Never Forget You

Chapter 3- Getting To Know the Two Souls

Anabelle's POV:

I have no idea what he might be thinking right now but all I know is that he must be confused at the artwork that I am presenting him right now....

As Stefan stood there, flabbergasted out of his head, I can only think of the one normal reaction that I can get out of him; that he will tell me it's inappropriate for a princess to draw and do art.

"I know that this is alot to take in and that you might detest it bu-"

"Detest?" He asked, interrupting my statement, with an incredulous look that has me confused out of my mind. "What are you talking about? I absolutely love this." He replied enthusiastically, clearly amazed at my artwork and talent, making me smile and chuckle lightly,

"This is something that I keep private from everyone around me, even my mother doesn't know about this." I say, making him turn his head towards me in shock.

"Wait so this is something that even your mother doesn't know about?" He repeats my earlier said statement as if he couldn't believe what I said.

"Yes. I just don't want her to know that I paint." I said, bowing my head down, as I felt the shame of hiding things from my own mother, wash over me.

"But why? She will most definitely be proud of you that I can for sure guarantee." He says, completely distraught by my secret, to which is just sighed as I took a seat at one of the benches in my room.

"My father used to be an excellent painter. With excellence that matching or even exceeding Da Vinci's. That's exactly what caught my mother's attention and even her heart in the first place. He would sing to her, paint for her to entertain her and she would be the most happiest woman on earth. He would even be there for me, to help me learn how to paint just like him. But all of that changed soon after his.." I paused, as I felt my voice shaking and wavering, making Stefan sit down next to me, as he kept his hand on my knee, asking me to calm down and stop if I'm uncomfortable. But the thing is that I trust him too much to keep this from him, which is why I am deciding to tell him about my life.

I nodded with a smile towards him, ensuring that I am okay and I would like to continue.

"After his demise and it was as if everything just came to and an abrupt stop. My mother threw out all musical instruments that he used to play and she forbid me to ever paint in her presence, just because of the fact that it would trigger one of her memories about him. And of course I didn't want to disappoint her and that's why I complied to her wishes but I just wish that.... I could get my mother back." I finished in between heavy breaths trying to stop my cries as tears threatened to overflow my eyes.

Stefan saw this and immediately pulled me into his embrace, quieting me down as much as he could. I know that this might be a very odd time to feel this way but I can't help it. I feel safe in his arms, as if I could rely on him for the rest of my life. As if my entire existence rests in his hands. As if I can love as much as he loves me.

"Hey its okay to feel this way. You know... I felt the same way when ....my mother passed away. " He said out of the blue, making me sniff as I looked up at him, completely in shock about the information that I am listening to for the first time, "My mother was basically my everything. She was the one to teach me my morals and to keep me away from palace matters because she just wished that I live a normal life and not be surrounded by the palace duties as she likes to call it. But after her demise, the only thing that I could do is just surround myself with palace duties and help my father with decisions regarding the kingdom. Because if I don't, I will be reminded of her presence all day." He says, pain evident in his voice at the thought of his mother's death.

"I'm really sorry about your mother, Stefan." I said sympathetically, to which he just smiled slightly and shook his head.

"It's alright. Just one advice. Don't let these things get to you in a bad way. It will soon hold you back from doing the things that you want to do." He says, looking right into my eyes as he went ahead to push back my hair that fell on my face.

Something about that made tingles spark in my stomach. And I thought that maybe he felt it too. I mean he is pretty handsome and he has been through the same thing like me, which makes us connect on a personal level. But one question does stay in my head.

"Stefan?" I asked, to which I get a hum as his response, "Have you ever got other proposals from other kingdoms?" I asked out of curiosity, making laugh lightly.

"No, they never were as good as I thought. Just picture a stick on legs who wants your money and would apply the most darkest lip colour to impress the handsome prince, or so they would like to call it. God that infuriates me sometimes." He says, with that fake anger that got me laughing out loud, making him look down towards me with a smile.

This man will be the reason why I will love someone as perfect as him....

