And I continued, sharing moments of his humor, his sweetness, his patience putting up with my antics, his ease in understanding me as if he could read me as no one else could, the way he always had just the right thing to say to me, everything. As I spoke, Eileen’s hand rapidly caressed the page.
“What are you drawing?” I asked.
“I’ll show you in a minute; I’m almost done.”
I paused. How strange I’d managed to come to know so much about this particular guard after repeatedly ignoring him. How had this happened? The familiar stirrings I’d experienced several times since eating the supposed enchanted fruit returned, causing my heart to flutter. What were they? Whatever they were, I shouldn’t be feeling them, not when I had Prince Liam’s affections and Ali likely fancied that parlor maid currently waiting on us. And yet…
Eileen made a final touch to her picture and turned the sketchbook around. “What do you think?”
My breath caught. Ali stared back at me. Eileen had captured him flawlessly—from his serious expression to the mischievousness filling his emotional eyes. I gaped hungrily as my eyes traced over every feature, unnecessary considering I already had his face memorized.
I had to have this. My motivations behind this fierce need could be analyzed later in the sanctity of my room—or better yet, buried too deeply for me to study them too closely. No matter what scheme I had to concoct, I would obtain Ali’s portrait.
“I—” Strange shyness caused me to lower my gaze to my crumb-filled lap. “Can I have it?”
“Of course. I drew it for you.” Eileen crawled off her chair and handed it to me with the same majesty as if she were bestowing one of the royal jewels, only this was far more precious to me, a treasured possession I’d aways keep near my heart.
After my visit with Eileen concluded, I stared hungrily at my newly acquired portrait as I walked down the corridor. It truly was a perfect likeness, as if Ali had been trapped on the page. To think I could carry him about as a storytelling companion in my pocket. I sighed contentedly. Oh, bliss.
Oof. I rammed into something. At first I wondered if it was Ali, for he was the one I usually encountered while wandering the palace. But it was far worse.
“Darling!” Prince Liam gushed. “Did I harm you, my petal?” He ran his hands along my arms, as if the gesture would soothe away any pain from our collision. I flinched away.
“Forgive me, Prince Liam; I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Liam,” he corrected, stroking the back of my hand. It took every ounce of willpower not to shudder. I tried to tug my hand away but his grip was firm, possessive. For an awkward moment we stood there, him gaping sappily and me wriggling uncomfortably beneath his unwanted attentions.
“I’m sorry, I must go. We’ll see one another later.”
His hold on my hand tightened, his desperation to keep me close even though I wanted nothing more than to be as far away from him as possible. “Rosie, my love, don’t torment me so. It’s been an age since we last saw one another.”
“We saw one another only an hour ago.” It was utterly unfair I’d run into Prince Liam again when I still hadn’t seen Ali all day.
“That’s too long, Rosie. We must make up for lost time.”
I couldn’t quite suppress my groan. “Might I suggest commissioning Eileen to draw a portrait of me for when we’re separated?” Which would hopefully be as often as possible.
His gaze settled on the portrait in my hand. “Excellent suggestion, my Rosie. Is this one?” He snatched the portrait. His expression went through an interesting journey—from his lips twitching to devastation filling his eyes to contempt hardening his features.
He raised his wounded gaze to mine. “What’s the meaning of this, Rosie petal? Why are you carrying the portrait of another man?”
“Give it back.” I tried to grab it, but he held it out of reach.
“Are you in love with him?”
My face flared with heat. “I most certainly am not.” I ignored my frantically pounding heart and the message it seemed to be trying to tell me. Now was not the time for self-reflection; I had a thief to apprehend. I managed to snatch back Ali’s portrait. I carefully smoothed out the edges.
Prince Liam watched, looking on the verge of tears. Then he was on his knees at my feet. “You clearly treasure that portrait. You must love him. Oh, Rosie.” He crawled closer, backing me against the wall, and seized my hand. “Please love me, Rosie. I’m your prince.”
This was getting utterly ridiculous. His attentions were smothering me, threatening to drown me. I clutched Ali’s portrait protectively against my heart. “Please, Your Highness,” I stuttered, on the brink of tears. “Please stop.”
He didn’t. I looked to Prince Liam’s accompanying guard, who made no move to assist me; he didn’t even seem to notice my plight, his baffled expression locked on the prince with a look like he considered the heir to his kingdom’s throne to have gone mad.
Panic constricted my chest. It appeared I was left to my own devices. My mind scrambled to formulate a plan. I’d just settled on pretending to faint when my knight appeared at the end of the corridor. I’d never better appreciated good timing in stories than when I saw Ali appear at this perfect moment to rescue me, the damsel in distress, from the annoying dragon.
His face was damp from exercise and his hair rumpled from his training, but no one had ever looked more handsome, especially when he skewered Prince Liam with a suspicious glare. “There appears to be trouble.”
“Ali!” His name came out around a sob. Prince Liam twisted around to glare at him.
“You. You’re trying to steal my Rosie’s heart away from me.”
Ali cocked an eyebrow at him. “I haven’t stolen anything, Your Highness, not when Miss Rosie’s heart is reserved for her prince.” He gave me a searching, almost challenging look. I leaned back against the marble wall and gave him my most pleading expression.
