The Crown Princess

Chapter Six

Lilianna’s jaw dropped.  That was the prince?  So much for her mother’s efforts to keep them apart.

“Why are you out here?” she asked him.

“I should be asking you the same thing,” said Emory, his eyes narrowed, “and I still don’t believe that you aren’t Addison.”

“What do I need to do to prove myself?” Lilianna asked him in a frustrated voice.

“I’m not sure,” admitted the prince, “jump up and down and do a dance for me.”

“Not going to happen, your highness.”

“Oh, attitude.  That’s a first.  You’re supposed to giggle at everything I say and play with your hair.”

“Don’t mock my sister,” she said angrily

“Sorry, sorry,” he said, putting his hands up in a surrendering position. 

Lilianna looked at the horse he was leading, “is that Spark?”

“Yeah, I guess so,” said Emory, following her gaze.  He patted the horse’s nose, “the stable hands said I could take any horse I wanted, except for the one in the corner.”

“And you chose Lyle’s horse—out of all the horses…” Lilianna rolled her eyes.

“Say, Lil—can I call you Lil?  Can I join you on the other side of the stream?  Now that you’re not going to kill me or anything…”

“I never said I wasn’t going to,” she answered.

“Well, my fair maiden, princess of Brumont, keeper of the left side of the creek, may I please have thy permission to ford this fearsome water and join thee on the other side?”  Emory swooped down onto one knee, bringing his hand up over his head as he spoke.  Then he stood up and bowed, and even curtsied.  “I’m not really sure how to win your affection, your highness, and I left all of my beast heads at home.”

Lilianna simply rolled her eyes again, “fine, come on over.  Don’t slip,” she added in a mocking tone.

“Fantastic,” said Emory, as he slowly jumped across rocks to make it to the other side.

“What’s the matter, your highness?  Afraid to get your feet wet?”

“Well if my feet get wet, I’m going to have to borrow your gown to dry them off.”

When Emory had finally made it across, he flopped down on the grass, “so why didn’t I see you earlier today?  Why did the queen tell me that she only had one daughter?  Does she have a bad memory or something?”

Lilianna smirked, “If only that were the problem.”

“So what’s your deal then?  Did you hear rumors about me and decide to hate me before you even met me?"

“Too bad they were true,” said Lilianna, sitting in the grass beside him, “you do smell funny.”

“Well your accent sounds funny,” retorted the prince.

“So does yours."

Emory smiled at her, his eyes gleaming, “this is the most exciting conversation I’ve had all day, and all you can do is make fun of me.”

Lilianna just grinned at the ground.  He was certainly handsome, and much more than she had expected.  Despite all her efforts, she couldn’t help but blush when he looked at her.

“So you still haven’t told me why you didn’t come see me today,” he continued, looking away from her at last.

“I’m in trouble,” said Lilianna reluctantly, her smile fading to an embarrassed grimace.