with a crown above it 🥺

ANNALISE

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The night was coming to a close and everybody was leaving the ball. Royals filed out of the rooms, and the smell of the ball started to fade. As I looked outside, carriages of all different sizes were lined up to take the Royals home. Many of them were from different countries with bright colors and different metals.

I rushed up the grand marble steps to Henry's room, ready to change out of the huge dress. I changed into a slip with a silk night robe over it and sighed in content. Henry walked in a few minutes later, falling over and needing Hazalen's support.

Henry very loudly said," Oh Annalise- you aren't wearing tha-t to see the Prince, right? Men only wa-nt what they can't have!" He laughed, drunk as could be.

"You need to get to sleep, Henry. Your dad saw you stumbling up the steps and you've had a long night,"She rolled her eyes. Once Henry was put on the bed, he wouldn't move. As if he passed out immediately.

"Are you alright?"

"Did he fall asleep?" I ask, shaking him,"Should we change him?"

"We can't have him on his back, what if he throws up?" Hazalen asks, both of us freaking out.

"Turn him over, I'll grab a bucket."

"Got you!" Henry sits up quickly, scaring us both to gasp.

Hazalen smacked his leg, causing him to cry out,"You are such a child! Now change before we have to do it ourselves."

"No, because Annalise needs to see the Prince. They have to give eachother their gifts and kiss under the Mesgra! She doesn't have time to-"

"Henry, mesgra is a drug people smoke."

"Besides the point!" He pointed at me.

"He is right though you know, you need to go see the Prince before it's too late. You don't want to keep royalty waiting, they get impatient." Hazalen smiled at me. We all look at the paining propped up on the bed, and I give a nervous sigh.

"He's going to love it, Annalise. You got his eyes just right." Henry exclaimed with a daze.

"I don't think I'd ever be able to get his eyes right. They change to his every emotion." I sighed in frustration.

Would it be enough?

"You've got this girl!" Henry and Hazalen cheer me on.

"Your right, I've got this!" I take the painting and storm out the door to their cheering. As I close the door with my newfound confidence, a body rams into me.

Nope, don't got it.

"Annalise?"

"Jack?"

Oh boy.

"Thank goodness it's you, I wanted to thank you." He plastered a smile on his face, but it look mastered. Almost as if he's flirted so many times he's realized what girls like to see.

"Whatever could it be about?"

"For saving me from Isabelle. After you told her off, she left me alone for the rest of the night. She's been on my tail for a week now and I think you've finally cut it off," he chuckled.

"You're so welcome, I've been wanting to do that for a very long time." I smiled to his laughter. He really wasn't a bad guy, just a flirt of sorts.

But that's what they all say.

"I saw you danced with the Prince a lot tonight."

"So you were watching me?" I arched a eyebrow.

"Who wouldn't? It's hard to look away from you for too long," he winked.

Damn he was good.

"Well, I'm off to visit a friend. It was good seeing you, Jack." I pull the painting to my right, trying to hide it and walk away.

"Always good to see you, Annalise. I look forward to dance class with you," he bowed his head.

"You've joined our waltz class?" I stopped in my tracks.

"Only because they realized it was required for me being a noble and they had a slot in yours for it to be equal."

"Well that's intere-"

"So I was thinking because I couldn't get a dance with you at the ball, I could receive one during class. You start over dance partners for the last half of the year right."

Yes we do.

"I'm not sure-"

"We will just have to see," he cuts me off, leaving no room for rejection,"I'll see you soon, Annalise." He grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

I let out a sigh of relief and pulled the painting back up to my front.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I creeped through the desolate hallways of the palace, feeling like a spy. A maid would pass by and I would have to duck into a doorframe or even a closet.

The things I would do for this boy!

I silently tip-toed up the long staircase, hoping nobody would walk down because there was no place to hide.

Getting past the palace guard on Damien's floor was a harder feat. Two guards were pacing the hallway, important nobles and obviously Damien living in them; needing extra protection. I was hiding against a doorframe, looking for a distraction.

I fished out a hairpin from the back of my head, seeming to have missed one. I chucked it at a decorative suit of armor causing a little ping to resonate. The guard stormed over, examining where the sound came from near the stairs.

I took my chance and sprinted across the hallway into another doorframe, waiting for the second guard to cross. I could see the white orchid plant in front of Damien's door, knowing my goal was in reach. The second guard crossed to help the other one and I dashed into Damien's room, shutting it behind me with a thump.

The room was just how I remembered it. The bed had the same duvet and sheets, along with the grand piano in the corner of the room. The fireplace was lit and his fradgit class books were stacked on a table next to the couch.

But where in the world was Damien?

I walked over to the grand piano, drifting my hand along the stone. It would've had to been very expensive and custom made.

It made me nervous to think what he thought about my gift. Such expensive luxuries as this, my mine would be nothing. The piano took me back to the first day he showed his colors in our music class. He was awfully rude to our teacher and played a beautiful song, which surprised me greatly.

I thought he was such a dick at first and I was confused how he could write such a melody. I found our first encounters funny, the antics he would pursue me with. Dragging me from lunch and trapping me against the wall because of a silly rumor, such things made me laugh. He was like an uncontrolled beast until I came around.

"I thought you weren't going to come,"Damien broke my thoughts, a towel wrapped lowly around his waist. I hid the painting behind the piano, hoping he didn't see it.

"Why wouldn't I come?" I kept my eyes off of him, knowing he enjoyed this.

"Because you don't like to follow royal commands." He was ruffling his hair with another towel, trying to dry it,"I can't seem to get all this gel out of my hair, would you care to help me?"

"Now is this a royal command or a question?" I giggle, knowing my face was scarlet at the situation. I'd never seen his torso bare before. A heat blanketed my mind and dangerous thoughts were running through my head.

