Fall for Me

thirteen

~ l e o r a

JANNE'S FIGURE EMERGED through the door, balancing two cups of tea on each hand. She settled them down on the bedside table which my other three maids surrounded. They arrived only a day ago and we seemed to get along quite well. The youngest, Luize, was peering over the shoulder of her older sister, Rhaece, as she worked on one of the gowns I was to wear.

Janne had prepared some tea and biscuits for us under my orders. They had protested at first, saying that they had been taught it was not appropriate for maids to share anything at all with their masters or owners, but after my convincing, they finally gave in. I pinched a biscuit between my fingers and munched on it gratefully, savoring the way it melted on my tongue. Luize seemed exceptionally happy, enjoying her cup of tea with a grin on her face. Rhaece, who had not smiled since her arrival, had a cup perched precariously on her knee as she sped her way through her knitting. The other maid, Maia, was sitting quietly with an untouched biscuit placed before her.

Janne lowered herself to an armchair gracefully and lifted the fabric she was using to make a new gown for me. It was a dark, silky green, smooth and velvety to the touch. I had an open book with frayed pages dangling from my fingers.

It had been a mere few days after the argument with Ashton. It was tortuous just thinking back and recalling the fierce and bitter spark he held in his eyes. I had not seen him these past several days, and it was mostly because of my ridiculous cowering in my room, avoiding everyone but my maids. I remembered when Brielle had told me I was jealous when Ashton was with someone else, and that was due to the affection I had for him. I shook the memory away.

"Have any of you ever been in love?" I blurted, surprising even myself. All of my maids raised their heads to look at me. 

"What do you know about love?" Rhaece snorted in an unladylike fashion, shaking her head from side to side. Luize looked deeply puzzled

"Rhaece," Janne warned, setting down her work. Rhaece sighed, but kept her mouth shut. She had a look of desperation mixed with sorrow etched upon her face. She seemed to be in despair.

"It is alright, Janne." I forced a smile. Janne exhaled and resumed her sewing.

The room was unbearably silent for a couple of minutes before the door burst open and a giggling Paradise skipped in. Euphoria looked enraged at her behavior but decided to let it go as soon as she saw me. Aekalliara was grinning as she clung to her older sister's hand, taking slow steps toward me. My maids hurriedly stood from where they sat and cleared the table of the tea and biscuits.

Euphoria hitched up her lilac skirts and settled in the armchair Janne had occupied not long ago. Paradise, to my surprise, crept up to my bed and under the covers. I shifted the pillow slightly so she had more room. Aekalliara clambered in after her sister.

"How are you feeling?" Euphoria asked concernedly. Despite the nights of crying myself to sleep, I felt fine, although my bones racked with exhaustion.

"Tired." As if pointing this out, I yawned.

"We heard what happened with Ashton," Euphoria informed me, pursing her lips.

"I almost punched Ashton when I heard about it! He is so not gentlemanly." Paradise pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Paradise, I told you not to speak of those things," Euphoria reminded her younger sister sternly. 

"Alright." Paradise shrank back.

"And, Leora, do not take what Ashton said seriously. The truth is, Ashton has never had a true friend before, and it is almost surprising he claimed you as one. When someone says or does something he is against, he was taught to argue back and use his position as crown prince to threaten whoever he disagreed with," Euphoria explained.

I nodded my head in understanding. It was true Ashton had told me that he had never had real friends or companions before, but for me, it was still no excuse for yelling at me and saying I was nothing but a girl sent in to be his bride. For him to say that, it sounded as if I had done something terrible that offended him. Maybe if I had not pushed him, this would never had happened.

"Believe me, I know Ashton's personality the best. Once he knows how wrong he is, he will come running right back to you to apologize." Euphoria winked.

"I hope so," I sighed. "Did you come all the way here to tell me this?"

"Of course not!" Paradise cut in, waving a sheet of yellowed paper before me. Euphoria calmed her. "There is a lantern festival later this week where we dance, have a feast together and watch the lanterns float into the sky, and you have to make a wish!"

"Indeed you do," Euphoria chuckled lightly.

"Would you please come? I guarantee Ashton would be dying to see you there." Paradise pressed the invitation in my hand.

"Of course I will be there. You can count on it," I assured her, glancing down at the sheet of paper. Elegant script glided across it, listing the details of the festival.

"Well, we are glad to hear it. Mother will be wondering where we are, so we better be off now." Euphoria bade me goodbye and I thanked them for the invitation before staring down at it, scanning the words.

The invitation stated that every guest was to have a dance partner for the lantern festival ball before the feast. If Ashton came to his senses and I apologized to him before the festival, he could be my partner, but after a second thought, I realized it was nearly impossible. Brielle and the others chad the same chance of becoming Ashton's dance partner as I did. I groaned. I needed to clear my head.

"I am going out on a walk, Janne," I called out to her from my bedroom. 

"Be careful, Princess," she answered me from the kitchen. 

Waving her off, I clasped my cloak around my shoulders. Even though it was the middle of May, the weather was not as sunny and warm as I had hoped from the beginning. There was still a slight breeze here and there, and I was careful not to catch a cold.

Striding down the endless hallways, I made my way toward the garden, where I usually spent most of my time in. It was nearly empty. Ashton had noticed the change in the places I spent my time. I used to lock myself in my bedroom and refuse to go out, but now, the garden was like a home to me. I did not feel like a bird in a cage. 

