Valerie's POV:
Prince Nova stood there, smiling, wearing a buttoned-down shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a hint of his chest. His ginger hair was messy, as if he'd just rolled out of bed, and his green eyes sparkled with amusement. His eyes then widened as if seeing me for the first time and he walked the few paces towards me. I felt my guard go up, still trying to process seeing him here.
Before I could react, he hugged me tightly, his arms wrapping around me like a vice. It was different from the formal hugs we'd exchanged before - this one was fierce, like he was trying to squeeze the life out of me. And yet, it felt... natural. He smelled like himself, a warm and earthy scent.
After letting me go, he just stood and stared at me, his green eyes piercing. "I missed you," he said, his voice low and husky. "I missed you a lot."
I just stared at him, then raised an eyebrow. "Julie is your friend?" I asked, my tone skeptical.
He nodded, his smile growing. "Yes, she's the maid assigned to me, and now we've become good friends."
I was taken aback - I hadn't expected Julie's friend to be royalty. And yet, it made sense - Prince Nova was kind, and that was why the maids admired him so much. I didn't know how to feel about this revelation.
He chuckled, amused. "Why are you staring?"
I flushed, looking away.
"Don't look away," he said, his voice teasing. "I like when you stare at me."
I felt frustration bubbling up in me.
"How have you been?" he asked.
I kept my tone curt, avoiding the question. "What is it you want, Your Highness?"
He looked surprised, his eyes widening. "I wanted to see you. Those three months without you were torture."
I stared at him, my expression incredulous. "Why?"
He looked bemused. "Because I like you." My heart sank to the soles of my feet. "Didn't I tell you before?" I grimaced and his confusion melted away. "Did you think I would stop liking you if we were apart? Of course not."
I felt like screaming and pulling my hair. "I'm not going to give up on you," he said, his voice gentle. "I let you go the first time, and you're here right now. I believe it's faith."
I just stood there like a log of wood, staring at him, not knowing what to say.
He smiled wryly at me, his eyes glinting playfully, but I knew he was serious. "With that confidence, Val, I'm going to keep on trying." And with that the red haired prince grinned. "I promise."
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Mira's POV:
I sat in the grand dining hall, surrounded by the royal family and their guests. Velma and her husband, Caspian Pierce, with their son, Xander were also present. I had heard that Prince Nova was back, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Prince Cadoc had offered to show me around Calon city, but I had refused, hoping that Prince Nova would do it instead.
As we ate our dinner of tender lamb chops with a rich mint sauce, roasted root vegetables, and freshly baked bread, I couldn't help but notice the man with honey brown hair and grey eyes staring at me. He was Princess Evie's fiancé, and there was something unsettling about the way he looked at me. His features were chiseled, with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline, and his eyes seemed to bore into me. I decided to keep my distance from him.
Just as I was focusing on my food, the footman announced that Prince Nova had arrived. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to the door, nervously awaiting his entrance. The door opened, and Prince Nova walked in, looking even more handsome than I remembered. He wore a tailored black coat with silver embroidery, a crisp white shirt, and black trousers, his red hair messy and his green eyes sparkling as he bowed to the king and apologized for being late.
"Ah, Nova," the king said with a warm smile. "We were starting to think you'd forgotten about us."
Prince Nova smiled and took his seat beside Prince Cadoc, who clapped him on the back fondly. I couldn't help but stare, and when Prince Nova looked up and caught my eye, I felt a flutter in my chest. He smiled, and I smiled back, feeling a little shy.
As dinner continued, Prince Cadoc asked, leaning in, "Brother, how was Nordania?"
"It was amazing!" Prince Nova replied, his eyes lighting up. "The mines and mountains are incredible. And Caspian here was like a kid in a candy store, exploring every nook and cranny."
Caspian chuckled. "Hey, someone's got to keep the adventure spirit alive!"
Velma laughed. "I'm sure you two had a blast. Did you find any hidden treasures?"
