Chapter 3

“Lady Victoria” My mind drifted in and out of sleep while someone shook me.

“Ugmfgh.” I rolled over away from the person trying to wake me, desperately wanting them to leave me alone.

“Lady Victoria, it’s time to get up. All of your presents from last night have been brought up.” The voice of Amelia was immediately recognized in my head and I opened my eyes squinting from the bright light that was penetrating through my window that she had opened. She had a huge smile on her face and her hands were on her hips. Oh no.

“No more lessons!” I groaned, shielding my eyes from the light.

“There’re no lessons anymore my lady. You are free to do as you please. But it is time to arise this lovely morning.” She gave me a smile and walked out of the room humming some sort of tune.

“Thank goodness.” I sighed. I got out of bed to find gifts everywhere. Bags, boxes, ribbons, and bows everywhere! I’ll go through them later. I washed my face before slipping into a plain white dress. I pulled my hair into a simple braid and waltzed down to breakfast in a rather good mood.

I had eggs and biscuits for breakfast with some freshly squeezed orange juice. I was getting more stares from the surrounding people in the mess hall but I simply ignored them all. After I was finished, I headed to the library and picked out a book before heading back to the tree I had laid underneath before across from the knight’s practice yards. I don’t know why I chose this spot again. Was it so I could watch the prince again? No, I liked this tree. It was comfortable and I enjoyed reading here. It had no connection with the Prince what so ever. I opened my book and began to read, self consciously sneaking a glance at the prince practicing every once and awhile. I wasn’t certain but I thought that he caught me staring one time and smiled but I could have been imagining it.

I tried greatly to pay attention to what I was reading but I would realize that I had no idea what I was reading and would have to re-read the whole page again. Eventually the knight’s training session ended and they all went inside. I felt a twang of disappointment when the prince went inside. What? Did I really think that he would come over as soon as he was done just to see me? I was crazy if I thought so.

I tried to pay attention to my book and keep myself distracted. Eventually, I succeeded and got lost in my novel.

SNAP!!!

My heads jerked up to the sound of a twig snapping to see Alex holding a white bundle of something.

“Did I frighten you again?” He chuckled.

“No, not at all.” I gave him a peachy smile.

“Sure.” He retorted.

I laughed and he proceeded to sit down next to me.

“So, Lady Victoria, I was wondering if you would join me on a picnic.” He gestured to the white bundle and opened it to reveal some food.

I blushed lightly. “Sure, I would enjoy that.”

“Splendid, we could stay here or go somewhere else if you would prefer that.”

“Let’s just go a little deeper in the woods.” ‘Where nobody can bother us’ I added in my head.

“Alright.” He stood up, picnic basket in one hand, and helped me up with the other. When I was up, he took my book and laid it in the bundle then took my hand again.

As we walked we were silent for a while but it wasn’t awkward. It was a comfortable silence. Finally, he spoke, startling me a bit.

“So, are you going to the ball?” He questioned.

“Um, I guess so. Your mother insisted that she have all of these gowns made and fitted for me.” I smiled looking up at him.

“Well then I believe you must come.” He chuckled.

We walked in comfortable silence for a while longer before I spotted something an opening in the trees ahead on the path.

“What’s that?” I queried.

We hurried to the opening and gazed inside. A meadow had been formed with tons and tons of wild flowers.

“It’s beautiful.” I gasped.

“Just like you.” Alex whispered. I don’t think he intended for me to hear it so I simply brushed it off, but not before smiling to myself.

We walked in and Alex pulled out all of the food. There were rolls, some meat, and a jug of water. It wasn’t anything special but I hadn’t had a lot of breakfast so I was starving. I grabbed a roll and lay on my back enjoying it. Alex did the same next to me.

What am I thinking!? He’s the prince and I’m a peasant girl whose father just happens to be on the king’s council. He would never think of liking me.

His smooth, velvet voice broke the silence.

“I’m sorry for not telling you the truth.” He sat up, looking at me.

“You’re fine. It was just surprising that’s all.” I smiled up at him.

“But I should have told you.”

SNAP!!

Both of our heads snapped towards the entrance to the meadow to see the one and only Sir Edward.

“Why won’t he leave me alone?” I whimpered so that only Alex and I could hear.

“There you are Lady Victoria.” Edward walked towards us pretending not to notice Alex. “Your father was looking for you. He needs to speak with you right away.”

I closed my eyes before turning to Alex.

“Thank you, I had a wonderful time.” I gave him a warm smile and he stood up offering me his hand. I got up and followed Edward, who was grinning like a maniac, out of the clearing.

We made our way back to the castle but when we were about to get out of the woods, Edward grabbed my arm and started leading me through a different path.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You’ll find soon enough.” He answered gruffly.

We walked for about five more minutes before Edward stopped. We were still in the woods with nothing spectacular around.

“What are we doing here?” I asked again.

