Dear Elise

Chapter 20

The next morning, a note arrives from the Prince. Beatrice and I spend a while looking at it before she speaks up, raising her eyebrows at me.
"...do you think it bites?"
I attempt to roll my eyes, before finding I have no idea how, and getting laughed at by both Beatrice and Florence.
It might've worried me before, getting laughed at, but now I find I don't mind.
Still, I decide to cut my losses and open the note. It is a single sentence:

Gardens, 2pm.

"How informative." Florence sounds almost amused.
I can't help but agree with her sarcastic comment, though. I suppose all I can do is show up.

Heading towards the gardens this afternoon, my emotions are conflicted.
For one, spending time with the Prince helps keep me in the competition, which means keeping me and Sam together. But it also means pretending to be head over heels for a man I feel nothing for.
I set out early, hoping to have some time to collect myself before the Prince arrives, but I'm surprised to find that he's already there. He looks restless, pacing back and forth just outside the doors.
I clear my throat. "Hello, Prince Maxon."
He looks slightly startled, as if he wasn't expecting me to be there, but quickly smiles politely, offering his arm.
"Lady Elise. Please, let's take a walk - I have something to discuss with you."
I keep my expression carefully neutral as I take his arm and start walking away from the guards, but it feels like cold water is trickling down my spine.
A horrible shiver shakes my body. Could he... know?
No. He couldn't.

We walk in silence for a while, then stop in a secluded spot. Prince Maxon looks around, seemingly checking for guards, but we remain uninterrupted. He turns to me, looking strangely uncomfortable.
"Lady Elise. I just wanted to ask you... I- well, I mean-"
He almost seems as on edge as I am.
"What is it, Prince Maxon?"
He lets go of my arm, still evidently uncomfortable.
"There's been some gossip among the maids."
It's an effort to stay calm now. Hw knows, be has to, why else would he be saying this?
"I don't really know much about it, but is it possible that you are interested in someone else?"

So, he doesn't know. But he suspects that something is off. I watch his expression warily, trying to come up with an acceptable answer.
"...It is against the rules of the Selection for me to be with anyone else."
"So you do love another."
Apparently, that wasn't good enough, because he saw right through my careful wording.
I expect to start crying. That's what has been happening lately, but instead, a stubborn feeling of resolve makes me stand up straighter.
"Do you intend to punish us both?"
And like that, I've as good as admitted to it. His next words are the exact opposite of what I expect to hear.
"No. I want to help you."

How unexpected. It takes me a moment to fully process his words.
"You... want to help me? But why?"
He shakes his head impatiently, looking around again to check for guards.
"Doesn't matter. But I don't want you to have to suffer whatever cruel punishment my father would give you. I can't do much, but as long as you keep yourselves discreet, I'll ignore it. And I'll keep you in the Selection."
"Yes. Please..."
I step back, executing the neatest curtsy I am capable of. Politeness can't hurt, especially when I'm being offered something so simple, yet ridiculously generous.
"Your highness... please. I do not deserve it, but... I am so grateful."

The Prince looks surprisingly uncomfortable.
"Uh... there's no need for that. Actually  you can just call me Maxon. Is there a possibility we could be... friends?"
I straighten up, looking at him in shock. Did the prince just offer to let me stay with Sam- though of course, he doesn't know it's her- and then ask me for friendship?
It feels ridiculous, but I think he did.
I nod stiffly, still quite surprised.
"Very well, Maxon." The Prince smiles awkwardly. I'm starting to think he's just as bad at talking to people as I am.
"I'm guessing you're not going to tell me who it is."
I hesitate. I'm not sure how the prince might react if I told him.
"I'm afraid not. May I go...?"
I'm only slightly worried about seeming rude. I just want to see Sam as soon as possible, especially after what Maxon just told me.

He looks slightly confused, but nods, and I walk away, still I'm what feels like a state of shock.
We're safe. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders as I start to hurry back to my room.
When I get there, I open the door, out of breath, to see my maids talking to-
"Sam? What are you doing here?"
I smile at her, glancing at my maids. Sara smiles and Beatrice (not so subtly) gives me a look. I try not to laugh, which becomes increasingly difficult as she starts trying, and failing, to wiggle her eyebrows at me. I see Sara smack her jokingly out of the corner of my eye as they hurry out of the room.

Sam glances at my maids as they leave, before grinning at me.
"I was starting to think you were avoiding me." As if.
I smile at her, still trying to catch my breath. "Sam... talked to the Prince... he knows."
She immediately stops smiling, staring at me in disbelief. "The Prince... Elise, what?!"
I realise, several seconds too late, how terrible of a situation that would seem to Sam, and quickly try to explain why it's actually a good thing.
"He doesn't know everything... just that I don't like him... in that way. I get to stay... but we have to stay discreet, because... I don't know how he would react if he knew it was you." I stop, breathing heavily.

There's a long pause, and then Sam is hugging me, squeezing out whatever air was still left in my lungs.
Or maybe it's just being close to her. I don't know.
Suddenly, she flops down onto my bed, tugging me down with her. I let out a surprised squeal, which she just laughs at, and shove her lightly as I roll over onto my back. "What was that for?"
She just keeps laughing at me, and for the life of me I can't bring myself to be mad at that amazing grin.
"Well, that's one thing out of the way."
My words at least make her pay attention.
"What are the other things?" Her words are quieter, and she reaches out to brush her fingers against the back of my hand.
I shiver at the feeling, reaching out my own hand to let her curl her fingers around mine. "My family. Your family  maybe. ...people in general."
"...I have a feeling this has more behind it than your difficulties interacting with people."
I don't even respond to her joke, staying silent for a minute. It's not as funny when Illéa not accepting us is the reality we're facing.
It takes me a moment to even face thinking about my family.
"My parents have very high expectations of me. I never knew what I would do if I didn't win the Selection and marry the Prince, at least not before I met you. I... have a few ideas now, but still... I was raised to be the best option. If I'm not worthy of the Prince, the best marriage prospect, that was all for nothing."
Sam frowns, rolling onto her side to look at me. "Why is he the best marriage prospect? I mean, you don't even like the guy."
I shrug, refusing to meet her eyes. "Money, power, status. If I married him, I'd be a One."

"...you're not gonna marry him though, right...?"
My eyes snap to meet Sam's in shock. Her voice is the most quiet and vulnerable I've ever heard it. She sounds almost scared.
Scared that I'd leave her.
I can't let her think that.
"No." I whisper, squeezing her hand between both of mine. "I could never."

Her smile returns, less confident and mischievous than before. "That's good." She leans in closer, and I feel my heart pounding against my chest, faster and faster. I can feel her breath on my lips, stopping me from even considering thinking about anything but her. "Because I couldn't either."
And before I can even respond, she leans in to kiss me.