Love & Duty

Chapter 18

"Sophia, slow down. We are already there; a few minutes won't kill you." Tyler says as they speed walk towards Ren's office.

"I waited all this time; I can't wait anymore! Plus, I'm sure he is probably worried sick about me." she grins, somehow feeling happy that Rowen would be worried about her.

Tyler and Valerie just smile and shake their head at their excited Princess. She fought for a good few hours and rushed back on horseback without resting just because she wanted to see Rowen.

She is very excited to get answers for his actions!

They burst into the office, but Rowen wasn't there, to her disappointment. She looks around and still doesn't find him.

"He isn't here." Ren answers the question in her head. "Rowen, he went to get something for me. However, I'm glad to see you are all alright." Ren smiles at his friend and her aides.

"Of course, we would be. Those bandits got nothing on us!" she laughs confidently and rests her hands on her hips. "So, where did you say Rowen was?" she asks innocently this time.

Ren smirks at her and stays silent for a few extra seconds, making her squirm more and more. "He's by the garden; you should be able to catch up to him before he-" but Sophia was already out the door before he could finish his sentence.

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Sophia practically ran to the garden; she got looks from anyone she passed. Guards would try to bow out of respect, but she would already pass them before they could even think of moving. Sophia did catch a glimpse of maids whispering as she jogged by, probably about her appearance. At the moment, she didn't care about any of that stuff.

She gets to the garden and sees who she has been looking for. However, it wasn't the way she imagined it. The man she was expecting to see, sad and worried sick about her, was sitting there with Sarah and... laughing?

With no worry in the world? She hated the part of her that felt disappointed at his happy face; she wanted to see him happy, of course. But how can he smile with no care? Is he not worried about her? Those thoughts floated in her head.

As she looked and her thoughts ran wild, a specific touch snapped her back. Sarah gently put her hand on his arm and laughed with him joining her.

That did not sit well with Sophia at all. This setting was too much. Sarah was too close to Rowen. They were too comfortable with each other!

"Rowen!" she calls as she jogs up to him, with a smile to hide the dark feelings inside her.

"Princess Sophia! You're back?" he stands directly, looking her over. "What happened?! Are you injured? We should get you checked." he looks her up and down, seeing blood all over her clothes and splashes on her face.

"I'm fine! This isn't mine. We just got back; I... I wanted to speak with you." she looked over at Sarah, who was now watching them. "Unless you are busy?"

"Rowen and I were just taking a break. He was helping me carry some stuff over. He has the strength and muscle for it, unlike me." she giggles as she looks between them.

Sophia didn't find any of it funny; if anything, her face had a serious expression. She could see how Sarah was looking at him, it annoyed her, but it was the same way she had been looking at Rowen when she discovered her feelings.

Sarah needs to step away. Now!

"It was nothing, Sarah. I'm glad I could be of help." the good-natured, oblivious Rowen answers back with his smile. They get to small talk about what they were doing, with Sarah giggling at every word he says.