The Decision- A sequel to 'The Heir' by Keira Cass

Chapter Three

It was just past four in the afternoon when I walked out to the gardens. Though it was a little chilly, it was still a glorious day. The sun shone brightly and covered everything in a warm blanket of golden glow. A little table had been set up, it had chairs and a garden umbrella surrounding it. There was also a trolley with decadent sweets and cakes with a pot of tea. Hale was already waiting in one of the chairs, and he got up as soon as he saw me walk out onto the grass to give me a bow.

"Good afternoon, Eadlyn. Wonderful day, isn't it?" Hale said.

"Oh, definitely. I could sit out here for hours, but, we only have one hour maximum. I have to go over some documents with Dad later." I said in reply, hoping that I hadn't made it sound that I didn't want to be here. Hale pulled out my seat, and I accepted. The plates and plates of sweets were making my mouth water just looking at them.

"I think I'll have one of each. I really can't help myself and I couldn't care less." I stated while I straightened my posture, hoping to come off as a more powerful.

"I'm probably going to do the same, this looks amazing!" Hale said as he grabbed a chocolate croissant, a small strawberry danish, a few chocolates and a piece of the dainty sponge cake. I did the same, and as I was sipping my tea, Hale tried to make polite small talk.

"So, how are you today? If I were you, I would be super stressed."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, giving him a slight glare. I refused to be insulted by him, if he was insulting me, anyway.

"Oh, sorry if that came out the wrong way. I just meant with your mother and all the work you've been doing recently. It appears stressful." Hale said, correcting himself.

"Well, I most certainly am not stressed, I'm just fine. It seems that you are implying that you couldn't manage my job."

"No, not at all!" Hale said, trying to assure me that he didn't want to leave the Selection. "If I were by your side in all this, I think I would manage fairly well."

"Once again, a little over confident, don't you think, Hale?" I gave him a slight smile, "Anyway, what are you going to prove to me today? I am yet to be amused" I continued.

"Well, I think I can prove to you that I can eat all these sweets in under two minutes.

"Ok, prove it to me then." I smiled at his silly comment. Surely he couldn't do it. "Excuse me," I said to one of the maids who came to refill the pot of tea, "would you mind bringing me a stopwatch? My gentlemanly friend here would like to time himself eating sweets." The made gave a slightly confused look on her face, but she accepted the request and scurried off back inside the palace.

"If we're going to do this, we're going to do it accurately." I chuckled as I said it.

"That is most fine by me. Say, if I'm going to do this, you're going to do this with me." He smirked at his own comment.

"Ok, If I beat you, you have to come up with a dance to perform to me and the other Selected. If I lose, you can kiss me. On the cheek, that is." This made Hale laugh, his smile was wide and showed a perfect set of perfect white teeth.

"You're on" said Hale. Just then, the maid showed up, curtsied and handed us the stopwatch.

"Ready, set, GO!" I cried as I set the stopwatch. I shoved the sweets into my mouth as fast as I could (in the most lady-like manner possible, of course). I almost spat out the sweets from laughing so hard.

"I win!" I yelled in Hale's face, laughing so hard that I almost knocked over the table. I stopped the stopwatch and the time read 1:56. "You owe me a ridiculous dance. I expect big things, big and ridiculous things." I said, laughing my head off at the thought of Hale dancing.

"How long do I have?" Hale asked to determine how long he had before he was to perform his ridiculous fate.

"Hmm, I'll give you 24 hours. I'm feeling generous today." I said as I sipped my tea. The sun warmed my back through my knee length, green velvet dress. I'd brought a blazer as well in case the wind chill was too strong, but I didn't need it as my dresses sleeves went down to just above my elbows. When Neena made it for me I had insisted on helping, as I got so much satisfaction from making a dress last time. I'd asked Neena to do something interesting with my hair, so she put it up in a milkmaid braid to surround my dainty tiara. This made me feel rather elegant.

"I like the colour of your dress" Hale stated, I could see the subtle approval in his eyes.

"Thank you, Hale. My maid helped me make it." This made me feel kind of warm inside. I liked getting compliments from Hale, considering how well dressed he was himself.

"I should probably get going" I said after a while. "I really should get back to my work. Thank you for a wonderful time."

"You are most welcome. It was my pleasure." He paused for a second, as if he were thinking and then he continued, choosing his words carefully as he spoke. "If I may ask, why did you leave so abruptly last time? I just, I thought things were going ok." I thought about this question carefully.

"I just, I didn't want to get to close into your private life and vice versa. As you can probably tell, I'm a bit more distant than most." I almost felt guilty saying it.

"I understand" Hale replied. A smile crept up on his face. "May I kiss your hand, your majesty?" His formality made me laugh.

"You may, sir" I replied as I offered my hand. He held it gently, and placed a very delicate kiss on the center. With that, the date ended.