Following Hearts

Rose's Secret

Rose dashed down the palace halls, her pale pink dress billowing behind her. The opulent portraits and chandeliers that she usually admired while strolling through the castle were today a crushing reminder of the responsibilities she had to uphold as Adaia's princess. Every minute, every second longer that she spent in the palace was a reinforcement of the manifestation of her suffocating anxieties.

She lifted her dress off the ground to prevent it from dragging on the floor and kicked her elegant heels off of her feet. She reached the palace entrance and rushed down the steps leading to the outdoor garden. From there, she continued to run down the cobblestone road leading to the stable as her mind went a million miles a minute.

Could I marry Balthazar? No, it's absurd, I'm in love, how could I throw that away? But then again, how could I ignore the needs of my kingdom, the wishes of my sister? Would I truly condemn the rest of Adaia and Nevani to preserve my secrets endeavours of love?

The palace blurred behind her as she ran. She watched as the castle, the courtyard, and the gardens all disappeared from view. While the palace itself was huge, the royal family's estate was enormous. The palace gardens, filled with extraordinary daffodils, roses, sparkling fountains, and a cobblestone courtyard in the center, was designed like a maze, surrounding the palace walls with vibrant color. Beyond the gardens was the knight's training grounds. Here, there was a separate stable and paddock for the knight's steeds. Along with living quarters for the knights themselves, the knight's training grounds also contained a large training arena for new recruits to practice for battle and defense.

Although Rose had lived on the palace grounds all her life, there were still many places that she had never set foot in. The maid's quarters, the knight's training grounds, the restricted library: all were places she had never been. Some who came to stay at the palace found it to feel like a cage, but Rose had never seen it that way. In her mind, there were still so many mysteries to explore, so many secrets to be discovered.

Rose found herself bent over and breathing heavily in front of the stables. After taking a moment to catch her breath and collect herself, Rose made her way inside the barn. The smell of hay and horses overwhelmed her as she opened the doors. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the earthy scent. When her eyelids fluttered open, she saw Felix and Joplin standing in the center of the aisle.

"Felix," Joplin purred as she caressed his shoulder. "Would you be a dear and help me mount Clover? I need your strong hands."

"But of course, my lady." Felix turned and saw Rose standing before him. His face lit up as he took in her presence. He bowed and she felt her face flush. "Just one moment your highness."

Rose strolled over to Eclipse's stall. Eclipse was a beautiful Arabian, tall, sleek, and slender. Her grey, speckled coat gleamed, having been freshly groomed this morning. She stroked the horse's long snout.

"Hello," Rose uttered softly. "Are you ready to go riding?"

"Almost."

Rose whipped around to see Felix's unmistakable blond curls and toothy grin. He approached, carrying Eclipse's saddle and bridle in his arms. Felix wasn't the traditional image of beauty: he wasn't muscular, he was thin, almost too thin. He wasn't broad and brooding, he was bouncy and light. His smile stretched from ear to ear, revealing his crooked front tooth. The sun that gleamed through the stable ceiling panes bounced off of Felix's golden hair, almost giving the stableboy an angelic halo. Rose found herself fixated a bit too long on a smudge of dirt just below Felix's dimpled cheek and lowered her eyes.

"Thank you Felix!" said Joplin and Delphine, two of the castle's ladies-in-waiting, in unison as they rode out of the stable.

As the girls left, Felix and Rose both glanced around the barn to ensure they were alone. They heard nothing but the occasional whinnies and snorts from the other horses. No voices, no footsteps, no nothing: they were completely alone.