He was right. I once again took in the village, small and simple to be sure, but full of so much life and joy. I smiled. “Arador may not be a palace, but it has its own charms.”
“And your imagination will allow you to have the most grand adventures wherever you are, even here.”
“My imagination and I are currently not on very good speaking terms.”
“That’s too bad,” Ali said. “Your imagination is charming. It may be a bit impulsive and needs to be tamed, but you should never get rid of it.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Ali.” I untucked the iris from my hair and twirled it by its stem, admiring it. It was so lovely, somehow the most beautiful iris I’d ever seen. I peeked up at Ali, watching me with an intense look.
“Do you like it even if it’s not a bouquet of roses?” He looked so vulnerable in that moment, as if both desperate and afraid to hear my answer.
“I like this much better. Besides, irises are my new favorite flower.” I tucked it back in my hair, earning me another one of his almost-smiles I was coming to love.
We arrived at the apothecary, a dank room with herbs and strange plants dangling from the eaves. I browsed the crowded shelves until I found the crushed dragon scales. I started to pick it up, but Ali rested his hand over mine to stop me. Warmth rippled up my arm.
I slowly met his gaze. “What is it?”
“Rosie, I—I need to tell you something.”
I waited. He shifted from foot to foot. I’d never seen him so agitated. He opened his mouth to speak but remained silent. “What is it, Ali?” I asked gently.
“I—nothing.” He was silent a moment. “I’m sorry, Rosie.”
“For what?”
He fiddled with the jars lining the shelves, avoiding my eyes. “I only wanted to help you, but because I’m going about it in the wrong way, I’m hurting you instead.”
“You’re doing nothing of the sort. It’s not your fault I allowed my imagination to author my love story, an action that ruined my best friend’s own fairy tale.” The guilt for that offense returned, sharp and prickling.
“Their fight wasn’t your fault, Rosie,” he said gently.
His words felt empty, especially considering I knew they weren’t true. I sighed. “Do you think there’s a way out of the predicament I’ve created for myself?”
He shifted again, looking rather uncomfortable. “I do. There’s always a way. I—” Again he didn’t say anything. I tilted my head, studying him.
“You’re behaving rather out of character. I suspect an imposter.”
My teasing earned me one of his lip-twitching smiles. It pleased me to see it. I plucked the crushed dragon scales from the shelf, and this time Ali made no motion to stop me.
After I’d purchased the dragon scales, we stepped back outside. The afternoon was melting into evening; the sun hung low on the horizon, casting the village in a sheen of golden-rose light. For a reverent moment, I allowed the loveliness of the setting sun to bathe me.
“Oh Ali, I never knew Arador could be so beautiful.”
“It truly is a lovely place.” He rested his hand on my lower back to guide me back towards the bakery. I nearly jolted at the contact. I took several breaths trying to school my heart, now pounding wildly.
For several minutes we walked in silence, allowing me to look around my village once more and savor its simple charms, all while marveling at the wonderful time I’d spent here. I never knew any moment in Arador could be so pleasant. Perhaps it was Ali’s presence that had made it magical.
The spell was broken when he glanced down at me with a vulnerable look. “I’ve missed you, Rosie. It seems like you’ve been with Prince Liam almost every waking moment. I didn’t realize how much I’d come to rely on our interactions until they were stolen from me. You do like to take things of mine, don’t you?”
I furrowed my brow. “What else have I stolen from you?”
“Something very precious.” He paused before hastily adding, “Do you miss His Highness? Having spent so much time with him the past week, I’m worried you find my company dull by comparison.”
In truth, I hadn’t thought about Prince Liam at all. “I can’t say that I do. In fact, I’m rather relieved to be free of him for a while.”
“But aside from the fact that you shouldn’t have spelled him for ethical and political reasons, I thought his courtship was what you’d always dreamed about?”
“Well…it admittedly didn’t go as well as I thought,” I said. “Although he’s undeniably charming.” Despite how annoying his attentions admittedly were, it was still somewhat flattering that I’d received them from a real prince.
