t w o

After our escapade, we ride towards the beach at the outskirts of the land. The breeze chilling our body as we get down our horses.

Every time after our extrusion, we return here to spend some time.

The night air gives us a romantic opening. The moon hangs on the night sky melting into twinkling stars. The waves of the ocean calming our heartbeats till they sync with each other.

"I heard you had a visitor today." Romeo begins.

"I did. A young businessman asking for my hand in marriage. I let down his offer." I reply

"How many offers do you plan to let down?" He asks.

" 'Till you ask." I smile at him. He returns the gesture.

"Tell me about your day." I continue.

"A fight broke in the streets amongst our servants. The Prince witnessed it." He pauses.

"And?" I ask with curiosity lingering in my tone.

"My servants were found guilty. We had to pay a penalty. My entire day revolved around this matter." He sighs.

"But us meeting today is the highlight event of my day." He smiles.

I realise abruptly that we are too close on the ground. I also sense his realisation. He eyes me expectantly, creeping closer to my body.

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." He whispers.

I hit the trunk behind me and he puts one of his hands on my other side, trapping me in between. He doesn't touch me, but the position is intimate.

He waits and waits and waits. The moment seems to pause as the waves reach the shore and the sound surrounds us, engulfs us.

Then he presses his lips on my cheek. The movement too delicate. He holds my hand from the other side and looks at me.

I lock my lips with his.

This is how it's been with us. He kisses my cheeks, a gesture to ask my consent. If I feel right, I make the next move.

The night seems to pass slowly as we remain stuck in the moment.

And then he lets go, smiling too brightly.

"Dance routine." I remind. He nods slightly.

We dance and dance till our legs hurt. The sound of the sea providing just enough music for our comfort.

"It was always my dream to dance with my significant other every night near the sea." I say between our dance.

He pulls my waist closer till I feel my heart beating faster. Feeling butterflies in my stomach is an understatement. A full metamorphosis is happening in my entire body.

I feel the blood rush into my cheeks when he leans forwards, lips almost touching my ears.

"You know I hear you say this every night, my love." He whispers.

"And you know how much you love hearing me say this every night we dance." I whisper back.

I feel him chuckle near my ears and that races my heart.

The dance continues till we feel it's time to leave.

Before returning back to the mansion, we visit the secluded countryside of the land. It reeks of poverty.

We place the jewels and the coins we've stolen into the doorsteps of random houses. If we don't steal anyday, we give away our ornaments to them.

And then we return back to my mansion.

Once I jump down, Romeo helds his hand out and I place my palm into his. He kisses my upper hand and I give him a small courtesy.

He adjusts the ladder back to my window before turning to me.

My room is the only one in the entire mansion that faces this side of the woods. Hence there is no casualty of our discovery.

"I'll be waiting for the next opportunity to spend the night with you." He smiles.

"I'll be too." I reply.

For a short moment, both of us hesitate to part away. But it's what we have to do.

"A rose for a secret?" He breaks the silence.

I take a long look and pluck a rose from a nearby branch and hold it in front of him. He takes it.

"I love you " He says.

"That's no secret to me." I chuckle.

"But it is my secret." He answers.

Then I climb up the ladder and go into my balcony. Romeo hides the ladder and then returns back to both the horses before sparring me a look.

He brings two horses so that I don't have to worry about getting one of my own.

He's such a sweetheart.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"You have a visitor today aswell." Rosaline says.

"Time to get you all dressed up!" Matilda exclaims.

"Who is it by the way?" I ask them both as they start exploring my closet for the best of my dresses.

"He is a trader from Paris. I've heard he has a close relation with our Prince." Rosaline answers.

"How old is he?" I ask.

"You are 17. He is perhaps 28." Matilda replies.

"And he has quite a temper." Rosaline remarks.

"You might know about the lord whose proposal was rejected by my father." Matilda says while handling my hair.

"The who adorned you with compliments but was later seen with a maiden?" Rosaline asks.

"Yes." Matilda affirms." He is the one who brings this proposal for your hand in marriage."

"Hilarious incident. He who could not attain one of the Capulet daughters wishes to marry the other." Rosaline scoffs.

"So it's no then." I beam.

"Just don't let down his offer as you always do." Rosaline advices.

"Perhaps." I answer.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Dressed in a blue gown, hair braided together and wearing the most exquisite jewelry, I walk down the stairs where everyone awaits my arrival.

"Meet my daughter, Juliet." Father says with pride.

I bow slightly and take a seat.

My mother eyes me but I ignore. No lady of our house sits in a room full of male guests. But I don't care about the rules. My father has already pardoned me for it months ago.

"You are the prettiest of the ladies in the entire land." He praises.

I take a cup of tea from the table and hold it in my hand with elegance that everybody is affected with.

"I've heard you give a similar title to my sister aswell." I smile as I take a sip of my tea.

I notice him shift in his seat.

"But you outmatch all the beautiful ladies I've given the title to. You are the most beautiful of them all." He justifies.

"How do I know no one else seizes your attention after our marriage? A man who titles all the ladies of the land as the prettiest of all, doesn't have loyalties for one." I give him a long glare before sipping my tea again.

"Pardon me, your grace." The older of the man speaks." That isn't how your daughter should talk to our lord." His words directed to my father.

"My daughter is well aware of how to behave. I believe what she has said is something we all agree with. A man without loyalties is not suitable to marry my daughter." My father begins to stand up after making his statement.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Matilda smile at the remark.

Once the guests have left, my mother rushes to me.

"You need to start behaving like a lady, my Juliet. If you turn down all the offers of the best nobles of Verona, we'd be left with none who'll suit your taste." She says.

"Lady Capulet, you needn't worry about that. I'll find the most suitable bachelor for our beloved Juliet. She deserves the best of all." My father smiles at me.

"Thank you, father." I return the gesture.

"At this rate, she'll never get married!" My mother exclaims.

"Juliet, my child. Could you leave me alone to have a talk with your mother?" My father asks me.

"Certainly, father." I give both of them a small courtesy before heading out.

"What are your plans for today then?" Matilda hugs me from behind.

I smile at her as she faces me.

"Swordsmanship."