Edward turned towards me with a devilish grin plastered on his conniving face. He moved closer to me; so close that I could feel his hot breath fanning my face. He lifted up a hand and softly caressed my face. I took a step back feeling violated.

“Come on Victoria. I am so in love with you. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. Just one kiss.” He moved closer and I kept backing up. My back hit a tree and I started to turn to run but his rough hand landed on my waist and pinned me against the tree.

“HEL-” I started to scream but he forced his lips onto mine causing my plea’s to become muffled. I thrashed but his iron grip was too strong for me to move against. He then pinned my hands behind my back and covered my mouth with one hand while he kept the other on my waist. He started to move down my neck and I started panicking. I managed to bite his hand and he yowled in pain.

“Help!! Hel-” I screamed but he covered my mouth again.

“There’s no one to save you ‘My Lady’.” He chuckled to himself before falling to the ground revealing Alex holding a rock in his hand. I fell to the earth on my hands and knees weeping profusely. Alex crouched next to me pulling me into a hug.

“Shhh, you’re alright now Victoria.”

He rocked me back and forth.

“Now, you wait for me here to come back and get you. I’m going to take Sir Edward here back to my father. I’ll be right back. I promise.” He set me back on the ground and wrapped something around my shoulders. I saw Edward’s unconscious body being lifted off the ground and carried off through the woods. I continued sobbing and closed my eyes.

That wretched monster. He was the most despicable man on the earth.

I attempted to push the thoughts out of my head but they kept coming back. I accepted wallowing in my pity and eventually cried myself to sleep.

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

I woke up with a cool rag being dabbed on my forehead. I slowly opened my eyes to see Alex looking down at me.

“Are you alright?” He whispered to me looking concerned.

“Ya, I think so….” I answered. “Where are we?” I looked around to see a room I did not recognize.

“Infirmary. I insisted that I take care of you myself. I feel responsible for not accompanying you back to the castle.”

I sat up to look at him. “Oh, Alex it was not your fault. You could not have for seen what Sir Edward was going to do.” I felt a tear run down my cheek and Alex wiped it off of my cheek with his thumb. He continued dabbing my forehead with the cloth. His crystal blue eyes stared straight into mine making my breath get caught in my chest.

“You are very beautiful.” He whispered to me.

I could feel the crimson color rush up to my cheeks and I looked down smiling. He lifted my head back up with two fingers and slowly moved forward. I could feel his warm, sweet breath fanning my face as he inched closer. He lightly placed his lips on mine and it was as if fireworks were going everywhere. It was so magical. It was a feeling that I had only read about in my novels that I loved so dearly.

He pulled away smiling.

“I’m sorry.” I mumbled.

“Why?” He laughed.

I joined in with him and he grabbed my hand and lightly kissed it. I blushed again. What was with all of the blushing!? How did one single person affect me this way?

“It’s cute when you blush.” He chuckled.

Of course this made me blush even more.

I finally mustered up the courage to speak again.

“How long was I asleep?” I asked curious.

“Well, it’s time for dinner.” He replied coolly. He stood up and offered me his hand. “Would you accompany me?”

I took his hand and stood up. He led us towards the royal’s dining chamber while still holding my hand. We came upon a huge door and the guards let us pass through. I clung to his arm a little nervous but he just squeezed my hand reassuringly. The King and Queen weren’t there yet so he pulled out a chair and let me sit prior to sitting beside me and taking my hand again under the table. The King and Queen came in and gave Alex a surprised look before sitting down and the food was brought out.

“What a pleasant surprise Lady Victoria.” The queen greeted me.

“Please, do call me Victoria. It’s an honor to dine with you your highness.” I said gratefully.

“Well, if you need no title, neither do I. Please call me Petunia.” She gave me a smile.

I nodded in acceptance.

“So, Victoria,” The king started. “That man, Sir Edward, did a terrible thing to you today. I am pleased to let you know that he will no longer be bothering you here anymore. He has been banished from castle grounds and sent back to his home in Lyham.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much your highness.”

He gave me a grin and proceeded in eating his dinner.

“So, I see Alex has taken a liking to you as have I.” The queen said smiling profusely. I looked down at my lap and chuckled as I could feel the blood rushing up to my cheeks. I could see out of the corner of my eye that Alex was a great deal red as well.

The rest of the evening was lovely and I thanked both the King and Queen before Alex and I left. He walked me to my bed chamber and stopped outside my door.

“Goodnight love.” He smiled and leaned forward putting a light kiss on my lips.

“Goodnight.” I whispered, barely audible, but I knew he could hear me.

I saw him smile before he let go of my hand and walked back down the corridor before turning a corner and disappearing from my range of sight. I sighed dreamily and walked inside my room. I slipped my dress off and slipped into bed falling instantly into another deep sleep, but this time was filled with dreams of the prince and me.

A/N

Hey guys! I hope you like my story! Thanks for reading! Anyways, I am going on a trip this week and won't be able to update until next Saturday or Sunday. I'll try to update as soon as i get home if I'm not too tired.

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~Mandy