Ali cocked an incredulous eyebrow. “Indeed. If that’s all that’s needed for a relationship, I’m in trouble when I eventually start courting.”
I froze, the tranquil afternoon we’d spent together instantly darkening. “You’re planning on courting someone?”
“I’m hoping to.” He gently tugged on my arm to resume our walk, but I’d been transformed into a statue by an evil spell and wouldn’t be able to move ever again.
“Has someone caught your fancy?” My heart plummeted at his nod, a nod which confirmed what I’d until now been merely suspecting. “Oh.” I remained rooted to the spot, but while I stood unmoving, inside my heart was a hurricane of emotions. “I see.”
His frown deepened. “Are you alright?”
“Is it one of Eileen’s ladies you fancy?” They were all annoyingly beautiful, her handmaiden in particular.
“No.”
“Then it must be that parlor maid, the one you couldn’t keep your eyes off during the recent state banquet.”
He scrunched his forehead, as if trying to remember, before rolling his eyes. “Oh her? She flirts with everyone, but I assure you her attentions were unwelcome.”
My heart lifted at that bit of news, but I wasn’t fully appeased. “Then…” I struggled to come up with another position on the royal staff but I found it impossible to even breathe, let alone think coherently. Ali gently tugged on my arm again, and this time I managed to thaw enough to stumble after him. “Then who do you want to court?”
“That’s a secret, Rosie.”
More secrets? “Won’t you tell me?” For I’d never wanted to know a secret as fiercely as I wanted to know this one.
“Perhaps one day you’ll wriggle it out of me.”
We continued our stroll, but I suddenly no longer wanted to be on Ali’s arm; instead I needed a secluded hiding place where I could break down and cry.
“Are you alright, Rosie?” Ali gazed down at me with concern. I bit the inside of my lip to keep my tears at bay. I refused to cry in front of him.
“I’m fine.”
“You never could lie to me, Rosie.”
I glared at him, for he was the perfect target for the agony now racing through me for reasons I didn’t quite understand. “Stop reading me like an open book.”
“I admit I’m too curious not to when you so conveniently leave it open. Might I suggest getting a lock? Although I must confess I hope you don’t.”
His gaze was smoldering, intensifying the strange feelings igniting my insides, causing me to yearn for him to read every single page of my story for the rest of our lives.
“I don’t want to get a lock,” I whispered. He stepped closer and touched my cheek. I leaned against his fingers.
“Rosie…” He said my name both like a caress and as if he was in fierce pain. He stroked my cheek, each touch causing me to melt as he stared into my eyes. “You have the most lovely eyes,” he whispered gently. “They’re like an ocean, brimming with life, mischievousness, and stories.”
He smiled at me, another real smile, this one soft and tender. His words danced through my mind. I had ocean eyes that were full of stories. Never had a compliment touched me so deeply.
“You agreed with Prince Liam the other day when he called me beautiful,” I said. A blush caressed his cheeks and his expression
softened.
“You are beautiful, not just you but your imagination. I noticed it the moment we met. Whenever we’re not together, I miss not just you but your stories, our stories.”
He suddenly dipped down, as if he meant to…but he couldn’t, not Ali. Despite whatever was happening seeming utterly impossible, without conscious thought I leaned upwards to meet him. But he suddenly pulled away with a gasp, causing my heart to crack.
“Forgive me, Rosie.” He stumbled backwards, glancing towards the horizon, where the sun was sinking further. “It’s getting late. I need to return you to the bakery and check on Her Highness.”
It took me a moment to find my voice, and once I had, it took even longer for me to still my pounding heart enough to take his arm. We didn’t speak for the remainder of our walk. The moment we arrived at the bakery, Ali bowed, cheeks still crimson, and departed without another look back.
Later that night, as I lay awake staring up at my ceiling, my mind revisited the scene with Ali over and over again, trying to make sense of not only what had almost happened, but of the lingering disappointment that it hadn’t.
Chapter 21
“Rosalina, you have another love letter,” Ferris drawled.
