Treachery, Royalty, and Annoying Girls

Chapter 2, Part 4

He was standing right outside the door and when Marilyna walked out he grabbed my hand to move me out of the way before she could step on my toes. I didn't notice that she was walking backwards. "So can one of you explain what was going on during the meal?"

Marilyna looked up suddenly and started to tell him. "So long story short, Callix's mom is disabled and her dad is nowhere to be found. He's dead and I know this because my father knew him personally. I don't understand why her mother is withholding this information from her, though. It's actually quite sad when you-"

"Enough, Lady Marilyna. Callix, why don't you tell me your side so I can know what you know instead of what this one here thinks."

"My mom has always told me he's in prison for doing something bad. I never knew why she's kept it a secret as to why he is in prison."

"Thank you." He said to me. Marilyna looked jealous.

"Her mom is paralyzed from an accident that happened a few months before Callix was born. That's why she has those purple eyes."

"I already knew this and I do not recall asking you, My Lady."

"Also how come you call me 'lady' and her 'Callix'?"

"That is none of your business, Lady Marilyna. You are excused."

"B-" she started.

"Please leave. I would like a moment with Lady Callix." Marilyna left the room with a pout on her face.

"I'm sorry about her." I said to Andrew.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I don't mean to talk bad about her, but she's kind of a brat." He smiled at that.

"You aren't wrong. I don't think I've met a girl as bad as her. I wanted to get rid of her first, but her parents would be furious and humiliated and I wanted to spare them the trouble." He shifted to one foot. "I'm not asking you to get rid of her, I was telling you so that you would know..." I trailed off and then realized when she was talking with him, Marilyna probably only talked about herself the whole time. "Would you like to take an afternoon stroll with me, Just Callix?"

"I, uh, I..." Why am I like this? "Y-yes!" I blurted before I could even think about rejecting him.

We walked around for hours looking at different spots in the palace. He showed me paintings of his family and some artifacts from the times before our country was established. We came to one case and it had these little things called masks in them. Andrew put one on to show me how they worked. He looked kind of funny in the mask but it made his emerald eyes stand out more. I was looking into his eyes and could see that he was boring into my soul. He stepped closer and peeled off the fabric covering his face. I took a step back, he came forward, I went back again, and he stepped forward again. This little charade of backing up/coming forward stopped once my back hit some cold metal. I gasped and he moved his hand to my face. I ducked down as his lips hit metal. I peered from behind the case I was near. His lips were still on the Knight and he broke this kiss, his eyes still closed. "Hey, uh, Just Callix? Why are your lips so col-" he stopped and looked at the rusty metal he was kissing. "Wha-'' He broke his own voice laughing. I gave in doubling over in laughter. "Where did you go?"

"I'm over here..." He spun around to see me behind one of the artifact cases

"I'm sorry, I s-shouldn't have ducked down. Oh my stars t-this is so humiliating..." He shushed me with the wave of his hand

"Why on earth are you apologizing, I should be the one." He looked down to his feet. I could tell he felt awful. "It's fine," I whispered. There was an awkward silence. "Would you like to see something beautiful?" He asked me.