Veiled Love

7

Rosetta

I got up abruptly, my hands trembling slightly as I ran them through my hair.. "I want to help you," I said firmly, my voice wavering slightly. "You saved me back there, and now I want to help you.... And I think I've got a plan."

I knelt quickly back in front of him and removed my cloak, draping it over his shoulders and pulling the hood over his head. His hair brushed against my hands, and I looked into his eyes. I had never seen such a captivating color before.

"Can you please wait for me?" I pleaded softly, hoping he would understand. "Just a little longer. Can you hide for me?"

- -

It had been a day since I left him alone outside the slums. I felt terrible, but I had a plan. Unfortunately, my father came to me, bringing with him a string of unexpected duties that demanded my immediate attention. As much as I wanted to rush back to him, to make sure he was safe, I found myself trapped within the castle walls once again.

My father, ever the imposing figure of authority, had a way of bending my will to his own. Each time a marriage was to be arranged, a series of events were held every month leading up to the wedding. For the upcoming celebration, my father had entrusted me with organizing a small festival that would span both the kingdom and the slums. So, I had been busy with that, running around the kingdom and visiting important people.

It made my stomach churn, arranging a festival celebrating my future being ruined, but this... this was different. It was the only chance I had to slip into the slums  find Livia and probably help him... He never told me his name. It was crazy, I had never felt so much adrenaline as when we were running away from the guards. I almost burst into laughter when he threw me over his shoulder. How did I even get into this situation in the first place? Sometimes I wished I didn't feel the need to help everyone I came across, but now that I was involved, his stubbornness only fueled my determination to help him even more.

But there was something about him, the way he quivered underneath me... He was clearly afraid of getting caught, as if something painful lurked in his eyes... Eyes that were a striking shade of blue, warm yet unwelcoming, like a beautiful storm-tossed sea. My cheeks flushed with warmth. I flinch as gentle fingers graze against my cheek, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Look at me," I stiffened slightly, "you haven't looked at me all this time I have been talking to you." Finally, I lifted my gaze, meeting Xavier's eyes. "What's got your attention?"

I was in Xavier's chambers, seated in front of his desk, idly fiddling with the charcoal in my hand. We were supposed to be discussing arrangements for the upcoming events, and my task was to jot down notes on the paper before me.

"Princess," he prompted, his voice pulling me from my distracted state. I dropped the charcoal and leaned back against the cushion of my seat, letting out a soft sigh.

"Yes, Xav, sorry," I replied softly, noticing a slight darkening of Xavier's eyes. He pulled out a napkin and gently held my hand in his soft palm, using the other to wipe the smudges of charcoal from mine. "We've been working all day."

"Why do you call me that?" Xavier slouched slightly, gently letting go of my hand. "Xav... You know my name but you've never said it," his brown eyes held a hint of disappointment, yet they lingered on me softly.

"I call you Xav because it's easier than saying 'Xavier' every time," I quipped, trying to lighten the tension in the room. "And frankly, it makes you sound more like a pirate captain, which suits you."

Xavier chuckled softly his eye brow rising slightly, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "A pirate captain, huh? I'll take that as a compliment."