A Peasant and A Princess

Chapter Twelve: Careless

"Have you ever noticed how green your eyes are?" My voice cut through the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. Mallory raised her head up from my shoulder.

"Of course I have. They look like burnt broccoli."

"I'd say they look more like the finest emeralds money can buy. Or like all the loveliest greens of the trees out here" I responded.

This sneaking out business had been going on for about a week now. I'd get out of the castle, occasionally in the early afternoon, but usually in the night.

Mallory rolled her eyes at me, and stretched herself out on the forest floor where we sat, with her head in my lap.

"I'm tired" she muttered

"Then sleep," I said.

The summer sun was about to rise. It made sense that she was tired. I was struggling to keep my eyelids open as well, but the knowledge that I only had a couple more minutes with Mallory kept me alert.

She kept her eyes closed, but I could tell by her breathing that she wasn't asleep.

"What's it like to be a Princess, Princess?" She asked, her eyes still closed, giggling at herself.

"Well, commoner," She giggled even more.

"It's quite boring most of the time, but sometimes it's really interesting or fun. But I guess that's life."

She opened her eyes and sat up. She turned to face me now, her eyes piercing mine.

"Let me rephrase. What's it like to be Isla? What's it like to be you?"

I took a deep breath and thought about it for a minute.

"It's amazing to be me because I get to know you. But it also sucks, because society tells me I can't know you, and I have to get past the guards to come see you."

"You know, are you sure it's the greatest of ideas for you to sneak out every night?" She asked, concerned.

"I love seeing you and all, but I'd hate for something to happen to you."

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"It's just that you sneak out every night, and if they catch you-"

"I'm fine. They won't catch me. Can you just trust me?"

"I do trust you, it's just that I don't know if I-" She stopped herself, unsure what to say.

"Do you not want me to come see you? Because good luck breaking into the palace."

"It's not that! Can't you just listen to me?"

"I am listening to you and that's what I'm hearing!" I snapped.

"I'm saying be careful that's all,"

"And I told you I'm being care-"

"You think that you're immune to all the rules because you're a princess, don't you. And maybe I don't know your life, and maybe I don't know what happens when someone breaks the rules over in the palace, but I'm pretty damn sure that it's not going to involve seeing me anymore."

I pushed myself up and began to storm away.

I didn't want her to be right. I didn't want anyone to be right. Jane said that my heart would only get broken, and my father said that I'd ruin his reputation, and Mallory said that I was being careless. Everyone was right.