Our eyes met as I grabbed the towel, and the intensity of the situation deepened. By looking into my eyes he must've known the lust I felt because his darkened as well.

I broke the trance with a flush and grabbed the towel, standing up on my toes to reach his head. He bent down and broke the ice by laughing at my shortness,"Sweet cheeks, you seemed a little taller at the ball."

"Oh hush it, Damien. I don't have to do this, you know."

"Well what if I command it?"

"I would rather you command me to do other things." I remark. He stiffened up and held his lower towel tighter, and I realized in that moment what I had just said.

He took a deep breath," I'm going to change, feel free to... relax in the meantime." His eyes were so dilated, they were almost completely black.

What the hell did you do Annalise!

I plopped on the couch as Damien retreated into his closet and I couldn't help but watch his back muscles ripple in his walk.

Dammit!

I needed to distract myself. I grabbed the painting and slid it under the couch, then picked up a book I obviously couldn't focus on.

He walked back in fully clothed,"Battle Tactics Guide 101? You're not thinking of going into war, are you Annalise?" He adjusted his cotton sleep shirt, looking sexy as ever.

"I'm just brushing up." I state calmly, and place the book back on the stack.

"When did you ever study battle tactics?" He sat down next to me. His hair was still wet, and I could smell his aftershave stronger than usual.

"Ever since I got into arguments with you."

He threw his head back and laughed," Then why am I still winning the quarrels, mhm?"

"Who said you were!" I sat up in my seat, appalled.

"I did." He smirked.

"You can't just make up the rules for who wins!"

"Yet I can."

"Actually, in the book I just read, the King calls the shots. Aren't you still a Prince, Darius?" I tilted my head, toying with him.

He stared me down with a devious smile," You aren't going to receive your BlackBerry gift if you continue like this."

"Well you won't either." I held my ground, not breaking our eye contact.

"Truce?" He held out his hand.

"Truce." And I shook it," Now your gift first."

"Mine! Now you're making the rules, princess." He laughed once again. I was happy we were able to relax like this after the ball, away from all eyes. It felt good to know Damien was still Damien under his large crown.

"Why so nervous? That's very un-princely like of you."

"Alright, alright-perhaps I am a little nervous." A wolfish grin spread across his face. He started to take out something from his pocket, then stopped. "Stand up and turn around." I smiled at him and followed his command,"Close your eyes."

I did as I was told and waited. I heard something pop open behind me and Damien moved my hair aside. A cold, metal chain was placed around my neck and a small pendent was weighing it down. I felt Damien fumble with the chain clasp and turned me back around.

"You can open your eyes now." He stated. I opened them to see Damien's hopeful face, waiting for my reaction. I glanced down and picked up the gold necklace, the chain weightless as could be. The pendent held a gold rose with a crown circling the top of it. Though the crown was very tiny, I could tell from the small details and curvatures that it was Damien's crown upon the rose.

"Damien... is this your crown?" I asked him, my eyes softening.

"Yes, it is." He was still waiting my reaction, his face emotionless.

Did he think I would reject it?

"I'm going to wear this at all times. I love it," I reassured him.

He slowly smiled," You will?"

"Are you stupid! Of corse I will, especially because this means something to me. Every time I look at this necklace, I will remember this wonderful night with you." I smiled up at him. Our eyes met again, filled with passion.

"Annalise, I've been meaning to talk to you for a while about-"

"Wait- I need to give you my present first." I pulled out my gift from under the couch, realizing he got a quick glance,"Close it!"

"Alright, alright." He sighed.

I stared at it, feeling self conscious again. I looked at his gift he gave me and back at mine. I never knew Damien could be so thoughtful, I knew he must've put a lot into his gift.

He was so sweet sometimes.

Mine was a painting of us dancing, but up close to our faces. We were laughing in it, hands intertwined and eyes full of joy. I made sure to get his eyebrows just right, pulling a picture from my history book of him. We were both staring into each other's eyes and it frustrated me how I couldn't get the color of his eyes right. I painted the background a sunset around us, mixing the purples and oranges was not easy. The more I thought about it... it's the ideal image of my dream come true.

"Annalise, how did you do this?"

"I told you to close your eyes!" I embarrassingly covered up my face with my hands, moving a few fingers to peek at his reaction. He was staring at it in wonder, tracing his calloused hands against the brush strokes.

"Did you pay somebody to do this?" He grabbed my hands from my face. Heat and electricity spread from his touch, eyes still full of wonder as he gazed into mine.

"Look at the back," I replied, and he turned it around. My initials were written in cursive with a little heart, plus a message.

"To Darius, from Princess sweet cheeks."

He flipped it over and gazed at it some more, tracing his finger over my lips in the painting. He looked back over at me.

"I have something I need to say, Annalise. I tried to before in the hospital room, yet I wasn't ready then. I was too scared of the thought of losing you," his whole body shifted my way. Damien took another breath,"I recently realized by not taking this step to tell you how I really felt, I would really lose you." He met my eyes, then placed a hand on the side of my face. I almost shivered at Damien's intimate touch, the fireplace adding to the setting and his words drawing me closer.

"I like you a lot, Annalise. I don't know if you feel this insane pull toward me like I to you, but I can't hold back any longer." He slowly leaned in, looking into my eyes one more time for reassurance. I gave a soft nod, following his actions.

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HAHAHAHA I KNOW YALL ARE DYING. I am sorry, this must be the worst torture. I hope you liked the chapter though 😭the next one is coming out sooner then later due to y'alls comments that I know are about to come.

I love them all though. I makes me like "damn this book is actually good?" So thank you for commenting and reminding me people love this damn book for some reason.

I love you all🥺writing the next one right now!