He immediately softened and stepped forward. “Your Highness, perhaps you need a breath of fresh air to ponder your love for Rosie.”
“Excellent. She shall accompany me.” His hold on my hand tightened.
“No thank you, Prince Liam. I would rather…not.”
Prince Liam looked as if my refusal had crushed his heart. “Do you no longer love me? Your heart must have been stolen by that guard, considering you have a portrait of him.”
I’d been quite determinedly hiding Ali’s portrait behind my back. “What portrait?” I squeaked.
Prince Liam reached behind me and snatched it to show Ali, whose eyes bulged as he took in the picture before turning a questioning look to me. “Rosie? What—”
My embarrassment was so acute I was on the brink of being engulfed in flames. Ali stared at me for a moment, almost…longingly, an incredibly soft and sweet look, so unlike Prince Liam’s lovesick drooling. Then he smiled, actually smiled, shaking his head in wonder before he turned the full force of his serious-guard persona on Prince Liam.
“Your Highness, please return Rosie’s property and give her space. She seems quite overwhelmed by your adorations.”
Prince Liam looked almost desperate. “No matter how much affection I bestow upon my petal, it’s never enough.”
I closed my eyes in disgust at his words. Would this nightmare ever end?
“Look at her, Your Highness; she appears unwell. Please give her some space.” My eyes were still closed, but I heard Ali’s tone sharpen and could imagine the disapproval on his normally stoic expression. He played a dangerous game being so forceful with a royal, but I was infinitely grateful, especially when Prince Liam sighed in acquiescence.
“Very well.” I opened my eyes as he returned Ali’s portrait and I clutched it protectively to my heart. Ali unfortunately noticed, which served as more fuel to add to the fire of my humiliation, humiliation which only grew as Ali stared at it before raising his questioning gaze to meet mine with a tender smile. It was official—this was the day
I died of utter mortification.
Prince Liam stood and kissed my hand; I winced as if his lips were poison. “We’ll unite later, my sweet. In the meantime, I’m composing a new love poem for you. It’ll be ready by dinner.”
Which meant I’d likely have to read it out loud. I sighed wearily. “How…lovely.” I clutched Ali’s portrait closer to my heart, as if the gesture could give me strength to endure Prince Liam’s affections.
“Indeed it will be, Rosie petal. I’ll be counting down the minutes until our reunion.” He stared at me for a bit longer before he finally released my hand and took his leave, walking backwards down the corridor in order to keep his sappy gaze on me for as long as possible. When he reached the end of the hallway, he blew me a kiss, but before he could disappear around the corner, Aiden arrived with Duncan trailing him, expression hard.
“Liam, where have you been? You’ve missed another meeting.”
Prince Liam’s expression cleared and his eyes widened. “There was a meeting today?”
“Yes, and it was our last meeting before your return to Draceria tomorrow,” Aiden snapped. “I reminded you several times in case your mind was occupied with a certain girl.” He glared at me and I withered beneath it.
“I’m sorry, Aiden, I didn’t mean—”
Prince Liam swallowed his apology at another dark look from Aiden. “It’s not entirely your fault.” He glared at me again and my stomach jolted. I instinctively took a step closer to Ali, needing his strength for what was to come.
Eileen appeared around the corner and I nearly sobbed in relief at her timing; only she seemed able to calm her husband when his Dark Prince persona overcame him. Her eyes widened as she took in his dark expression.
“Goodness, dear, what ever is the matter?”
Aiden ignored her and tightened his jaw as he gave me another accusing look. “Rosalina, I need to speak with you.”
Beside me Ali stiffened, and when I stole a peek up at him, he looked almost guilty. My heart pounded furiously in my chest. Whatever Aiden had to say to me certainly wouldn’t be good.
Chapter 18
“Did you hear me, Rosalina? I need to speak with you. Now.”
I pressed my hand to my pounding heart in a feeble attempt to calm it, something that felt impossible with the rather frightening way Aiden looked at me.
I took a wavering breath before lifting my chin bravely. “Of course, Aiden.”
He nodded curtly before gesturing towards a nearby door. “We’ll take this discussion somewhere more private.”
He strode into the room and I slowly trudged after him, my mind racing as every unpleasant rumor I’d ever heard about him swirled through my mind. I forced myself to push them away.
Eileen followed me in, and Alastar and Duncan took their usual guarding positions against the wall. Aiden spun on Prince Liam when he also followed us into the room. “This is to be a private discussion, Liam.”
Prince Liam stared at him for a moment before looking towards me. “But I can’t possibly part from my Rosie.”
Aiden closed his eyes with a look very much like he was praying for patience. “Do it anyway.” His hardened tone left no room for argument. Prince Liam’s eyebrows rose before he obeyed, backing slowly from the room in order to keep me in his line of sight. The moment he left, I nervously perched on the edge of an armchair while Aiden began pacing like an agitated predator. I wriggled in my seat, waiting, casting Eileen a few panicked looks. She frowned at her husband, perplexity lining her brow.
It took me several minutes to summon my bravery. “What is it, Aiden?” I squeaked.
