Saving the Stranger Prince (The Stranger Prince Series #2)

Chapter 29: It Goes Down.

"The dreams in which I'm dying, are the best I've ever had."
- Mad World, Riverdale.

♚

Edgar and Lydia were outside, in the gardens, strolling hand in hand. It was sad, because slowly the flowers were dying. The grass wasn't as green as it had been. Spring hadn't gone away completely, but he missed it already.

He thought about how Adela would be devastated too. Somehow, Adela had weird, messed up feelings about Winters. Even though she loved the aura, loved the darkness and the colourlessness of winters, she couldn't quite cope with the damage it brought.

Since Summers in the Kingdoms of Archensheen and Larcbost were short and not even extreme, winters would be back in three months. Some said that these Kingdoms were lucky to experience all the four seasons, but it was not true. They couldn't exactly feel blessed when the winters were so cold, so relentless, and so unforgiving.

"Edgar?" Lydia was now looking up at him, but her hand was still in his. She had concern in her eyes, which pulled him back to Earth.

"What's wrong?" He said, smiling encouragingly.

"Nothing. Has there been any word from Silvetotia?"

Edgar frowned, shaking his head, "It's as if the King has gone silent. But it can't mean anything good. We know him, and he has never acted this way. Unless he's planning something big, something we are completely clueless about."

She sighed, closing her eyes, "I don't have a good feeling about this either. I know my father. He has always ever been the one wanting to make a statement, show his strength, brag about it. This silence is weird."

There was a pause, after which Edgar whispered, "Are you sure the news of the Marriage won't get out there?"

She was staring at his shoulder, avoiding his eyes, "That's what I'm scared about, Edgar." She then looked up and her eyes held more concern than before, "It's just that, Adela is in Larcbost for the next whole week. Possibly more than that. The uncertainty of it all, paired with the fact that we can't be there to protect her ourselves. It has been bugging me."

Edgar was thinking, "Does this have anything to do with your connection?"

"Possibly. She saved my life. It's only logical that I feel more protective of her than I normally would."

Edgar sighed, rubbing her arms up and down to soothe her and himself. Her hair was up today, in a ponytail that came down her shoulder. The red of it always seemed to get to him, how beautifully it went with her pale skin. She was beautiful, inside out. She was also his, and he was hers.

"It's going to be okay." He whispered, "Let's pray she comes home safely."

She kissed him lightly, with so much reassurance in it that words couldn't contain it. Everything will be fine.

♚

Back to me. Back to me. Back to me.

Katherine wiped her face, rubbed at her eyes. Slapped herself, told herself to stop crying, stop doing this. She sat up, then she lied down. Then sat up again, paced around the room.