Princess Elise

Chapter 10: Spring Festival

Chapter 10: Spring festival

Elise's Point of View:

Just as Nate promised me, he came to see me in 2 weeks after I agreed to run just after the spring ball. I had to keep the secret that I know about Nate's escape from Michelangelo and act like I'm sad and angry at the same time at them for doing this.

After those 2 weeks, he came and for 5 days in a row we kept seeing each other. Then, I had to wait another 2 weeks to see him for 3 days and we kept seeing each other for a few days and 2 weeks he disappeared, saying that he has work to do. We kept seeing like that for the next 4 moths, having a great time together.

We talked about pretty much everything and I began to love his mindset, everything about him seems perfect ... maybe too perfect. He also told me that he doesn't have a family, his parents d*ed a while ago and he doesn't know anyone else to be related to him. That was kind of a sad conversation. He also told me that he's mostly stable with his financial life and I couldn't help but to observe that he's just as clean and educated as I am. I love the fact that he's not behaving like a normal commoner would, he doesn't like to be told what to do, he is not tempted by the w*ores from the city like the peasants and he's not the humble and frightened type, he's an imposing man and he likes adventure. 

The spring ball will take place in Norway this year. Every year, the place where is held the spring ball changes since the kingdoms around signed the armistice so all the nobility with a high rank will be gathered together and everyone will have the chance to brag with their achievements.

This year is our turn to be the hosts and King William told me that I should behave or otherwise he will tell that beast about my bad behavior and let him decide a new punishment so that means that I have to avoid as much as possible the nobles gathered there or act like a puppet and I chose to do the first one.

The King is bossing around the maids and butler, along with my mother that yells at the poor maids because they got the wrong color of the flowers. They wanted to get me into this s*itty situation too, to boss the maids around to have the best dress picked up for tomorrow. No, thanks. I drew a sketch of the dress on my own that I want to be wearing as I'm pretty good at drawing and I told them the exact color that I want it to be.

I finished my part pretty quickly. Hmm ... maybe not that quick as I had to argue with my mother over the makeup matter. I'm not gonna wear that stupid thing on my already too pretty face and ruin it when I'm older.

Today I have scheduled to have a meeting with Nate at the same spot as always, close to a river. He wanted to see me and wish me luck for tomorrow with that beast. I truly need him to encourage and support me right now. He always knows what to say to make me feel better and go on with everything that I'm going thru with my parents because of that beast.

With the spring ball taking place tomorrow, everyone will be too busy to notice that I'm gone from the castle, making it easier for me to run away from the castle and see my dear Nate. I really missed him this week.

This time I didn't had to sneak out, all I had to do was walk out the front gate. At first the guards didn't wanted to let me pas, but I told them that mother put me chose the flowers this time because the maids got the wrong color for the imperial lily. 

The were still suspicious so I began to tell them more about this matter so they would get bored and let me thru. Who would like to hear that the maids got the imperial lily with more white on the petals than pink and this time I should get a dark pink with just a little bit of white on the edges? Boring, isn't it? They left me get thru eventually and I galloped away, looking back to make sure I'm not followed so no one will find out about me and Nate.

All those times we have seen each other, I kept trying to kiss him, in a subtle manner, but he just keeps telling me that it's too soon and I should wait. It wouldn't have been such a bad thing after all, he's 19 and I'm 16 ... almost 17. It would have been just a kiss.

What I should be waiting for, more exactly? We already said that we will run away together and he said he wants to be mine. Crazy boy.

And there he was, waiting for me on the bed made up by him. He rose up and came towards me, helping me get off of Maximus back tho I don't need help, but still, it's a nice gesture and I get to be hold by him so it's fine for me.

-" Hello, my princess!", he greeted me in a tender tone, kissing my cheek.

-" I thought we agreed for you to call me by my name, not a princess.", I replied giggling.

