Parallel

Chapter XIII: Token of Affection

Auralea

I woke up unusually cheerful the next morning. Oddly, I am excited to get to work in the kitchen with Odette. I pull on one of my nicer dresses, hoping to impress Leo and put my hair up into a neat bun. Some unruly curls frame my face and I huff. Looking attractive is harder than I thought.

I practically skip down to the kitchen. "Good morning Odette! Morning Haelan!" I smile and begin organizing a tray to be taken up for breakfast. Odette places a hand over her heart and watches me skeptically. "What's gotten you in such a good mood this morning? It usually takes three wake up calls for you to even roll over." She was right. I wasn't a morning person but this morning, a particularly handsome brown eyed prince was motivating me.

Haelan nudges her and grins at me. "I prefer this Auralea to the testy hag we wake every other morning." I roll my eyes. "I am not a testy hag. Some of us just prefer to sleep at least until the sun rises." He ruffles the curls hanging loose on the top of my head and coos mockingly. "Sure you aren't." I swat his hand away and finish the tray now piled high with grapes, berries, cheese, fresh baked bread and the tea brewed for the morning. "If you two are done harassing me, I am going to go wake the royals." I hear them snicker and mutter about the prince as I make my way up the service stairs and down the hall. I flush and grumble when I am finally out of earshot. Was I that obvious?

I rap lightly on Leopold's door once inside the west wing of the castle. After a second knock and no response, I gently push the door open, balancing the tray in one hand and turning the knob with the other. I shut it gently behind me and place the tray of food on the prince's bedside table, glancing at his sleeping form. He looked so peaceful. A part of me did not want to wake him but another selfish part of me missed him.

Lightly shaking him, I whisper his name trying not to startle him. "Leo...Leo..." His eyes open slowly and a look of confusion passes his face before a smile replaces it. "Good morning Leo." He drapes an arm across his face and his lazy smile never leaves. "Morning already? I feel that I am still dreaming. Pinch me?" I grin and reach over, "Gladly." He grabs my arm and tugs me down before I get the chance, pulling me flat on my bottom by his side. In his bed.

Leopold sits up and his eyes are mischievous. "Eat with me?" His thumb rubs soft circles on my wrist and I distractedly nod and prepare to stand. "I will go and grab a chair. If anyone sees us this way..." He pouts childishly but does not let go of my arm. "I thought the agreement was that I would never let you go?" I flush and pull my arm away to grab the tray and put it down on his lap.

"This is an exception. You need to eat if you want to grow up to be a big strong prince one day." I smile teasingly and pull a chair up to the side of his bed. I watch awkwardly as he eats, fidgeting with his sheets. A few minutes pass before he cocks an eyebrow at me and holds out a slice of bread. "Here Auralea. Eat." I can't help but to feel shy as I'm eating. I feel his sideways glances and suddenly feel self conscious about how much I'm eating and how I look as I'm eating.

After we both finish up, Leopold gets up from his bed and goes over to his armoire to get dressed. I keep my back to him to give him privacy and busy myself with tidying up around his room. "Auralea, there is something I would like to talk to you about." The playful mood from before has disappeared and I can sense that this topic of conversation is serious. I turn to face him. "Yes?" He walks over until he is standing directly in front of me. There is a large box in his hands and he seems nervous, which is not like him.

"You have become important to me in these past few weeks and I wanted to give you a gift to show my appreciation." He opens the box and I gasp at the beauty of it. Inside the box is a gorgeous sparkling sapphire with diamonds surrounding it. The jewels hang from a rose gold chain. "Leo this is too much. It's so captivating and it looks very expensive." I chewed on my lip nervously but he just waved me off.