A Touch of Magic

Chapter Thirty Three

Chapter Thirty Three

Hazel

The market was a place I hid myself away in every so often. Usually, when I was desperate to see him. He was sitting on the fountain in the center of the market.
No matter how many times I saw him, I still would gawk at him. He was flawless with his dark, black hair pulled into a tight bun. He always wore the same black leather so I could always pick him out of a crowd.
His dark eyes lit up as I sat next to him. I'd always loved the shape of his eyes. Small, but slightly pointy. Perfect.
"Hello Hazel!"
He greeted me happily.
"I can't stay long today, unfortunately."
I moaned. He frowned a little.
"Is there still no sign of the army?"
I shook my head on defeat and laid it on his shoulder. He stroked my hair.
"I know you don't like bringing her up in our conversations, but I really do think your sister might be behind this."
I lift my head from his shoulder to glare at him.
"You're right. I don't like talking about her. So instead, let's talk about us."
He didn't have the heart to argue with me any further. I leaned into him and soaked up his scent through my nostrils. It smelled like home.
Chance was a local blacksmith who sold his work throughout the market. We had met one day just like this one. I was seeking solitude from the castle and found him instead.
I hadn't noticed he had slipped something cold and hard into my palm. My fingers closed around it. He smiled as I opened my palm. He looked nervous.
A small metal ring with our initials engraved into it lay there before me. He seemed to enjoy my shocked expression.
"I made it the day we met. I've been waiting all these years to give it to you."
He admitted. My cheeks felt hot, and suddenly, my throat threatened to close up. My eyes stung.
"I can't accept this."
I grieved. He took my hand.
"I knew you'd say that buy please hear me out."
I nodded.
"You aren't happy with Prince Mildred. You deserve to be happy. To be with someone you chose. I may not be a prince, but I can promise you that I'll love you too the day I die."
I clutched the ring in my hand and let him slip it on my finger. I took his cheek in my hands.
"What did I do to deserve you?"
The kiss that followed was filled with passion and love. The kind I had never had with Mildred. The kind I knew all too well, he shared with my sister.
But that was a thing of the past. All that mattered was the here and the now.