-" Hmm, alright then, but could I call you my sweat potato? I know how much you like potatoes.", he asked laughing at me and I pouted.

-" No, no you can't!", I replied in my angry baby tone and turned my back at him and he laughed even louder. Why does his laugh has to be so cute?

-" Alright Elise, alright. Now come on here and eat something with me.", he said smiling and holding my hand after he turned me around to face him.

I rolled my eyes at him, but he gave me a toothy smile and I gave up and sat down next to him. Surprisingly, he have been fishing in the river from the proximity so he could cook me some fried fish that he caught.

Well, that was tasty. We cuddled for a few minutes, but then I thought about our escape plan. He said he thought about everything and I shouldn't be worried, but I want to know to.

-" Now you will tell me your plan for us to run away? I can't just sit and let you do everything.", I said, throwing my b*tt on his stomach, sitting on him and he groaned.

-" What is this for?", he asked raising his hands.

-" For not telling me what your plan is about.", I said crossing my arms.

-" I've talked to someone and he can take us to Russia.", he assured, embracing me and I laid back on his chest.

-" That's great news! We could leave after the ball, no one would see us or realize I'm gone!", I said exited, cupping his face. Finally, I can run away from them and talk to whoever makes me happy.

-" Yea ... about that ... He is very busy right now and will take us there only in 2 weeks from now.", and my smile dropped immediately.

-" I can't wait that long ... tell him that I'm gonna pay."

-" It doesn't work like that sweet heart. I'm sorry.", he said tightening his grip on me like he's afraid I'm gonna leave for that.

-" I wanna be mad at you, but you called me sweet heart and now I can't decide if I should slap you or to kiss you.", I paused and smiled mischievously at him. " so I'm just gonna do both ...", and I slapped him and his face in that moment was just priceless, and then kissed his cheek that I just slapped. His eyes were wide open and his mouth fell to the ground. He sat like that for a whole  minute, frowning incredulous, like he doesn't believe that I just did that. Alright, maybe it was an impulsive gesture, but I can't take it back now so I stopped smiling and I put my puppy eyes on display.

-" You just slapped me ...", he said incredulous and if he wouldn't have been upset, I would have laughed out loud.

-" And then I kissed you.", I pouted and he kept looking at me like that. " Alright, alright, that was rude of me to do. I'm sorry.", I said rolling over him.

He looked at me suspicious yet funny with a raised eyebrow and caught my nose between his fingers.

-" Don't do that again, alright?"

-" Alright.", I answered in a funny voice 'cause he blocked my nose and then smiled at me.

We played around for another 10 minutes when we saw a cub wondering around, searching for something to eat. Nate checked to see if his mother was around while I fed the furry baby, but he found no one so I decided to keep him. We played with the cub 'till the sun was down down and I had to go back to the castle.

I took the little  cub with me and Nate accompanied me, as always. He hugged me goodbye and when I backed away from his embrace I looked into his eyes, hoping that he would kiss me, but no. He cupped my face and kissed me fiercely on my forehead, but nothing more. When I looked away he realized what I was waiting for and sighed. I also sighed and crossed my arms and he placed his hand under my chin, making me look at him.

-" Don't be mad at me, you'll get everything you want after the wedding.", he said with a tender smile on.

-" What wedding?", I asked, not knowing what he means by 'after the wedding' thing.

-" Ours, my dear. I won't kiss you now 'cause you were betrothed to someone else, but once you are fully mine, you won't have to show me those sweet pleading eyes for a kiss.", he said and this time he kissed my cheek and ran away. My legs just melted upon hearing those words, but it was still frustrating to know that's his reason for not kissing me. It's a stupid reason.

The guards at the gate changed shifts and they couldn't know what hour I left at, so no one would look at me with bad eyes.

-" Elise! I looked for you all day! Where have you been, young lady?", yelled the King after me and I turned to face him with the cub in my arms.

-" Out, looking for flowers.", I answered coldly and he frowned at seeing my furry baby.

