Hearts and Vines

Chapter II

Chapter II Take a Step Back

I was told to not fall for a man who's colder than ice, who's meaner than anyone else I know, who's just as heartless and rude—who's someone that's just not ideal to be in love with. Most importantly, it would be a sin to fall in love with the enemy. Well, at least that's what they have said.

I, Princess Alasdair Blythe Heart of the Kuralayhon kingdom have always known Prince Chase Leinier Vine of the Sabagatan kingdom as an enemy. Well, that's what they wanted me to believe. And it's what I have been believing all this time. It was until I met the dark haired charming prince in person. It was when I secretly followed him. It was when I have learned that he wasn't everything I have thought he was. It was when we'd secretly meet in our very own paradise. It was when I secretly loved him all my life and when we both defied what both kingdoms were expecting from us.

As we made the love between as our greatest secret. And yes, we did commit the greatest sin that was believed as something taboo. I fell in love with the Prince of Vines...I fell in love with the enemy and there's just no one stopping me.

***

I was getting really nervous. He should be here by now. Where is he? Where is Chase? He should be here by now.

“ Ngghhrrr”

“ I know Nana, he should be here by now, right? He'll be here. Let's wait a little longer.”

“ Nhhrrggr”

I know Nana was getting worried. It was past six already and we have agreed to meet thirty minutes before five and Chase is obviously an hour late already. No, there shouldn't be anything to be worried about. I am over-thinking...right? He clearly isn't abducted or locked in their tower or his parents certainly didn't find out about us....or at least my parents didn't.

“ Please, please show up.”

I played with my fingers as I waited for Chase. I tried playing with Nana to get my mind off over the matter but even Nana is in no mood to play. I just couldn't shrug the uneasy feeling I've been having since the morning. I just knew something was wrong. I just knew something was up. I just couldn't figure what it is all about.

And it's what I needed to know.

“ Nghhrrr!” I turned around as I heard Nana let out a joyful growl. Chase must be here! And I wasn't wrong. He is here with my loyal confidant, Mal.

“ Chase!”

I immediately went to him and snaked my arms around his neck as he lifted me off my feet and gave me a full kiss.

“ I thought something has happened to you already. I was so worried.” he put me on my feet as he held my chin, making me look straight into his deep black orbs that I have always found captivating. It's just so enticing. He gave me a soft smile that always brings a gentle tick in my heart.

“ I am here. There's nothing to be afraid of, my heart.” he said while slowly pinching my nose. I giggled at him. His small gestures, his endearment, his smile, his voice—just everything about him always makes me feel complete. I am just so in love with this prince.

I was about to kiss him again when I heard someone fake cough. We both looked into Mal who's now raising his brow at us while gently scratching Nana's head by which the latter found really relaxing. Her face says so.

“ Oh, Mal. I forgot you were here!”

“ You always forget about my presence. Should I do something dramatic for you to remember me?” he said in a tone clearly teasing me.

“ You are just fine as I am with Nana.”

He put his hand in his chest as he slightly bowed his head. “ Thank you, princess.”

I laughed.

I hope everything would just stay like this forever. I hope to get married and start a family with Chase. I am just so sure in everything as long as it's going to be him. Mal ran after Nana and played with her. I laughed when I saw Nana jumped and fly just so my loyal confidant wouldn't be able to get her.

I looked at Chase only to find out that he was staring at me.

“ What are you staring at my Prince?” I asked while raising a brow.

“ Nothing. How long do you know each other?” he asked pertaining to Mal.

“ I've known him all my life, Chase. He's been always a good friend. He's always been there for me,” I answered while looking at my Nana and Mal playing and teasing each other.

“ He's always been by my side just like Nana. The two of them...they've been my family.” I added, now looking at my Prince Chase. I found it odd for him to ask about Mal. It's already been a year since we have been secretly meeting and he have known Mal as my friend long before us.

“ I see.” he said with a distant look.

I held his hand. I do not know what this is going to be all about, but I just know that there's something he is thinking.

“ You do not have to worry about anything. I only have my eyes for you,” I said as I quickly gave him a peck in the lips.

“ How assuring.” He smiled and look into my lips. “ But it isn't enough for me.” he added before lifting my chin and crashed his lips on mine.

“ I love you.”

“ I love you too, Leinier.”

“ You are so despicable,” I said, jokingly rolled my eyes on him.

“ Although I must admit that Mal have more interesting pair of eyes than mine—”

“ Are you insecure with his eye color?” I asked cutting him off. “ I am not.” he stated.

But I don't think so. I have to admit that I find Mal's grey eye color really interesting but Chase's black orbs always pulls me in like a magnet.

“ I can not believe this! My Prince is jealous,” I joked.

“ I am not, Blythe.”

I chuckled as I held his brows that's now almost in a straight line.

