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"Of all the beautiful porcelain dolls in this world, why pick an broken rag doll like me?", I ask as he squeezes my hand and glances at my lips. To my surprise, he simply answers with a grin as if it were clear as glass...
The next day I woke up at dawn this time because I wanted to show Dahlia something special before we would be busy today with the ball. I knocked on her door quietly so no one else but her could hear, and a couple of seconds later, she opens the door enough to peek her head out. She was surprised to see me and asked, "Rem? What is it? What are you doing up so early?" And I told her, "I want to show you something. Meet me in the gardens in about twenty minutes." Then I left and got dressed before going to the garden where we first kissed.
Dahlia was only about two minutes late, but her cute, yawning face made me love her even more. "So", she started while rubbing her sleepy eyes, "What was it you wanted to show me so early in the morning?" I held out my hand for her to take and after she took it, I held it securely as I led her farther beyond the gardens and towards the horse stables.
She gasped at the beauty of the horses and smiled so beautifully as she stared at the magnificent beasts. "I love horses", she muttered as she hugged me close to her, "How did you know?" I beamed at her and kissed her cheek before answering her question, "Your love for Laila shows me you're secretly an animal person. I thought this might put a smile on your face to start the day." She blushed so adorably and gently kissed my lips before we walked closer to the horses.
"This one is named Martha", I said to her as we walked close to one of Emerson's favorite horses. "She's so beautiful", Dahlia compliments, I took her hand and guided it to lay her palm on Martha's head. She instinctively scratched her head which Martha enjoyed and then I took two apples and handed one to Dahlia. "Feed her the apple, but be careful with your fingers", I explained as I fed Martha the first one to show Dahlia and then she copied my actions accurately, making her smile in astonishment.
Then we went to the haystacks where we leave them to the horses to feed on later. I removed the jacket and shirt I was wearing to prevent any hay getting on it, and I noticed in the corner of my eye, Dahlia was staring at me with widened eyes and a slightly open mouth. I joked while facing away, "Like what you see, my sweetness?", causing her to gasp and turn away in embarrassment with her face all red. "I, uh...I didn't mean to stare, I just..." She couldn't finish her sentence so I improvised, "Never seen a body look as good as mine?" I smirked at her and she flushed into a darker shade of red, making me chuckle at her cute expression.
When I was finished stacking the hay, I saw Dahlia admiring the saddles and then I stepped close behind her and wrapped my arms around her before kissing her neck gently. She tensed up at my embrace, but then she relaxed into my touch and quietly gasped before turning around and colliding her lips onto mine. We stumbled around with our lips still attached and she ended up tripping and falling back on the hay, we both laughed at our clumsiness until I noticed how close I was to her with my body on top of her and she stared into my eyes with both anticipation and fear in her eyes.
"Remington", she said quietly, "Yes, Dahlia?", I said back while I brushed some hair out of her face. "When did you get all of your tattoos?", I knew she was referring to the ones on my arms and chest and I told her, "I've been getting them since I turned 18, and I just wanted something to define myself more than a prince." She then starting tracing my family crest tattoo close to my heart, and she whispered with a slight hint of pink in her cheek, "They're beautiful on you." I grinned at her admiration of my body art and then I leaned down and kissed her lips so softly at first, and then she pulled me closer with her hands on the back of my neck.
Our kiss got a little more passionate as I held her so close to me, and I somehow pushed her further into the hay which was starting to get all over us. I pulled away and we were both breathless, I was able to say, "I love you, Dahlia", and she smiled as she responded with, "I love you, too, Remington." I placed a simple kiss on her lips before helping her to stand up and putting my shirt and jacket back on. It was still pretty early so we went back to the castle and went back to our rooms.
When everyone was awake a few hours later, all the staff and decorators worked on getting the castle ready for the ball tonight. I've never been more excited for any formal event at our home than I am for this one. I knew I would be dancing with a few girls to make them smile, but when I had Dahlia in my arms, I was hoping to sweep her off her feet and give her the time of her life.
"Hey, Remington", Sebastian startled me again as I was thinking and staring at Dahlia working with her mother. "Jesus, Seb", I said in annoyance, "You really need to stop popping out of nowhere." He rolled his eyes at me and then said, "Whatever, Rem. I just need to ask you: What are your intentions with Dahlia?"
I turned to him in surprise, as if he believed I was treating her like a temporary phase in my life when I don't want her to be. "That's a bit personal to ask, but since you asked, I don't know, to tell you the truth. All my life, I hoped to find her again and I really don't want to lose her again. I know it's useless to wish things were simpler than they are, but if they were, I wouldn't hesitate in making her my bride." I blushed hard when I realized what I said and turned to Seb who was looking at me mischievously.
I pointed my finger at him and warned him, "Don't you dare say a fucking word about this to anyone, especially Dahlia. Got it?" He imitated zipping his mouth shut and then I walked away to my room shocked at what I just said. I wanted to marry Dahlia already? I must be crazy, or...crazy for her. I wonder if she would want the same thing if I could make it happen.
The ball was starting soon, and me and my brothers were getting fitted into our attire that Miss Josephine designed for us. We invited almost every important figure in our social class and a few others high in their middle-class status. We even gave each one and extra ticket for them to invite someone they wanted to bring along. When we all got fitted, we made our way to the ballroom where my brothers and mother sat in their respective thrones.
The princes' attire:
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People started gathering to the castle and after an hour, the entire castle was filled. Dahlia told me earlier she would pretend to be sick so her mother wouldn't suspect her going to the ball tonight and she would see me sometime during to dance with me. I was so excited, I didn't even expect to see the most beautiful girl walking into the ballroom with a familiar looking mask on her face.
