~The day before the festival~
"Please reconsider." Alex says for the third time since he heard that the crown prince will be my date at the festival.
I smile slightly and continue walking with him the path of the green house garden of the Dandelion Duchy, me walking ahead and him just a meter away.
The flowers of the greenhouse garden has been changed by Erick, now looking like my favorite color combination. Various flowers with various colors marks the plant beds. It looked as enchanting as a breathtaking lady.
*'I love this place and I never wanna leave.' Is what I would have said if it wasn't so hot! Can't the sun dial down a notch? Heck.*
"Brother, do not worry. I'll be fine. Astrid will be with me, okay?" I say, trying to soothe his overprotective tendencies. Alex continued walking with a stoic expression at my answer.
Then he suddenly stops walking which made me halt as well and I turn to him, "What's wrong, brother?" Slightly confused, I ask.
"He's dangerous." He says seriously.
*Sigh, I get that he's worried, but to this extent? And so is father... But Caleb is the crown prince and I already gave him my word, I can't refuse him now.*
"Brother, do you not trust me to take care of myself?" I said with a soft tone.
Which he tries to counter, "Sister-"
I cut him off. "-I know you're worried. But for the last time, I'll be fine. If we talk more about this, I'll ignore you."
*We're as stubborn as each other. So this won't end until you give it up, Alex.*
Alex's eyes widen slightly at the word 'ignore', he hates being ignored. Alex sighs, clearly troubled by my stubbornness. Then reluctantly nodded his head and started walking and I walk beside him.
~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~
~The morning of the festival~
Caleb arrived earlier than expected, so Astrid and Lina rushed to get me ready.
*Ugh, I'm still sleepy, heck...*
My off-shoulder dress is of a light pink color and eye catching designs of embroidered daises. With a single layer of white expensive fabric around it's waist.
The small diamond necklace and earrings are showcased along with my neck as my hair is tied in a stylish bun with braids in the sides. And my heels with the same color as my dress.
Astrid smiled softly and Lina squealed happily at my final look. "You look beautiful, my lady!"
I smile back at them, appreciating the look that they worked hard on, "Thank you, you two-"
As soon as I said my thanks, they hurriedly rushed me from my bed chambers to the front door.
*Geez, the enthusiasm.*
As soon as the front door opened, it revealed Caleb's royal carriage. And Caleb standing infront of it, smiling softly, a fake one of course.
The fountain in the middle of the estate and the purple roses in the background seemed to fade at the royal carriage's elegant, eye catching look with the shade of red and gold in it.
Caleb standing there in a formal attire befitting of a crown prince seems to make things blur away because of his beauty.
*So handsome... Even the fake smile... He's one of the male leads that I wrote all right.*
Lina waved at me with a smile as I looked at them over my shoulder, Astrid sat next to the driver of the carriage. I sigh slightly and then look back at Caleb, mirroring his gentle and charming yet insincere smile.
I walk towards him and his eyes doesn't leave mine for a second. His smile seemed to stretched into something else... A satisfied one?
Caleb took my hand in his, interlacing our hand in a tight clasp. Still with the smile that makes his eyes crinkle in the corner.
*Wow, shameless. I thought I was just seeing things when he last visited... But his gaze on me is unwavering, almost unsettling.*
I'm only just noticing the heavy glare being aimed at the side of my face. As I glance at the direction, I see Alex and father standing beside the carriage. With unpleased expressions, of course. I smile genuinely at them to reassure them.
*Ha.ha.ha... If things goes south, father will definitely keep me grounded my whole life.*
Just thinking so makes me sob internally. Huhu...
"I will return her safely, Duke Hendrix and Young Master Alexander. I hope such words lift your worries." Caleb says softly.
*Like heck that'll ease them.*
Father and Alex nodded hesitantly, then father stated firmly, his eyes burning with intensity. "If my precious daughter gets as much as a scratch or lose a strand on her hair... Prepare for war against-"
I clear my throat loudly to cut him off from speaking. "Goodbye, father. I will see you later, to you as well, brother."
