“Definitely. I like the way you look, especially as I’ve read your book further and am enjoying it immensely. I want to keep reading it.” I stepped closer and lightly traced around his eyes. “Your eyes are my favorite, especially when they show your emotions and help me read you better.”
His eyes lit up as his lips curved up into a real smile. It pleased me how much my words touched him. “You’re really very sweet, Rosie flower.”
Just as before, a strange thrill rippled over me at this nickname. “As are you. It’s the reason we’re friends despite my deciding early on to hate all guards forever.”
Up went his eyebrow. “Why is that?”
“Because when I first came to the palace, I thought all royal guards were the Dark Prince’s minions bent on performing his evil deed, which you demonstrated when you thwarted my attempts to explore. Thus when I met you, it was your role that prevented me from initially reading your book and why I cast you as the villain.”
“So I was the wrong genre. I’m glad you finally decided to give me a try anyway.”
“And I’m glad you gave me a try, even if fairy tales aren’t your preferred genre.” I sighed.
“I didn’t dislike your favorite book by any means; I’m just surprised that the romance is so superficial.”
“But it’s not,” I protested. “You need to read it more closely.”
“Then perhaps I should give it a reread before I return it.”
I smiled, pleased by his willingness. “Which was your favorite story?”
He lightly traced my lips, as if memorizing the shape of my smile. I shuddered. “I didn’t like ‘The Tale of the Witch and the Love Potion’ at all, as I knew I wouldn’t, but I really enjoyed ‘The Tale of the Princess and Her Prince in Disguise.’”
“Ooh, that one is splendid, even if the heroine is a bit daft. I mean, who wouldn’t recognize true love when it’s staring her right in the face?”
Cue his eyebrow lift. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Ali extended his hand. “Come, I want to show you something.”
I rested my hand in his and allowed him to help me up and loop my arm through his. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He led me down a secluded path I hadn’t yet explored. Hidden deep behind the hedge maze was the most enchanting tree I’d ever seen. The leaves were shimmery, almost gold, and the fruit growing from its boughs was almost translucent in appearance.
I stared in wonder. “Wow, what kind of tree is this? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Legend says this is an enchanted tree whose fruit reveals one’s true feelings, no matter how deeply one suppresses them.” He plucked a fruit from the tree and used a dagger from his boot to cut it in half. He held a piece out for me while keeping the other for himself.
I stared first at it, then up at him. “What’s this for?”
“I thought it’d be wise for you to see the secrets of your heart before following through with your disastrous plot.”
I hesitantly took the fruit. Without breaking eye contact with me, he took a bite from his own piece. I watched him with bated breath. “Does it work?”
He swallowed and examined the fruit before meeting my gaze once more. “I do believe it does. Everything seems a bit more clear now.”
“In what way?” I leaned closer, eager for his answer. He motioned towards my own half.
“Don’t leave me in suspense. Eat yours.”
I did. The fruit was a unique and juicy explosion of sweet flavor with a hint of tartness. Ali’s gaze intensified as he gave me a searching look, as if hoping to discover something.
“Well?”
A stirring of something prickled my heart as I met his eyes, but I found myself pushing it away, focusing determinedly on an image of the dashing Crown Prince of Draceria. “I still think Prince Liam is my prince.”
He sighed and frowned at the half-eaten piece in my hand. “You got a bad piece of fruit.”
I folded my arms. “No I didn’t; we ate from the same piece. If you don’t like what’s in my heart, why did you ask?”
His frown deepened as he searched my gaze. “If you searched your heart, you’d realize what a mistake you’re making. Do you enjoy ending up in messes of your own making, Rosie?”
I tightened my jaw. “Falling in love is anything but a mess. Obstacles are a part of every story.”
He nodded, as if I’d said something deeply profound. “Indeed they are, but you seem to be a heroine who inadvertently creates her own obstacles.” He took another bite. “Keep eating; maybe you’ll see sense before you do something completely foolish.”
