The Good Crown

Chapter 19

What did he mean by "I'm not like anyone else around here?" It was such a strange comment.

As we strolled along the quiet paths back to my dorm, I couldn't shake the thought. Maybe this was my chance to try flirting. The idea felt ridiculous, but I had to at least make an effort. The only problem was, I had no clue where to begin. Flirting wasn't exactly my strong suit, and with Prince Noah, of all people? That felt even more daunting.

I tried to think of something—anything—to say that might seem flirty. What was I supposed to do? Bat my eyelashes? Laugh at his jokes? The thought made me cringe, but then again, it was the whole reason I agreed to this insane plan. I had to figure it out.

Before I could say anything, Noah spoke up, breaking the silence between us.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" he asked, glancing over at me.

I looked at him, caught off guard. "You mean in the woods? Yeah, kind of hard to forget saving someone's life."

He smiled, but there was something thoughtful in his eyes. "I still think about it sometimes. It was strange, really. I wasn't supposed to be out there. The woods are off-limits for someone like me, you know? Royal duties and all that."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Then why were you there? Shouldn't you have been at the palace doing whatever it is royal kids do?"

His smile faded slightly, and his expression grew serious. "That's the thing. I wanted to get away from all of that. The pressure, the expectations... Sometimes, it's suffocating, always being watched, always being told how to act. So, I snuck out. I just needed some air, some space to think. I didn't expect to run into trouble, though."

I blinked, processing his words. So, the prince who seemed to have it all was running away from something? It was hard to imagine him feeling trapped in the life that so many envied. But as he spoke, I realized there was more to Noah than I thought.

"So you're telling me, Prince Noah, the guy who's supposed to have everything figured out, was wandering the woods because he needed a break from being... royal?" I asked, half-teasing, half-serious.

He let out a soft laugh, his eyes meeting mine. "Something like that. Being royal doesn't mean everything is perfect. Sometimes, it just makes things more complicated."

I nodded, feeling a small connection to his words, even though I didn't want to. I wasn't supposed to sympathize with him. He was royalty, and I was supposed to be gathering information for the rebellion, not understanding him.

Still, there was something about the way he spoke, how real he sounded. And as I thought about flirting, I realized that maybe the best approach was to just be honest. So, I softened my tone, trying to ease into the moment.

"Well, maybe next time you should think twice before sneaking out to places like the woods. It could've ended worse," I said, giving him a small, teasing smile. "You're lucky I was there."

Noah's eyes lit up, and he grinned. "Yeah, I guess I owe you for that one. Maybe I'll find a way to repay you one day."

Was that flirting? I wasn't even sure, but the way he smiled made my heart skip a beat. Why was he so charming?

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "Just don't go running off again. Next time, I might not be there to save you."

He chuckled, but then his expression softened again. "Still, I'm glad it happened. I wouldn't have met you otherwise."

That comment—so simple, yet so direct—left me momentarily speechless. What was I supposed to say to that?

Feeling the weight of the moment, I quickly turned my attention back to the path ahead, my mind racing. I had no idea how to flirt, but the way Noah was speaking to me, it almost felt like he was doing it effortlessly. How could someone be so easygoing and yet make everything feel so intense?

"Don't ponder over it" I said, trying to steer the conversation away from whatever was happening between us.

"Trouble finds me, I guess," he replied, his voice soft, almost playful.

I didn't know what to say next, but I had the feeling that Noah was reading me better than I expected. And that scared me a little. How was I supposed to play this game when I didn't even know the rules?

We finally reached my dorm, the stone steps leading up to the door looming in front of us. I could feel the awkwardness settling in now that we were here, and I struggled to figure out what to say next. The whole walk had been... weird, but not in a bad way. It was just strange how easy it was to talk to him—how natural it felt, despite everything.

I stood there for a moment, glancing at the door and then back at him, wondering if I should say something more. But the words just didn't come. What was supposed to happen now? Should I just say goodbye and walk inside?

Before I could make up my mind, Noah broke the silence. "You know, you don't have to call me 'Prince Noah' all the time."

I blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

He smiled, leaning slightly against the doorframe, his posture relaxed but his eyes serious. "Just Noah. You can call me that."

I stared at him, my mind racing. Just Noah? No one else called him that, at least not from what I'd seen. There was always that title—Prince—reminding everyone of who he was. It was strange to think he wanted me to drop it.

"You... you're serious?" I asked, still trying to process it.

Noah nodded, his smile softening. "Yeah. I'd like that."

I didn't know how to respond. I had been bracing myself this whole time to deal with Prince Noah—the royal, the figurehead, the untouchable—but just Noah? That was a different story. He was offering me something more personal, something that blurred the lines between us even further.

"Okay," I said, my voice quieter than I intended. "Noah."

The name felt foreign on my tongue, but saying it felt... important somehow, like we had crossed a line that I wasn't sure I was ready to cross.

Noah seemed satisfied, his smile widening a bit as he straightened up. "Thanks, Daniella. I'll see you around."

I nodded, still processing everything, and with an awkward wave, I turned and walked up the steps to my dorm, my mind spinning. I barely managed to push open the door, but just before it closed behind me, I whispered his name under my breath.

"Noah," I repeated softly, the sound of it lingering in the air as I slipped inside.