Royal Heartstrings

Chapter 16- Confessions

Valerie's POV:

Prince Nova stood there, smiling, wearing a buttoned-down shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a hint of his chest. His ginger hair was messy, as if he'd just rolled out of bed, and his green eyes sparkled with amusement. His eyes then widened as if seeing me for the first time and he walked the few paces towards me. I felt my guard go up, still trying to process seeing him here.

Before I could react, he hugged me tightly, his arms wrapping around me like a vice. It was different from the formal hugs we'd exchanged before - this one was fierce, like he was trying to squeeze the life out of me. And yet, it felt... natural. He smelled like himself, a warm and earthy scent.

After letting me go, he just stood and stared at me, his green eyes piercing. "I missed you," he said, his voice low and husky. "I missed you a lot."

I just stared at him, then raised an eyebrow. "Julie is your friend?" I asked, my tone skeptical.

He nodded, his smile growing. "Yes, she's the maid assigned to me, and now we've become good friends."

I was taken aback - I hadn't expected Julie's friend to be royalty. And yet, it made sense - Prince Nova was kind, and that was why the maids admired him so much. I didn't know how to feel about this revelation.

He chuckled, amused. "Why are you staring?"

I flushed, looking away.

"Don't look away," he said, his voice teasing. "I like when you stare at me."

I felt frustration bubbling up in me.

"How have you been?" he asked.

I kept my tone curt, avoiding the question. "What is it you want, Your Highness?"

He looked surprised, his eyes widening. "I wanted to see you. Those three months without you were torture."

I stared at him, my expression incredulous. "Why?"

He looked bemused. "Because I like you." My heart sank to the soles of my feet. "Didn't I tell you before?" I grimaced and his confusion melted away. "Did you think I would stop liking you if we were apart? Of course not."

I felt like screaming and pulling my hair. "I'm not going to give up on you," he said, his voice gentle. "I let you go the first time, and you're here right now. I believe it's faith."

I just stood there like a log of wood, staring at him, not knowing what to say.

He smiled wryly at me, his eyes glinting playfully, but I knew he was serious. "With that confidence, Val, I'm going to keep on trying." And with that the red haired prince grinned. "I promise."

★★★

Mira's POV:

I sat in the grand dining hall, surrounded by the royal family and their guests. Velma and her husband, Caspian Pierce, with their son, Xander were also present. I had heard that Prince Nova was back, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Prince Cadoc had offered to show me around Calon city, but I had refused, hoping that Prince Nova would do it instead.

As we ate our dinner of tender lamb chops with a rich mint sauce, roasted root vegetables, and freshly baked bread, I couldn't help but notice the man with honey brown hair and grey eyes staring at me. He was Princess Evie's fiancé, and there was something unsettling about the way he looked at me. His features were chiseled, with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline, and his eyes seemed to bore into me. I decided to keep my distance from him.

Just as I was focusing on my food, the footman announced that Prince Nova had arrived. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to the door, nervously awaiting his entrance. The door opened, and Prince Nova walked in, looking even more handsome than I remembered. He wore a tailored black coat with silver embroidery, a crisp white shirt, and black trousers, his red hair messy and his green eyes sparkling as he bowed to the king and apologized for being late.