Chapter 51
“Prince,” I said, squeezing the poor flower in my hand as I stepped back beside him.
He was still watching me with that same expression, his eyes drifting toward the flower before lowering to my hand.
“The flower is mildly poisonous, my prince. It isn't wise to keep it close to your eyes or mouth, especially now that a few of the petals have fallen.”
And the most interesting part was that it was true.
I just had no idea whether Lys knew that as well, or did he merely hate the fact that the prince had placed that flower in my hair.
I hope it is the latter.
“Oh,” Haarza said, pressing his lips together in an expression that said my mistake. Once again, as he had already done at least five times during this walk, he cleared his throat awkwardly before looking around.
“Is it true that your knights sleep with you in your chambers?” he suddenly asked, catching me completely off guard for the first time.
“No, of course not,” I answered, eyes wide.
He shrugged. “I heard that it used to be that way,” he said, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
“Yes, it was, but not anymore. Now every knight has his own chambers, though they are connected to ours.”
“I don't see how your lord husbands can allow another man to sleep that close to their wives,” he said mockingly, and some kind of poison settled in my stomach. It didn't matter that Lys was standing there; this conversation itself wasn't proper for a prince and a princess to have.
I cleared my throat and shifted only an inch backward, closer to Lys. Haarza didn't notice, too occupied with his rant.
“I don't see how that is something any lord should be asked. Or any prince,” I said coldly and he merely shrugged.
“I'm only saying, Princess, that it is very strange, and truly humiliating for a husband to have someone else guard his wife. That is his job.” He was trying to flatter me with his words. He was trying to put himself in the place of my protector.
Trying.
“My prince, our traditions stand far above anyone's opinions. I don't see any reason to change something that has worked for hundreds of years.”
Still, he didn't understand that he was angering and insulting me, and simply continued. “Perhaps some traditions are too old, Isolde. Perhaps they need to move forward.”
Isolde.
My name again on his lips. Again, poison spread through my chest and throat.
“Prince, perhaps someone will change this custom one day, but it shall not be me. My knight will remain with me until one of us dies.” Finally, with a strange expression crossing his face, Haarza fell silent.
In the distance, I could see the bushes of black roses, and I nearly kissed the ground when I realized how close we were.
“Well, perhaps I could get used to your knight if you are the one standing beside me,” he said quietly, leaning slightly toward me. Everything inside my stomach twisted. The hairs on the back of my neck rose.
Finally, as the tall hedge came to an end, the low bushes of black roses absorbed the last rays of sunlight on their leaves.
Wanting a moment to calm myself, I separated from Haarza and walked quickly toward one of the bushes.
My fingers brushed over the thorns of a branch when a shadow fell across the entire bush.
I looked up and barely managed to hide the smile that spread across my face.
Lys.
He was quietly standing there with his back to the bushes, but through the opening of his helmet, which only covered down to his nose, I could see that his eyes were fixed on me.
Brown and deep, they looked at me as though he were afraid I would disappear if he blinked.
I almost touched him. Almost let my hand reach for his helmet so I could take it off, touch that soft hair again, and run my fingers over his now-shaved face. But Haarza's voice startled me.
“Princess.”
Lys's eyes dropped again, and his face once more became cold. He straightened and looked ahead.
“Yes, Prince?” I asked, straightening myself and pulling my dress back into place.
He held several half-dried roses in his hands and approached me.
“With your permission, Princess,” he said, clearing his throat again before looking down at the roses in his hands.
“I would like to ask permission to court you. I have never seen a lady like you, nor beauty such as yours, in any of my travels, and I would like you to be on my side as my wife.”
He took another step toward me, and I nearly froze.
I pressed my lips together, my eyes moving from the bouquet to his face and back again.
“Prince, I...” I tried to say something, but he interrupted me immediately.
“I can give you everything you want. I can provide you with everything—”
“Prince, please...”
Again, he continued, taking another step toward me. I could see in his eyes that he was certain he would succeed.
“You are a princess, and I am a prince. I already spoke with your brother, Prince Faran, this morning, and he told me I already have the family blessing. Please accept my offer. Allow me to court you and give you the world.”
He held the roses from my own garden toward me and stopped directly in front of me.
Instead of the warmth I would have felt if he had done this a year ago, instead of happiness and excitement, I felt only anger.
He had insulted my knight and, by doing so, insulted me.
He had taken the flower from Lys's hand and given it back to me, and now he was offering me flowers from my own garden as some symbol of hope for love.
“Princess, with me you will be safe, and you will never need another man.” He glanced briefly toward Lys, and I nearly laughed.
In his own proposal, he was talking about another man.
The prince who had behaved last night as though the entire world lay beneath his feet now seemed smaller than the pebble beneath my shoe.
And yet even now, I had to reject him as politely as I could.
I raised a hand in front of myself and took a step backward.
Then I tucked my hair behind my ear and cleared my throat.
“Prince...” I quickly found the right words.
?This is a great honor, and I am deeply grateful for the offer, but I believe I am still too young for marriage.
I have several unmarried sisters before me, and by tradition, they are the ones who should marry first. That is our custom.”
He looked directly into my eyes, pressing his lips together as though he hadn't expected to be rejected. It was interesting how different he looked from the prince who had stood among the other royals. Back then, he had been warmer. Kinder.
“I am deeply honored that you would offer me this, and I don't believe I am worthy of you,” I continued, knowing men like him. Men who weren't all that different from Faran, men who believed themselves above everyone else.
“You deserve a princess far more worthy of Your Highness.”
I smiled at him. He didn't correct me. Instead, he lifted his chin and let the bouquet fall from his hands.
“My sister was wrong about you. You're not a lady. You're just a spoiled brat.” He turned and walked away without another word.
My mouth nearly fell open.
Still staring after him in shock, I turned toward Lys, who had been watching the prince's retreating figure with a dark expression.
His hand was clenched so tightly around the hilt of his sword that the metal of his glove creaked.
There was so much anger and fire in his eyes that for a moment I thought he might snap at me too.
But this was Lys.
And the moment he felt my eyes on him, his expression softened.
Still standing there with my mouth open in disbelief, I let out a small, breathless laugh, and he simply looked at me.
“Princess, are you alright?” he asked worriedly, taking a step toward me. I turned around to make sure no one was nearby and took a step toward him.
“I'm fine, Lys. Thank you.”
He smiled softly, but his eyes continued searching my face for something, some trace of pain or sadness. Finally, he came close enough for his cold hand to touch mine.
My breath caught in my throat.
Still looking directly into my eyes, he gently moved that same hand over my skin, leaving fire and goosebumps wherever his fingers passed.
He placed his palm against my cheek, ran his fingers through my hair, the same side the prince had touched, and finally rested his metal-clad forehead against mine.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, his breath warming my face.
“I wanted to kill him when he said that,” he whispered.
When I opened my eyes, he was already looking at me with those two brown eyes that I loved more than anything in this life. Yes, loved.
I couldn't help but smile.
“My knight always protects me,” I said, sliding my hand beneath his helmet and placing my palm against his rough face.
“Always, my princess,” he answered, his eyes falling to my lips.
This time, I was the one who rose onto my toes and brought our lips together.