America & Me..

Chapter 4

I tugged my ear. I am not exactly sure why, but I guess I really want to see her these days. I walk to America's room, and this time, it is closed. I stood there, uncertain how I would start the conversation. I am overthinking this... Just knock!

I knock hard. I expect America's maids to greet me but instead I see her.

"Where in the world are your maids?" I ask, my eyes searching for them over her shoulder.

"Gone. I send them off when I come back from dinner."

"Every day?" I ask incredulously.

"Yes, of course. I can take my clothes off by myself, thank you." I lift my eyebrows. She blushes. That came out wrong. I let out a chuckle at her discomfort. Still, her maids should stay with her.

"You should know, you look amazing today. Your maids really went all out on the dress. Not to mention, I'm wearing blue as well!" I said, my head put the three points I wanted to say at different intervals all together.

She twirled, showing off her dress. "Thanks. It feels surreal to wear something so delicate and expensive. I mean, I've never worn something so beautiful."

I frown. Was life really that hard? How much do I really know?

"Although I really don't want you to cover the dress, grab a wrap. It's cold out."

"If you insist on not keeping your maids around, I'm going to have to post a guard outside your door," I say, forcefully. I want her to be safe more than anything.

"No! I don't like being babysat." She wailed.

"He'd be outside. You wouldn't even know he was there." I chuckled at her childish behaviour.

"I would too," she complained. "I'd sense his presence."

I laughed. That's when I saw Lady Celeste, Lady Emmica and Lady Tiny. "Ladies," I nodded, acknowledging them. They all curtsied and walked their way. I think I saw America blush from the corner of my eye.

"I told you the girls who got nervous about the attack would end up staying." She said.

I was sincerely grateful for that. "You can't imagine what a relief that was." If everyone just left, that would narrow down my options even more. This is my life we are talking about here!

"I would have thought it would be helpful in a way," She said, after we descended the stairs. "I mean, it has to be complicated to pick one person out of all these girls. If the circumstances weeded some out for you, shouldn't that make it easier?"

Oh!. I shrugged. "I suppose it should. But it didn't feel that way at all, I assure you." I am sure she noticed that I was hurt. She didn't press the matter anymore.

"Good evening, sirs," I said, nodding. They opened the door without any hesitation. We both walked outside.

"I don't understand," she said as we walked to our bench. I let her sit facing the palace and I faced her. It seems easy to talk this way.

I hesitated. Should I explain? Will she understand?

"Maybe I was just flattering myself, thinking I'd be worth some sort of risk. Not that I'd wish that on anyone!" he clarified. "I don't mean that. It's just... I don't know. Don't you all see everything I'm risking?" I asked. I really needed to know that. This was my happiness, my life we were talking about here.

"Umm, no?" What? "You're here with your family to give you advice, and we all live around your schedule. Everything about your life stays the same, and ours changed overnight. What in the world could you possibly be risking?" Does she really think that my life hasn't changed as much as theirs? That I had a perfect family and an untroubled life. Oh, she didn't know just how wrong she was.