Love Shimmers

Chapter 13

This day was all as usual. However my days became busier. Delvin began to keep on flirting and coming closer to me. No matter how I pushed him he kept on coming back again. Fortunately, it seemed to me that Dahlia had a little crush on him. Whenever she saw him, her cheeks turned cherry red.

“Well, do you find him attractive Rosalie?” Dahlia asked. At her back, I just giggled. My mind was all too occupied because of Eric. Furthermore, he mentioned that today was his birthday. He was 1 year older than my brother which means he is 18 years now. My feeling of guilt to him never vanished since that day he said he loved me. I knew I should not think about something like this. I was determined that I won’t think of him anymore that I will stick to my promise with my father, that I will bring peace back to our Kingdom.

However, now it seemed impossible, I loved him and by loving him it means that I will have to leave Damien, the one I should marry. Nonetheless, I couldn’t go back, I decided this. “What are you doing there? Today we have a day off. We should enjoy ourselves in the outside world from time to time.” Dahlia said. “That’s right. Let’s enjoy it!” Rosalie added.

That’s right I shouldn’t be worrying now. What I would face will appear eventually so just let me cling to this short happy dream. I ran and hugged them, in my heart I said, “At least I have my friends beside me. If we are together we will never fall apart.”

After we finished our work, we motioned back to our room. Dahlia and Rosalie were too alike. I even suspected that maybe they are twins, even when they denied it continuously. But no matter how, they resembles each other too much. They fell on the bed and rolling together.

This time, I decided to test them, starting by knowing their past. Though it felt that I am really mischievous, I couldn’t stop myself to know more. I guessed they won’t hate me because we’re friends. “Let’s relax before we sleep. Sit here please. I’ll go and make some tea. In the meantime, you can talk to each other but don’t leave me out.” I said. Both of them replied, “Of course my dear Daphne.”

I giggled and left them all alone. Before, I had asked a maidservant from the Prince Quarter to help me with the tea. Since I helped her before when she face a trouble with Damien, she agreed to help me without any hesitation. So now, I hid and observed them without them knowing. Really, with them side by side, giggling and laughing with each other, my assumption of them as sisters began to grow even more.

Sadly, I was caught by a soldier who was patrolling. “What are you doing here? You should be resting in your room. Follow me!” he said. At that time I was so panic that I nearly tripped. Well in my heart I said I kind of deserved this because I tried to spy on my friends. Maybe karma is playing with me.

We walked through corridors and corridors. Suddenly, I realized that I ended up in the prince’s quarter. I heard a familiar voice from the back so I looked backward and saw Delvin in the soldier’s clothes. While laughing he said, “Tricking you is so much fun. Were you scared just now that your face became so pale.” After hearing that, I was furious that my face turned red. “You tricked me! It was so fun watching them. You just spoiled it.” I said.

Curiously, he asked, “Them?” I realized that I shouldn’t say anything about this. Hurriedly I replied, “Oh it’s nothing.” and I left. He grabbed my hand while saying, “Do you thing a word ‘nothing’ can convince me for letting you go?” His hands were too strong that I can’t even struggle my hand off his.

He then threw me to his bed and started getting closer to me. I could feel that he was only playing and joking with me but still, I was afraid. “Stop, don’t do this anymore. HELP!” I shouted. I wasn’t expecting someone to help me as I thought that everyone would be asleep right now. From small, I was afraid of darkness as when my mother died, the whole room was dark and I remembered of how cold my father was at that time.

A man’s figure slowly appeared when he slammed the door open. Delvin was not surprised when he saw that the man who just entered was his brother. He was laughing when he saw his brother’s furious face. At last he said sorry to his brother and explaining the situation that it was all a misunderstanding. However, Damien didn’t pay any attention to him. He hugged me and said that it’s all over, that I am save now.  In a second, my mind went blank and I thought that the one standing in front of me was Eric.

Soon, I regained my mind and found myself in Damien’s room. He was sitting beside me holding a cup of tea while reading a book. When I totally woke up, he dropped his book and ran towards me immediately. “The physician said that you were just too shocked. You will be fine after resting. Do you need anything?” he said.

On his bed, I shivered as I still remember what happened back then. Though I promised myself not to cry, my tears rolled. Damien held my hand and said, “It’s all right now. Don’t worry. I’ll always be beside you, protecting you.” It was impossible as I know we are not fated to be with each other. My heart was already stolen far way back, by a man named Eric. Maybe if I met Damien earlier, I might fall for him. But now, with me loving Eric I cannot give my heart to anyone else. I realized about it when he left me and said that he loved me.

Though Damien was so kind that he protected me at all times and though he knew that he will be married with Scarlett who was pretending to be me, he still stayed unchanged. His feelings for me which I couldn’t repay him still remained in his heart. There were many times that I felt sorry. I wished that he would let me go when he know that I am the Princess of Roseland. But that will be most unlikely as he wanted to make me as his. Truthfully, he is a gentleman but sometimes he made me feel uneasy. His gaze while seeing me was like I-want-to-own-you.

“Daphne, Daphne, are you with me?” he asked. I felt too weary that I couldn’t open my eyes. Instead, I just answered, “Hmm… I am with you but I am too tired now, sorry.” Under the palace with moonlight shone on, I closed my eyes and felt asleep.