A stolen glance
414 Words
Elara began noticing Adrian everywhere.
At first, she told herself it was because he was new.
The palace guards were usually familiar faces. She knew which soldiers stood outside the throne room, which ones guarded the gardens, and which ones accompanied her father during public ceremonies.
Adrian was different.
He was quiet.
He never joined the servants in gossip.
He rarely laughed with the other guards.
And whenever Elara looked toward him, he seemed to be looking somewhere else.
That made her curious.
During her history lesson, Elara found herself staring through the window instead of listening to her tutor.
“Princess?”
She blinked.
“Yes?”
“Who founded the eastern province?”
Elara glanced at the book.
“King Theron.”
“Very good.”
Her tutor continued.
Elara looked outside again.
Adrian stood beneath an archway in the courtyard.
He was speaking with another soldier.
She quickly turned away.
This was ridiculous.
She didn’t know him.
She shouldn’t care about him.
At lunch, Queen Celestine noticed her distraction.
“You seem distant today.”
“I’m tired.”
The queen studied her.
“Your father’s announcement has troubled you.”
Elara sighed.
“The prince.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to marry someone simply because our families think it is useful.”
Celestine’s expression softened.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Her mother was silent for a moment.
“When I was your age, I had dreams too.”
Elara looked at her.
“What happened to them?”
“I became queen.”
The answer hurt more than Elara expected.
That evening, she walked through the eastern corridor.
Adrian stood there.
“Good evening, Princess.”
“Good evening.”
She continued walking.
Then stopped.
“Adrian?”
“Yes?”
“Do you like the palace?”
He seemed surprised by the question.
“It is very different from home.”
“Do you miss home?”
“Sometimes.”
“What is it like?”
“A small village. Cold winters. A noisy blacksmith shop.”
“Your father’s?”
He nodded.
Elara smiled.
“It sounds peaceful.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Your life doesn’t seem peaceful either.”
Elara’s smile disappeared.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she whispered, “Perhaps it isn’t.”
She walked away.
Adrian watched her disappear around the corner.
For the first time, he wondered what kind of woman lived behind the princess’s crown.
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