Hand to Hold

Chapter 11

The moment you trusted me, I knew I was responsible.

.

.

Putting the last full-stop I exhaled and slowly returned back to the mortal world... Concentration does that to you, especially during the examination.

Fortunately, I was used to being in the same class as His Majesty due to our common streams or I would have stared at him for the whole three hours instead of writing. In fact, it was a guilty pleasure of sharing the subjects with him that I could discreetly watch him from a hidden corner of the classes.

I rechecked the answers and submitted it to the invigilator. Stopping by the locker I retrieved the phone and ambled to my favourite corner of the school.

The light blue walls of the corridor guided me to my destination and I entered the library, secluding to my usual corner. Hiding between the wooden racks with thousand of books was soothing and the tranquillity it brought was the only reason I didn’t want to wait for the bus on an eerie bus stop.

Not having anything to do, I unlocked my phone and began with notifications... A lot was going on in the group of girls but the news update attracted me more. Unbothered with the gossips of the school or girls’ personal lives I liked to keep up with the administration, political and entertainment news because of a particular public figure.

He, who received the title of Crown Prince held immense importance in my life.

I got the chance to know the famous name personally because of being his cousin’s best friend but my feelings for him didn’t develop with first interaction, of course when Alice invited me to the palace library for getting tutored, his sudden arrival was still pleasant.

That was when I first interacted with the teenager who was scrutinized routinely and he requested me to tutor him along with his sister. His smile when I agreed to help him with lessons indeed did something weird to me but the changes were subtle and our interaction was limited to Physics.

Our love story didn’t begin blooming until later...

Entering the library, I glanced across the library but only Ash was present there. After school ended, I was habitual to first going home and then turning up to the palace with Rexona. Ash and Alice didn’t object as they also needed time to catch their breath after returning from School.

But I was alone that day and hoped that Alice wasn’t leaving me alone with Ash, for he affected me in strangest ways, and I was still trying to establish if it was a good thing or bad.

Twenty minutes later, His Majesty was solving practice exercises when the fact that I was alone with him started getting to me and my attention turned back to the door.

“Alice isn’t here yet...” I muttered to myself.

But Ash heard it and averting his gaze up frowned, “She didn’t inform you?”

I shook my head and he sighed, “Today is her parents’ marriage anniversary. Ever since the death of Uncle and Aunt, both Alice and Alex prefer being left alone on the important dates related to their parents.”

“That explains why she wasn’t looking good in school.”

Not knowing what to say I turned my attention back on the assignment of some subject that I chose to work on that day. My reaction was suspecting he would also go back to his exercises though it wasn’t the case.

“Meanwhile, why isn’t Rexona joining us?” The brown-haired Prince asked catching me off guard.

I glanced up and it took me a while to comprehend his question.

“She was asked out to help in her Grandmother’s bakery at the last moment.”

He hummed and then averted his gaze to the notebook in front. I acted the same but my attention remained on him from my peripheral vision and that was how I noticed the teen was struggling with some of the easiest concepts.

His mind wasn’t exactly on the practice exercises and he stopped writing every once in a while.

It was during one such space out that I fully turned to him, “Ash!”

But he was so lost that my normal voice wasn’t able to shake him out of it.

“ASH!” His eyes widened at the advert, “Yes, what? ...WAIT! I am sorry. I-”

“I didn’t mean to space out.” He added with a sigh.

His action worried me and I knitted my brows, “Unlike yourself, you are not concentrating here.”

Ash’s forehead creased, “I sincerely apologize for it. You are giving me your valuable time to help me out and yet, I am swayed by other things.”

“What?” I asked concerned.

I didn’t mean to pry but with how bothered he seemed I wanted to help him in some way.

He raised his brow at me, “Rose?”

The surprise was obvious in his voice as I smiled warmly to match my next words, “I am your friend, and even if you don’t consider me as one, I do. Other things apart, sharing your problems will help you get things out of your system, even if the relief is as temporary as of a painkiller.”

His frown deepened, “Are you sure? I haven’t shared it with anyone beside Sir Blair and Alex. And both were unable to help me.”

Okay.

My smile turned soft automatically, “I get it. But even if I am unable to help you out in any manner, saying it will get it out of your system and then you would be able to concentrate on Physics. It is not like I am scheming something against Prince.”

His Majesty pursed and I stood up, “Ash if you don’t want to say. I can’t force it out of your mouth. But I will have to cut today’s session short and let you sort out your thoughts.”

“I need to stop the construction of the dam on Heria River in South Salovia.” I was keeping my things in my bag when his voice froze me.

The dam on Heria River?

Senate recently passed the proposal presented by Resource Minister. The companies were to present their plans after few days to Resource Minister for the contract of construction.

I slumped down on my seat and glancing at him raised my brow. Taking it as his cue the teenager explained how the people residing around their area were against the whole construction plan but they were unable to reach His Highness of Her Highness. So, a boy our age contacted Ash on a social networking site.

He stumbled upon it by chance while strolling through the messages two days ago and asked Sir Blair for the ground report of that area. The reports confirmed the content of message and Ash was worried about it.

“...I just don’t know how to cancel the idea. Though, the important thing right now is to be able to get a stay to re-start the debate.”

“So, what are you thinking?” I enquired with a frown.

Ash sighed again, “I need to object it in the Senate in two days. The issues are my objection won’t have a strong impact until I am Crown Prince. And it will be hard persuading the Senate to change the decision. My best shots are to bring out a heavy negative impact and a better alternative in the lesser budget.”

I nodded, “The violent revolution by displaced people around the palace due to dam construction is out there but you are probably already considering it.”

“I am. But it isn’t enough since resource minister has already answered this issue. To go against Uncle isn’t that easy.”

If not for the special authority he probably wouldn’t have left the royal family. But it was sensible to quit the royal family for the authority over resource ministry. Resource minister had a say in almost every matter credit it to its various sub-divisions- water resource, minerals, electricity, food, human development et cetera.

It wasn’t good as I did forget the crucial fact that Ash was resource minister’s nephew.

I was getting worked up when suddenly something struck me. It was an important piece of advice from Mom, something she said while explaining it to me how people’s mentalities are meant to contradict.

That is why I asked Ash to get in touch with other ministers who were against the dam construction.

“...So, help them strengthen their argument and take their help in strengthening your ideas. In the end, either propose the stay against the dam on their behalf or let someone with greater experience do it. Though, since His Highness and Her Highness are bound by public reactions getting dissatisfaction of people residing there in the mainstream will be best.”

He shook his head, “I did consider bringing their movement against dam construction to the light. Yet, I was unable to figure out how I will collaborate with them against my Uncle, provided, it might breach the code of conduct since I am not a minister but a Prince.”

The silence blanketed us again but it was broken by his audible breath. Turning to face him, his eyes were fixated on me with a blank expression.

“Do you think it will work?”

I hummed.

That was the end of it except it was the start, since he actually implemented what I said. There’s no doubt my love for library bloomed from a library in North Salovia, the golden period of my life evolved in its womb.

Looking behind I didn’t regret what followed after that conversation, never. I didn’t regret falling for, loving, and not moving on from Ash ever, even for a heartbeat.

My only regrets were regarding myself, and complaints against those who snatched my life from me.

Maybe, I should have moved on and allowed the time to heal my wounds but then I was incapable of loving anyone else to the extent I loved that name... That person, whose photograph stared at me from the electronic device in my hand, yes he, ruled my heart.