I threw my fruit half at him. It bounced off his chest rather satisfyingly. “You keep changing roles in my story. Why do you continuously switch back and forth between friend and foe?”
He glanced disappointedly at my fallen fruit before meeting my gaze again, his own intense. “I don’t change roles; you keep changing the part you want me to play. I keep hoping one day you’ll select the one I desperately want to be for you.”
That strange energy passed between us again. Despite my annoyance, I found myself stepping closer, drawn towards him. “And what role is that?” I whispered.
“I think you already know. Sometimes one keeps secrets even from themselves.” His expression hardened. “You’re so blinded by the way you’re determined your story should play out. Your terrible plotting will lead to nothing but an unhappily ever after.” His expression slowly transformed from anger to a strange desperation. “Can’t you see what a huge mistake you’re about to make?”
I met his anxious gaze head on. For a moment we stared at one another, the strange energy that seemed to frequently fill our interactions burning between us. I forced myself to remember Prince Liam and his desperate need for me, of the storyteller’s prediction, all to give me the strength to say my next words.
“The Tale of Rosalina will end how I’ve determined it will, Ali.”
He winced. “You’re clearly determined, but don’t be surprised when a few…obstacles show up.” He tore his gaze away and examined the golden ball. “You say this leads to true love?”
Thankfully, the venom from his voice had disappeared. I swallowed. “Indeed.”
“And how does it work, exactly?”
“I’m not sure. That’s why I’ve been carrying it around with me.”
“In hopes it’ll lead you to your prince?” He examined the ball a bit more before raising his gaze to mine. His eyes swirled with a tumult of emotions along with a secret, one I was desperate—but somehow afraid—to discover. “Perhaps you’ve already found true love but are merely too blind to see it. Have you considered that plot twist?” He raised his longing gaze and bridged the remaining distance to shove the rest of his enchanted fruit into my hands. I shuddered as our fingers touched. “The spell on my fruit is working, so perhaps if you eat mine, things will become more clear.”
He spun around and walked off. As I watched him disappear around the hedge maze, I took a tentative bite and a myriad of foreign emotions immediately swirled through me, ones I had no name for, but ones that were warm, tender, and beautiful. They seemed to intensify when Ali paused to glance over his shoulder and our gazes met once more.
For the first time since coming up with this brilliant plan to get my story back on its proper course, a pinprick of doubt tickled my heart. I reached into my satchel to stroke my recently acquired laurel-fern leaf waiting patiently to be used in my love spell. For some strange reason, rather than thinking of Prince Liam, the image of the longing swirling in Ali’s eyes filled my mind instead.
With a gasp, I allowed his fruit half to slip through my fingers to the ground.
Chapter 14
I encountered Eileen in the hallway. “I was just looking for you,” she said. “I’m in desperate need of a break after the tedious meeting I just endured. Can you keep me company while I prepare for tonight’s state dinner?” She sighed, as if the though
t of attending the dinner completely overwhelmed her.
I was in no state to be good company, but without even waiting for an answer, she looped her arm through mine and led me to her bedroom so I could sit with her as she got ready. Normally, I adored playing dress up, but even the gorgeous gowns of satin and lace couldn’t tug my thoughts away from my confusing encounter with Alastar, the strange feelings I’d felt when I’d taken a bite from the fruit that may or may not have been enchanted, and the intense look in his eyes when he’d looked at me, almost as if he…but no, that couldn’t be true. Could it?
“Rosie?”
I blinked rapidly and turned towards Eileen, who was now wearing a violet gown and sitting in front of her vanity having her dark hair arranged by her lady’s maid. Weariness filled her eyes, reminding me of her own trying day. Only my concern for my best friend was enough to tug me away from my confusing Alastar-filled thoughts.
“Was it really such a stressful day?”
“Every day seems more stressful than the last,” Eileen said.
I ached to assure her; I hated seeing my dear friend so distressed. “But you’re doing so well. I’ve been watching you.”
