The One Who Got Away (ON HOLD)

The One Who Got Away- Chapter 4

Chapter 4 (Tristan’s POV)

As I ran back towards the castle, the only thing on my mind was Jamie. Even though we had spent not more than an hour together, I felt like I had known her forever. The farther I got from the restaurant, the harder it was for me to not turn back around. I pushed myself to run faster, hoping to get rid of these feelings. After all, I was Prince Tristan, the heartthrob that no girl could resist. I could get any girl I wanted in this country, which is why I refused to settle for just one girl. However, when I thought about Jamie, I felt sickened by my preferred style of living and couldn’t imagine making her flawless face look at me in disgust.

God she was almost angelic, hands down the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. My body turned numb thinking about the way her blue eyes penetrated right through me, the way her silky hair cascaded around her face in beautiful waves. And thinking about the way her uniform hugged her perfect body, accentuating all her curves; I swear I was about to lose it right then and there. I took in a deep breath and focused, only to realize I had arrived home much quicker than I had anticipated.

I slowly approached the large metal gate, which stood in front of the castle, trying to catch my shaky breath. I gave a small smile and nod to the security guard patrolling the gate. He returned the smile before granting me access inside. In the distance I could see my mother in the guarding, no doubt, tending to her plants. Sensing my arrival, she looked up before hastily removing her gloves and rushing over to me.

“Tristan, where have you been? Your father and I have been worried sick these past couple of hours. You should know better to run off, especially during these next couple of weeks. What if something had happened to you?” she shrieked at me. Leave it to my mother to be worried about something so ridiculous.

“Mother, I promise you I am fine. I just went for a small stroll around the town,” I laughed, making sure to leave out the part about the mob of girls and meeting Jamie.

She raised her eyebrows at me with an amused smirk “Don’t lie to me Tristan. I’ve never heard of a stroll where you return home completely drained and sweaty. Anyway, that’s not the point. Your father wishes to speak with you immediately. I would suggest freshening up first, but he is rather eager to see you. Now hurry up, stay out of trouble and I will see you at dinner.”

She gave me a quick hug before returning to her garden and I started heading inside to search for my father. Knowing him, he would probably be up in his study, waiting to discuss plans for what was to happen in the following weeks.

I made my way up to his study, and knocked on the towering wooden door before entering the room. To my surprise, he was nowhere to be found. I circled around the room, taking in the fact that within a few weeks, this is where I would be spending most of my time. The towering bookcases, stuffed with musty books, loomed over me, making me feel small. The large mahogany desk cluttered with papers made me feel stressed. The paintings of past rulers hanging on the walls seem to glare down on me, making me second-guess myself. Was I really fit to rule a whole country, especially when I knew I had to follow in the footsteps of all these great kings? I let out an exasperated groan and massaged my throbbing temples.

“Excuse me your highness, but your father is requesting to see you right away,” a servant I have never seen before said, poking her head into the room.

“Thank you…um…,” I started.

“Sophie, your highness,” she replied, fidgeting with the hem of her dress in an uncomfortable manner.

“Right. Sophie. Anyway, do you know where I might find him? I must have searched this place at least a dozen times,” I asked, heading for the door. I suddenly felt this great desire to leave this room that seemed to seal my fate.