-" And where are the flowers you were looking  for? Or perhaps you thought that wild animal is one?", he asked with  his eyebrow raised and crossed arms.

-" I didn't find any.", I said mimicking his pose.

-" Mhm, sure you didn't. You have to be looking for them to find any.", he sighed exasperated. As soon as he turned his back I ran to my chamber and threw myself on the king sized bed. 2 more weeks and I will be free. I fell asleep immediately, I was exhausted after such a long day of running and playing around with my Nate. I feel asleep thinking about him, the way he kisses me so tender and gently, like I'm the most precious thing in the world, the way he holds me, like he's afraid that someone could take me away from him and this thought makes him fearful of leaving me alone, even for a few seconds and ... *sigh* the way he looks into my eyes, like there is no one else in the world except for me, like I am his whole world, with so much love. How is it that I'm so lucky to have someone like him?

***

The next morning, I had to woke up earlier and prepare myself for the festival. After 3 hours of bathing, dressing and making my hair, I finally finished. I had no intention to look pretty at all, but my mother and father f*rced me to. They wouldn't leave my side. Father wouldn't let me leave my chamber if I wouldn't have looked like the perfect doll for that beast so I had to comply.

I've got out of my chamber in a royal blue ball gown with long sleeves of lace and no makeup. All my maids surrounded me, telling me how gorgeous I am and how I will have a lot of suitors tonight surrounding me. I guess no one else knows about the beasts arrangements with my father. Not creepy at all.

At 10:00 a.m. we gathered in the dinning room to eat something before the guests arrive. They should be here around 15:00- 16:00 p.m. and we couldn't wait all day so we could eat. 

We ate in silence and no one would speak. They would give me pitiful looks from time to time, but no apologies. Perhaps it was better this way, I don't need their apologies anyways, these won't free me  from their arrangements. For the rest of the time that I had before the guests would arrive, I decided to go to the library and read some more books. I read a book about some spells, King Alpertti gave it to me last year on my birthday, tho I don't think I could use them, at least I would know what it means if someone used them in my proximity.

I sat there, not realizing what hour it is. I was busy playing around with a stick that I imagined to be a wand and the spell book until I felt like I was watched. Turning around, I saw a silhouette in the shadows, a large one. It looked kinda like Nate's silhouette, it looked so much alike in fact, but I couldn't ask if he's Nate or jump at him, what if it's a guard or someone else? This way I would admit that I've been seeing someone else while betrothed and I couldn't just risk it. 

-" Who are you? Come out to light.", I asked, stiffening in my spot, slowly closing the book.

Nathaniel's Point of View:

Finally, today is the spring ball and I can see her face when I will tell her that her dear commoner lover have been me all along. Would she'd be disgusted by me or ashamed of herself and apologize?

I was greeted by her parents at the entrance of the palace tho I was thinking that she will greet me. I was the first one to arrive as I was already in their kingdom since yesterday when I met my mate. All this time I wanted to kiss her so badly, but then I remembered that my plan is not to make her feel ashamed, the plan is to make her my Luna and Queen. I kept seeing her for a few days once in 2 weeks 'cause I still had to take care of my kingdom and we had an amazing time together.

I've waited for her to show up, so I could see her, but she didn't came at all and her father seemed a bit nervous when he saw I'm impatient and I started looking around. I walked to him 'cause I couldn't wait for her anymore and the table was almost ready and she should be brought here anyway.

-" Your daughter. Where is she?", I asked coldly, sounding bored.

-" She should be here in a moment. I will send a maid look for her right now.", he said, frowning at me. Maybe because of the mask I'm wearing. I don't want her to see me at first, I want her shocked.

-" Why bother a maid to get my future wife when I can do this myself? Or is it bothering my future father-in-law?", I suggested.

-" Not a problem at all. She should be in the library, I'll send a maid to show you the way and ..."

