The Royals

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Kiera Cass's books or characters.

Here's the next chapter! It was a lot of fun to write, so I hope the same goes for reading! Thanks for the support!

Chapter Two

As promised, I had the kitchens prepare a picnic. I put on my most casual sundress. It was a sunset orange. I decided to not go with a tiara, for I wanted us to be equals. I was about to step out the door when I remembered what my goal was on this date: to connect with someone.

So I headed toward my bedside table and opened the top drawer. I reached inside and pulled out a green journal. Inside of it were the sketches I was reluctant to show Hale on our last date.

I went out to the gardens to see that our picnic was already set up. There was a beautiful yellow quilted blanket for us to sit on and a basket filled with the prepared food. I came a little earlier than planned so I could set out the meal.

Before Hale got here, the cameras found me. I was nervous for us to be recorded. It was probably one of the first times I was ever nervous around cameras. I guess I was most nervous about the cameras because they might keep Hale and me from connecting as I had planned.

Right after I set out all of the food, Hale got here. He was wearing a gray suit suit with an orange tie. It went well with his blonde hair.

"We color coordinate," I joked. He laughed.

"Look at that," he smiled. He, of course, asked about Mom.

"She's getting a lot better. Thank you for praying, I do believe it helped her a lot." This was the absolute truth. I was grateful that all of the selected came to the Infirmary's waiting room on that terrible night to pray.

The cameras flashed, taking a picture of us. This led to awkward silence straight afterward. I concluded that a topic change might help.

"The Halloween party is coming up," I reminded him.

"Oh yes, I must have forgotten. I've no idea what I'm dressing up as. What about you?"

"When I went to see my mom, we actually talked about it. I think that we are all going as each other." He laughed very audibly.

"So, which family member are you going as?"

"I think I'm going as Kad- Prince Kaden," I corrected myself. I couldn't believe that this conversation was going so casually that I forgot to use (what I call) our "royalty" names.

He didn't note the mistake. "That'll be fun to see." I nodded in agreement. And then it hit me.

"You should go as a famous portrait," I exclaimed, knowing his love of sketching.

He thought about for a second, but it felt like years. Now he'll be pressured to dress up like that, I lectured myself.

"What about Van Gogh's Starry Night? The one from the 1800's?" he suggested. So I actually wasn't being impulsive before, he was excited, too.

After a while, the cameras left and Hale and I had a lengthy conversation about Halloween. Now that we had some privacy, I decided it was the time to show him my sketchbook.

"I know I freaked out the last time you brought this up, but I really want to connect with you." I blushed at my words and pulled out the sketchbook that I hid under my orange skirt.

"What is it? I mean," he tried to correct his mistake. "Thank you for being open to share whatever it is with me." I smiled at him.

I pulled the elastic band that was wrapped around the button so it was loose and I could open the book. I first showed him some of my amateur sketches. We laughed at my mistakes and brainstormed ways to fix it. When we hit the currents sketches, there was no more mistakes he pointed out, instead he gave suggestions. I suddenly had an idea for another date.

"Do you know how to sew? Well," I pause. "I don't." I smiled shyly.

Way to be obvious, Eadlyn, I scolded myself. But to my surprise, he didn't mind my obviousness. Instead, he went along with my "subtle" way of flirting.

"I could teach you. We could make that amazing red dress you sketched!"

I blushed at his compliment. "But it's so complicated!"

He took my hands, which deepened my blush. "Eadlyn, you can do anything you set your mind to."

I'm Eadlyn Schreave, the most powerful person in the world.

I didn't comprehend what was happening until it did. We both leaned in and our lips brushed. And there it was: a spark. We connected.

Very good, Eadlyn, I complimented myself. You did it. You connected with someone. I connected with him in a different way than I did with Kile. With Kile, the connection we have is more like we are equals. With Hale, it's more like fireworks.

Great. I'm thinking of Kile again.

We stopped and I smiled at him, giving him permission to do it again. He obliged. When our lips met again, I imagined a red firework. Then a green, blue, silver...

Finally the kisses stopped, and so did the fantastic date. He helped me up, and we walked to the palace.

"Should we clean the picnic up?" he asked.

"I'll ask some maids to do it." Hale didn't seem bothered by this. Then I remembered that he was a Two. So he just shrugged.

When we reached the castle, he became less casual. It's almost like he froze. All of his movement are stiff. But the worst part is that what he was doing was normal for royalty.

He kissed my hand stiffly and said goodbye. Is that how all Ones act?

It was disturbing that I didn't notice this before now. It looked like he was a machine. For a minute, I thought the carefree and fun Hale was gone. Until he looked back at me while he walked away and smiled shyly.

"We really connected, Mom." I just finished telling her about my amazing date with Hale.

"That's truly something, honey. That moment when you finally connect with someone, see eye-to-eye." She smiled nostalgically.

But that wasn't the connection Hale and I had. That was describing me and Kile.

"No, it wasn't like that," I spoke hurriedly, trying to defend the special spark. "It was-" I hesitated. Should I tell her something this private? Then I remembered my promise for the second time today. I needed to connect with people to complete it. And it won't hurt anyone if I include Mom in this promise.

"It was like," I started again. "Fireworks."

"I know the feeling," she said as the smile returned. "Eadlyn, I really thought I was dying three days ago." I looked up into her eyes, surprised by the topic change. "And I'm glad I didn't. I want to see you get married, find a husband, rule Illéa." I shivered when she said the last example.

"I even want to have the opportunity to see Ahren again. To forgive him." The rage consumed me again. I kind of wanted to throw a tiara or two.

"How could you forgive him? He left us. With no concern what it would to us. Or your heart," I added. It was her turn to shiver.

"He also didn't know. And still doesn't. I don't want you to get all defensive about this- or to throw more tiaras." She giggled while I blushed.

"Hey," I started to defend myself. "I was overwhelmed." In the end, we were both laughing. Well, until she brought Ahren up again.

"Do you think you'll ever forgive Ahren? I mean, he's not just your sibling. He's your twin." I could tell that she really wanted to hear my answer. Even though I knew the truth, I couldn't tell her. I was afraid what it would do to her heart.

"I don't know." She nodded in understanding.

"Well, it's about dinner time. You better go." She ushered me out, and I head to dinner.