The Blood Prince

011

"It's a beautiful day out. How was your evening with my brother?"she asks as she places the crown on my head and then covers it with a cloak.

"It was actually rather lovely."I chuckle, blushing like a fool as I look down at my hands.

"Oh my goodness, I know that look."She pokes, making me chuckle.

"He didn't harm you did he? I know my brother, if he can't control his flame in a simple argument-"

"No, he didn't. He was very careful."I say.

"Well that's wonderful! I can already hear the pitter patter of little feet."Nadia chuckles excitedly.

"Would you like to have children one day?" I ask as we begin walking down the hall, accompanied by two knights.

"Oh I'd love to. But not now. My head must be with the people."she smiles.

"Is that your job here in the castle?"I ask as the doors before us open, leading to a carriage.

"Well, moreso they're well being. I grow their crops for them."she smiles.

"How?"I ask, making her chuckle.

"You'll see."

...

I walk with Nadia and the royal guard into the village. Instantly, people beginning to cheer.

I look around at the beautiful smiling faces of the villagers, and it reminds me again of what Evandor lacks.

They throw rose pedals in the air over our heads, and little children run up and grasp at us.

Nadia reaches into her pouch, handing them small gold coins, and seeds.

They speak in their language to me, which I couldn't quite understand.

"They want us to visit the market! Come, they have fresh vegetables today!"Nadia says, grabbing my hand.

....

The children lead us to the mark, where vendors stop everything their doing to offer us some of what they sell.

Different foods I had never experienced, having the people teach me their language, they even offered to do my hair and dusted my fingertips in a sacred powder that stains the skin and is a sign of nobility and beauty.

And then, after a few small festivities Nadia had us brought to a large, empty field.

"Alright children! Do you all have your seeds?"she asks, making all of the small children around cheer.

They then throw the seeds into the field, and Nadia smiles as she holds out her hands.

Miraculously, crops begin to rapidly grow from the ground.

"Wow."I say in awe as sugarcane begins to sprout all over the empty field.

"Are you doing this?"I ask, looking back at Nadia.

"Of course not. The children's magical seeds do this."she winks, making me chuckle.

The sugarcane was healthy, and ripe. Nadia breaks down a stalk and begins to prep it for the children.

"This is called sugarcane. It's very sweet, and if you work very hard, these sugarcane stalks can be turned into sugar, or molasses."she says, breaking the pieces off and handing them to the children, and also handing me a small piece.

"The fleshy stalk is edible, the seeds inside are not. So what you do, bite the flesh"she takes a bite of the sugarcane and then chews for a bit.

Then she spits the seeds into her hand.

"And then you spit out the seeds."

The children begin to mimic her, and as do I.

"It's so sweet princess!"One child says.

"Yes it is very very sweet! The sugar it makes is what is used to make your candy, and cakes you see."she says.

....

We head back to the castle, and I chuckle.

"That was so lovely. I had so much fun!"I say.

"I'm so glad! Are the villages like this in Evandor?"she asks as the carriage begins moving.

"No. My father rarely let me out of the castle."I chuckle.

"But I doubt it would be anything like this."

"We can fix that one day, you know. Our kingdoms are united."she says.

"I hope so."I smile.

....

I walk into the castle arm in arm with Nadia, and immediately Xavier storms toward us.

"Where have you been?"he asks angrily.

"She was with me."Nadia says.

"The villagers made her feel at home, doesn't she look beautiful brother?"Nadia says, putting her hands on her hips.

I nervously look up at Xavier as he looks down at his sister.

"You are not to take my wife anywhere without my permission. You could've endangered her life. You will not be doing it again. Do you understand?"Xavier says angrily.

Nadia releases a sigh and then looks down.

"Yes, your majesty. I understand."she says softly before stepping aside.

I begin to get more nervous as Xavier approaches me.

"Bedroom, now."he demands.

I look down and then quickly walk past him.

...