204 vi. Only End for Us Both
“What is it that you want?” he asked her, his voice laced with such solemnity she for a second thought she could ask for anything at this point and he would grant it.
It was wishful thinking, she reminded herself. A trick that the crown prince seems to do so easily nowadays.
“Choose me as your week’s favorite,” she said, her voice barely inaudible as she blushed.
“Only that?” he was expecting more. He was about to choose her as his favorite after all, there was no need for her to ask him that.
“That’s already a high honor,” she would say. In her mind, the honor is for the kid who chose to draw her.
She wanted him to be famous and have a good start in his career. If the crown prince should choose his work and display it in the palace for even a week, it will mean a lot to the young boy.
He doesn’t look like someone who belongs to the aristocracy. That child needed all the help he could get.
But telling the crown prince all of her thoughts is not an option. If she were to believe his confession, then he has driven every single person in her life away from her just because he becomes jealous when people come near her. freewebnove(l)
She knew it is just maybe an exaggeration and possibly a way to justify his bad behavior back then. But a part of her couldn’t risk it.
.....
If she were to believe his words, that child’s life could even be in danger just because she wanted to help. So for now she needed to convince him that she rather liked his affections.
The crown prince remained silent as the dance ended, he lead her back to her seat before going back to his throne.
He would whisper something to the trusted minister who approached at his signal as the people held their breath.
The councilman announced the list of names that would still be eligible to compete for the coming selection’s week.
She waited in silence as the crown prince’s eyes met hers. The minister then said the name of the crown prince’s favorite for this week whose portrait will be displayed inside the castle walls.
She felt her ears ring as she heard her name. Everyone is now looking at her in disbelief, murmurs would fill the air as well.
A half-blood noble! A girl with a peasant’s blood! A witch like her mother was, she has probably bewitched the crown prince with a spell. These were just some of the cruel words that were spoken.
The crown prince seemed unbothered by the commotion and the obvious displeasure of even the king. The king would stand from his throne and exit the hall together with his vassals, something that should have raised concern even for the crown prince as well.
The hall was half-empty by the end of his royal highness’s exit but the crown prince still has a pleasant disposition about him after everything that has taken place. It was as if he wasn’t aware that he just caused displeasure to the king.
He stood and offered his hand to her, “Let us get you out of here. Unless of course, you are enjoying their company.”
She shook her head vigorously and held into his arm. Though she still hasn’t forgiven him for what he has done, she still prefers his company over this crowd of overbearing buffoons.
A warm smile spread across his lips at seeing her smile. He escorted her out of the halls and into the gardens.
The rose garden has always been more beautiful at night because of the glowing magic flowers. It was then that she realized the flowers only ever did glow at night.
She wanted to ask why is that, but she preferred to keep silent. She should not really behave like the crown prince and she are old friends.
“You must be curious why the flowers only bloom with magic at night,” the crown prince would say as if on cue.
She kept silent, but her ears perked up as she became curious. “I wanted to preserve its natural beauty. No matter how perfect everything looks with magic, it is the rose’s imperfection that makes it most beautiful.”
The crown prince looked into her eyes while saying the last line, “In all things such as this. It has always been the case, that I am most seduced by the imperfections of the one I like.”
“Are we still talking about the flowers here, your majesty?” she asked, a playful smile would escape her lips.
Of course, it wasn’t that she intended to have a bit of fun with the royal highness. It is just that he is absolutely adorable sometimes.
A burst of laughter escaped her lips and she had to try not to dwell too much on the deep baritone that seems to seduce her at this point.
“Maybe,” the crown prince would answer. “Though it also applies to other things as well. Maybe even more so where other things are concerned.”
They continued to take the stroll in silence as she tried to stop the fast beating of her heart, “What is to happen next week, your highness?”
“I would like to bring you to my hometown,” the prince was referring to the place where he grew up as a child.
As the crown prince of Selene, he had to be kept in hiding and has only been required to appear on special occasions while he was growing up.
The council had to keep his identity a secret until the point where he can protect himself from threats, both from outside of the palace and inside.
“Will the rest be joining us?” she asked as jealousy starts to wrap its coil. Of course, she didn’t realize it to be the case.
“Yes, but we can always escape. We will go an alternate route. You will have to join me in the carriage anyway since you have been named my favorite,” his hypnotic gaze would trap her and make her feel like a gazelle in the run.
She gulps down as he looked intently at her lips, “Is something the matter, princess?”
“I- I am no princess,” she couldn’t keep a straight face while he was looking at her like this.
“You are now. Or soon will be. You have to get used to being addressed this way,” he caressed her cheek, making her lose her mind a bit.
“You say that as if that is a certainty. But many things can happen over that time,” she looks away as she blushed. fre(e)webno(v)el
For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why she was blushing so easily over his words.
A deep chuckle would escape his lips, “No, my love. No matter how many things happen during this time, there is only one ending for us both. I have already decided we belong together... so here we are. You and me, and the world that belongs to ours.”
She felt fear and excitement made her paralyze as he lifted her chin and lowered his lips for another one of his dizzying, fever-inciting kisses.
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