Castle of Lilies

Chapter 7

Genevieve's PoV

"Ginger, I'm in love with you." Lillia says with a shaking voice. The statement echoes against the halls and in my head.
Ginger, I'm in love with you.
Ginger, I'm in love with you.
Ginger, I'm in love with you.
I'm in love with you.
Love with you.
Love you.
Breathing heavily I stand in silence as I process what Lillia just said. Then from in front of me I hear her say timidly "See. I told you it would hurt you. Because now it's going to be awkward between us because I'm in love with you and you're not in love with me."
Quickly I realise that if I don't say something soon then she's going to think I don't love her back when I do. I do.
"I do." I say quickly.
She looks up the most adorable confused look on her face.
"I do, Lillia. I do love you. I love you so much it makes my heart hurt. And I thought if I told you, you would freak out. But I do love you."
I take a step closer to her so we're mere centimetres from each other. Then I trail my hands down her arms and pick up her hands. Her face in the dim sunlight looks beautiful with her hazel eyes glowing, looking irresistible. Licking my lips and gazing at hers I close the gap between us. An explosion of fireworks goes off in my head as my lips meet hers in a soft, slow, gentle kiss. Her smell of lilies envelops me as I move my hands to her hair. She kisses me back with the same gentleness as I kiss her and I feel her hands wrap around my waist. We break apart and as we stand there she whispers with a small smile on her face "You know we'll have to keep us a secret right? Cause like the entire kingdom would be against it if they knew we were together."
Laughing slightly I say "Yeah I know. But I'm willing to if you are. And my parents would be fine with it but the rest of the nobility might take a bit of persuading, but we can keep it a secret for now."
She nods, looking down. I take my hand away from hers and place it under her chin before moving her head so I can see her hazel eyes. Those beautiful hazel eyes.
"They're really not."
"Wait," I say giggling softly, "did I say that out loud?"
She nods "Yup, you did Ginger."
Then we both laugh, the wonderful sound echoing through the hall.
The clock chimes nine and we both look panickedly at each other as I blurt out "Great, my mother will want an answer and even if I say no, I'm still going to have to be 'courted' for at least a month. Ugh this is going to be torture knowing I'm in love with you and have to spend time with that slime ball."
"Wait, say that again." She says softly.
"What?" I smirk, "I'm in love with you."
Nodding she replies "I like it."
"So do I."
Then I take her hand and entwine our fingers before we leave the sanctuary of our future throne room, and head back to dinner, knowing it won't be over yet. Entering the hall I look to Lillia and she looks to me and we take a breath before I nod and Lillia seems to understand that I'm not speaking, so she inclines her head and says in a monotone voice laced with authority, "The Princess has declined Prince Lucas' proposal. She is very sorry but doesn't feel as though she is ready for marriage."
My mother looks at me and almost imperceptibly nods as if to say "Good choice."
Then from beside her Lucas goes "Well, your highness, at least consider my offer again after I've courted you?"
Knowing it's rude to refuse courting I nod my head and he smiles his horrible smile that sends shivers down my spine and not good ones.
Then the table stands and we all dip our heads before departing to our respective rooms for the night.

Lillia's PoV

Waking up I sigh thinking that yesterday was just a dream. But then I try to get out of bed but an arm clasped around my middle stops me with a groan. Smiling at the fact that it wasn't a dream I say "Come on sleepyhead, I need to get up and go for a walk."
Another groan in response. Then I turn over to see Ginger smiling with her eyes closed, "Ok fine, I'll just lay here and not go and get any flowers or your clothes and we'll miss breakfast and lunch and dinner and all of today's activities and then I'll be fired for.." at this Ginger let's go of my waist and says in a mock angry voice "I hate you."
"That's not what you told me yesterday." I say smugly as I climb out of bed and go to the wardrobe. Looking through the clothes I squeal as some hands wrap around my waist and warm breath blows my hair.
"Stay." She whispers in my ear, "We can say I'm not very well and that I can't get out of bed. Come on. Just one day. Tomorrow we can get up as normal but I just said that I love you and now you want to do normal things?"
Rolling my eyes I smile at the thought of cuddling with her all day and also the prospect of doing nothing. I turn around and wrap my arms around her neck before saying "Only one day. Tomorrow we go back to normal."
She squeals before kissing my nose, making me blush.
Then she kisses my cheeks one by one, making me mush even harder. Then laughing she peppers my face with kisses before placing a tender one on my lips which I gladly return, savouring her smell of citrus.
Once I convince her to stop kissing me, I force her to sit on the bed and not move until I come back before I exit our chambers and head to the breakfast hall. Entering I see Prince Lucas, and Prince Miles still here so I turn my attention to Queen Penelope and I say "The Princess unfortunately isn't feeling very well and is unable to grace you all with her presence. She asks my Queen for her activities to be cancelled so she can be recovered for tomorrow."
The Queen eyes me suspiciously before saying "Very well, tell her I'll visit her after breakfast and I'll have your breakfast Lillia sent to your chambers."
"Thank you my Queen."
Just as I turn around I hear Lucas say "I'll come by as well, tell her that too."
Without replying I leave the hall and get back to Ginger then I grab a book off the bookcase to read.
Seeing Ginger sat on the window seat I go over to her and sit with my back to her, her arms draping around my waist, her head nuzzling the back of my neck and then I start reading.
Just as Ginger starts to read there's a knock on the door and I sigh, knowing I have to leave the arms of Ginger. But I get up and signal for Ginger to get in bed because she's "sick". She sticks her tongue out at me before climbing in bed and pretending to sleep. Opening the door I see Queen Penelope, I say "My Queen." Before letting her enter. She looks around, nodding to my book as she says in the most relaxed tone I've ever heard her speak in "Like reading huh?"
Smiling sheepishly I reply, "Yes. It's one of my greatest passions."
She smiles knowingly before walking over to the bedside and placing her hand on Ginger's shoulder. Ginger opens her eyes sleepily in response and smiles at her mother's face. "Hey Mum."
"Hi honey. How are you feeling?"
"Sick. I feel horrible. I'm too warm and then too cold and I just feel horrible."
Queen Penelope nods before turning to me and says "Well, I trust Lillia here will take good care of you."
Smiling I nod. Then she leaves saying she has business to attend to.  I close the door and climb onto the bed next to Ginger cuddling into her side.