Prince Nova grinned. "Well, we didn't find any treasure, but we did discover some amazing resources. Nordania's got some serious wealth hidden beneath its surface."
The king nodded, interested. "That's great to hear. We could always use more trade opportunities."
Lord Luke chipped in. "I'm sure my father will be thrilled to hear about the resources you discovered, your highness."
I remembered that Lord Luke's father was the Governor of Nordania, where prince Nova and Caspian had made a trip to.
Meanwhile, I was sitting there, feeling a bit like an outsider. Princess Evie was quiet, her face expressionless, and I wondered if everything was okay.
Lord Luke, who was sitting next to her, spoke up. "And I hear we have a new guest, Miss Mira. Welcome to Calon city."
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I replied, "Thank you, Lord Luke. It's an honor to be here."
But as he continued to talk, I felt uneasy. There was something in his tone that made me feel like he was flirting with me, and I didn't like it.
After dinner, the king left with Caspian, and Prince Nova stood up, having been deep in conversation with Velma. He walked over to me, his eyes sparkling with kindness.
"Mira, may I have a word with you?" he asked, his voice polite.
I nodded, feeling a little nervous, and stood up, following him out of the dining hall.
We walked through the quiet hallway, the silence between us growing thicker, like a fog that clung to my skin. I couldn't take it anymore, so I spoke up to break the silence. "How was your winter, Prince Nova?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Prince Nova turned to me with a grin, but his eyes looked a little distracted. "It was...eventful," he replied, his voice trailing off. Then, his expression turned serious. "Do you like it here in the Palace?" His eyes narrowed, as if searching for something in my face.
I was taken aback by the sudden question. "Uh, yes...I mean, I love staying here," I replied convincingly.
Prince Nova's eyes hardened, and he clenched his jaw. "Mira, please come with me," he said, his voice low and urgent.
I raised an eyebrow, unsure what was going on, but I followed him anyway. I knew I could trust him, even if his behavior seemed strange.
We walked through the winding hallways, Prince Nova leading the way. I couldn't help but wonder where we were going, but I didn't dare ask. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes fixed on some point ahead. We passed through the foyer of the east wing. It was the first time I was here, it was truly elegant.
Finally, we stopped in front of a large wooden door. Prince Nova pushed it open, revealing a cozy room with a fire crackling in the hearth. He gestured for me to enter, and I did, feeling a sense of trepidation.
The room was warm and inviting, with books lining the shelves and a few comfortable chairs scattered about. There was a desk at the center of the room facing the large window, it was adorned with framed photos and a polo trophy. A small, discreet door was at the far wall of the room. It looked like prince Nova's private study, and I wondered why he had brought me here.
He closed the door behind us and turned to face me, his eyes serious. "Mira, I need to tell you something," he said.
I nodded, my heart racing. "What is it, Prince Nova?"
He took a deep breath, his eyes looking guilty. "Mira, my father wants you to be my queen," he said, his voice hesitant.
My eyes widened.
He noticed my reaction and hurriedly continued, looking ashamed. "I'm really sorry, you don't have to stay after finding out. I can arrange for you to return home orâ"
I cut him off, smiling. "It's alright, Prince Nova. I already know."
He shook his head. "No, Mira, it's notâ"
But then he stopped, his eyes locking onto mine as if he had just understood what I had said. "What?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I swallowed and cleared my throat. "I already know, Prince Nova, that was also one of the reasons why I came here."
He looked shocked, his features frozen in disbelief. "Why?" he asked, his voice cracking.
I looked down, remembering my last conversation with Prince Cadoc, and gathered my courage. "Because I like you, Your Highness." His expression was priceless, his eyes wide with surprise. I forced myself to continue, my heart racing. "I know we had that conversation back in the mansion, where you said you knew I was a debutante and I said it didn't matter that you were my friend." His eyes sparked with recognition. "I meant it, you are my friend, Prince Nova, but that won't change the fact that I want to be your queen."