She sighed wearily. “I certainly hope so. I am trying. Before I married Aiden, I knew being a princess would be difficult, but I admit it’s more so than I imagined—countless duties and events, constantly being on display, always having a guard trailing you…it’s quite exhausting at times.”
My brow wrinkled. While admittedly the reality of royal life was far different than how it was portrayed in books, Eileen almost made it sound like she didn’t even like being a princess. “But surely you still enjoy being a princess, right?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure in time that’ll come. I love Aiden. He makes it worth it.” Eileen glanced at me with a rather knowing look, the kind only a best friend could give. “Enough about me. You’re being uncannily quiet. What’s bothering you?”
How could I possibly answer when I myself didn’t understand the emotions swelling within me? Confusion, hurt, remorse…all from fighting with Ali. While no one was in favor of my brewing up a love spell, his disapproval bothered me the most. And then there had been that strange look he’d given me…not to mention the foreign feeling I’d experienced when looking at him…my heart fluttered just thinking of it.
“Oh.”
I glanced at Eileen. “What?” I squeaked.
“You’re thinking of a certain guard. Well, I shan’t disturb you.” She turned back towards the mirror, but her reflection revealed her knowing smirk.
My cheeks burned. “I’m not thinking of him.”
“Aren’t you?” Eileen’s expression was far too innocent. I tightened my jaw.
“No.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
I muttered a very un-heroine-like curse at my betraying face, and Eileen’s smirk widened. Once more, my attempts to keep a secret had failed dismally. “Ali and I got into a fight.”
Eileen raised bow eyebrows. “Ali?”
Cue even warmer cheeks. “It’s my nickname for him.”
“That’s rather—ow!” Eileen winced as her lady’s maid accidentally poked her with a hairpin.
“My apologies, Your Highness,” the maid muttered. Eileen smiled as she waved the apology away and resumed our conversation.
“Your nickname for him is sweet. Does he like it? I imagine he does.”
“He doesn’t like it in the least.” I managed a small smile at the triumph of ruffling that aggravating man.
“Oh, I’m quite sure he does,” Eileen said brightly, ruining my moment. “But that doesn’t matter. What did you and Ali fight about?”
My half-smile vanished in an instant. “You can’t call him that. Only I can.”
“Forgive me.” For some reason Eileen looked far too pleased at my snapping at her for such a trivial offense, only to me it didn’t feel trivial at all. “Please don’t keep me in suspense. What was your argument about? You normally get along so well.”
I snorted at that. When had Ali and I ever gotten along? “The love spell,” I said. “He’s determined to thwart me.”
“I daresay he is.” Her lips twitched, an annoying reminder of the man I was trying and failing to not think about. “Poor Alastar. I imagine he’s particularly set against your scheme.”
She said nothing more, but it didn’t matter if she had; I wouldn’t have heard her words, for at that moment I noticed her lady’s maid had stilled halfway through her task of arranging Eileen’s hair. I met her gaze and she glared at me. My brow furrowed. Why was she so hostile?
Eileen noticed her servant’s pause and looked up. “Is something the matter?”
“Of course not, Your Highness; forgive me.” She resumed her work with a blush, but she poked the pins into Eileen’s hair with far more force than before, as if our conversation had distressed her, which was strange, considering we’d only been speaking of Ali…
My breath hooked as a possibility dawned on me, one that was impossible to rid myself of once it had taken root: this maid was interested in Ali. Was he interested in her as well? I suddenly became eager to find out.
I narrowed my eyes at the maid, analyzing. She was annoyingly beautiful. Brunette, green-eyed…were those traits Alastar found appealing? Suddenly my own lovely appearance looking back at me in the mirror seemed utterly lacking. Maybe Ali didn’t like blondes.
Wait, why did I care whether Alastar preferred blondes or brunettes? The feelings from the garden returned—intense, beautiful, and utterly bewildering—but they were mingled with something more—a sharp, burning feeling that slowly seeped over me like poison.
