Prince Cadoc's POV:
As I finished playing the piano, the final notes echoing through the hall, I stood up and bowed to the thunderous applause. The audience's appreciation was palpable, and I felt a sense of pride and pleasure. I noticed Mira approaching me, her floor-length, strapless silver gown shimmering in the light. Her shoulder-length blonde hair cascaded down her shoulder, and her petite frame barely reached my shoulders, making me feel like a giant beside her. I had admired her since the moment I laid eyes on her.
"Your Majesty, that was beautiful," she breathed, her voice like music itself.
I smiled, feeling a sense of joy. "Thank you, Miss Mira," I replied, my voice polite and refined. I then asked her, curious, "Do you play the piano?"
She nodded, her eyes lighting up. "When I was younger, I learned how to play. But it's been a long time since I touched a piano."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why did you stop playing?"
Mira's expression turned enigmatic. "I just stopped. I mean, I might have lost the passion for it."
I sensed there was more to it, but I didn't press the issue. Instead, I asked, my eyes locking onto hers, "Do you think you could play with me?"
She looked surprised and hesitant, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your Highness, I...I don't know. I'm not sure I remember how."
I offered her a gentle smile. "Let me help you remember."
She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, and nodded slowly.
I led her out of the reception hall, the guards stationed at the door bowed to me. The echoes of our footsteps sounding in the quiet hallway. The singing hall was just a short walk away, and as we approached, I opened the door for her, and she entered, her eyes scanning the space. The room was smaller than the one in the Palace, but it was cozy and intimate, with the piano at its center.
"I can't remember the last time I was here." She breathed, scanning the room.
I smiled and sat down on the stool beside the piano, beckoning her to join me. She approached hesitantly, her eyes darting to the stool beside me, and then back to my face. I could sense her uncertainty, but I reassured her with a gentle nod.
As she sat down, our arms touched, and I could feel the warmth of her body beside me. I took a deep breath and started playing, the music filling the room like a gentle breeze. I felt Mira's eyes on me, and when I finished, she said, "That was beautiful, Your Highness."
I smiled and said, "Your turn."
She looked hesitant, unsure, and I took both her hands in mine, feeling the small, delicate fingers and the soft, uncalloused skin. I felt a spark of electricity as our hands touched, and her body tensed, as if she wasn't expecting the gentle gesture. I placed her hand on the piano and guided her to play, our fingers touching as we began to play together.
At first, it was clumsy, but soon we found a rhythm, and the music flowed like a gentle stream. I felt the tension in her fade away. I let go of her hand, and she continued, her face lighting up with joy and abandon. The moonlight streaming from the window bathed her face, making her look ethereal. Her scent was like roses and vanilla, it filled the air around me- it was intoxicating. My heart fluttered in my chest, and I felt a sense of wonder at the beauty of the moment.
She looked at me and smiled, the sweetest smile I had ever seen. My heart skipped a beat, and I knew, without so much of a doubt.
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Valerie's POV:
I walked into the dining room, rubbing the body lotion onto my face and hands, feeling relaxed after my warm bath and comfortable in my pyjamas. My dad was sitting in the living room, flipping through a book, and the aroma of dinner wafted from the kitchen where my mum was busy cooking. I was looking forward to a quiet evening at home.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and I looked up at the wall clock. It was past 8 pm. Who could be visiting at this hour? I wondered. Maybe it was our neighbor, Mr. Greene, asking for something.
"I'll get it!" I shouted, making my way to the door.
As I opened it, I almost screamed. I was taken aback by the unexpected visitor. "Your Highness?" I stammered, my eyes fixed on the prince standing before me.
He was grinning mischievously, his green eyes sparkling with amusement. His traditional attire was immaculate, with intricate embroidery on his tunic and a silver brooch holding his red hair in place.
"Is it too late for tea?" he asked, his voice dripping with charm.
I stood there, gawking at him, unable to process the fact that the prince was standing at my doorstep. My mind raced with questions, but I couldn't form a single word.
Just then, my mum came out of the kitchen, spoon in hand, and asked, "Who is it, Val?"
As she saw the prince, she dropped the spoon on the floor with a clatter and screamed, "Honey!!!"
The prince was presently seated on the couch in our living room, his eyes scanning our small house with a mixture of curiosity and wonder. My dad was seated next to him, looking at him with a stunned expression, like he couldn't believe his eyes. His mouth was slightly agape, and his eyes were wide with excitement. I understood the feeling; even I couldn't believe the prince was here.