I didn't know where all this confidence was coming from, but I was determined to see it through.
He started to say something, but I interrupted, not wanting to hear it. "Prince Nova, I don't know if you like me or not, but I want you to know that I'm not leaving this place, and I will try to be the one on your mind." His expression was unreadable, but I pressed on. "Do you...like anyone?"
He opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. He shut it, looking as if he had just realized something very important.
I knew he was hiding something, but as far as he didn't say he liked anyone, then I was free to do what I wanted. "So, as far as you don't like someone, then I am eligible to be your wife, and I hope to stand by your side."
His expression was still unreadable, but I held my head high, waiting for his response.
He sighed, rubbing his eyes and brows, and said, "Thank you for telling me, Mira." His voice was laced with disappointment.
I smiled, unsure what to say next, but feeling happy that I had finally told him the truth, knowing that even if I became his wife, I wouldn't feel guilty for not disclosing my true intentions. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, knowing that I had been truthful and honest.
He asked, his usual kindness returning, "Should I walk you to your room?"
I shook my head, "It's okay, Your Highness, I will manage on my own."
He smiled and said, "Goodnight, Mira."
"Goodnight, Prince Nova," I replied, closing the door behind me.
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Valerie's POV:
I hurried to the west wing, excited for the planned gym day with Mira and Julie. We had all agreed to meet there today, and I was looking forward to catching up with Mira and enjoying some well-deserved relaxation time. As I entered the lounge, I saw Julie waiting for me, dressed in her gym clothes and smiling brightly. "Good morning!" she said, and I replied with a smile of my own.
Just then, Mira arrived, wearing a sleek black sports bra and leggings, her hair tied up in a ponytail. "Shall we?" she asked, grinning, and we nodded in unison.
We made our way to the gym, which was impressively large and well-equipped. I couldn't remember the last time I had been in a gym, but Mira seemed right at home, leading the way and starting us off on the treadmills. Julie and I struggled to keep up with Mira's pace, and she soon turned to us with a teasing grin. "You guys are too slow! Why aren't you keeping up?"
Julie and I groaned, but Mira just laughed and continued her workout. Just then, Prince Cadoc joined us, dressed in a fitted white t-shirt and black shorts, holding a water bottle. We greeted him, and he joined Mira on the treadmill, easily keeping up with her pace.
As they worked out, they started chatting and laughing together, and I noticed how close they seemed. Julie and I took the opportunity to rest on the benches, sipping from our water bottles and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. We were the only ones in the gym, and it felt like our own private oasis.
I turned to Julie and asked, "So, Prince Nova is your friend?"
Julie replied unfazed, "Yes, I was assigned his maid three years ago when the previous maid left. He's really nice and caring. It was hard at first since he was a royal, the crowned prince for that matter, but he convinced me, and now we are unseperable." Her tone was warm and genuine.
I smiled, knowing that was the prince I knew. But my smile slid off my face as I said, "I'm sure you know he likes me."
Julie's eyes held sympathy as she took my hand. "I'm glad it's you, Val. You both complement each other."
I shook my head, feeling uncertain. "I can't do it, Julie. I can't..."
Julie cut in, "I know it's because of Miss Mira. I know she likes Prince Nova."
I remained silent, my thoughts racing.
Julie continued, "I won't tell you what to do, but...Val, please give him a chance. He really likes you. He talks about you all the time." Her tone was encouraging.
I sighed, feeling torn. "There is a chance he can like Mira."
Julie shook her head confidently. "Trust me, he won't. And I'm sure you know that."
I looked down, feeling a sense of resolve. "Then I won't let him like me." I looked up, meeting Julie's brown eyes. "That's something I'm sure of."
Julie sighed and said, "Trust me, Val. You can't stop him."
I looked at her, surprised, but she was already getting up and saying, "Shall we try the treadmill again?"
I nodded and stood, knowing I had to follow Julie. Her words echoed through my mind as we continued our workout.