Romance With The King

Chapter 3

“The prince is back!”

I heard that line for like the ninth time, and from a different mouth. We just got through the gates a minute earlier and this town sure is talking.

‘What do you expect? It’s a great kingdom with a high population.’

I was about to close the curtains when Creed’s voice got through my ears.

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“Don’t close it up. Leave an open and friendly impression.”

“Oh. I get it.”

“Good,” he spoke. Minutes later, he spoke again.  “When we get to the palace, you can choose to nap. Your servant will show you the way. The distance we travelled must have been tiring for you.”

“N-no. Not at all. Can I… explore the palace?”

“Go ahead. But do not blame me when night comes and you are already sleepy. A formal dinner will be held tonight. And let me tell you; expect a series of interrogations from my mother and sister.”

“I understand. Do not worry. I just wish to see some certain places in this palace.” Oh, God. Interrogations? With his mother and sister? Why do I feel like they are such terror people?

“Then, just play through our act when we get there. It will be brief.”

“I’ve been thinking about this since earlier, but why act? They must have known that we are marrying for political reasons. Love can’t bloom at such brief time.”

“My sister is friends with Lady Eve. So, expect Eve to be at the palace too. They seem inseparable.”

‘Great. How am I supposed to compete with your former lover when she’s close with your sister?’

“Then, you mean to say to just act all over you to make her jealous?”

“That’s a weird statement construction, but yes. Do not worry. I will always reciprocate.”

‘That is a relief.’

“Oh. And before I forget, go straight to your room, actually. You can always explore the kingdom within the day, but get your hair fixed first. Pardon me, but your hair looks kind of a mess.”

Hot, hot, hot.

I could feel my face burning.

This is so embarrassing.

So, does this mean that I’ve been talking to the boy I’ve liked this whole time with a hair so messy?

‘Yep, I did. I certainly did. Gosh, I’m such an embarrassment!’

I just realized that I subconsciously wrapped my hands around my face to hide me from him, but as observant as His Royal Highness, Prince Oliveros Creed of Pevanshire is, he immediately made a comment.

I could see how his eyes hastily glance at me without really turning his head.

“But you do not have to panic. It is just your hair. I believe that you always want your hair to look good with other ladies around.”

“How do you know?”

“I have a younger sister.”

“Right.”

As if on cue, the carriage slowed down, and as I looked outside, we were on the drawbridge. And not just any silent drawbridge, because a lot of people were outside.

“THERE SHE IS! OUR FUTURE QUEEN!”

“MAKE WAY! I WANT TO SEE HER TOO!”

“You are all blocking the way. Step aside!”

“Stop pushing!”

“Wow. She’s beautiful!” I could hear a child’s voice, and upon hearing such pure comment, I almost got my head out of the carriage window to see the child. But then, I remembered that I actually had messy hair.

Prince Oliveros must have seen me contemplating, and having a good side, he called one of the guards.

“Relay this message to the crowd that the future queen is willing to meet them within the week.  As for now, she wishes to rest after travelling a long distance.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

The carriage eventually came to a temporary stop, and the announcement was made. The crowd cheered, and as I peeked, they were slowly clearing the road, able to understand what was stated.

Such understanding people.

“I can see what you meant by having simple people, Your Highness,” I said, passing him a genuine smile. “Thank you,” I thanked him, referring to what he just did seconds earlier.

“It is nothing. By the way, prepare yourself. We will be getting down the carriage in a few moments right after we enter the palace grounds.”

“Understood.”

Silence enveloped us once again, but I no longer bothered to worry even a bit because I knew we were gonna exit the carriage that trapped us in such silence.

Like I expected, the carriage has stopped, and I can hear the wooden stairs clicking against the stone brick grounds.

The carriage door was opened, and the prince made his way out first.

‘Well, I guess he has played enough as the gentleman.’

I sighed as I tried to make my way out, but then, my thoughts were proven wrong as Prince Oliveros Creed stood there at the side, extending his hand for me.

He need not to speak any words, as his eyes says it all that he wanted to assist me to get down.

