Forbidden Lovers

Part 3

Part 3

Hanni thought of the Huntress often. Her forest green eyes and sophisticated attitude. Her smile. Her name, Ahylia. It was pronounced ay-lee-ah, and nothing like Hanni had ever heard before. She couldn’t be older than Hanni but here she was in such a high position.

It had been four days since then, only eight days until Hanni’s birthday and ball. Hanni watched as yet another furious suitor rode away. Zhan had been kicked out once he asked where Ahylia’s quarters were- he was clearly more interested in her than the princess. Hanni had been so upset. Kemma had seen something in Ahylia’s eyes when she saw Hanni. That gave her a spark of hope, but an inferno of worry.

There had been five suitors in four days. Hanni didn’t mind; these suitors would be single words in the second chapter of the book of Hanni’s life. The last suitor, of the Bookout High house which is the twelfth highest, had come in all high and mighty and had smart mouthed the king. He had been escorted out and Hanni had another suitor scheduled for breakfast tomorrow morning.

Hanni had not spent much time focusing on the suitors themselves. Kemma seemed to be having fun, it turned out that all of Hanni’s suitors had younger brothers and cousins in the proper age group to court her.

Hanni didn't focus on the suitors and that usually sent them away. She always fell into her own thoughts, always seemed a bit out of it. Her parents warned the suitors that she was going through a stage, but they watched her eyes as the huntress walked by.

They became jealous, rightly so. They also became confused. Her loyalties were laid clear; why did her parents continue to serve these boys on a platter for her to turn and eat something sweet she shouldn't have?

The next day, Hanni pulled her hair into a pair of buns, she left a few straw strands of pink out of her hair and she teased them slightly. Hanni pulled on a pale pink dress with a tulle skirt. It had another layer of transparent tulle covering the entirety of the dress with a few floral designs on it. It was a simple dress and one of the nicest outfits she'd worn for a suitor but Hanni had a plan. She would ask the guard, Nowah, where to find the huntress. She had a specific meat she wanted in the stew soon. She just had to get rid of the suitor first.

She went down to the great hall and her father informed her it was the Blome high house, seventh highest, that was offering their first suitor. She went out to the courtyard, surprised to see that Kemma wasn't out to greet their guest. Hanni was also surprised to see only a horse and no entourage.

Hanni slowly made her way to the suitor, how many suitors would she go through in the next week, would there be any left willing to court her at the ball? Or would her parents be trying to announce an engagement at the ball? She looked up to see the suitor a short distance from her.

Hanni watched as the suitor bowed deeply and stood back up. Hanni offered her hand and he took it, placing a soft kiss upon her knuckles.

"Calix Blome of the Blome high house, Madame," He introduced himself, Hanni couldn't help but smile. He had called her by her preferred title without being asked to.

"Madame Hanni, Princess of the Vetiti Kingdom," Hanni replied, her voice not as uninviting as usual.

"I'm here to offer you my courtship Madame Hanni," Calix told her. Hanni nodded curtly.

"Very well, Sir Blome, we will eat breakfast and go on from there," Hanni told him. She'd just noticed he still held her hand, not too tight for her to let go of she pleased. It was soft in a way, like he was just reminding her he was there.

Hanni glanced at his face, he had dark skin like the chocolate she indulged in after supper, his eyes were golden like the honey she poured into her tea. He was quite a sight, yet Hanni felt no attraction towards him. Nothing like what she felt towards the huntress- towards Ahylia. Hanni thought of her plan to speak to Ahylia and suddenly had a thought. She could accept Calix's courtship and see him for a few days to satisfy her parents. If push came to shove she could throw some fit to call it off before they pressured him into marriage.