“ There would be no pair of eyes other than yours that I'd wish to stare my whole life, Leinier.”

“ I'd die staring at your jade eyes, my princess.”

I flicked my fingers in his face. “ You're making me blush with your sweet words. Stop it.”

I got up to escape from his prying eyes and dusted my dress.

“ But it is true,” he said while getting up on his feet too. “ I'd like your green eyes...and I'd like to have dark violet irises,” he added.

I frowned, not getting what's he's saying. “ Why? why would you like to have violet eyes? I like your black eyes.”

“ So we'd be complimentary.”

Oh.

I pretended that I have something to pick behind so I could bit my lip to prevent a smile from spreading on my lips.

I sighed and turned to face him again. “ But I like your dark eyes. Can't you just have violet and black as eyes?” I pleaded.

He laughed and ran a hand on his hair. “ I'll have that then...although I'm not sure how but for you my princess, I'd do it no matter how impossible it sounds.”

We both laughed at our silliness.

Mal and Nana now came to us. “ Nana is just so unfair. She flies whenever I could almost catch her.” Mal said grunting.

Chase stared at him long before he patted Nana in the head.

“ You did a great job, Nana. You have to fly everytime someone's behind your tail...” and then he whispered something into Nana's ear.

Mal and I looked at each other and shrugged. We have no idea what crazy ideas Chase have said to Nana.

“ Nggrrr” it's an ' I got it' sound.

“ That's right, Nana. Good job.”

Mal came closer to Nana and stroked her head gently. “ Nana, I really should get upset by you. You like Prince Chase better than me whom you've known all your life.”

“ Nnggrrrh” it's an 'I can explain' for me.

“ No, I'm saying that you are unfair, Nana.”

“Nggrrrr” now, it's an 'it is not true' for

me.

I only shook my head. “ Alright, you both stop bugging my Nana. We should go back to the palace now, Mal.”

He stared at me and smiled. “ Of course, my princess.”

“This is goodnight for now, Chase. I'd see you tomorrow,” I said while giving him a kiss in the cheek.

He held my hand and

planted a soft kiss. He looked into my eyes really deeply and sighed. “ I will see you, Alasdair.”

Just as we were walking out in the passage of our secret meeting place, I could feel the tension with Mal on my left and Chase on my right. Even Nana looked at me with her uneasy eyes. I had to smile and assure her that everything's fine.

But I don't think so. The unwanted feeling that I shrugged off earlier came back. I was nervous for no reason at all. Chase held my hand tightly. I squeezed it in response and in which he occasionally rub the back of my hand with his.

We were greeted by blinding lights and a crown on our way out.

“ Princess Alasdair!”

“ Prince Chase!”

Two thunderous voices could be heard at the same time. It was our fathers.

King Alasdor of the Kuralayhon and King Frenier of Sabagatan.

Chase held my hand tightly.

“ What is this foolishness, Princess Alasdair?!”

“ Father I am—”

Chase squeezed my hand tighter.

“ Your Highness, I am Prince Chase. I would like to—”

“ Prince Chase Leinier!” another voice thundered. It was Chase's father.

“ Stop this nonsense now!”

I bit my lip and shook my head. I needed not only to stay silent. I need to voice out. They need to hear my voice.

“ King Frenier, please listen to me.”

I could feel how Chase's stiffened. I looked at him and smiled.

“ What do you have to tell me?” his eyes bored on mine. I heaved a deep breath.

“ I lo—”

“ My daughter doesn't have anything to tell you.”

Both kings looked at each other with the same intensity. Raging, waiting—deadly.

Both kingdom's royal guards, knights, and people were both waiting for their king's order. I looked at Chase.

“ I do not want it to be b****y in here.”

“ It won't.” he smiled.

Somehow, his smile lifted my spirit. It gave me a tinge of hope that everything would be alright.

“ Relano! Bring the princess here!”

Mal held my left hand.

“ No, please Mal. I want to be with Chase.” I pleaded.

“ My princess, it is my king's order. I could not break it.” he said sadly.

“ No, please...Mal...” he moved his head from side to side.

I looked to Chase. “ Chase..no I don't want to. If I go now, I wouldn't be able to see you again. Please no.”

“ Alasdair, I'll find a way to go to you. I promise...for now it's the best thing to do.”

“ No...you won't understand! Once I go...you'll never see me again!” I cried.

“ I do understand. Just go.”

“ You knew this.” I stated. He stared at me and said nothing. No, I don't want to believe it. I couldn't believe this.I do not want to believe it. I wiped my tears harshly, hoping that it would wipe the betrayal that my heart is feeling now.

“ Chase...you..you planned this?” he only kept staring at me.

“ Answer me!” I shouted as I tried to get my hand from him but he just wouldn't let go.

“ Chase! Let me go....”

