Flame in the Palace

4. Meeting

Under the light of the moon, the palace gardens are absolutely quiet. The sounds from the castle are muted, and Myria's footsteps echo loudly down the stone pathways. Geffrey leads her to a bench near the tree line and instructs her to wait while he goes to hurry Prince Leor along.

"Don't be obvious about it!" Myria calls after him. "Sneaking out is supposed to be a secret affair."

Geff waves off her concerns before disappearing into the shadows.

The gardens are dark, most of the light coming from the moon or the torches from the nearby palace. Myria removes her mask as she waits, wondering what she is going to say to Leor, nerves twisting her stomach into knots. She wrings her hands in anticipation. She is not given long to dwell on these thoughts when a voice calls out to her.

"My lady?"

She instantly rises to her feet, turning to the voice of Prince Leor as he draws closer. Her mind blanks on how to address him appropriately. "My prince," she greets, dropping into a quick curtsy for him.

Leor closes the gap between them. "You don't need to do that here. Right now, I'm Just Leor."

She flashes a smile at the reference. "My apologies, Just Leor. Did you enjoy your evening?"

Leor combs a hand through his honey blond-hair and sighs. "These events are always overwhelming."

"But you danced with many beautiful ladies tonight. Surely that was to your liking?"

He laughs. "There were indeed many fine ladies tonight, but there was only one I cared about dancing with." His gaze turns severe, and heat rises in Myria's chest at his implication.

She smirks. "Was it Lady Eulalia?"

He laughs, a deep rumbling sound that emanates from his chest. "It was very kind of you to introduce her to me again."

"I wasn't sure if she would have the confidence to approach you on her own. In the short time I've been here, I can see how the other suitors can be intimidating."

"I don't envy your position. I am relieved you can see that now. Not recognizing the deceitful nature of some of the nobles can be a hard lesson to learn the wrong way. Everyone is like this, of course, but it is enough to drain the life out of you completely." Leor holds his arm out. "Will you walk with me, Myria?"

She smiles, nods, and confidently takes Just Leor's elbow.

He leads her through the maze of hedges beyond the palace lights, shrouding them in complete darkness. Myria can almost hear her grandmother's objections at the indecency of being alone with the prince in such a dark and secluded area. Myria does not mind; Leor has a comforting aura that makes her feel secure. She feels safe with him.

"The palace and court take their toll," he reveals at length. "Even when I was young. As a child, I would sneak away with Emiri, and we would chase each other around the garden."

Myria perks up at the name. "Emiri? You were childhood friends?"

She can see the fondness in Leor's smile in the dim moonlight. "Yes, he is my best friend. He keeps me sane when the whole world wants to drive me crazy. Truly, he is one of the best people I've ever encountered."

Myria frowns but looks away so that he cannot detect her skepticism. "That's high praise for someone who can come off as rather gruff," she notes diplomatically.

Leor laughs at this, another boisterous sound that she believes is genuine. "Your reaction does not surprise me. Emiri is definitely rough around the edges, but there is no better man than him. He is the most loyal friend I could ever be blessed with. I trust him with my life."