*Was he just about to declare war?! All his rational thoughts do puff away when the topic is her daughter, geez! Whew.*
Caleb smiled amusedly at my actions, clearly having pleasure in all this.
Alex nodded with his constant stoic expression, "Take care, sister."
I smile at Alex, and Caleb captured my attention as he gently tugged my hand to gesture that I enter the carriage while he escorts me in.
Caleb soon entered the carriage after me. And as the carriage started moving, I waved goodbye at Alex and father.
"They're overprotective, it seems." Caleb says with a smile and my eyes widen slightly at his sudden words before I schooled my expression.
*Oh come on, why start a conversation... My social battery is almost dead already.*
"Well-" He cuts me off and says, "If I were them, I would be overprotective too." Caleb's eyes seem to be contemplative as he looks directly in my eyes with focus and a hint of... Something more intense?
"Alexandria is such a lovely lady, it's hard not to be overprotective." He continues.
I can feel my cheeks blush slightly at his direct words. But I quickly shake it off, remembering his kind facade and his natural charm with women.
*Keep your cool, girl. It's just a compliment... But if he says it with that pretty face and voice- Ahem, cool, cool, cool. Geez, my third male lead is definitely suitable to be a Casanova.*
Smiling slightly, I lean back on my seat, I say softly, "I prefer to call it 'them being worried', rather than being 'overprotective', your highness."
*Astrid is just in the front of the carriage. Father definitely asked her to report to him every word Caleb and I say. So I gotta watch my words.*
He smiles amusingly at my answer, his eyes crinkling in the corners. "That's sugarcoating."
I'm slightly taken aback by his smile since it looked almost genuine. It's not something he does often after all.
Caleb leans forward, the space of the carriage seeming to narrow at our close distance. He props his head on his right hand with his elbow resting on his knee.
My back straightens instantly as he leaned forward. Our faces close.
His eyes are glued to mine boldly. And I couldn't help but be lost in their depts.
These green eyes are different than Astrid's green ones, while Astrid's eyes resemble a forest with shades of black in it... Caleb's eyes are of a green grass, that makes you enchanted in a completely different feeling...
*How handsome... If only he wasn't staring at me so intensely and shamelessly!*
The air suddenly starts to blow warmly and gently, making the atmosphere seemingly romantic.
*Geez, makes me proud how good he is with girls. I made him well.*
I smile softly at the distance, clearly showing my unaffected demeanor but it just seems to deepen his amused smile and I quickly stretched it into a slightly confused one.
"Your highness... I'm afraid you're too close?" I say as gently as possible with a hint of politeness.
Caleb pretends to ignore my words for a second, not putting any distance at all, and his amused smile still plastered in his handsome face.
*The heck? What's up with him? Is he obsessed or something? About what though, my eyes? Maybe, he likes magical stones and I'm confident that my eyes look like one...*
I clear my throat and speak up again, "Your highness, why do you keep looking intently-"
"Have you cast a spell on me, Alexandria?" He cuts me off and continues, "Because if you haven't, why am I this bewildered?" He says with a soft smile and his gaze locked on mine.
*What spell? Has he finally gone full blown crazy?*
"I am certain that I did no such thing, your highness. And I'm pretty sure we're not familiar enough for you to call me by my first name." I say as politely as I can.
Calling someone by their name in this world means you're either their relative, close friend or lover. And I'm none of the three.
Caleb just smiled sweetly and leaned back on his seat, finally breaking the tense atmosphere. He rests his head against he wall of the carriage and kept his gaze outside the window. "We are close enough now. We're on a date remember?"
"We're not-" I pause.
*Wait, we are? Oh, right, we are.*
Caleb smirks and keeps his gaze at me. "Can't argue, no?"
*Damn, I almost forgot... This turned out more annoying than I planned...*
I smile politely, "I guess not, your highness."