-" And I surely don't need a maid's help. Thank you, but I'm good.", I interrupted him abruptly and turned my back to leave.

I've found the library and slowly opened the wooden doors and looked for her inside. It wasn't too hard to find a child with a stick jumping around on the couches and enchanting over and over the same spell with a different accent. I thought she was about to turn 17 not 7.

She looked at me frowning. She couldn't see me or what I was wearing 'cause I was in the dark side of the library behind a shelf. Everyone arrived 'till 16:30 p.m., but we would start to eat at 19:00 p.m. so everyone would have time to talk and brag about what they have done in their kingdoms and settle down so we would eat in a peaceful atmosphere and it was almost time for us to take our sits and eat.

-" Who are you? Come out to light!", she said, frowning like she could see me if she tries harder. My eyes turned into a light red so she won't recognize  my eyes. She is used to look into my green eyes and tell me how much she loves them and never saw more beautiful eyes than mine.

-" Have you already forgotten me?", I came out to light as she requested and gasped at hearing Clyde's voice and red eyes. She backed away a little and I grinned tho she couldn't see me. " This mean you didn't?", I asked in a fake awe tone, making her sneer at me and I growled, approaching her rapidly. I sat in front of her and looked into her eyes that just the day before were making me the happiest lycan alive, but now ... now I would teach her a lesson so she won't misbehave with me anymore. But then again ... I have plenty of time with her when she'll be fully mine.

-" You're not scaring me.", she said sternly, looking into my eyes.

-" Who said I was being scary? This is me being cute and innocent to you. Remember how you caressed my head?", I said mockingly. " Don't like me much, hm? But you do like that Nate boy.", I said mischievously and she looked at me like I just confessed to her that I m*rdered her entire family and that made me wanna continue annoying her. She most probably wanted to say ' Don't you dare touch him', but for her own good, I cut her off and continued, mimicking her concerned expression. " Oh, my; oh, my; I shouldn't have knew about him? What happened, princess? You look a little pale.", and then I wanted to take off my mask, but the butler came in, informing us to come back in the throne hall so we can eat with everyone else and then join the ball room.

Tonight, every noble man and women will find out that Elise is my mate and from now on I should be more careful with her. Now that that moron of Arnar confessed that he wants his daughter to be my Luna I have to be careful about him. I stretched my hand out for her to grab and she looked with disgust at me and I growled, indicating her that this is the only way she's gonna left this room. She accepted my hand, but looked away from me.

We entered the throne room together and everyone turned to look at us. She looked sternly around the room and we marched together, hand in hand, 'till we reached the King's table. He saved me a place next to him and right beside me is my future bride. Everyone kept staring at us, not understanding what is going on. 

Before to start eating, the King rose up from his seat and raised his glass of wine. 

-" My esteemed nobles, we are here to celebrate the beginning of a new spring. I wish we will have a prosperous year, with a good harvest for everyone and keep this healthy as you are now. With this occasion, I want to announce the happy union between my daughter and King Nathaniel. She will leave my kingdom, moving with her future husband when she will turn 19 and they will be betrothed when she will turn 20 so both of them would get to know each other better. I wanted you to know about this union, so no one could question King Nathaniel's future visits to my kingdom.", He announced, his voice echoing thru the hall so everyone could hear his announcement and everyone seemed shocked at first, looking at each other for a moment, but then began clapping slowly and increased in time the claps. 

It was an awkward atmosphere at first 'till King Alpertti rose up and congratulated us. Then everyone began to congratulate us one by one, but not Arnar. He didn't even looked at us. He kept glaring at William and then glance at his daughter, whispering something into her ear. It was something short and I was not paying attention to him, so I couldn't hear what they said.

I don't think that buffoon would do anything to my mate, but still ... I have to be cautious. Then, I thought about taking my mask off so I could eat with them, but then I thought that maybe I should keep this secret a little longer. I raised my cup in the air, William still standing, and I too, rose from my seat, giving a little speech of my own.

