Not so Different

Chapter 10: What's he thinking?

It's been a few months since Serene and Baron met. Since then, Baron couldn't exactly grasp what he was feeling towards her. As they walk back to the castle, he thinks to himself. He keeps telling himself over and over. Not with a human. He doesn't want her to get hurt. He has a strange... feeling of wanting to keep her safe. That's it. But... whenever she smiles at him his ears turn red. Why does that happen!?

"...aron...um-...Baron...?" Serene's voice breaks through his brainstorm.

Baron flinches, not noticing she's been calling him.

"Yes, serene?" He looks at her.

"You're walking a little fast."

"Oh." There was a small pause. "I apologize." He tries to walk slower. His legs are long, he really can't help it.

They both continue to walk before eventually entering the castle. It was getting pretty late so it would be time to head back to their rooms.

"We should be heading back to our rooms now." Baron says blankly looking at him. Serene looks at him as well.

"I wonder what he's thinking"

With the silence filling the air and serene unresponsive, Baron tilts his head.

Serene tilts her head the same way, almost as if to tease him.

Baron raises an eyebrow. "...?" He crosses his arms and tilts his head the other way. Serene does the same and snickers slightly.

Baron huffs and tilts his body weight to one side. Obviously serene does the same before they both stop. She was laughing.

Barons face still looked blank for a second until he cracked a small smile.

A real smile.

Baron clears his throat.

"...w-well. I'll see you tomorrow, correct?"

"Hm? Yes, of course. Tomorrow is the royal ball at Salhai."

"Yes...yes that's correct. Well then, until tomorrow princess."

Serene smiles and nods before Baron gets on his knee and takes her hand. He takes her hand up to his forehead for a few seconds, as a sign of respect for royalty.

Before she could say anything he left, down the hall. Serene was left stunned.

"Since when...did he respect me like that?"

She blushes slightly and looks at her hand before heading to her room, she flops down on her bed and kicks her feet. Serenes favorite lady in waiting, Charlotte, glances at her and huffs.

"Look at you, all flushed, princess." She smiles.

Charlotte is a pretty woman, in her twenties, much like Serene. She has dark, beautiful caramel-like skin, long black curly hair, and hazel siren-like eyes.

"So? What went on today? Ahh, that's right. You went out with Prince Baron." Charlotte does some laundry.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe it, Charlotte!" Serene beams and stands up. Charlotte moves behind her, helping her take her corset off.

"He...he gave me a flower." Serene takes it out of her bag and examines it with a smile.
"A-and. He bowed. To me! Can you believe it?"

"Hm. Seems to me like someone's in love." Charlotte continues to change her clothes.

"Love!?" Serene blushes. "N-no-...surely Baron hates me. I just don't know why he's acting this way."

Charlotte finishes changing her and Serene sits on her bed.

"I wasn't talking about him, love." She smirks.

Serene blushes and bites her nail.

"Charlotte!!...well...i-...i suppose. Maybe? It's just...he's cold most of the time...but when he acts 'strange'....its like he's showing his true feelings. And...i suppose I like that."

Charlotte chuckles and crosses her arms.

"Well, we'll just have to see how it goes, hm?"

"Yes...well, would you help me pick out something for tomorrow? It's the Salhai annual ball. I've never been to a fae ball... actually I don't think any human has. You'll come with me, right?"

"Don't be nervous, darling. Of course I'll come. I'll get the menders to make a brand new dress. How about that?

"Yes, I suppose that makes me feel a bit better."

"Good. Now get some rest. Big day tomorrow."

Serene nods and Charlotte leaves her room. As Charlotte walks down the hall she bumps into someone.

"Oh dear. Forgive me, I wasn't looking."

"That's fine, doll."

Doll? There's only one person who calls her that. She looks up to see...

"...oh. If it isn't Arthur."