"So this might sound stupid but do you want us to know each other better? Know about our likes and dislikes?" He asks sheepishly making me giggle.

"I mean wasn't that the reason why we were sent out by our parents?" I asked with an attitude that made him smile slightly as he nods his head, before he starts by asking my favorite color.

------------------------------------

3rd Person's POV:

"Look Charles we need to finalise this marriage as soon as possible. This might get out of hand soon if we don't get Stefan to marry Anabelle" Victoria explains to Charles, worrying about their children's fate if they don't act soon.

"I know Victoria but what if they don't agree to our terms? We can't possibly break this news to them it will completely shatter them both." Charles tried to explain but Victoria was not about to listen to him as she paced back and forth in her room seeking for a solution.

"Charles I know about my own daughter and I know about your son as well, but if we don't do this quick then what will happen to them?!" Victoria suddenly outbursts, shocking Charles as the old man went to hold the woman by her shoulders.

"Calm down Victoria. Nothing will happen. The sooner we try to get this done, the worse the situation will be if they deny their marriage vows. Would you imagine the trouble then? They would get all of us by our heads in no time at all. I promise you Victoria, everything will into place with time. Give them time to know each other, have fun, and explore their interests I stead of stuffing them into this predicament. Nothing will happen to anyone of us I promise." He reassured the Queen of Wales as he tried to reassure himself about the unknown trouble they might be a part of.

Even though they might think that all will be better once they ignore their problems, what both the kingdoms don't know is that there is a danger between all of them and it is someone who is very close and reliable to both.

---------------------------------------------

Stefan's POV:

"Wait so you even have a sister?" She asks making me laugh and nod my head in agreement.

"Yes her name is Caroline and she's 3 years younger than me. She's just my everything and it would take everything within me to protect her from anything and everything in this world that would try and hurt her." I said with determination in my voice as we walk back to the castle.

I see Anabelle smile a bit at my statement, and it was something that just made my heart melt because her smile is really adorable.

"I'm sure that it must be having a little sister around to share your everything with." She said with sincerity in her voice and I see her bow her head down in order to look at where she is stepping in order to not trip, even though she did once or twice, causing my smile to widen at the thought and her words.

"Yes she's an absolute sweetheart. I am sure that she will love you when she meets you very soon." I said making her smile and blush a bit at my words. She is the most adorable person that I have met...

We slowly walk back to the castle, just so that we can fully cherish our moments spent here, until we finally climb the steps of the palace and into the entrance.

"I never could have asked for a better way to spend my time with you." She says out of the blue, making me turn to her, "This moment was really special to me because I never got so close with someone this quick and to know that I am excited to know what is there for us in the future." she finishes making me smile at her, feeling relieved at what she said because this was exactly what I wanted to hear from her. And I only hope for the best for the both of us....

"Anabelle the truth is that I-"

"Stefan, Uncle Charles is expecting you now." the brute interrupted making me scowl at him before I took Anabelle's hand and took her with me, not before I whispered in her ear,

"I wish to always be by your side, even if it lasts me an eternity." She blushed at my statement as she faced away from me, making me chuckle at her antics. Adorable...

We finally reached our parents who looked at us with the biggest smiles on their faces as they stepped towards us.

"Stefan, Anabelle. I suppose that your conversation went well with each other?" Anabelle's mother asked, expectant of our response.

"Yes of course, my queen. In fact I am ready to take our encounter to the next level and know her better before we get married." I said smiling as I turned towards the brunette beauty who is smiling at me as she showed her pearly whites.

"Well that's excellent news! I am actually really glad that you two decided to give this marriage a try, before you changed your minds." My father said, excited over the fact that I liked Anabelle as much as she liked me.

"Now we might as well be on our way out. We will be visiting everyday from now on and we will surely bring Stefan's sister, Emma to meet Anabelle." My father announced pulling me away as we made our way back to the carriage awaiting the three of us.

"Goodnight Stefan." I heard my sweet Anabelle say.

"Goodnight Anabelle.."