Chapter 3
Wandering the cobbled stoned streets our people greeted us, bowing in our wake and a few children offered us single steamed flowers. Gelda seemed to enjoy the attention she was getting.
Word would have spread already that the crowned prince was to marry, and if both princesses were now in the city shopping, with a mystery woman, most people would be able to put two and two together.
Marcus and the rest of the guards stuck to us like glue, never losing sight of us. Even when a crowd of dancers and musicians began to play a cheerful tune. We continued showing Gelda around, and I was grateful when we did reach the seamstress so I could rest my poor, aching feet.
The shoes I normally wore were left in my room, and Talia was disgusted by the amount of mud and scuffs they possessed. Instead, I was stuck wearing uncomfortable small heels, which were awful to walk in on the stones. Sometimes Gelda linked her arm with mine to keep me steady, possibly for comfort, too.
“Oh, my darling Princess Talia, you are here! And what’s this?”
The seamstress, short with beautiful long blonde hair and a smile that would make me buy everything in the store, looked up at me with glee in her eyes as she curtsied.
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you, your highness. I was wondering when you would wander into my shop. Your sister sings only of your praises when she’s here.”
“Yes, my sweet dear sister, and sister-in-law, I believe both need dresses for the festival.”
“Wonderful! We can sort you out.”
Clapping her hands, three assistants appeared from behind a set of curtains and quickly ushered me further into the shop and into a dressing room surrounded by mirrors. They made quick work of taking my measurements and asking me questions about what colours I liked the most and what went best with my complexion.
“Yes, I believe a soft pink with silver would look absolutely magnificent on you, your highness.”
“Pink?” I replied, looking at myself in one of the mirrors as an assistant leaned against my body in different shades of pink, which to me all looked the same.
I didn’t get a reply as Talia and the seamstress went off discussing what Gelda should wear as she needed to be seen.
Rolling my eyes, once alone, I shooed the assistant away gently and threw on my cloak. As much as my feet did ache, I wanted to get out of here and go to the stores I liked and not be poked or prodded anymore.
“Ornella, where are you going?” Talia shouted as I reached the front door.
“Don’t worry, I will be back in a little bit. I need to go to the apothecary for some ointment.”
I didn’t wait for her to contest, so I headed out the door. Marcus looked at me as I stepped out with a questioning but all-knowing look. He knew he could follow me but was to stay further back and leave me to do as I pleased.
Heading to the apothecary, I did in fact need ointment for my hands, as I had run out of the cream my mother had given me on my last birthday. It smelt faintly of red roses and lemons, an odd combination that worked well together.
Looking across from the square, I could see the seamstress shop and dreaded going back in there. I didn’t need a gown for the festival, I owned plenty that I’d never worn before. Talia just needed an excuse for me to play dress up, and I understood it was her way of showing me she cared. I just didn’t fancy it today.
“Flower for our princess?”
That voice.
Turning around, a hand extended out towards me with a single white rose with lilac tips, something I’d never seen before. Looking up at the person who owned the hand, it was the man from the courtyard who smiled back at me with a cunning grin.
“What an interesting colour,” I spoke gently as I extended my hand. “Thank you, my lord.”
Taking the flower, I smelled the floral fragrance, and I felt a fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Butterflies? No, surely not. No male had ever really paid much attention to me, I always seemed off limits, unless they had been forced to dance with me.
Most males would look at me and see the forbidden fruit—someone they could lust from afar. Talia was very lucky, she didn’t need to deal with any of this. At least not for another four, possibly five years. But sadly, once she came of age, she would be bombed with lust and unwanted affection.
“What brings you to the city?” he asked.
“Will you tell me your name first?”
“Ah yes, how rude of me. I do apologise. Allow me to introduce myself.” He bowed slightly and opened his arms out. “I am Lord Cole Reidin, from the northern valleys, somewhere between Lyren and the Obsidian Kingdom.”
Nodding my head in greeting at him, my heart fluttered a little as I caught that same sparkle in his blue eyes as I did before. He had his dark hair loose today, sitting neatly on his shoulders, and his clothing was a little too casual for a lord.
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Lord Reidin.”
“Please, your highness, call me Cole.”
I was brought up to address people correctly, and only when there was a close bond between you and another, did you call them by their first names.
“Lord Cole, may I ask what brings you to the city today?”
He laughed a little, realising I was not going to call him anything other than ‘Lord’. His laugh sent a shiver down my spine, something no one has ever made me feel before. Holding the rose tightly to my chest, Lord Cole held out his hand for me to take and for some reason, I was reminded of my dream. This time, however, I was not as hesitant to take his hand and he linked my arm into his.
“I came to see the sights, princess. My father, I believe, was invited to attend your Festival of Light I keep hearing about, but alas he has been called away with some house business and sent me in his steed. Which, I am grateful for, as it meant meeting you.”
He was smooth with his words. As we walked together, stopping at the statue of our creator, he looked up at her and then I could feel his eyes on me.
“You know, you look a lot like her.”
“I will take that as a compliment because she is very beautiful.”
“Yes, indeed she is.”
He continued to stare at me, and I could feel my cheeks heat as a blush appeared. I wanted to stay in his company a little longer, but I knew Talia and Gelda would eventually be wondering where I was and would send someone to come looking. Even if Marcus was still here, following and watching closely.
“It’s very nice to see you again, my lord, but I should go and find my sisters. They will be wondering where I have run off to.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t dream of keeping a princess from her royal duties of dress shopping,” he jested.
“I will have you know, I do a lot more than just dress shopping.”
“I’m sure you do, and I have no doubt you will tell me, if we are to meet again.”
He let go of my arm and took hold of my hand, kissing my knuckles gently. Again, the butterflies and shivers went down my spine and into the pit of my stomach. Such a simple act would have me spinning for the rest of the day.
No sooner did the action happen, he was bowing and walking away into the crowd of people that had gathered, playing music and dancing. And I, sadly, headed back into the dress shop while the feeling of his lips still lingered on my skin.