Enchantment of the Miss

Chapter 10

We were running non-stop for three hours when we arrived at the crossroad to the town of Selah. I thought we're going straight when Alezzander pulled the reins to the left. He is taking me to the castle!

"Hey!" I panicked. I automatically reached for the rein and pulled as hard as I can. The rope felt harsh on my hands but I didn't let go. "I'm not going with you!"

The horse neighed when the rein pulled its head. Its front feet shot upwards and I shrieked when I almost fell. Good thing Alezzander's arms are around me.

"What the--" Alezzander tried to take control of the horse but it continued neighing.

My breathing stopped as I held Alezzander's arm. The horse neighed again and this time, we lost our bearing. Alezzander tried to support me but the horse neighed again.

I screamed when we fell from the horse back.

"Darn!" Alezzander hissed.

He hugged me tightly against his chest before we fell to the ground. My right knee landed on a pebble but most of my weight was caught by Alezzander who landed on his back. I immediately sat up and kneeled in front of him.

"Ouch," he groaned. His arms are spread beside him and he is staring blankly at the sky.

"Are you alright?" I asked. "I'm so sorry."

I panicked when he didn't even look at me.

"Hey," I moved closer and bowed my head to meet his gaze. His eyes moved and stared right at me.

"I want to kiss you," he blurted out.

I frowned. He wants to what? Then it hit me. Our faces are too close. I can see every detail of his blue eyes and I can feel his heavy breathing fanning my face.

"You pervert!" I jumped back away from him, my face flushed.

"I'm just being honest," he pushed himself up using his elbows. I heard the sound of his bones clucking when he pushed his shoulders back. He grimaced.

"Are you alright?" I asked in concern but he didn't answer. He is just looking straight ahead with his face completely serious now.

I bit my lower lip. Now what?

The sound of hooves came marching towards us. I looked up at K who is now holding the reins of Alezzander's horse. He must have gone after it.

"Leave Goshen and go back to the castle," Alezzander commanded in a cold voice.

Goshen? Must be the horse's name.

K threw a cold glance at me before letting go of the horse's reins. Without a word, he ushered his horse to the left pathway, the road to the castle. Just like that, we are left alone in silence with the horse that started grazing at the side of the road.

I swallowed as I looked down on my closed fists resting on my lap. Should I be the first to talk? I should apologize, right? After all, it was my fault that we fell.

"I am serious," I looked up at him. He is still looking straight in front of him with his hands supporting his weight behind him. His jaws clenched in frustration. He shifted to sit facing me with his feet crossed in front of him. He crouched his back a little bit to level his face with mine. "I am serious when I said I want you to be my bride. I like you and I'm going to do anything to make you say yes. You cannot run away from me."

I swallowed. He didn't need to say more to convince me. It's written all over his face. He's damn serious. He's looking at me with so much determination that I know, he won't take no for an answer.

"But..." I cleared my throat when my voice came out trembling. "But I am a commoner and you're a royalty. I'm sure you know what that means. I live in the town; you live in the City of Abram. As I said, we are worlds apart."

He opened his mouth to say something but I raised my hand to stop him. I'm not done yet.

"And you, telling me that you like me, is completely preposterous. We just met about three days ago and we did nothing but spat at each other--"

"YOU were always spatting at me," he didn't help but interrupt. I scowled at him.

"Point is. We don't even know each other. I don't know how you, royalties, do it but you don't suddenly marry someone you just met," I took a deep breath. There. Maybe he can finally understand my point.

"You done?" he asked when I didn't say more. I nodded. "First, how can you bring out our social status as defense when you didn't even care who I was when we first met. Even when you thought I was an Elite, I didn't receive any special treatment from you. And if I remember it right, just hours ago, you were picking a fight with the Duke of Adaya. You are trying to respect society's imposed boundaries because you grew up with it but deep down, you don't. You hate that boundary."

I opened my mouth to defend but he raised his hand and didn't let me speak. The nerve!

"Second, I don't go around telling ladies I like them. I told you I like you because I really do. I like that you speak your mind to the point that you actually fight back and that you don't do things just because someone told you so. I've been trained to make quick decisions and I stand by them. Yes, I don't know you enough but what I know about you is enough for me to decide to make you my wife. Third, from the moment you knew I was a royalty, you sounded like you're just making an excuse. So tell me, what is it that's really bothering you?"

I gaped at him but I didn't reply. For once, I was speechless. He just stared back at me, letting me digest his long speech.

My shoulders fell in surrender. I looked down at my hands on my lap. "I don't know really," I thought out loud. "But when I found out you are a Royalty I was wondering if you were playing with me. After all, why would you want less when you can obviously have anything?"

It's his turn to frown. "Why? Don't you think you deserve more?"

I froze. I stared back at him, dumbfounded.