A Princely Perspective

Chapter Seven: Why?

   This was the day I realized something I should have a long time ago. Just like all the other days before, it started off as a typical afternoon. The lunch rush had passed and it was now our break time. In other words, it was time for our lunch. Erin suggested that we all eat outside together since it was a beautiful day. The rest of us agreed and left the stuffy palace kitchens. There was a perfect area near the gardens for us to sit on. It was underneath a small maple tree that had an abundance of green leaves. We all mingled as we ate.

"Hey Zinnia, what's your kingdom like? You've never told us much about it." Clarice asked as she picked at her salad. I bit into my sandwich and replied.

"Oh, it's not that interesting. What I will say is that it's much drier than Levaire."

"So, its like a desert?" Erin questioned. I shook my head.

"No. It may be dry but we still have trees and plants. We do have a few vast plains that have almost nothing but a few shrubs though." I reminisced about Draxius as I ate the rest of my sandwich.

"You know what girls?" I said to them. They all glance over at me. "I've been thinking of asking for a week or so off from work to go back home for a while. I checked earlier and a ship to Draxius is currently in the harbor. What do you all think?" They all smiled and nodded to my announcement.

"It sounds like a lovely idea," Gwendolyn stated, "You should arrange it with Chef Klaus after our break."

"Alright, I will." After getting that off my chest, we continued with our small talk and finished up our food. While I was chatting with Gwendolyn, I heard Erin cry out.

"Hey! Would you look who it is!" Erin was pointing out at one of the paths that lead around the palace. I followed her finger to see a distraught Kenneth. He was looking every which direction until he spotted Erin and the rest of us. Once he did, he quickly sprinted towards us.

"Hey can I talk to you in private?" He asked, stopping in front of me. I skeptically glanced at him.

"Why? I'm kinda on my break." I told him.

"There's something I need to discuss with you." I still wasn't convinced but it didn't matter what I thought. My roommates all stood up pulling me with them.

"Go on Zinnia! If the Prince wants you, you gotta go!" Erin argued. I didn't even try to fight back.

"Fine." I grumbled out, obviously irritated.

   We left the group and headed deep into the gardens. Once we were around a bend in the hedges, he stopped and turned to me with a serious stare.

"Why did you give me back the basket?" he questioned. Really? I came all the way here for that?

"I'm going to be honest," I plainly said, "I didn't want it." I don't think he was expecting me to say that. His jaw was dropped ever so slightly.

"B-but a few of the gifts were gone." He pointed out.

"Yeah, I took what seemed useful," I answered pulling the gold pocket watch out for him to see, "This was pretty nice." Kenneth then breathed out in relief.

"Okay good. I though they went missing or got stolen." I glared at him slightly putting my watch away.

"Can I go now? I have something important to ask Chef Klaus about."

"Ahh, not yet." Kenneth replied. He then took a step closer to me and grabbed a hold of my hands. I raised my eyebrows at his gesture. What the-?

"Zinnia, you know you're beautiful, right?" Kenneth suddenly asked. I was struck nearly speechless by the randomness of his question.

"...ah...I-I guess?..." I uttered out unsure of everything.