TRUST

Chapter 2: The Gentle Beauty

I was standing in front of skyscraping double doors. They were deep brown with lighter brown streaks and as most things in the place; the door was also covered with rose carvings. As pretty as it was, I wasn't exactly thrilled to be here and my attitude was far from positive. I grabbed the handles and jerked the doors open.

The view made me pause.

The garden, well, it was more like a colorful forest in the sea of dusty buildings. I could see splashes of colors everywhere, lively colors that spread from the steps in front of me to the entire ocean of green grass way ahead. I could feel . . . What was it?

There was something that lied here beneath all these wonders that my eyes hadn't seen before. Butterflies were resting their holy wings on the comfy spots of the roses and wildflowers.

I entered, feeling each footstep that touched the ground as I enjoyed nature, and as I waited for the presence of the princess. I was overcome with curiosity, in a place this... this marvelous, how I wondered if the princess's looks can be compared to her enchanting garden.

I took my time to really look at each flower that I passed white, blue, red and many more red colors that casted the whole space. I smiled, how could someone manage to arrange these simple things and made it outstanding. I lifted my head and just then, I saw her.

Everything paused, the blink of my eye, the beat of my heart even the breath that I took. It all just stopped, my senses, my existence paused as I saw the princess of Althea. She was beautiful. But beauty was common. I felt like there was a hook in me that finally found its counterpart.

Her hair was the first thing I noticed, her long thick locks waved in the rush of air and then her face. Her eyes were closed, she was smelling the red rose that she held in her hands. Her cheeks looked as if she was kissed by the red rose. The princess was dancing with the wind, dancing with life.

She touched me, and it felt new. I have never been 'touched', never knew that it was possible to feel this... thunder in my chest. I breathed hungrily, I wanted to know this feeling, I wanted to explore it and I wanted to know what made it feel like this.

I walked closer to her, both because of my curiosity and some sort of pull to be near her. I didn't realize that as I walked closer to her light, I was smiling due to a reason that was unknown. She didn't even notice me walking, her focus was all for her rose and none for anything else.

"Pardon me, Your Highness." I bowed this time without feeling slaved, without feeling a rejection that I was bowing to another noble and a woman. My eyes peeked for her reaction.

"Oh sweet God! Who are you? Guards!" her voice was smooth yet it was also clear and strong. She was shocked that her eyelids flickered in panic and her rose slipped from her fingers to land gently on the ground. As gentlemanly, I picked it up and handed it back to her. Her eyes never left my face, she stared at me with her eyes narrowed, guessing who I might be.

"Your flower, Princess." I smiled to her cockily; she must have been charmed by my looks, my gorgeous eyes.

"Thank you, though you haven't answered my question. Who are you?" her perfect face smiled for a moment before her eyebrows twisted in a mimic of suspicion. Her eyes were sharp brown gems that looked at me fixedly.

"I am Lexis, Your Highness. Your Guardian" I smiled and fisted my hand to my chest. I was feeling very confident being in front of this woman. I mean, I have always been a woman's weakness and never once I could not charm them.

"Oh, so you're the new guardian? Well, welcome Lexis. It will seem like you'll be attending me most of my time and may not leave me alone." she said with a clear tone of annoyance that she attempted to cover but didn't succeeded. She ignored me as soon as I said who I was, she acted almost as if I was not there. My eyebrows twisted.