Once in a lifetime // Prince Raji

Chapter 4 - a turn of events

3rd person pov

"Hmm..seems they had a lot to say right Prince Raji?" Izana let out half a chuckle before adjusting his posture against the window.

Prince Raji was silent from embarrassment from what he had just heard, "Be a prince i can be proud of" he mumbled and scoffed before turning his gaze to the view outside

"You know your highness i truly do believe you and my sister would make a perfect match" Izana stated with a sly smile "You're both arrogant, get flustered easily and you can be quite interesting when you're together, am i correct?" He smirked

"I beg your pardo!-"

Izana cut him of "Your highness I'm serious, this is for the best of both kingdoms and both believe that we can make this marriage happen. It just needs time, and we don't have much at the moment."

"Now run along, the garden party will start soon enough, dont want to be late now do we?"

Raji clenched his jaw and bowed towards Izana and was escorted by Sakaki out of the room

"I too believe you and Princess Aerin would make a fine ma-"

"Be quite Sakaki!!" He whisper shouted as he once again turned red and struggled to regain his posture up right

Princess Aerins pov

All the guests had arrived to the garden party, greeting them all was tiring but it was necessary to maintain a good reputation around here. Prince Raji arrived with Izana following behind shortly after, 'what had they been up too..' I wondered, just then I was broke out of my day dreaming by a tap on my shoulder, "Oh brother Zen" I turned to face him

He smiled at me "did everything go okay with Prince Raji?" his voice turned soft but stern as he mentioned the princes name

"I suppose you could say that yes" I chuckled and placed a hand on his arm "everything was fine you need to stop worrying about me Zen" I nudged his arm playfully as his face got red

"I'm just looking out for you alright! and that hurt.." Zen laughed and pouted his lips, he ruffled my hair before we turned out attention to the two figures approaching us, it took us a minuet to notice due to the large increase of guests swarming the area but we soon took notice of Prince Raji and brother Izana.

"greetings Zen, Aerin" Izana turned his gaze towards us as he was saying our names "Raji did you enjoy the facility's? I heard my little sister took you on a tour of our wonderful gardens."

Raji was startled by the question but answered non the less "yes, I must say the gardens are absolutely beautiful, the flowers are one of a kind your highness"

Izana chuckled "you're too kind Prince Raji, I assume you liked it more because you had company. Isn't that right princess Aerin?"

I cleared my throat as my gaze shifted to Raji' a figure standing like a statue

"a- uh- yes! Princess Aerin knows a lot about the gardens, she's very intelligent with nature! along with a bright personality and knowledge" His words sounded fumbled and just managed to form a sentence

"in fact I may have to marry her sooner or later!"

Silence

a very uncomfortable silence filled the air

Prince Raji stood with a confident smug smirk on his face with his hand on his chest

"Excuse me?" I glared towards his direction

Everybody was looking at us with their mouths gaping open and eyes widen, whispers were filling the air quickly. And I didn't like it.

Before this could get any further Izana let out a hearty laugh and Prince Raji followed along awkwardly, me and Zen were stood there with blank faces wondering what was funny. I felt like a toy to the royal crown at this point, something that they would play with and then drop it when they got bored. I clenched my fists into a ball and gritted my teeth to keep in the nasty comments about to fill the air.

Izana and Raji stopped laughing but Izana opened his mouth

"I'm sure we can arrange that."

That was the final straw. my face burst into a flaming mess

"I'm sorry your highness's but I need to get some air away from the public...excuse me!" I bowed and rushed out from the centre of the garden in a flustered rush

My heels were clicking against the cement floor that followed along the garden, I walked through twists and turns before stopping towards the patch of glaze Lily's, I sat myself down onto the garden wall and rubbed my eyes before letting out a long sigh like I'd been holding it in forever.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the gradual footsteps getting closer, I looked up to see him. Prince Raji of Tanbarun.

I got up and dusted my dress quickly and wiping my face "I'm sorry fo-"

"I'm sorry!"

What?

Did Prince Raji just say sorry?

am I dreaming?

"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable! I cannot express how much of a mistake I made. Please forgive my foolish actions your highness" he bowed towards as I could see his hands clenching onto his clothing at the sides. "you don't have to say anything but just know I haven't had this much fun spending time with another royal nor person ever, I just want to say thank you and please do not think you have to marry me! I can arrange something cross my heart!" he finished as he took a small breath and the end

the air was blowing lightly, the sun was shining onto us both like we were chosen

"please look at me" I stated

His body shot up. his green orbs stared softly into mine

"I forgive you. Raji."

A smile crept up on his face "You do? Thank you...your highness"

A comfortable slice filled the air as I invited him to sit down with me onto the step of the garden

The silence was peaceful, the only things filling the air were sounds of nature

I was lost in my thought when I saw prince Raji about to address me

"Please call me Aerin..I called you by your first name by accident so it's only fair."

He stared at me and hesitated.

he took a breath in "Will you...come and see my kingdom...I can show you the gardens...only if you want to please don't think I'm for-"

I cut him off "I'll suggest it to Izana, thank you"

His eyes widened and a pink tint arrived on his cheeks like my answer was unbelievable, it was quite amusing.

Soon enough we traveled back to the garden party side by side with comfortable looks on our faces. Brother Izana and Zen smiled my way and I put a thumbs up towards Zen. He looked Relieved but still fairly annoyed, I giggled to myself as Prince Raji and I wandered around the plates filled with cakes. The whispers still circulated the area which made me tense, but being with him he was always finding away to distract me, whether it was barging me with questions or simply asking how I was

It's like I was seeing a different person and side to the known snobby prince of the nation

A rare gem indeed.