I didn’t even look up from the dough I kneaded. “Throw it into the fire.”
He naturally chose to ignore this request. His snigger was followed by the sound of his unfolding the letter with exaggerated slowness. I gritted my teeth. Of course he couldn't let this golden opportunity to harass me pass. Older brothers were the worst.
“Oh, that’s a surprise.”
Ferris’s comment tickled my curiosity, despite my fiercely trying to focus on the bread. I couldn’t bear to hear another sappy poem gushing about all my supposed virtues and beauty that Prince Liam couldn’t possibly really believe considering he was under the influence of magic.
“Hmm, this really is unexpected.”
Ferris again. I bit my lip to keep my curiosity firmly inside where it belonged, but it escaped anyway. “What is it? Is the prince’s latest poem less sappy than the last several he’s sent?” That would be a miraculous feat.
“It’s not from Prince Liam.”
“What?” I swiveled around. “Who’s it from?” A strange hope flared to life in my heart, one I was afraid to examine too closely in case I was wrong.
Ferris made a show of examining the signature. “Let’s see, it appears to be from…ah, him.”
I bounced impatiently on my heels. “Who?”
Ferris looked up with a knowing smirk. “Guard Alastar.”
“What?!” My heart flared and I snatched the letter to hungrily read it…only to see that it wasn’t from Ali at all but Prince Liam. I spun on my cruel brother, who was grinning quite wickedly. “Ferris!”
He chortled. “My suspicions are confirmed. I knew you fancied him.”
My cheeks flamed. “I don’t fancy him.” Fancied seemed a word far too inadequate for…for…for whatever existed between Ali and me, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. The excitement that had filled my heart deflated.
“Yes you do.” His smirk widened. “I don’t see why. He’s really not that good-looking, certainly not the type of prince you’ve been dreaming about your entire life.”
I glared at him, my flour-coated hand balled into a fist, crumpling the offending letter. “Don’t you dare say that about Ali.” He was perfect.
His wicked grin widened. “A bit defensive, are we? I knew you liked him.” His sniggering faded, replaced with a rare serious expression. He rested his hand on my arm. “It’s my duty as your big brother to make sure anyone you fancy is worthy of you.”
“I don’t fancy him,” I said again. “We’re just friends.” But somehow those words, too, felt inadequate on my tongue. The warmth in my cheeks deepened. “Ali and I are good friends,” I clarified. Hmm, that didn’t seem quite right either.
As if his name had been a summons, the bakery door opened, the bell above it ringing merrily to signal someone’s arrival. Considering it was the rest day and the bakery was closed, I hoped that meant it was…
Eileen walked through the bakery and appeared in the kitchen, Ali behind her. I stared at my best friend, hungrily searching her grave expression. I hadn’t seen Eileen since our arrival in Arador and was alarmed at her puffy eyes that signaled long, restless nights, likely filled with crying.
Eileen smiled at me, though it was clearly forced, as it didn’t quite reach her eyes. My heart tightened. She was clearly still upset with me, as she should be, considering I’d ruined everything.
“How are you, Eileen?” I asked hesitantly.
“Fine,” she clipped in a tone that dismissed further questions.
Ferris sidled over with a look like he was about to create mischief. Sure enough, he gave Ali a strange smirk. “Rosalina enjoyed your love letter this morning.”
I shot him a glare, which was likely rather ineffective considering my face was already burning with a mortifying blush.
Ali’s eyebrows squashed together. “My…what?”
“Rosalina thought this morning’s letter from Prince Liam was from you. You should have seen the way she eagerly scampered over to—”
“Ferris!”
He merely sniggered.
“Be grateful you’re an only child,” I mumbled to Eileen. To my delight, she managed a small smile, causing my heart to flare in hope that she didn’t truly hate me after all.
I finally felt brave enough to glance at Ali, only to discover he wasn’t looking at me, but was tracing his finger in the powdery flour marring the counter with exaggerated concentration, seeming almost embarrassed.
