IV #2
The cool night air enveloped her face and allowed her to take in a deep breath for the first time in what felt like forever.
Turning to face the garden, she found Kent leaning against the wall with back pressed firmly against it.
Y/N watched the rise and fall of his chest beneath his uniform and the way his eyelashes fluttered with each blink.
He was the perfect picture of serenity. She felt her heart slow at the sight, feeling herself calm.
Kent noticed her from the corner of his eye and smiled at her as she approached.
Y/N cleared her throat awkwardly. "Hello."
"Hi." He replied, smiling down at her.
Silence stretched between the two, Y/N waiting for him to say why he invited her out, and Kent wanting to give her the chance to set the tone for their conversation. Realizing the other wasn't going to respond, they both spoke at the same time.
"Is something the matter-"
"Sorry if I interrupted-"
Both cut themselves off, giving the other the chance to finish what they were saying. When they realized they were both doing the same things, they both quietly laughed with each other.
"You go first." Kent insisted.
"No, no, I wasn't going to say anything important. You go." Y/N insisted.
"Well, if you insist. I was going to apologize if I interrupted your rest. I was just going on a stroll here, and I couldn't help but feel like I could really use the company of the witty Healer I had met the night before. And by some miracle,
my feet led me to your bedroom window of their own accord."
Kent explained, shrugging his shoulders.
Y/N snorted. "And I assume it was also a miracle that your fists raised to the window and began to knock?"
Kent looked at her with a bewildered expression. "How did you know? I swear Healer L/N if you put something in my food to hypnotize me I will take this straight to the Royal Court!"
Y/N rolled her eyes playfully at his sarcasm. "With what evidence? Because it seems the only thing that would be able to prove me guilty is floating around in your stomach."
Kent playfully scoffed at her remark. "Oh, I'll find a way. I promise."
Y/N shot him a daring expression before pressing her back against the wall and letting out a quiet sigh. The chirping of the crickets with the hint of a floral scent in the air created a calming atmosphere. And not too far off, she could hear the flowing of the water in the fountain.
Kent too leaned against the wall and the two simply enjoyed this quiet moment together. There wasn't a need for constant conversation between them. They both felt comfortable simply being in each other's presence. Like an unspoken amity.
But Y/N could feel his gaze on her every now and then.
Like he was checking up on her to make sure she was doing okay.
And while she usually hated having eyes on her and worrying people, his felt oddly comforting.
It was nice to know someone in the palace seemed to give a damn about her. And she knew why he was worried.
Her eyes flickered towards his. "I'm assuming you want to know what happened after you left."
He quickly turned his gaze away from hers. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit curious. But if you don't want to tell me then that's your right and I won't force you."
Y/N gulped down the anxiety that was bubbling inside of her at the memories of what happened today.
Although she truly didn't want to think about it, she knew sharing her pain would ease her nerves even just a little.
"The Prince just threatened my position and told me that I would "never know peace" for as long as I'm here."
Kent's body turned towards Y/N and his eyes were wide in concern.
"I mean I don't know what else I was expecting. I've talked back and assaulted him. I-I just panicked and couldn't take being talked down to like that. And the way he disrespected my village and family I just couldn't stand to let someone get away with that.
Why are we always the punching bags for Farnellian's. And when we try to stand up for ourselves we're completely demonized. I just..."
She trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"Wanted to fight back?" He finished for her.
Y/N made eye contact with him. "Yes."
Kent held her gaze. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. I know that my words alone won't be enough to console you but maybe this will." He proceeded to pull out a pocketbook from a pocket in his uniform and held it out for Y/N to grab.
Y/N stared at the cover that displayed a maid and a knight running from a castle in the middle of the night.
The two gazed into each others eyes with so much love and an undertone of fear that it captivated her as she pulled it into her hands.
She could tell by the condition of the book that it was very well-loved.
The pages were yellowed from time passing and the spine had multiple cracks from late nights of intense reading.
Some of the pages were dog-eared and she could see writing on a couple of the pages.
She looked up to Kent's expectant and nervous face watching her assess the gift.
"What is this?" She asked.
"It's nothing special. It's just a book I read a little while ago that I found quite interesting. I thought it might be the kind of book you like so I borrowed it from the Royal Archive for you. If you don't like it I can return it!" He fumbled with an answer.
Y/N felt a flicker of warmth in her heart at his earnestness.
She could tell how nervous he was to give it to her and how foreign it was to share this hobby of his with someone else.
But his effort shined through and a smile graced her face at the realization that she had become a part of his thoughts.
That he had looked at this book and thought of her.
And if she dared herself to think it, perhaps becoming a small part of his life?
She smiled down at the book in her clutches and stroked a finger across the cover.
She couldn't care less for what it was about.
Someone had picked a book for her that they thought she would like.
That made the book completely priceless.
She felt her throat begin to grow tight and a slight burning in her eyes, the tell-tale signs that she was about to cry.
She quickly inhaled a deep breath and willed these overwhelming feelings to go away.
She looked up at him with glossy eyes and the most radiant smile.
"Thank you, Kent. This is the most precious gift someone has ever given to me. I promise to treat this book well."
Kent felt his heart stop at the sight of her.
Her sweet words, her gorgeous eyes, her sun-like smile, the flush on her cheeks, and her hair blowing in the wind made her look like she belonged in a painting.
Something that deserved the attention of everyone across the world.
Art that was meant to be captured and kept for all of eternity.
He felt his heart break at the underlying emotion of pain on her face.
Because while this was able to cheer her up, the pain she experienced was still there.
His hand twitched wanting to reach for her face and wipe her teary eyes, but he held himself back. He didn't know what kind of reaction that could elicit from her in such a fragile state. And he didn't want to ruin this moment between the two of them. He settled with smiling back at her.
"I'm glad." He whispered.
For the two of them, the cool night air only felt warm. Like the safety of a hug wrapping around them. And between them, the beginnings of a bond began to form.
Y/N cleared her throat, embarrassed from how intently he was looking at her. She took one step away from him and headed towards the path to the garden, silntly motioning for him to follow her. He lifted himself off the wall and trailed after her.
"Would you mind reading it to me?" She asked.
"What?" He asked in surprise.
"Last night in the garden I overheard you reading your book out loud. You have a really lovely voice, and since you liked this book, I would love for you to read it to me." She explained.
"Oh yeah, I read out loud because it's easier for me to focus on what I'm reading. I didn't realize I was being loud enough for someone else to hear me though." He said a little embarrassed.
Y/N stopped walking and he turned around to face her. "Will you?"
Kent rubbed the back of his neck hesitantly. But seeing the earnest and hopeful expression on Y/N's face, he crumbled. "Alright. But if I mess up any of the words I do apologize."
It was then that Y/N realized why he seemed so surprised that she would ask her.
Most guards didn't receive a traditional education when they were younger so they often had to learn to read on their own.
Kent was one of them and even though he loved reading, he was likely hesitant to share this with others because he wasn't fully confident in his abilities.
"Thank you." Y/N said and walked up to where he was.
And the two of them continued their walk down the flowery path.
From a distance you could hear the sweetest voice reciting a forbidden love story and the excited interruptions of a girl starved for romance.
The crunch of their shoes and the beating of their hearts engulfed their tiny corner of the world.
And it was within these lush hedges that a beautiful friendship began to blossom, their souls creating a connection of their own, free from destiny.
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