One in a million (Prequel to 'Bad Blood')

Chapter 27: I'm just wondering

James's POV

"So," Dad started. "What did your woman say to your proposal?"

I looked at him. "I haven't asked her yet," I looked back at the vegetables I was cutting for lunch. "She was busy all day."

He looked at me. "James," He paused, seemingly looking for the right words. "Where did you meet her?"

I gulped then.

"And when do you see her? You work all day."

I kept cutting the vegetables as if that would magically make dad stop wondering about my love life. 

"James?"

I looked at him. "Just around," I looked back at the vegetables. "I'll tell you when I have proposed, ok?"

He nodded but didn't seem convinced. He probably noticed that something's up. "I can't wait to meet her, she must be special."

"She is," I smiled. "She really is."

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Cassandra's POV

I was tapping my fingers on the table repetitively. It was the only way to get through this boring meeting with the Crown.

I didn't understand why I had to be present so often, they were discussing useless things in my opinion. About crops, farming, festivals... Things they didn't need me for.

"Your Highness," Lord Gregory said, shutting up Lord Ernest who was speaking. "Are you alright?"

I looked at him and was actually surprised by his concerns. "Yes, I am, go on."

Lord Ernest nodded and continued his talk but Lord Gregory didn't seem convinced as he kept looking at me with a worried expression.

After the meeting, the lords all left but Lord Gregory stayed. "Your Highness," He said before motioning me to sit down again, which I did. "I've noticed you're not doing well."

I raised my eyebrows. "What do you mean? I'm doing well, I feel fine."

He nodded slowly.

"Really, Gregory, I'm fine."

He sighed before looking around. He then looked at me. "A commoner in my county has asked me about you," He started. "He asked me when the queen will be getting married and starting a family."

I sighed then as I knew where this was heading.

"We need a successor, Your Highness," He paused. "I know you don't want it but you have to think about your people as well, they just want to be sure our kingdom will thrive these next couple of years."

"I know," I looked down. "I'll think about it."

"Ok." He then got up.

"Gregory," I said, making him stop. "How's your wife?"

He smiled. "She's doing well."

"Are you not thinking about having a family?"

He nodded slowly.

"What's stopping you?"

He smiled sadly. "Elain was pregnant, but we lost the child."

"I'm sorry to hear that..."

He nodded.

I cleared my throat before asking: "How did she know she was pregnant?"

He raised his eyebrows slightly, I could tell he was wondering why I was asking this. "She was late."

I nodded before looking down.

"She also just knew," He said to which I looked at him. "When two people have intercourse, the woman's bound to get pregnant. There's nothing stopping that."

I nodded slowly.

"Why?"

I shrugged and smiled. "I was just wondering," I nodded. "I'm a bit nervous to get pregnant myself."

"Don't be," He smiled. "Elain says that women know what to do when that time's there, I know you'll know what to do too."

"Thank you, Gregory."

He bowed before leaving the council room.

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That evening, I returned back to the Northern Kingdom. I first went by my room to put my bag down before going to James's room. But, when I arrived, he was nowhere to be found.

I frowned before walking around the castle. I knew James had to be here somewhere, he wouldn't avoid me as he loved me staying the night in his room.

I walked through every corridor, I checked every room but I didn't find him. He must be outside, I thought.

I walked to the garden and saw him there, with Chandler. "Hey," I smiled at them. "What are you two doing?"

"I'm beating James." Chandler smiled.

I smiled more before looking at James. "You're losing your own game?"

James smiled and shrugged.

"Do you want to play too?" Chandler asked.

I wasn't sure how this would get across, if anyone would see us, but I tried not to care. Because, as James had said, only what we think is important. "Sure," I sat down then. "How do we play?"

Chandler placed 5 tiny stones in front of me, in some sort of formation. "You try to hit the other people's stones. The person with the most stones wins."

I nodded. "Ok, who starts?"

"You do," James smiled. "Ladies first."

I blushed before I aimed my stone on his pile. I threw it and immediately hit 2 of his stones.

"Good throw," Chandler took the stones I had hit and put them beside me. "Now you have two points."

"Oh, I see," I smiled then. "Nice game."

Chandler nodded. "My turn."

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"It's a nice game," I said as we entered James's room. "I almost beat you."

"Almost," James smiled before wrapping his arms around my waist. He pulled me closer and looked me in the eyes. "Thank you."

I wrapped my arms around his neck. "What for?"

"For playing with us," He smiled. "Chandler loved it, he thinks you're really nice."

"Well, good to know, that's one less person to convince of our relationship."

"I don't think we'll have to convince many people."

I raised my eyebrows. "The Crown, the Southerners, the Northerners, the - "

"People who matter, Cassandra," He said, interrupting me. "I don't care about other people, I care about us and the people who matter to us. Like my dad and Chandler, your family, and King Alden and Queen Louisa."

I sighed deeply. "I'm not sure they would understand."

"Does it matter?"

I looked at him.

"Cassandra," He released me but didn't walk away, he kept standing in front of me. "I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you as I love you deeply, I love spending time with you, I love how good you are with my family, I just love everything about you," He looked down for a bit before looking back up. "I want us to be together forever, I want us to have a family together," He then took something out of his pocket and went down on one knee, and I gasped while covering my mouth. "Will you do me the honor and marry me?"