The Royal bride selection trials

Chapter eleven

After dinner, Senna retired to her quarters and I was left alone, looking out the window and up at the stars.

I wondered if sabastian would be in the garden today.

I wanted to talk to someone who wasn't competing against me or even forcing me to be in a competition.

My eyes drifted to the spot I had hidden the phone and thoughts of the secret room I had to find hovered over me like a heavy cloud.

Maybe I could just sit in the garden and watch the stars.

I changed into slippers that wouldn't make any sound and left my room, slowly closing the door behind me.

The garden was filled with fireflies, their golden lights floating over the flowers, the bright light from the moon made it all the more beautiful.

"Isabelle" Sabastian's deep, velvet voice called.

He sat on the bench I had found him on the last time. only this time he wasn't holding a book.

"your majesty." I have a slow deliberate courtesy.

he smiled.

"I see you worked on your courtesy." he teased his head titled slightly watching me as I walked towards him.

"yes I did." I grinned.

"well, Isabelle. will you accept my invitation to sit today?" he motioned towards the empty spot beside him.

I swallowed and looked around the garden before I took the spot.

"you look beautiful."

my cheeks turned red almost immediately and I began to play with my hair. I could feel his eyes watching everything I did.

"Thank you."I muttered softly

"how's the fight to be my wife going" he mused softly.

the tension fixed in my body faded away and I burst into soft giggles.

"There's no fight, Besides you're merely an Afterthought"I teased.

He leaned closer to me

"That's interesting, I hoped I'd be the price"he smiled warmly.

"well, you're not." I stated.

he laughed loudly.

"what are you doing here?" I asked trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering In my stomach.

"This is my spot, I didn't think it would appeal to someone else as much as it appeals to me"

his eyes piercing into mine.

I looked away,But he held my chin softly and pulled my face to him.

he leaned in closer until we were barely a breath away from each other.

My breath hitched and I could feel my heart hammering against my ribs.

"it's beautiful and serene and I especially like the swing" the words came out slower than I intended.

"well, Isabelle. would you like to go on the swing"

"I would love to" I whispered.

he pulled back and I let out a breath.

he rose slowly to his feet and offered me his hands.

they were soft and much larger than mine.

he led me to the swing and helped me get on.

then he gave me the first push.

he stepped aside and watched as I continued to swing.

"how do you feel about it?" I asked slowing down the swing.

"what?" his eyebrows furrowed.

"the trials, how do you feel about it?"

he let out a sigh and crossed his arms.

"it's a family tradition, I don't feel anything." he muttered.

"I'm certain you have some... reservations?"I pressed.

he stepped closer, helping down from the swing.

"A royal marriage isn't a normal one. there's a lot of pressure" he said

"it's marriage to the court and the people, an ordinary woman wouldn't be able to handle it"

I felt a needle prick my chest, I was an ordinary woman.

"Even a noble could succumb to the pressure." he continued as he led me back to the bench.

"while I find it absurd, I understand why it was started in the first place."

I nodded softly as I sat down.

"It does feel like a lot of pressure" my mind drifted to lady Cierra and Senna crying and how I had to think quickly to avoid a heartbreaking situation.

"This is the first time I've said that out loud."

We sat in comfortable silence, watching the fireflies and the stars.

He slowly put his arms around me and pulled me closer until our bodies were pressed against each other.

"will you be here tomorrow"he asked.

"I'll try, you know I'd get in trouble if I'm seen with you" I reminded him.

he shook his head.

"it's not my fault you enjoy my presence" he teased.

I did enjoy his presence, I didn't have to force a smile or straighten my back. I wasn't competing and I wasn't on a mission.

"I actually do"I admitted.

he pulled my chin towards me and his soft lips landed on mine, his tongue roaming inside my mouth. his hands wrapped around my waist and he pulled me closer.

I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him away and rose to my feet.

"Isabelle. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"I should get going it's late"I turned to leave but he held my arms.

"I'm extremely sorry Isabelle, I got carried away"

"it's okay" I whispered.

"will I see you again"he exhaled hard.

"I'll try."

He slowly let go of my hands

I walked back to the bride's wing without looking back.

I could hear my heart beating as I marched off.

I got into my room and jumped on my bed.

I covered my face with a pillow and screamed into it.

"what the hell was I doing?"

I had a job to do and I was watching the stars with the crown prince.

I screamed into the pillow again and I hate that my thoughts drifted to Callum so easily.

Remember where your loyalties lie. his voice echoed in my head.

I took off my clothes and the contact lens and went into the shower, allowing the cold water flood my body and flow into the drain with it thoughts of the secret room, my family, Callum and the kiss with Sabastian.

After the shower I sank into my bed and my mind is slowly faded to black.