as she looked at them. She could see him become her's for all time.
Her guard quickly came and surrounded them and her personal guard Rufaro, came and told her it was time to go as she was now under threat with her identity discovered. She looked regretfully at Michael and then she was rushed back home and when she looked back, he stood there staring at her. That night as she lay in bed she made a decision that damned her and also cost Michael his life. She would marry him and he would be her consort. It was her right. But the jealousy of a god is not to be trifled with. It would seem her activities had all fallen within the stalking gaze of the god of love and he could tell what was brewing between the two during their marketplace walk. He would not be denied without a cost.
And so three days later when the men returned to propose or if lucky hear her answer, they found a woman different from before. She was only looking to the door as she waited for Michael to return and she would claim her prize. Woe to her then as he did not come. Once again the theatrics of days prior occurred as Upendo appeared before her once again. He became even more forward and walked right before her, seized her hand, and went on one knee. He asked for her reply and she only looked at him and spoke steadily, proudly that her heart belonged to another.
Upendo looked up then, where his eyes were black before they were now fiery and his mouth did not move but his voice spoke in her head. He spoke harshly and told her that the stupid peasant she had thought to rank above a god was dead now. He then spoke about how she was his for eternity and nothing she could do would change that and then he disappeared. This whole conversation went unnoticed by all others and they simply concluded he had left upon hearing her rejection but when they looked upon Celeste's face they were shocked. Her face had turned pale and tears of blood leaked from her eyes. She suddenly let out a shriek of pain and her attendants and parents rushed towards her to comfort her.
The guards ushered all others outside the room. Her parents struggled to console her as she cried only demanding to see him, but who was he that she was talking about they wondered. Only Rufaro had an idea and she sent out her subordinates to look for Michael. They searched for him but the shop was closed and they found out that it was because the family was in mourning. Apparently, the night before Michael had collapsed to the ground dead after an hour with pain in his chest. They did not know who had cursed such a young and kind man. When word reached Celeste she was broken even more. She spent years trying to recover from the loss and she never married.
Her parents had taken her desires into account and had another daughter to replace her however an even more shocking truth awaited Celeste after years. She discovered that despite the passing of the years she had not aged a day. All those she loved grew older around her and she stayed young and unchanged as the day Upendo had taken her beloved. She realized then that his claim of ownership for eternity was a curse to never die and outlive those she loved. She could never see her beloved in the afterlife. She tried to take her own life with no success. She was cursed to live forever alone. She had to hide from the public lest she be treated as a monster. Her sister's descendants took care of her. Even after all these years, their powerful family still protected her and took care of her but she was forced to help raise and love every new leader of the family and then watch them grow old and die. She was truly pitiful and her rage was strong which had fueled her desire for justice against the evil god who twisted his original purpose to suit his own ends.
" That is why I beseech you my god Vakma to finally bring justice to the thief who abuses the privilege of authority you granted him," she said in a shaky teary voice as tears freely flowed from her eyes after revisiting those painful memories for all to hear. She felt a caress then which seemed to bring some peace to her tortured soul and heard the kind, nurturing voice say, "RISE MY CHILD, I HAVE HEARD YOUR PAIN AND CAN SEE IT ACROSS TIME AS YOU EXPERIENCE IT."
She stood gratified and hopeful for all she had suffered to finally come to an end and she walked back to stand beside the figure of the middle-aged man in