I looked at him suspiciously, wondering why he was here. My dad, still in awe, stammered, "Your Highness, it's an honor to have you in our home."
The prince smiled politely. "The honor is mine, Mr. Alaric. Your home is...cozy."
My dad beamed with pride, his excitement evident. "Yes, we like it. It's humble, but it's ours." He glanced at me, and I rolled my eyes at his enthusiasm.
Just then, my mum called me into the kitchen. "Valerie, come here for a minute." I walked over, seeing my mum busily preparing the meal, her hands moving quickly as she chopped vegetables and stirred the pot.
"How is the crowned prince here?" she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.
I shrugged. "I'm not sure."
She eyed me suspiciously. "It looks like he's here for you." Her expression changed to one of alarm. "Don't tell me you're in the competition for his hand in marriage?" She looked at me like I had lost my mind.
I laughed. "Mother, how can that be possible?"
Just then, we heard my dad say with a nervous laughter, "I'll be back, Your Highness."
The prince responded, "Take your time, Mr. Alaric."
Soon after, my dad rushed in, his eyes wide. "Honey, am I dreaming or is the crowned prince of Calonia really in my house, seated on my couch?"
My mum chuckled. "I guess Valerie has a little bit of explaining to do."
I sighed, motioning my mum to continue with what she was doing. "He's the motorcycle rider I helped the other day," I said casually, like it wasn't a big deal.
My parents almost screamed, their eyes widening in shock. "What?!" my dad exclaimed.
My mum asked, "Is that why he's here? To thank you?" I remained silent, unsure why he was here. My mum sighed. "Never mind that now. We need to attend to our royal guest. Honey, please go back and attend to him." She addressed my dad, and turned to me,"Valerie, go set the table."
I nodded.
My mum smiled excitedly. "We have to be good hosts now. We can't embarrass ourselves in front of the prince!" She said, and I chuckled, shaking my head.
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"The food is delicious, Mrs. Alaric," the prince said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," my mum replied, blushing shamefully. "But please, call me Sheila."
"Of course, Sheila," he said, his smile disarming. My mum's blush deepened, and I rolled my eyes.
We were seated in our small dining room, the prince directly opposite me, my mum next to him, and my dad beside me. My dad tried to make conversation, asking, "So, Your Majesty, how has your stay been in Eldrida so far?"
"It's been wonderful, Mr. Alaric," the prince replied. "The people are warm and welcoming. But tomorrow marks the end of our stay, and we leave the day after."
When he said this, he glanced my way, his expression unreadable. I didn't understand what it meant, but it made me feel... strange.
"Oh, that's a shame," my mum said, her voice laced with disappointment. "We would have loved you to stay longer in Eldrida."
"I'm afraid our schedule is quite packed, Sheila," the prince said with a chuckle. "But we're grateful for the hospitality we've received here."
As my parents continued chatting with the prince, the tension earlier melted away into something comfortable. To me, it felt like a crazy fantasy - the prince, laughing and chatting with my family, glancing my way with an enigmatic smile. In that moment, I let myself forget that this was only a one-time thing and allowed myself to smile and enjoy the moment.
"Excuse me, Sheila," the prince said, "may I use the restroom?"
"Of course, Prince Nova," my mum replied. "Valerie, please show him to the bathroom. Your father and I will wash the dishes."
I nodded. We walked up the stairs in awkward silence, my heart racing with every step.
"This is the bathroom," I said, pointing to the door opposite my room. "I'll be in my room."
He nodded, saying "Thank you" before disappearing into the bathroom.
I went into my room, trying to calm my nerves. I heard the toilet flush and then a knock on my door. I opened it to find the prince standing there, a curious expression on his face.
I quickly tried to arrange my room, tidying up the mess, but he just chuckled and walked in. My room was small, with posters of Echoes in the Dark on the walls. He paused, looking at the poster of Maxwell, the lead singer.
"You like Echoes in the Dark too?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
I was taken aback. "Is that also your favorite band, Your Highness?"
He nodded enthusiastically, and I noticed he looked a little too happy about it. I cleared my bed, saying "Please sit, Prince Nova."
He sat down, and I felt awkward, like I was in a dream. He asked me what my favorite song was, and I replied, "Whispers in the Dark."
He patted the place next to him, saying "Please come sit, I'm not going to eat you." I chuckled nervously and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to keep distance from him.
He asked who my favorite member was, and I said "Maxwell."
