Day 69

Morning

It's been two weeks since that so fateful day I got drenched in rain, ended up with a fever and fell asleep with my head against the prince's chest. The very next day when I woke up, he was gone. And I heard from Kace he left to handle some matters in the neighboring country of Acullis.

And since, I've been extremely problematic, having thoughts of him stuck in my head.

But just like what Luca told me, the more I tried to push the feelings and thoughts away the worst they grew.

"Riselle dear, the prince has returned last night so I thought you might want to see him!" Aunt Aline peeked into my room. I was seated in front of the vanity looking at myself. "Because you know... You've been mentioning him a lot lately, hehe."

"A-aunt Aline!"

She wasn't wrong though. I can't talk about this with that loudmouth daughter of her's, more so the boys, so I ended up venting and opening up towards Aunt Aline. And now she's going to tease me about it. "Anyway, I'll go see him. I guess."

"Thatta girl! He's In his personal garden." She winks and heads off.

After I take a minute to brush my hair that way I don't present myself looking as if I just woke up from a nightmare, I go over to Rowan's personal garden where I find him sitting on a bench beside calla lillies.

"Good morning, Rowan." I greet once I enter. "I've been informed you've returned from your duties." Ah man, the last time I seen him was when I was in such an odd position! This feels so awkward.

"Good morning to you too my love-"

"Now you're calling me your love?!" My calm demanour was quickly replaced into a startled one. "Can't you just use my name?"

"Doesn't it sound much nicer when I call you something that tells the world that you're mine?" He grinned up to his eyes. As if he was messing with me. Oh wait, he most definitely is. "Come, sit beside me."

While still looking aghast with this man who appears before me, I walk over to the bench and take a seat beside him.

"How were you the past two weeks?" He asks.

"Fine, I guess."

"You didn't miss me?"

"I worried for your safety, as a prince. And as a friend." I crossed my arms. "I guess you could say I did miss you. But on non-romantic terms."

"Then that's good enough for me."

Rowan still maintaned the grin on his face. At this point, no matter what I say nothing would be able to throw him off and it would just throw me off instead.

Forget about that annoying prince. I'm in his personal garden with all the pretty flowers, and I'll just turn my attention to that instead.

"Do you like the calla lillies?" The prince asks me. Curses! He's always a step ahead.

"Yeah. They're pretty."

"They're my favorite flowers. You want to know why?"

"Mmm. Why?" I was genuinely curious. The calla lily flower could be associated with deaths and the sympathetic departing of souls, but could also mean innocence and purity. Could it be the prince also has profound thoughts along with his appreciation for nature?

The idea of him going on about insightful or heartfelt things is making me gush. And I dislike it! Aah jees I'm going to lose sight of my goals at this rate. Huhu...

"Because back when I was a young boy, I made a promise with the girl that always came to visit the castle. And that promise was that we'd marry in the future. After we made that promise, she came to me the next day with a calla lily flower and explained that the flower had different meanings, but most of all to the two of us it meant faithfulness."

"And... That girl was me?" That's cute but now I feel the guilt once again for losing all those memories.

"Yes." The prince plucks a beautiful white calla lily that had a shade of deep blue on the inside, then hands it to me. This little interaction we were having was making my heart do 360s out of my control. I partially wanted to get up and bury my face in dirt.

I took the flower from him and held it close to my face. It smells nice.

"Do you believe in the saying 'the mind forgets, but the heart will always remember.' ?" He asks.

"Ah, that's pretty deep." I chuckle awkwardly while avoiding his gaze and looking at the flower instead.

"I think your heart remembers. Actually. I'm sure of it."

"Well..." I mean I guess he's not wrong. My heart has been a wild beast the past week when it comes to you. "Rowan... Prince. You see, I appreciate how caring you are towards me and all. I think you're right, my heart does remember. But there are still goals and things I want to achieve and I feel like marrying will just interupt that."

"I see." The prince looked at me with serious eyes. And I realize what I just said was pretty much a confession.

I want to send my soul to the divine gods right now and beg they take me away from the shame I have brought upon myself. I wasn't supposed to confess my feelings! I was just supposed to kindly tell him I didn't want to marry!

"Riselle."

"Y-yes?" Internally panicking internally panicking, calm down Riselle you got this! If he points out your face is mad red just say you're allergic to the calla lily!

"I said I'd make you fall in love with me. But now I'm going to make you fall so madly in love you won't be able to speak of not wanting to marry in my presence." He returned to his usual, cocky self. "Besides, my love. I'd give the world to you if I could. I'll be there to help make your goals happen." The cocky prince winks.

Gotta give him points for that last line though. It was cheesy but made my heart flutter. And the more he acts like this, or says such things, the more I just want to stop fighting my feelings.

And in the end I'll just be playing right into the first part of what he said. Sigh.

"We should go to breakfast now, Rowan." I change the topic, because there's no way I can respond to what he said without saying something foolish or can be used to tease me.

"Alright. But before that, I must inform you that you will be coming with me in three days to the kingdom of Revellis. Prince Lichter has invited me to a ball."

"Oh wow! Am I going to play for the guests?" Being able to play music for royalty in neighboring kingdoms would be another completed box in my checklist!

"No, you will accompany me as something like a fiancé."

"Huh." My mood changes from excited to completely uninterested.

"Prince Lichter is- well you could say he loves bringing in ladies and It would be bothersome if I came to the ball looking very single."

"Ah... Yeah I guess I can understand that." Sometimes it feels like the prince struggles with women more than political or social matters that came along with handling a kingdom.

"So you're alright with coming?"

"Mmm. I guess it'll be fine." I'll just think of it as an opportunity for new experiences. I might learn a couple things too.

"Great." Rowan smiles and pats my head.

"Is that really necessary?" I push his hand off and stand up. "Breakfast. Let's go. I'm hungry." Looks like I've accumulated a bit of a nerve, being able to speak so demandingly to the prince now.

Do you have a favorite flower? If so what is it & why?

(I hope y'alls don't mind this random question stuff popping up more often, I just like getting to know my readers and what y'all like! I learn a few things from them •^•)