Reasons for Silence

Flight

Chapter Sixteen ~ Serefina

Didn't I get a say?

As soon as he took hold of my arm I found myself struggling to keep up with his pace. I was at a disadvantage though, considering the number of layers that I was wearing, not to mention the actual length of the dress.

I shook my head, a breeze brushing through my hair; I still couldn't believe what was happening. Surely this was a joke – and a cruel one at that. Amador was a Guard not a Prince, just like how I was a peasant, not a slave.

As we hurried through the Palace I lost my breath. I simply couldn't keep up with him anymore and seeing as how I was already in too deep, I decided that what I did next wouldn't affect the consequences that I surely already faced.

So I stopped; right then and there.

Mind you – at this point I was just straight up ignoring a Royal command.

I was jerked forward as a result and Amador turned to look at me.

"I'm sorry, you're Highness, but I really can't go back there," I said. Which wasn't entirely true; I could go back there, I wanted to go back there – to find Kobe – I just couldn't go back there with him.

To prove my point I pulled my arm from his.

The muscles in his neck tensed and his countenance betrayed pain of some sort. Surely that wasn't because of me, I thought.

I turned my head, feeling guilty.

"Listen, honey, as much as I want to respect your wishes, this is the one case where I really can't."

I stared at him, shocked. His voice didn't sound angry with me, he sounded upset with the situation. He made a move to pick up my hand again.

"No," I said stepping back, "I'm not going, not with you."

I felt nauseous after saying those words; who says that to a Prince?

Amador turned around so that his back was facing me and I could hear him inhale deeply. When he turned back around his face was red.

Subconsciously, my hand floated up to my neck.

"Is there someone that you would rather go with?" he asked with burning eyes but calm voice.

"I told you before, I'm engaged." I said; just because, apparently, I really liked pushing my luck.

"How long have you been engaged?"

I spoke without thinking.

"I'm not sure."

He nodded his head.

"Why won't you accept an engagement to me?"

"Because you're not right."

"Not right for what?"

"For me."

As soon as the words left my mouth I was utterly shocked at myself. Never in my life would I have imagined that I would have such a repartee with a Prince.

The Prince cleared his throat and took my hand, leading me back to the ball.

Now, I'm not saying that showing up at a party with the Prince on your arm is a bad thing, I'm just saying that I would have rather not been in that position.