Valerie's POV:
I was walking through the third floor of the west wing hall when I felt a hand grasp my wrist. I looked up to see Prince Nova, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. "P-Prince Nova?" I stuttered, surprised.
Without a word, he dragged me along, his grip firm. I tried to pull away, but he held tight. "Where are we going?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity and a hint of concern.
"You'll see," he replied, his tone enigmatic, without looking back.
I forcefully removed my hand when we left the lounge and entered the grand foyer. I was sure we would encounter people there, and I didn't want to draw attention to ourselves. Prince Nova turned back, his eyes locking onto mine, and I knew he was pleased that I was following closely behind.
We approached the double doors of the east wing, and I hesitated, having never entered this wing before. Prince Nova turned back, his eyes reassuring. "It's okay, you're with me." He gripped my hand again, ignoring my protest, and the guards at the door bowed and opened it for us.
As we entered the east wing's foyer, I was struck by its grandeur. It was bigger than the other wing's foyer, with high ceilings and intricate chandeliers. A portrait of the first King of Calonia caught my attention - he had blond hair and green eyes, his expression strict and authoritative.
I was relieved that the king had left for a trip that morning, but I remained cautious. Prince Nova led me to a door across the room, his smile hinting at a secret. When we stepped outside, I was in awe. Before us lay a stunning garden, full of vibrant flowers and birds singing sweet melodies. A fountain stood at the center, its gentle gurgle soothing. I walked ahead, my mouth agape, taking in the beauty around me. Prince Nova followed, amused by my reaction.
As I explored the garden, I spotted a picnic spread on a blanket - a wicker basket, fine china, and a bottle of wine. The prince stood beside me, his eyes sparkling with delight. "This is the queen's garden," he said, his voice filled with warmth.
"The queen's garden," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn't believe I was actually here, in this hidden oasis.
Prince Nova nodded, his eyes sparkling with pleasure. "My mother's favorite place. She used to come here to escape the pressures of the palace."
I could understand why. The garden was a tranquil haven, full of vibrant flowers and the soothing sounds of birds and water. I felt a sense of peace wash over me as I breathed in the sweet scents and listened to the gentle gurgle of the fountain.
Prince Nova whispered, "I said I would show the girl I liked this place." I looked at him, my eyes locking onto his, and for a moment, we just held each other's gaze. Then, he smiled and said, "Let's sit."
I hesitated but joined him on the blanket. As we sat, I gazed out at the garden again, taking in its beauty. It was truly breathtaking, but it looked like it lacked an owner's touch. The queen's garden was tended by the queen herself, and it was passed down through generations. I could see the love and care that had gone into its creation, but it seemed to be missing something.
Prince Nova opened the wicker basket and started setting out the food: sandwiches, fruit, cheese, and pastries. My stomach growled as I took in the spread, realizing I hadn't eaten breakfast that morning. The prince looked up with a hint of a smile, and I blushed, feeling embarrassed.
He poured wine into two cups and asked, "Shall we eat?"
I sighed, thinking that eating together wasn't exactly wrong. We ate in comfortable silence, the only sound being the birds singing in the garden. I noticed Prince Nova glancing at me, and I swallowed the big bite of sandwich I had taken, realizing how hungry I was.
He raised a pastry and set it in front of me, saying, "Do you need more?" He picked up a grape and offered it to me, saying, "Here, have more of this." He also refilled my wine glass, setting it in front of me.
I smiled nervously and said, "Thank you, I'm almost full."
He shook his head and said, "No, you look thin, you need to eat more." He picked up a sandwich from his plate and put it on mine.
I started eating again, noticing that he had stopped eating and was just sipping his wine, looking at me with a gentle expression. His eyes seemed to be studying me, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest- I ignored it.
After we finished eating, I started arranging the plates back in the wicker basket. Prince Nova joined me, and together we finished cleaning up. We sat back on the blanket, and I gazed up at the sun, which was shining brightly in the sky. The warmth on my skin felt lovely, and I closed my eyes, letting out a contented sigh.
Suddenly, Prince Nova raised his wrist to the corner of my lip, and I felt a gentle touch as he cleaned a crumb away with his sleeve. I looked down, surprised, and stammered, "T-thank you."
We sat in awkward silence for a moment, and then I quickly got up and walked over to the fountain. The water was crystal clear, and I could see flowers floating on the surface - daisies and lilies, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. I smiled and cupped my hands in the water, closing my eyes and pouring it over my face. The coolness felt refreshing, and I grinned, feeling a sense of peace.
But then, I felt someone standing behind me. I turned to see Prince Nova inches away, his eyes locked onto mine. I sucked in a breath, feeling my heart race and my breath catch in my throat. My hair, which I had put in a ponytail, was removed by his gentle hands, and it fell to my shoulders, cascading down like a waterfall. I felt a sudden awareness of his proximity. His expression was intense, his green eyes bright.
