The Prince and His Pauper

Chapter 61: The Prince's Dream

"Cassiel? What on earth are you doing?" I ask after watching a boy with short brownish white hair running back and forth.

"I'm running away from the water!" Cassiel laughs, squealing when a bit of the cold seawater touches his feet.

"I can see that, but why?" I hear myself question as I walk over to him. Cassiel has a huge grin on his face while he continues with his little game.

"Why? Haven't you done this before when you were little?" Cassiel responds confused and tilts his head a little to the side.

"I didn't normally go to the beach when I was little." I state and thought back to my rigorous class schedules. I had tutors for every subject my father deemed were necessary which included spending most of my time with my father.

"Oh. . . Well, it's an easy game and actually kind of fun. But, we can just keep walking." Cassiel laments, turning around to continue our walk. I quickly grab hold of Cassiel's wrist and pull him close to me where his back is pressed against my chest.

"Why is it that whenever you're having fun, you assume I think negatively of it?" I murmur into his ear, my lips brushing along the side of it.

"Be-because you're so. . . You know, adult looking a-and I'm not. . . I don't want you to think I'm childish. . ." Cassiel admits almost sadly.

"You're not childish. You're being yourself and I lo-"

*        *        *

I opened my eyes at the same time I sat upright, my heart pounding against my chest. My breathing comes in pants as the dream continued to play itself over and over. Except, it didn't feel like a dream. It felt too real and familiar to be a dream. Like déjà vu because I am fairly certain that I lived through that dream a long time ago.

Could it be a memory? No, that can't be it. I never lived through that memory before. At least, I don't remember having lived through a day like that. I would recall a memory that made me so happy. Although, this could be a memory from before the accident.

Why was I so happy in that dream? Was it the beach? It's true that I haven't gotten the chance to fully appreciate the scenery of it back in my homeland nor have I visited any of the beaches in California. Could that have been a memory I may have forgotten?

If it is, why was Cassiel in it? Did I go to the beach with him and Leo? We could've gone together if we were all close. But how was I able to go to the beach? My schedule is taken up with school then working with Father on both the company and the kingdom. We're usually done by dinner time and afterwards, I complete all of my homework.

The only way I would be able to go to the beach was if Leo dragged me there. Leo had always got me to leave the house a few times for some bonding time, but we've never brought anyone else except Sebastian. Could it be possible that Leo arranged the three of us to go the beach one day? It all seems to lead back to my lost memories and Leo.

One thing does bother me from that dream: what was I about to say?

Before I woke up, I was about to say something to Cassiel in my dream. From the way I see it, I was complimenting his behavior. There was nothing wrong with Cassiel acting playful at the beach. A lot of emotions can emerge from being at a certain location so that means the beach brought out his childish side. He looked adorable playing that game of his.

Perhaps I was going to comment about his game? No, that can't be it, I thought to myself as I rose out of bed. I still had to go school, but I can't stay in bed interpreting my dream. I would be late for school and I can't afford to raise anymore suspicion by skipping. Besides, I can ask Leo about this dream of mine.