He didn’t speak but simply stared at me, the force of his black eyes enough to keep me pinned in my seat. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke. “This has gone on long enough, and I won’t tolerate it a moment longer.”
“Tolerate what?” I managed.
“Dealing with a spelled prince, one who misses important meetings and is pining for a silly girl who isn’t his intended. What were you thinking?”
I winced. “Well…I just wanted to encourage Prince Liam’s feelings towards me—”
“In case I didn’t make it clear before,” Aiden interrupted, each word deliberate and slow. “Prince Liam is bound by a political contract betrothing him to Princess Lavena of Lyceria.”
“Well, I figured he could break it and—”
“You don’t just break contracts,” Aiden said. “It isn’t done.”
“You broke yours.”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “My situation was drastically different from Liam’s,” he said. “That likely didn’t occur to you, nor did the fact that if Liam could easily get out of his contract, he would have done it by now. He detests the match.”
I opened my mouth to tell him that falling in love with me would give Prince Liam the perfect opportunity to finally wriggle out of it, but Aiden’s hand snapped up, silencing me.
“Since you clearly don’t seem to understand his situation, let me outline it for you once more. Prince Liam is engaged to Princess Lavena, an arrangement that is to be a great benefit to both Draceria and Lyceria. They’ve been engaged for years under contract. Their marriage will create a coveted union between both kingdoms…and you just tampered with it. Do you understand what you’ve done? If word of this gets back to the King of Draceria, there could be dire consequences—our relations with Draceria could crumble, trade agreements could fall through, our economy could suffer—all due to your selfishness.”
Unease knotted my stomach.
“Aiden, please stop.” Eileen stared wide-eyed at her husband, as if she’d never seen him before. He ignored her and stepped closer in order to loom over me. I shrank in my seat.
“You spelled a foreign prince while under my charge, meaning I’m going to have to take responsibility for your ridiculous actions. I told you not to spell him, yet you disobeyed me.”
“I—I just wanted him to fall in love with me,” I stuttered.
“Only because you’ve decided your story has to play out that way,” he said. I winced at his hard tone. “You recklessly pushed forward with absolutely no regards for the consequences to you or anyone else. But there are consequences, whether you want there to be or not. This isn’t one of your fantasy worlds; this is real life, and it’s high time you got your head out of the clouds.”
“Aiden!” Eileen’s alarm was riveted to me. My lip trembled and tears burned my eyes, but I would not cry. I was supposed to be a brave heroine, one who, at this moment, was facing quite a formidable foe. Eileen saw the emotions I battled and settled beside me in order to wrap her arm around me before turning to her husband. “Aiden, please, try to contain yourself.”
His eyes narrowed at her. “Contain myself? Don’t you realize how serious this is?”
“Of course I do, Aiden, but Rosie is still my friend.”
“I don’t care,” he snapped. “You have to understand the difficult position she’s put me in. Your friendship doesn’t change the fact that she tampered with a political contract, which will harm our alliance with Draceria. We rely on them for forty percent of our trade. If they learn what’s happened, our foreign relations—”
“I know, Aiden,” Eileen said. “But try to scold her gently.”
“I’ve already tried that, and look at the mess she’s created for all of us.” He rubbed his temples, as if warding off a headache. “I can’t believe it. She’s spelled the Crown Prince of Draceria. If my father ever gets wind of this…what a disaster.” He took several long, deep breaths before straightening and once more giving me his serious Dark Prince look. “This is what’s going to happen: you’re going to reverse the spell.”
I bit my lip. He made it sound so easy. “But—”
His hand snapped up again. “No, Rosalina, I don’t care if you’ve deluded yourself into believing he’s your path to happily ever after. He’s not. As such, you will find a way to reverse that spell, or so help me—”
�
�No, that’s not what I meant. I don’t know how.”
He frowned. “Excuse me?”
“I don’t know how to reverse the spell.” The tears I’d fought to hold back finally escaped. Eileen’s arm tightened around my shoulders.
Aiden leaned closer, his dark eyes flashing. “Then I suggest you go back to your bakery and figure it out. And don’t return until you’ve created the counterspell.”
His words slowly sunk in and my stomach jolted in horror. “Are you…sending me away?” He couldn’t be serious. Banishment only happened to vile villains in all the tales I’d ever read. How then could it be happening to me?
“That’s precisely what I’m doing.”
At his words, Ali fidgeted uneasily behind me. “Your Highness, if I may—”
“Not now, Alastar,” Aiden snapped, not even warranting him a glance.
“But Your Highness, there’s something I need to—”
“I said not now.” Aiden glared at him until he snapped his mouth shut then turned the force of his disapproving dark eyes back to me. “You will leave the palace and not return until you’ve found a way out of this mess.”
A crushing weight pressed against my heart. “But—but—”
Aiden stared me down. “No arguments, Rosalina. This isn’t a story or a game of make-believe; this is a political arrangement you’ve endangered, an interference that’ll result in political ramifications. I forbade you from creating a love spell. You disobeyed and must now suffer the consequences. You will return to Arador until you come up with some way to unravel this mess you’ve created.”
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