Zelink Short Stories

Suitor Part Two

Long time, no see. For those who don't follow me, I was busy with school but that's over now so I'm hoping to post on here more often. My other story still has my full attention though. You should go read it (Try For Me by the way).

Anyway, part two as promised. As I was writing, I realized it's going to need three parts. Yay me.

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A week I've ignored all three of them. A week spent in my room with Nonna being the only one coming in.

She finally gave in and let me take my meals here rather than try to force me downstairs. I wouldn't go and I went an entire day without eating before she brought me breakfast the next morning. It was worth it in my head though she said I was dramatic.

I'm waiting for breakfast now in my velvet chair, enjoying the warm sunlight filtering in through my windows. It's pleasant and peaceful up here, perfect for forgetting about the boy I can't stand.

I'd cried those angry tears all the way to my room. They kept coming no matter how many times I wiped them away, cursing them. She talks too much already, he'd said. The spoiled brat no one wants. It wouldn't hurt as much if I didn't know it was true.

The one time I left my room this week was to ask Father if what he said about me scaring the princes off was true and not some fib to give us something in common. Every prince I'd met with except one is either engaged or already married. Some had even told Father I was obnoxious while others simply said we didn't fit. And here I thought I was the one turning them away.

To make matters worse, all the princesses who turned away from Link married the princes I scared off. A pitiful story we've written for ourselves.

There's only one prince I know of who doesn't yet have a bride. He's older; closer to thirty than twenty, but I remember he was handsome. A bit prideful as well. Maybe he'll match the attitude they all claim I have.

I've gone to start a letter several times and always come short on words. I don't want to seem as if I'm begging to be his wife. I'm not sure how to ask him to come for a visit while adding just a hint of urgency. There's a ball Father has had scheduled for months and I want him to attend. There's bound to be princesses nearing eighteen for Link to meet and I'll have a different prince. If all goes well, we'll be free from each other and engaged. It's about as perfect as a plan can get.

Relieved to hear a knock on the door, I hurry over to it. I've been starving and the maid was taking unusually long to bring up my breakfast.

The excitement for food is promptly stomped out at the sight of Link waiting at my door. "What do you want?" A week I haven't had to see his stupidly gorgeous face and here he is, still stupidly gorgeous.

"I um..." Um. A prince and he can't think of anything to say other than um.

"Well?"

He offers a tin I didn't notice he was holding. "I heard you liked sweets."

I narrow my eyes. "Heard or asked?"

"Does it matter?"

"I guess not," I mumble and take the tin. I suppose it's an olive branch of sorts.

I open it, the sweet scent of pastries filling my nose. Chocolate puffs, strawberry tarts, and danishes. But looking at them, I frown. The piped cream on top is lopsided and all of them are a bit wonky in general with misshapen dough and an uneven sprinkling of powdered sugar.

"We must have a new baker. These aren't nearly as uniform as they normally are."

He scratches the back of his head, his expression something like hurt. "I made them..."