I stopped myself from smiling too hard as I held his hand, and made my way down to the ground.

“Welcome.”

Creed said with a gentle, genuine smile.

He looked pretty and just pure charming.

“Thank you.”

++++++++++

As instructed, a servant came to meet me, and I followed her towards the room. We passed through three stairways, and we walked through such a long, dim-lighted  corridors. It was not scary at all, it felt comfortable.

After a series of walking, we came to a stop in front of two large, wooden doors. The servant then took out some keys as she unlocked the doors.

The door opened, and in front me was a room full of things that screamed luxury. There was a queen-sized bed that ad curtains at the sides. There was a luxurious dressing table that had lots of feminine stuffs; jewelries, make up, and some things for the hair. It looked amazing.

“May I ask you to take a seat, Your Highness? I will start fixing your hair now.”

“Oh, of course,” I responded as I made my way towards the dressing table.

After taking a seat, the girl wasted no time as she starts brushing my hair.

I looked at her through the mirror’s reflection, and she looked really young.

“May I ask what your name is?”

“I’m Medina, Your Highness,” she responded as she continued to brush my hair.

“Medina… that’s a nice name. You look young, can you tell me what your age could be??”

“I’m 15, nearing 16, Your Highness.”

“That’s rather a young age to be working as a servant. Were you forced?”

“No. Actually, I was the one who volunteered to enter the palace and serve as a servant. I have heard that the royal family treats even their servants well. My life outside the palace is not so good, so I kind of made this my escape.”

I just nodded, processing her words. And when I looked back at the mirror, my hair was already in a nice hair do.

Medina instructed me to face the sides, and I did. After that, she applied some light make up; powder, lipstick that has red as its color, and some blush.

I erased a bit of the lipstick to not make my lips so unnaturally red. I wanted it to be just right, not too much, not too less.

“His Highness is still waiting for you downstairs. Shall we go back, now?”

“Yes.”

We passed the very same way we passed going towards the room. But this time, we used the grand stairway since I asked Medina to take another path.

The prince was still standing at the same spot I left him, reading some rolled paper, and when he saw me, he kept it in his clothes.

I was now by his side, and Medina has already excused herself, as a girl’s shout echoed throughout the empty court.

“Oli! Oli! I missed you!” A girl who looks somewhere between 16 to 19 ran to Creed, welcoming him with a hug that looked so tight as she had the biggest smile she could ever wore. 

“I was only gone for a day, Cahsey,” Creed responded.

Princess Cahsey broke the hug, and her eyes came searching for something in the atmosphere beside Creed, and then her round blue eyes met mine.

“H-hello,” I greeted awkwardly. Stiff as a rock, and voice was shaky.

Princess Cahsey gasp, then whispered something on Creed’s ear, giggling after that, making Creed laugh a bit, too.

‘Is she making a negative comment about me, perhaps?’

“Hello! As you can see, I am your future husband’s sister, Princess Cahsey, but anyway, can I steal you away from him for now? I really want to talk about many things about you. You’re so beautiful!”

My nervousness was gone as I came to see that Princess Cahsey is actually a friendly and a jolly princess.

“Sure. I would love that, Your Highness.”

Princes Cahsey tiptoed as she went closer to my ear, intending to whisper something. “When it’s just the two of us, you can just call me Cahsey. We are family, after all.”

I smiled the biggest. “I am very honored.”

I was happy, but something inside me felt uneasy.

Is she not mad at me? I literally just replaced her best friend.

“Welcome back, Your Highness,” another girl’s voice said, and I looked at where it came from, and a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes came to sight, bowing before Prince Oliveros. She looked like a dream as her blue eyes shine, and with how nice her hair was. She had these beautiful facial features, and she just looked perfect.

“Oh, hello, Evelyn! Come, my brother’s future wife is pretty, don’t you think?” Princess Cahsey entered the conversation that Lady Evelyn started between her and Creed.

Evelyn… Is she the Lady Eve that Creed was referring to?

“Lady Eve…”