He wiped the tears of my face. “ Alasdair, I love you,” he smiled and it quickly took away the anger I was feeling.

I only nodded my head and replied, “ I love you, too.”

He nodded and kissed my forehead. “ Go,” he whispered.

“ Before I'd run away with you.”

“ Let's just run away please.”

He shook his head. “ Tempting, but no. It'll only make it worst. Do not make a move until I say so. Only wait for me and I'll come to you, I promise.”

“ Alright. I'll wait for you.”

I gave him one last look and he gave me a smile before I let Mal drag me away from him into the carriage.

I didn't know it would take a lot of sad days and lonely nights before I'd see him again.

***

“ Princess Alasdair, you have to at least eat.”

I only stared in my window. I didn't bother looking at Mal. I heard him sigh. “ Prince Chase wouldn't like you to be like this.”

“ Tell me, Mal. Why wouldn't he come? Have he found a fair lady from his kingdom or from another kingdom that he's been married for a week now?”

“ No, he haven't found one yet...and I sincerely do not think you're easy to get replaced with.”

“ Why don't he send a letter? a message? He isn't even connecting with me through the crystal,” I cried. Mal stayed silent while I cried. But then again, he have always remained silent each time I cry.

“ Where have this love brought you, my princess?” he broke the silence as he stared at me softly.

“ I do not know, Mal. All I know is that I cannot live without him.”

I let my tears fall again.

But then again, it's been the only thing that I have been doing this past days.

“ I will give you his letter only if you'd fix yourself.”

“ What?” I immediately stood up and went to him. He smiled at me again. “ I told you to fix yourself first. I'll be back later.”

I looked at him to know if he's joking...but I guess he's not.

“ I'll be back with his letter, princess.” he said so gently that I wanted to cry again.

“ Thank you, Mal! I needed it so much...I'm dying to know what happened to my love!”

He chuckled. “ I'll be back.”

As soon as I heard the door shut, I immediately gobbled up the food. I didn't know I was really famished until I finished everything. I felt like it had been a decade since I've eaten for good.

I decided to take a bath now. I even felt gross out when I saw how different I looked a week ago. I looked like I have aged for a year.

I took a bath and fixed myself. I couldn't wait to read what he has for me.

I couldn't stop from walking back and forth in my room. I didn't know how long it took for Mal to come back, but I had definitely spent a lot of time pacing back and forth in my room.

It was around some time when I found myself running towards my door when I heard Mal's voice.

“ Too excited?”

I nodded. “ Is this good news? You look like it is?”

“ Well, I guess so.” he shrugged.

“ Where is it?” I surveyed his hand. There was no envelope. He wasn't holding anything.

“ There was no written letter. He only asked me to relay it to you.”

I was disappointed. He told me he'd come to me. He could have sent me a letter....but it's okay. As long as it's a letter from him I don't mind.

“ He told me that he'd meet you in the arena today.”

My brows furrowed at what I heard. “ Today? In the arena...what is in there?”

But Mal didn't answer me and only gave me a shrug.

He told me to wait. He told me he'd come. But isn't this it? Isn't this his move? Chase is in the arena. I should go.

***

What is this chaos. What is happening? I could see a lot of people. A lot of my people. What are they watching? Why would chase want to meet me in here?

As I went closer to the arena, people made path for me. And then finally, I saw him!

“ Chase!”

He turned around and frowned when he saw me. I...didn't think he look happy in seeing me. His jaw clenched as he puffed air from his chest.

I smiled at him and waved.

“ Chase, I love yo—”

Like a switch, I felt myself turn off. I didn't know I was holding my bow and arrow. I slowly raised my arm and readied to fire.

“ Princess Alasdair!”

“Princess Alasdair!”

“ Princess Alasdair!”

Prince Chase of Sabagatan stared at me with his shocked eyes. Vines came creeping their way to me. I silently observed.

Is he going to attack me with his vines? perhaps to suffocate me? after a while, he gave me a smile and nodded his head. I stared at his lips and tried to read the words he mouthed slowly.

It says, ' I love you, my heart.'

But it was nothing for me. It felt nothing...but deep down inside me, there was something telling me that somehow, it was a response I was waiting for him to say.

He remained his eyes on me. I could almost feel his black orbs piercing through my soul. The vines were now on my feet. I got distracted. I shouldn't have stared into him. I heaved a deep breath as I felt vines tingling on my feet. Before he could kill me,

I fired the shot.

I heard the cheers of my people. My eyes bore into the now fallen prince. I could feel the vines slowly untangling in my feet and when I could no longer feel them, I looked down.

It had fallen. Lifeless on the ground. Together with a crystal like flower now becoming lifeless and wimp.

Was he trying to attack me with his vines or was he trying to give me this flower?

Snap.

I woke up.