“Rosie?”
I didn’t respond to my friend, only continued glaring at the offending maid, who seemed even more concentrated on arranging Eileen’s hair. I managed to tear my gaze away and it met up with Eileen’s in the mirror.
Her expression softened. “Thinking of him?”
I couldn’t stop thinking of him. His earlier words occupied my thoughts, making it impossible to focus on anything else. What had he meant that the enchanted fruit had worked for him? He’d said it with such passion, as if it truly had illuminated precious feelings.
And then a possibility occurred to me, causing me to gasp. Could he possibly…hold a tendre for me?
I’d expected my first official state dinner to be a grand affair, but so far, it had been nothing but dull, dull, dull. Although admittedly, making my grand entrance with the crown prince and princess had been a thrill, not to mention I looked every bit a princess myself, as Eileen had lent me a beautiful pink formal gown.
Only one thing marred the moment: Ali and the puzzle about what he felt for me, which still occupied my thoughts. I’d no sooner entered the banquet room than I began frantically searching for him, finding him standing rigidly in his usual place against the wall. My heart gave a strange leap. My bitterness concerning our recent fight melted away at seeing him, and a strange flutter filled my heart—similar to the one I’d felt in the garden.
I analyzed the feeling. What was it? It was almost as if…I was attracted to Ali, or found I liked him more than a friend, feelings which were ridiculous, of course. After all, he was just a guard, far from being a handsome prince. Besides, I knew what true love felt like, considering I’d felt it with Prince Liam. The emotions I felt for both men weren’t even close to being the same.
Still, I experienced a strange urgency to flounce by him so he could get a full view of me in my princess finery. I lifted my chin, delicately took hold of my gown, and walked gracefully past him, making sure my skirt grazed his legs as I glided by. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction. I glanced coyly over my shoulder…
Nothing. He kept his gaze straight ahead, his jaw tight, not even acknowledging me with his usual eyebrow lift or lip-twitching half smiles. I frowned. After his earlier display in the garden, I’d been so sure that perhaps he harbored a little crush on me. But then why was he ignoring m
e? I tightened my jaw and swiveled away, determined to ignore him in return. I refused to let him ruin my first state dinner.
Unfortunately, Ali’s help wasn’t needed to make this the most tedious meal I’d ever participated in at the palace. I could see why Eileen struggled with being a princess at times. The dignitaries were all old and stuffy, speaking in a dry monotone on the dullest of subjects. My few attempts to liven up the conversation with entertaining stories received blank stares from the dignitaries. After the third attempt, I gave up and resigned myself to sitting in silence, suppressing my frequent yawns and stealing peeks at Ali, who didn’t glance towards me once the entire meal.
He certainly wasn’t showing any interest in me. In fact, he almost appeared uninterested. It was most confusing…and frustrating.
I hoped to escape the tedium when the dinner concluded, only to find myself trapped inside a stuffy parlor filled with these same dignitaries droning on about dull political matters. Soon even my overactive mind—which normally never seemed to run out of stories—had been lulled to sleep.
I glanced longingly out the window. It was such a sunny evening. If I were at home in Arador, I’d spend such a day not cooped up as I was now, but instead in my favorite meadow, with a basket of day-old pastries and a stack of my favorite fairy tales. Even if I was expected to help my parents in the bakery, there we could at least exchange stories as we went through the familiar, comforting motions of baking. A sudden homesickness swelled within my breast. I never thought I’d find my common girl life more exciting than any moment I spent in a palace.
I tried passing the time thinking of Prince Liam. But even while immersing myself in my favorite daydream of our utterly romantic palace tour, I found my mind drifting, instead finding myself repeatedly trying to engage Ali’s attention, but he remained aloof and distant. He’d clearly not gotten over our fight. Or perhaps he’d decided he no longer liked me—if he even had in the first place.
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