between us | klaroline (book 1)

Chapter 7: Late Nights

"You know, I learned how to tango two days ago with prince Charlie. I'm pretty good now." I stated, raising my arms in the air and bouncing my hip, showing my tango move off to prince Damien.

"You'll definitely need to show me your moves princess." Damien winked at me, coming closer to me and grabbing my hands with his. "You look absolutely gorgeous today by the way." He pecked my lips gently.

I smiled back up at him, squeezing his hands. "Let's go have our picnic on the grounds now." I ordered.

"Yes, sounds perfect."

We both walked down the corridor to the main foyer and to the backdoors, I nodded at the guard to open it and he let us exit the palace. Today was a beautifully sunny day thank goodness. Usually it's quite overcast outside.

"Wow it's lovely out today." I whispered.

"Indeed it is." He chuckled, holding me close. I twirled out, still holding his hand and twirled in close to his body, then back to my original spot. "You just love to dance don't you princess?"

"I do, and you love to be posh and cute don't you?"

"That is somewhat correct." He laughed as we walked towards a large picnic blanket set up in the backyard, thanks to my maids. "All for me? How beautiful." He joked. "For us." I corrected him.

We both let go of one another's hands and sat down on the blanket together. I dipped my hands into the basket and started placing out cutlery and plates. "I've never once had a picnic before." Damien told me. I looked sideways at him and raised my eyebrows surprisingly. "Wow, not ever?"

"No, we always ate inside the castle at home."

"Wow, mother and I always had picnics together when I was a child. Including me and my many stuffed animals too."

"That's just adorable." He chuckled, helping me pack out the food. We began grabbing some food and eating, watching the birds fly in the sky.

"I love the grounds here, also at our extra home. It's very beautiful outside."

"It is." He agreed with me. We finished eating and stood up, letting the maids clean up our messes. Damien grabbed my hand and we strolled around the garden, our usual routine.

After our date consisting of a picnic, strolling around and talking the whole day, I was exhausted so we said goodnight and headed to bed, on different floors. I had my maids help me get ready for bed, assisting me dress and do my skincare routine. I combed out my hair and removed all my jewelry, ordering the maids to head to bed because I was just fine.

I prepped my bed, getting inside and clapping my hands to turn off the lights. I shut my eyes, beginning to fall asleep.

-
"It's okay Gerald, i'm just going to get some water from the kitchen. I'll be fine." I insisted my guard who tried to follow me down the corridor. It was the middle of the night so he probably thought I was sleepwalking again, that happened a few years ago when my grandmother died, I was stressed.

He bobbed his head, returning to stand in front of my door. I adjusted my night gown and hair, walking to the staircase. I walked down the stairs, my bare feet clapping on the marble flooring. It was the only noise you could properly hear since it was silent.

I walked all the way to the first floor like usual, heading down the foyer to the main kitchen. Usually there are people inside the kitchen but other than guards I passed by, there was nobody to be seen.

I entered deeper into the kitchen toward the fridges, gasping loudly when I got scared and saw somebody sitting on the floor, eating ice cream out of a tub. He looked up and I noticed it was prince Charlie. "Princess, did I startle you?" He asked with worry in his raspy voice.

"No, no it's okay. I just got scared." I giggled.

Charlie scooped some ice cream and offered a spoonful out to me. "Why's it that you're so formal in the daytime then at night time..I find you like this on the floor?" I chuckled at him, sitting down beside him and grabbing the spoon. I placed it in my mouth, tasting the deliciousness. I waited for the prince to answer me. "I have to be formal around the princess and palace people. Don't I?" He reminded me.

I nodded, understanding. All I ever wanted to do was be less formal all the time; Just be a normal person for once.

"Why are you up this late?" He asked me.

"I came to get a drink and found you. Ice cream is far better than water although." I answered Charlie, looking into his eyes. "Can I ask you something?"

"Mhm." He smiled kindly at me. His eyes looked curious at my face.

"Why are you so..." I hesitated, searching for the correct word to use. "..mysterious?" He let out a sigh a few seconds later after hearing my words.

"I just...don't want to release everything. Is that bad?"

"No, I just feel like you're very concealed and hidden. I want to know more about you." I answered him, taking another spoonful of the ice cream.

"I see." He breathed out. "So princess, what would you care to know about?"

"Everything."