The Royal Rescue

Chapter 18

Serenity's PoV

No. No. No.

I can't love him. He's a king and I'm just a homeless girl. I'm not worth his time nor his luxuries.

I gently push him away.

"Serenity?" He looks at me with his eyes laced in concern. I just shook my head.

"No, I can't. I can't." I breathed out but he just didn't understand. How was I meant to tell him that a commoner like me has fallen in love with him? The stupidness of the idea that he could love me back.

"You can't? What do you mean?" He was persisting and interrogating me with his eyes. Those eyes forced me into submission to tell him everything.

"I can't tell you because it is stupid." I lowered my head in embarrassment. I couldn't fully admit the truth.

It would be a royal scandal.

"Nothing you say or think is stupid, dove. I mean it." He says pressing a kiss to my temple as his arms snake around me. It made me jump but eventually, my body just calmed by itself.

What was I meant to do?

I want to tell him but I knew he was just going to think I'm just like any money-seeking woman out there.

I pulled away from his arms and walked to the balcony with the blanket wrapped over my shoulders. I looked over at the kingdom of Valera covered in freshly fallen snow and sighed.

I was like a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode and I knew that in my mind, my emotions ran haywire. Do I tell him or not? Gosh, why can't I think straight?

I wanted to scream in frustration but I was in the presence of a king and knew that his guards would probably try to attack me once again.

I just continued to stare over the railing letting the cold winter air blowing in my face.

Eventually, after a few minutes, I felt hands on my shoulders.

"I was going to give you time to think but I couldn't do it knowing that you were in distress." He states rubbing my shoulders gently.

"It's okay, I just needed some fresh air," I replied quietly but enough for him to hear.

"What is it that you meant by 'I can't' earlier? I fear that you hiding something from me." He said. His voice sounded almost disappointed and I immediately felt guilty.

"And I fear that if I told you that you will hate me, your highness." I heard him sigh and I felt myself sink deeper into guilt. I felt so bad but he's a king and his reputation shouldn't be tarnished by my presence.

He turns me around to face him.

"Please, call me Ricardo and tell me what it is you mean. I will never judge you, Serenity. I've become more passionate about you since getting to know you. Serenity, I am completely and utterly in love with you." I gasped.

Did he just seriously say that?

Did he just say the L word?

I can't believe my ears right now. He loves me. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he wasn't lying unless he's a really good actor. Oh god, I hope he isn't lying. I couldn't bare the pain.

"Serenity, are you okay?" I jumped out of my train of thought when he tapped my shoulder lightly.

"Ye-yeah I'm okay. Sorry I spaced out." I mumbled the apology and he just lightly chuckles.

"I could tell. What's got your mind so muddled, my little dove." He catches a stray tear on his thumb, rubbing my face lightly. I leaned into the hand like a newborn.