I forced myself to turn away from Ali back to Eileen, who was now staring out the window, lost in her melancholy.
“Have you heard from Aiden?” I asked.
She blinked as she turned back to me, as if I’d pulled her from somewhere far away. “Aiden? Yes, we’ve exchanged letters. He’s worried about me.”
“I’m glad.” I wrung my hands. “Do you also exchange tender words?”
She shrugged. “A few.”
“So…you two are doing well?” How I hoped so. I needed them to be. I couldn’t bear the thought I’d destroyed my friend’s happily ever after.
Eileen said nothing, not the best of signs. I took a wavering breath.
“Eileen, I’m really sorry about—”
“It’s not your fault,” she said crisply. She turned away and began wandering the kitchen aimlessly. I nibbled my fingernail and glanced at Ali again, aching for one of his assuring looks, but he was quite determinedly avoiding my eyes as he drew swirl after swirl in the flour.
“Aiden is quite anxious to know whether you’ve made any progress on the reversal spell,” Eileen said.
“Oh.” Of course she was only here to check up on me. A friend who ruined her best friend’s marriage didn’t deserve visits made in friendship anymore. “I’ve found the recipe, but I’m still missing one of the ingredients—enchanted water located in the Forest.”
“Then we shall go to the Forest’s enchanted waterfall this afternoon.”
I searched her expression to see whether this offer to help was given because she wanted to be in my company again or was purely based on her royal duty to do whatever it took to reverse the love spell.
“I hope the spell works,” I said.
“I’m sure it will,” Eileen said. “You’ve gotten in all sorts of messes before, and yet things have always worked out.”
All my previous mishaps over the years were nothing compared to the mess I found myself in now. Aiden had been right to banish me.
Eileen looked around the kitchen, her gaze lingering on the three bouquets that crowded the counter. Her lips twitched, another promising sign. “I see Liam is as attentive as ever?”
“This is nothing,” Ferris said. “You should see the parlor…Your Highness.” He added the title hastily. Eileen raised an eyebrow.
“I
see. Well, I should update Aiden and then we can track down the final ingredient. Do you mind if I use the writing desk in the parlor?” Without even awaiting my reply, she started towards the next room. Ali naturally followed her, but in the doorway she turned to him. “No, Alastar, you don’t need to accompany me.”
“But Your Highness—” he objected.
“No tragic fate will befall me writing a letter,” she said, sounding thoroughly exasperated. She started to turn but paused to give me a half smile. “Unless that writing desk is haunted and swallows its victims whole?”
I could see she meant for me to play along, but as was usual of late, I wasn’t in the mood to do so. “No, it’s an entirely ordinary writing desk.”
“I see I’m not the only one in need of cheering up.” Concern filled Eileen’s expression. She glanced back at Ali. “You’ll stay here and keep Rosie company.” Although her command was firm, a bit of life flickered in her eyes as she glanced between us. “I’m sure Ferris has things to do as well.”
He looked back and forth between Ali and me with another uncharacteristically protective big brother look. “But they—”
“Excellent.” Eileen’s interruption caused Ferris to cut his protests short. “I’m sure you have duties to attend to that will take you far away from the kitchen.”
I expected him to ignore her request, but instead he gave her a sloppy bow and left. Eileen smiled, this one finally looking real. “Maybe there are perks to being a princess after all.” And humming, she left the kitchen.
Silence filled the space between Ali and me. I shifted restlessly from foot to foot, stealing several glances at him. He finally looked up, but his gaze was captured not by my own but by my hair. “You have flour in your hair.”
My cheeks warmed as I caught the ends of my hair with my still flour-covered fingers. “Do I? I’ve been kneading bread.”
“You do. Here.”
He stepped forward, closing the distance between us, and suddenly I was enveloped in his warm, intoxicating presence. He smelled just like my favorite honey-lemon muffins, and suddenly I found it strangely more difficult to breathe. It became even more impossible when Ali touched my hair, a gesture that caused my stomach to flip and my heart to patter wildly.
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