He said "I'm not surprised" while glancing at the many posters of Max on my wall, with little hearts and kisses I had drawn on his face. I flushed, feeling embarrassed.
But then his expression looked a little weird, and I quickly tried to change the subject. "What about the party, Prince Nova? I thought you would still be at it by now."
He rubbed his neck, looking a little tired. "I left early. I came to see you."
I was shocked. "What?!"
He looked up at me, his green eyes meeting mine. "I wanted to apologize for how I acted earlier today. I shouldn't have lost control like that. I'm sorry, Valerie."
My heart skipped a beat. This was the first time he was calling me by my name. I waved his apology away awkwardly. "It's okay, Your Highness. I should be the one apologizing to you. I shouldn't have been that rude to you. And besides, Magna deserved that punch."
He looked at me like he didn't really get it. "Magna is my ex," I explained with a bitter smile. "He broke up with me for no reason, and he was rude to me after that, saying he regretted dating me. He would often pass remarks about me when he saw me."
The prince's eyes flashed with anger. "That bastard!" He apologized quickly, "I'm sorry for my language, my lady." His expression was sheepish, and his eyes were sparkling with amusement.
At that, I couldn't stop my laughter. His expression when he apologized was just too funny, and the way he said "that bastard" was like he was declaring war on Magna. I felt him looking at me and I laughed even harder, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. He joined me, and we laughed like little kids, feeling carefree and happy.
After the laughter died down, there was a comfortable silence. Then he said huskily and deeply, "I think you deserve better, Val."
I looked up with a start, my heart racing. His eyes were glowing in a way that made me feel all fluttery inside. I didn't know what was happening to me, but I was getting aware of his presence, and my heart was behaving weirdly. I looked to the side, avoiding his gaze to hide the blush which had crept up to my cheeks.
"You deserve more than that, in fact," he added, his voice low and gentle. "Definitely."
_______
Sometime later, it was time for Prince Nova to leave. "It was an honor to have you visit us, Your Highness," my dad said, bowing.
"The pleasure was all mine," the prince replied, also bowing. He took my mum's hand and kissed it. "Thank you for your hospitality, my lady. You have a lovely family."
My mum smiled coyly and signaled me to walk him out. I sighed internally, not wanting to be left alone with the prince. I felt all fluttery and nervous, like I was walking on air.
"Goodbye!" I heard my parents say as I shut the door.
I noticed two men standing surreptitiously on the other side of if the road, I recognized them as the two personal guards of prince Nova,they weren't dressed in their uniform. Maybe they didn't want to draw attention. The night was chilly, and I shivered, drawing my coat closer. I had worn it to cover my pyjamas, but I was sure the prince noticed because he looked amused.
"Oh, before I forget," he said, putting his hand in his pocket and bringing out what looked like keys. He handed them to me, but I didn't take them.
"What is this, Your Highness?" I asked, confused.
"These are keys to this motorcycle," he said, pointing to a sleek, black Ducati bike. I hadn't noticed it before, and it looked very expensive.
"I'm giving it to you and your family," he said with a smile.
I gasped, my eyes wide with surprise. "I can't accept it, Your Highness. This is too big a gift."
He took my hand and pressed the keys into it. "Please, Valerie. Consider it a gift from the crowned prince to his subject." I was about to protest, but he said, "Please, my lady," in a pleading tone.
I sighed and nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed. I curtseid, saying, "Thank you very much, Your Majesty."
The prince just stared at me, and I felt uncomfortable under his gaze, which was starting to be too long. I was about to ask him why he was staring when he did an unimaginable thing. He moved forward towards me, his hand reaching out to my cheek, and caressed it gently. I could barely breathe, and my heart was racing. I looked up, and his eyes were shining with an emotion I had never seen before. I was taken aback, and suddenly, he dropped his hand, and the emotion flew away. He cleared his throat and stammered, avoiding my gaze, "I will...take my leave now. Goodnight, Valerie."
He looked confused, as if he didn't know what he had just done. I was confused too, feeling flustered and unsure of what to say. I managed to whisper, "Goodnight, Prince Nova."
He smiled one last shaky smile and got into a car that had pulled up beside him. The two guards got in too, and they drove off. I waved, watching the car as it turned a corner.
I brought my hand to my left cheek, where he had touched me. It was burning, and I was sure I was as red as a tomato by now. I couldn't believe what had just happened. The crowned prince had touched my cheek, and it felt like my whole world had turned upside down.
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