Disdain Notice (Editing In Process)

Chapter Fifteen ~ Believe

After dinner, Prince Gabriel took me out to walk in the grand garden behind the castle. It was fresh tonight and the night felt peaceful. It was nice. Queen Alena and Princess Cadence were leaving tonight and I couldn't have felt more relaxed, well not completely. I still had Queen Keira to worry about.

"So how was it? How did things go?" I asked.

He shrugged. "It was fun, I suppose. We had a couple of laughs here and there."

I put the rose in my hair since my hair had pins to keep the flower from falling. "That's good."

"I saved the dance date with you, just so you know." I couldn't help but smile. "Cadence and I had a different date."

"Why would you do that?" I asked.

He smirked. "That date was styled up for you."

"You're sweet," I said, smiling.

"That's a first." We sat down on a cemented bench. "How were your lessons?"

"How did you know?" I asked.

"I saw your instructor going up the steps when I was escorting Cadence." It was weird how he just said her name without her title. I would always use the title for a royal. "How did it go?"

"It went well. Found out you're going to be the eighth king of Endhart. That's pretty interesting."

He made a face of discomfort. "It seems unbelievable that I might be king one day."

"Yes, it does. I mean one day I'll be telling my children one day that I knew the king." I elbowed him, playfully.

"Stop that."

I frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, forgive me," he said, "listen I want to ask you something."

"Ask me then."

"Why did you...why are you still pretending?" He asked.

"I have to appear that I like you romantically," I explained. "I like you but only as a friend."

He nodded. "Then act as my friend. You don't have to perform anymore."

"Does it matter?" I asked.

"I don't want you to lie."

I nodded. "I see."

"So will you?"

"Yes, I would. I'll act as your friend...well I am your friend so I guess there's no point in 'acting' like it."

He smiled. "Thank you."

"Your Highness, have you heard anything from your mother, concerning me?" I asked. I wonder if he knew about the letters.

He cocked his head to the side. "No, not that I heard of. Tell me."

"I overheard your mother saying that there are letters from other royals about me." I waited for his reaction and although his face was composed, he couldn't hide the surprise in his eyes. "I thought you can explain to me, what is going to happen now that I'm of interest to the other royals."

"Well that's," he rubbed his forehead, "it does mean that you need to stay longer than expected regardless of our false break up."

"Wait, we're still doing that? I thought you just said we weren't going to act as lovers and lie." I folded my arms. "You're confusing me."

"I know," he said as he shook his head. "I'm confusing myself as well. Okay here's how it's going to work, we will appear as friends because that's what we are but in the end you will pretend to be heartbroken and you will disappear from the royals' eyes."