-" From the first moment that I saw her, I felt that she is my fated mate and that Moon Goddess made her especially for me. I had to make sure that she is going to be mine and no one else's. It is a honor to be here tonight next to her, holding her hand in mine and knowing that my mate is going to be my Luna and Queen soon enough.", I stretched my hand out for her and she grabbed it with contempt, trying to play it cool in front of everyone. The hall started clapping their hands again for a few moments before they got silent and began to eat again, knowing that I could hear them whisper.

After an hour or 2, we were invited in the ball room to dance. For the first hour it was all happy and rhythmic music to dance, but then began the first waltz and I invited Elise to dance as I remained by her side for the rest of the night.

-"Princess Elise, do you give me the honor of this first dance?", I asked, bowing slightly and stretching my hand for her.

-" Of course, My King.", she said, almost spitting on me the last part and got a hold of my arm. We danced for 5 minutes until she excused herself. She couldn't keep her disgust towards me in check any longer and I felt that. Instead of leaving her alone, I invited her to the balcony where we could talk more privately.

Once we were there she left her smile drop and looked pretty angry at me. I wonder why. 

-" Who is Nate that you were talking about earlier?", she asked and I grinned. How sweet, she wanna play dumb.

-" Oh, you don't know? That handsome young man that keeps paying you visits."

-" How did you find out about him?", she asked, coming closer to me and sounding like she wants to k*ll me.

-" Oh dear, oh dear, what's with this tone? A ' sweet potato' can't scare me. Haven't you heard stories about me? How powerful I am? Fearless? Invincible. If you think you've got a choice in this matter, you're wrong. This is your last warning. Do NOT make me mad, I don't like sharing what's mine. And you ARE rightfully mine.", I said, matching her tone. " But you do you, if you wanna go see someone else you can, but you will get punished for this and I'm sure that you won't like what I decided to do.", I said, mischievously at her.

-" And that would be what?", she asked, provoking me. You wanna play my dear? As you wish.

-" Mm, let's see. I know for sure that I'm going to enjoy this, and you may enjoy it as well, who knows? But at the way you're acting towards me I wouldn't bet on that.", I got closer to her and whispered in her ear, " I will rip off your corset and whip your back 'till the b*ood will began to flow and rip your flesh open. Have I mentioned the part where you are topless in front of me and the only way to get away with the whipping part is that you will accept me?",  I asked, looking into her eyes.

-" Maybe you won't get the chance.", she said, coming closer to my face and looking straight into my eyes, not backing away.

-" My dear, you think that I was born yesterday? I know about your escape plan. You won't get away from me, it's impossible.", I said proudly and she looked dumbfounded at me. 

-" I hate you, I hate you more than I hate my father for trading me like I'm an object!", her voice cracked and she was on the verge of crying. She wanted to run away from me, but I caught her wrist and brought her into my arms and see how she'll react if I'm not being a cold beast. She wanted to fight me off at first, but then relaxed for a few seconds, but still didn't stay in my arms, she pushed me away and ran.

I decided to give her some space and tell her father I left her to go to her chamber to rest, but he knew why she was absent even tho I was cool about it. I can't hide the fact that she was stunning tonight. I wished she would be as loving towards me now as she is when she meets me into the woods as Nate.

I stayed for another half an hour and then excused myself and left before Arnar did so he wouldn't know that I'm staying here for a bit longer. I need to see her again as Nate, and I also need to get away from the nobles in my kingdom that will hear the news I've found my mate as soon as Arnar enters the kingdom.

I am sure that she won't be able to come out for at least a week now for not standing by my side 'till the end of the night, but I did everything I've had to in my kingdom 3 days ago. I didn't even sleep just to make sure that everything will be fine for the time that I'm gone. I will wait and see when she will be able to sneak out again. 

I will have to tell her soon enough who Nate really is anyways.