I grasped the material of the cloak and twisted past the shrubs and other various plants blooming with color. My mind drifted and without realizing it myself, I had swerved right into the broad chest of a guard. He looked to be on duty, for he was dressed in his uniform. I mumbled a swift apology his way and made to go around him, but to my astonishment, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind a cover of trees, pinning my arms and legs with his own. He clamped a hand over my mouth to prevent me from crying out fro help.

"W-What do you want from me?" I stuttered, tripping over my own feet as the guard cornered me. I panicked, my heart racing as my mind tried to come up with ways to escape from him.

The guard merely grunted in response and stared down at me with a feverish gaze. I jerked my head away so I could avoid his eyes, but he gripped my chin and forced me to turn to him. I made a growl from the back of my throat, but he ignored it. The guard looked to be in his twenties, burly and muscular, but too large for my liking. I couldn't tell what his hair was like for he had a hat pulled over his eyes, the shadow concealing the details of his face.

He lifted a hand to brush a strand of hair from my face and I grimaced at his touch. As the guard's calloused fingertips trailed along my jawline, a voice could be heard from behind the topiary and shrubs. Desperately trying to escape from his hold, I thrashed about and my teeth bit down on the flesh of the guard's palm. He let go momentarily and I took my chance, screaming for help.

Hastily, a figure appeared from between the trees and the guard hurriedly tipped his head down. I pushed past him and burst through the hiding place, earning scratches from the sharp branches of the trees. The guard disappeared from another opening. I smoothed down my skirts and caught my breath.

Julianne stood with her arms hidden beneath her own cloak. She had a look of hatred shimmering in her eyes. Her lips were curled upward in a snarl and if I had been some lowly servant working in the palace, I would have dropped down. Julianne must have known what had happened, but she made no sign of it, and her face was stone cold, devoid of concern or even sympathy.

"Thank you," I breathed, smiling.

"There is no need to thank me," Julianne replied, rolling her eyes. 

"But you saved me from that guard." I spun around, gesturing at the cluster of plants I had just emerged from.

"I did not save you." Julianne shot at me over her shoulder as she turned. "You saved yourself." I was deeply confused at that point, wondering what she meant when she uttered those words.

"I do not get what you mean by that," I responded, blinking. Julianne glowered down at me.

"Good, because all you need to remember is that we are not sisters, but opponents competing for something we both want." She was either speaking of the prince or the crown. I had a nagging feeling she meant the latter.

Julianne's seemingly kind and caring personality faded as she revealed her true intentions to me. She wanted to get rid of me so she could have the crown and Ashton all to herself. It had taken me this long time to realize this applied to all of the other princesses.

Without another word, Julianne held her head high and marched off, her cloak swishing behind her like a tail, trailing along the ground. Sighing, I rotated on my heel and set off back to the palace, afraid the guard would come back for me as soon as the garden was empty once again. The fright I had felt when the guard had grabbed me still throbbed in my chest, but I pushed it away with much effort, telling myself I needed to remain calm and composed and I could not let myself be taken advantage of. In the palace, power was the most important thing of all.

The day was dragging on and, in the distance, the sun was beginning to set. A ring of gold and amber surrounded the skies, illuminating the land like a halo of light. The stone walls of the caste was silhouetted against the brilliant beams of sun, almost gleaming and glittering with every sparkle of the orb in the sky.

I rounded the corner. This part of the hall was darker than before, as if someone had snuffed out all the lights. The chandeliers were dim and under the faint glow, I spotted two figures embracing. I recognized the form of the male immediately. With the thunderous roaring of my blood pounding in my ears, I stepped back, leaning against the wall with my head held in my hands.  

"Ashton, have you chosen a partner for the lantern festival yet?" My breath hitched inside of my throat as Ashton's name rolled off the tongue of Aurorae. Her voice echoed in my ears endlessly.

"I have not, in fact," Ashton's low voice replied. "Why?"

"I was only wondering because..." Aurorae seemed hesitant to answer. I strained my neck and held my breath.

"Because..." Ashton urged. I could tell a smile was playing on his lips, dancing across his devilishly handsome face.

"Because I want to be your partner," Aurorae spoke quietly, her voice barely audible. I gasped softly. The hall was silent for a few seconds.

I heard Ashton clear his throat, and I knew. I knew what the answer was going to be. It hurt more than I had expected. The pain of being left alone, abandoned and rejected at the same time was unbearable. I had never felt so much agony in my life.

I fled down the hall, my head thrumming and my eyes stinging with unshed tears.

~*~

~ a s h t o n

May 7th, 2020, 03:21 am

My dearest Leora,

What would the point in hosting the lantern festival be if I would not be spending it with you? Yes, I want to apologize for what I said, but I just do not know how to say it to you without hurting you again or making myself seem like a fool.

You may not feel as if I deserve for forgiveness in any way, but I crave it so, and I have craved it for the past few days. I would desperately hope that you would somehow miraculously show up before me and tell me that you forgive me and that you want to be with me, but I know that that is selfish, and that it would never happen.

Your sister asked me to be her dance partner for the lantern festival ball. I agreed, for I thought that if I could not give you the happiness you need, maybe I could give it to Aurorae. She is a sweet girl, but you are still incomparable. I only have room for one in my heart, and that space has already been occupied by you, Leora.

When I was arranging decorations for the lantern festival, I overheard my father speaking with my mother. They were sharing their thoughts about you and your sisters. They never mentioned you though, and I try to tell myself that they think highly of you, which is far from their opinion of you, but do not worry. They will understand soon enough, and if anything happens, I shall protect you with all the power I have.

I pray that everything will be alright before I see you again.

Yours truly,

Ashton