Returning Reign

Chapter 15

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"We have to stop meeting like this," I tell Nathaniel as we dance to the classical music. I am much better at the waltzs this time around from the experience I gained last Saturday.

"At least you didnt crash into me this time," Nathaniel looks down at me with a devilish smirk. I force away an unladylike scoff since I am undercover to everyone else in this room.

"You werent paying attention to where you were walking Nathaniel," I raise my eyebrow up in defiance. The rest of the people in the room are in their own worlds and so are we.

"Neither were you, Cartia." he emphasizes my name as if to remind me of the last ball, the library, and the hallway encounters we have had. He knows I am a maid sneaking into a ball and is still talking to me and has not reported me. Seems suspicious.

"You know who I am," I tell him, insinuating that I am a maid so that others dancing around us dont hear. He nods in response as the song is speeding up before coming to an end.

"You know who I am," he replies telling me that we are no longer two anonymous strangers to each other. There is no denying the truth of our identities.

"You are still treating me the same," I tell him but it comes out more like a question. We are whirling on the dance floor and the breeze of my dress is refreshing.

"You too are still treating me the same," he replies in the same manner as last time. In agreement that we  know each others identities but that doesnt change the acquaintance we have built.

"Its refreshing," I smile as he stoops me down just like everyone else on the dance floor.

"Tell me about it," he smiles and we start walking off the dance floor together. I take a look around the ballroom looking for Lizzy but she is nowhere to be seen. All the other pretty girls in expensive dresses are talking to the other handsome men. They need backup choices in case the Prince does not choose them as the future Queen.

It is sick to see them all act so fickle minded. Am I the same as them? Using the prince for my own agenda? I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts I cannot handle at this moment. This is different, I am different. Or am I?

"Where do you want to go Cartia?" Nathaniel turns to look at me once we make it to the edge of the dance floor. Is he trying to leave before girls discover where he is at since his mask makes him nearly unrecognizable.

"Nathaniel you have a ball to be present at," I scolded him lightly. He only has two more before he needs to choose a future Queen. I am not trying to ruin the future of the Kingdom, I just want to find my parents and leave. Everything can go back to normal.

"I dont care about any of this," he tells me looking at me straight into my eyes. His brown eyes transform in front of me into cold, resentment, and anger. His back is straight and rigid and his jaw is clenched.

I had struck a nerve in the crown prince that I had only seen since the first time I saw him.

"How about we go out to the gardens? I have not had time to explore them myself since my arrival," I suggest as I grab his arm and lead him out. The exit leading to the gardens is not far from the ballroom so I am able to navigate without making a fool of myself. Nathaniel follows me in his crisp white suit, a great contrast to my black gown. He is drowned in his thoughts and he still seems cold and closed off.

"You look lovely tonight," he randomly compliments me once we reach the garden. I was  walking down the aisles of plants admiring the beautiful flowers.

"Thank you, you look handsome tonight," I tell him caught off guard by yet another change of character.

"Tell me Nathaniel, do you open up much to other people?" I ask him as my hands graze the petals of a red rose. My assumption is that he doesn't. I dont think there are many people you can trust especially if you are royalty.

"No," he replies shortly. His shoulders still ridged and the muscles in his jaw are more tense than a rock. He sits down on a wooden bench next to the flowers and the light post above us illuminates his features nicely.

"I trust you," he adds in as a soft unsure mumble. This takes me by surprise and I turn to look at him leaving behind the flowers. My arms cross in front of my chest in a thoughtful manner. I am surprisingly not fazed by the late fall weather in my gown.

"No you don't, you barely know me." I reply to Nathaniel.

"I trust you somehow. I know you trust me too," Nathaniel tells me. His arms are resting on top of the bench and he is leaning back relaxing.

"How do I trust you?" I ask him confused.

"I have not told on you, and you are enjoying my company as if we were lifelong friends," he says the last part with some arrogance and a smirk.

"You are right, I do have some trust in you. You trusted me enough to come to the library with me and the to garden. What if I was a spy or a murderer?" I make the previously serious conversation into a joke. He shakes his head and chuckles lightly at the last bit.

"Okay best friend what do you want to talk about?" he asks and tilts his head to the side. The light posts white light gleams into his eyes and his pearly white smile.

The rest of the night was spent with Nathaniel opening up to me in a surface level manner. Random childhood stories, most embarrassing moments, and favorites colors. I told him about myself except for anything that included my parents or where I came from.

We got to know much more about each other and I can definitely see us becoming great friends. He is pretty lonely just like me, we only have one other best friend we can open up to and no one else. It was a successful and amazing night.

"When will we meet again?" he asks me as we return inside the palace. The ball had ended long ago and we hadnt realized the hours we spent outside getting to know each other.

"Hmm, tomorrow?" I ask him hopefully.

"At night in the library when I am done with work?" he suggests. I nod my head reminded that even though tomorrow is Sunday he still has royal duties to tend to.

"That's fine by me," I reply and nod my head. I turn to leave when he grabs me and embraces me in a short sweet hug.

"Goodbye Cartia," he says and I can smell his cologne all over me now. He can probably smell my vanilla berry perfume as well.

"Goodbye Nathaniel," I wave and we both head our separate ways. 

Authors Note:

I am going to love developing their relationship. It is so cute and unproblematic, right now...

-xoxo Ellie Violet