I quickly moved to step under his arm, which had been resting on the fountain, blocking my way. "It's kind of late," I said, my tone a little shaky. "I have something to do."
He smiled, and his smile was radiant, like the sun breaking through clouds. It was as if we had just shared a secret moment, and I felt a flutter in my chest.
He smiled radiantly. "I'll walk you."
I protested, "No, no, it's okay, your highness."
"I insist," he said.
I sighed internally and we walked side by side out of the beautiful garden. I glanced back at the garden, wondering if I would ever come back here. Prince Nova shut the door behind us, and I used the opportunity to sprint away, hearing him call my name but not looking back.
When I reached my room, I closed the door and put my hand to my heart, catching my breath.
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Mira's POV:
I came out of my room, locking the door behind me. I had told Bellamy I could manage on my own, and I wanted to go to the Library. As I turned to head down the hallway, I heard a voice behind me. "Miss Mira?"
I turned to see Lord Luke standing there, dressed casually and a smirk on his face. "I guess we live in the same suite," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I smiled and said, "What a nice surprise."
"Indeed," he replied, his eyes never leaving mine. "Where are you headed?"
"I was planning on going to the Library," I said casually.
"Ah, a bookworm, how charming," he said with a chuckle. "Let me walk you there. It's on my way."
I hesitated, feeling uneasy, but didn't want to be rude. "It's alright, I don't want to disturb you."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all," he said, his smile growing wider. "I'm actually heading in that direction myself."
I reluctantly agreed, and we took the elevator to the second floor, where the Library and music room were located. The hallway was surprisingly quiet, and Lord Luke chatted idly as we walked. But then, he abruptly stopped and turned to me.
"Miss Mira, I have a question," he said, his eyes gleaming with a knowing glint.
I felt a sense of trepidation but said, "Of course."
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
My eyes widened in surprise, and I felt a surge of fear. "Why are you asking?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.
He smirked and took a step closer to me. "Don't get me wrong, I'm just curious because you're really pretty, and..."
I felt my heart racing as he reached out and grasped my hand. "What do you think you're doing? Get away from me!" I shouted, trying to pull away.
His facial expression twisted into a snarl, and he whispered, "Don't fight it, Mira. I know you want me as much as I want you."
Suddenly, a hand grasped Lord Luke's wrist. I looked up to see Prince Cadoc standing there, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Let go," he growled.
Lord Luke smiled, but it came out lopsided and he let me go.
Prince Cadoc turned to me, his features softening. "Are you alright?"
I nodded shakily, still trying to process what had just happened.
Prince Cadoc turned back to Lord Luke. "What were you about to do?"
Lord Luke smiled again, but his eyes looked angry. "I was just about to tell her something, Your Highness."
Prince Cadoc raised his brows. "Is that right?"
Lord Luke nodded and smiled again before saying. "I will take my leave now, good bye Miss Mira."
He smiled at me, and I forced a smile back, feeling a shiver run down my spine as he left, heading in the opposite direction. I thought he said he was coming this way.
Prince Cadoc then took my hand, and led me through the hall, his grip gentle but firm. My mind was still reeling from the encounter with Lord Luke, and I roughly pulled my hand out of his grasp. He looked at me, surprised, and I demanded, "What was that just now? Is that how he is?"
My tone was accusatory, and Prince Cadoc remained quiet, his eyes fixed on mine. I felt tears stinging my eyes, and I shouted, "Is that the man you want Princess Evie to marry?"
Prince Cadoc flinched, and I felt my anger melt away. He looked sad and angry at the same time, and said, "I can't do anything, Princess Evie already agreed to marry him."
I shook my head, feeling a surge of frustration. "She's your sister, this is not the life she can bear. He's a jerk!"
Prince Cadoc sighed, his expression frustrated. "She won't listen to anyone, Mira. I tried to tell her, but she's stubborn. She thinks she can handle it, but..."
I felt a pang of guilt and sorrow for Princess Evie. "What about the king?" I asked, hoping there was some way to stop this marriage.
Prince Cadoc shook his head. "It can't be helped, it's all in Evie's hands."
I tried to argue, but I didn't know what to say anymore. We both stood there, the silence between us heavy with emotion. I sniffled, feeling a tear roll down my cheek. Prince Cadoc looked at me, concerned, and I sniffled again. Then, I felt his hand around my shoulders, pulling me into a gentle embrace.
I rarely cried, but I felt so bad and sorry for Princess Evie, and guilty for not being able to do anything. Prince Cadoc tightened his grip and whispered, "It's okay, Mira, I know too."
I hugged him back, feeling a sense of comfort and understanding wash over me. We stood there for a moment, holding each other, the tension and fear of the past few minutes slowly fading away.