Love me

Episode 1: Chapter 3-The courtship begins

The days following the royal banquet passed more quickly than Raymond had expected. Ever since that evening, Princess Aliya had become a frequent guest at the palace. Sometimes they met in the royal library, discussing history and foreign kingdoms. Other times, they walked through the gardens or rode horses across the palace fields like they had years ago.

To everyone around them, it looked perfect. Servants whispered whenever they crossed paths.

"The prince seems happier."

"I've never seen him laugh this much."

"They're a perfect match."

Even members of the royal council had begun discussing wedding preparations behind closed doors. Raymond heard the rumors. He didn't stop them. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps this was how love began. Not with fireworks. But with comfort. The afternoon sun filtered through the palace orchard as Raymond waited beneath an ancient oak tree. A basket of pastries rested beside him. Moments later, footsteps approached. "I hope I haven't kept Your Highness waiting." Raymond looked up. Aliya stood before him in a simple cream-colored dress instead of her usual royal attire. Her long brown hair was tied loosely behind her shoulders. For a brief moment, she looked less like a princess and more like the girl he'd grown up with.

"You haven't."

She noticed the basket.

"You remembered."

"You always liked strawberry pastries." He said. Her eyes widened, "You still remember that?"

"You used to steal them from the kitchen."

"I borrowed them."

"You hid them under your bed." Raymond said raising a brow and slightly curving his lips into a smile.

"They were strategic reserves."

Raymond laughed.

"You were caught because the ants found them first."

Aliya covered her face.

"I thought we'd agreed never to mention that again."

"I never agreed."

"You absolutely did."

"I have no memory of it."

"Convenient."

Their laughter echoed through the orchard. A pair of palace maids walking nearby smiled to themselves.

"They're adorable."

"They're practically courting already."

Later that afternoon, they wandered through the palace greenhouse. Rare flowers from distant kingdoms bloomed beneath the glass ceiling. Aliya paused beside a pale blue flower.

"I've never seen this one before."

"It only blooms once every five years."

She leaned closer.

"It's beautiful."

"So the gardeners tell me."

"You don't like flowers?"

"I don't know enough about them."

Aliya gently brushed a fingertip across one of the petals.

"My mother loved flowers."

Raymond looked at her.

"She used to say every flower blooms differently." She smiled sadly.

"Some bloom early. Some bloom late. And some..." she sighed "...never bloom where people expect them to."

Raymond frowned thoughtfully. "What does that mean?"

She laughed softly. "I never understood either."

Over the following weeks, the kingdom slowly began accepting what seemed inevitable. Whenever invitations arrived from neighboring kingdoms, they were addressed to both Prince Raymond and Princess Aliya. Painters quietly began sketching portraits of the pair together. Tailors discussed wedding fabrics. Even the newspapers printed headlines. "Has the Crown Prince Finally Found His Future Queen?" Raymond couldn't deny it. Aliya would make an extraordinary queen. She was intelligent, patient, compassionate. Everything a kingdom could ask for. Everything, except... Every time he imagined placing a crown upon her head, his heart remained strangely still. He hated himself for noticing. One rainy afternoon, Aliya found Raymond sitting alone in the royal library. Books lay open across the table. Yet he wasn't reading.

"You've been staring at the same page for ten minutes."

He smiled weakly.

"I didn't realize."

She sat across from him.

"What are you thinking about?"

He hesitated.

"Do you think..." He said turning to Aliya "...people choose who they love?"

Aliya blinked. "That's an unusual question."

"Answer it anyway."

She folded her hands together. "I think..." she paused "...people choose who they spend time with. They choose who they trust, who they forgive. But love..."

She smiled faintly. "I don't think anyone gets to choose that."

Raymond looked down at the book. "I see."

She studied him carefully. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason."

"That wasn't 'no reason'."

He laughed. "You still see through me."

"I always have."

That evening, rain continued falling outside.

Raymond stood alone beside his bedroom window. Aliya's words replayed in his mind. "I don't think anyone gets to choose love." He closed his eyes.

"No, I can. I have to."

The kingdom needed a queen. His parents deserved peace of mind. Aliya deserved certainty. He would make this work. He had promised. The following morning, Queen Elean invited Aliya to breakfast. The two women chatted comfortably while Raymond arrived moments later. His father, the king, lowered his newspaper.

"So."

Raymond looked up. "So?"

"I hear you've been spending quite a bit of time together."

Aliya nearly choked on her tea. Raymond sighed.

"I knew this was coming."

The King chuckled.

"The council is convinced we'll be announcing an engagement before winter."

Queen Elean smiled into her teacup.

"I admit..."

"I've been wondering the same thing."

Raymond looked at Aliya. She smiled politely. But he noticed something. She wasn't embarrassed. She wasn't excited. She simply waited for his answer.

"As of now..."

"We're getting to know each other."

The king nodded.

"A sensible answer."

Yet, for reasons Raymond couldn't explain, the words felt disappointingly empty. That evening, Raymond escorted Aliya back to the guest wing. When they reached her door, she stopped. "I had a wonderful day."

"So did I."

She smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course."

For a moment, neither of them moved. It felt as though something was expected. Something neither of them could name. Finally, Aliya stepped forward. She gently wrapped her arms around him. It was a brief hug. Warm, comfortable, familiar. Raymond returned it instinctively. When she pulled away, she searched his face as if searching for something more. Maybe a blush, smile, anything. Instead, Raymond simply wished her goodnight.

"Goodnight, Raymond." She said and then disappeared into her room. Raymond remained standing in the hallway. He touched the sleeve she'd brushed against. Nothing. No racing heartbeat. No flutter in his chest. No overwhelming desire to stop her from leaving. Only comfort. He frowned.

"...Why?"

At the far end of the corridor, someone stood watching. Their face remained hidden beneath the shadows. They watched Raymond for only a moment. Then turned away. As the figure disappeared around the corner, a single sentence echoed through Raymond's mind.

"You cannot force your heart to choose."

Raymond clenched his fists.

"...You're wrong."