Chapter 16
It was midmorning when a loud knock boomed on my door and bounced off the walls of my room. I sat on my bed, idly flipping through a dull Ornathian history book I had borrowed from the library a few days prior. Meanwhile, Kaiyah was skillfully braiding my hair into a crown atop my head.
As the sound resonated, both Kaiyah and I glanced at the door.
Kaiyah turned to me; her brows furrowed in confusion. “Who could that possibly be?” she wondered as she rose and skipped merrily toward the entryway.
The handmaiden unlocked the hatch and jolted back in surprise. Standing in the doorway was Jion holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers in his hands.
Jion appeared taken aback as well at the sight of anyone other than me. He straightened his posture and took a small step back, creating enough room for Kaiyah to step forward.
“Hi,” he sighed, his eyes wide and glimmering with fascination.
A barely noticeable smile tugged at the corners of Jion’s mouth before he cleared his throat and added, “I mean, Kaiyah. Ms. Cineris. Hi.” His voice grew louder and took on a more authoritative tone as he lowered his chin in her direction.
“Your Highness,” Kaiyah replied, curtsying low.
“P-Please, just Jion,” he sheepishly stammered, a sweet smile wriggling onto his face as his gaze remained fixed on her.
“Jion,” she delicately echoed, and he beamed at the sound of his name on her lips.
A moment of silence passed as the two of them gazed into each other’s eyes. Eventually, Jion broke the spell, shifting as he regained his composure.
“How are you?” he considerately asked, his eyes exploring her face, searching for something he couldn’t quite find.
“I am well, My Prince. How are you?” she replied, though her stare drifted to the flowers dangling at his side.
“Uh, fine,” he muttered, the sparkle in his eyes fading as his attention shifted to the blossoms in his grasp. For just a moment, the corners of his mouth turned downwards before he inhaled deeply and spoke. “I’m here to see…Jane.”
This time, Kaiyah didn’t respond. The lively glow of her cheeks dimmed as she stepped aside, allowing Jion to enter my bedroom.
As he approached me, the friendly smile that always adorned his face returned like a badge of honour, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that a portion of his delight was put on for my benefit.
“Good morning, Jane. How are you doing?” The confident and thoughtful prince had re-emerged, leaving behind the timid, bashful man from the doorway.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the contrast in his demeanour. “Hey, Jion. I couldn’t be better,” I said sarcastically. “How are you?”
His pearly whites gleamed as he declared excitedly, “I’m fantastic! These are for you.” He gestured toward his hand and placed the flowers on my bed. However, he shot a glance at Kaiyah, who still stood at the entrance, pretending to mind her business.
She awkwardly feigned distraction, her eyes darting around the room.
“Thank you! These flowers are gorgeous but not necessary. What’s the occasion?” I asked, a hint of apprehension creeping into my voice. I hoped this wasn’t some elaborate romantic gesture.
“Well,” he huffed, placing his hands on his hips, “I would like to take you out. On a date. With me.” He gestured toward his body with both hands as if presenting himself like a gift. But I caught the subtle shift of his eyes toward the entryway for just a heartbeat.
“A date?” I repeated as my lips parted.
Jeez, I knew I was supposed to marry the man, but I never imagined I’d have to date him first. The thought had never crossed my mind. I liked Jion. I truly did. But could I ever see him as anything more than a friend? He was kind and thoughtful, but was there potential for something deeper?
What a depressing thought. This was the person I was meant to share my life with, the one I was expected to have children with.
The mere idea made my stomach churn. Sure, he was handsome, but sex was about so much more than physical attraction for me—it had to hold deeper meaning.
It was about connection, intimacy, and trust…
Elements I wasn’t sure I felt with him yet.
I lost my virginity when I was sixteen years old to a boy I went to high school with.
He pursued me all summer, determined to capture my attention.
For two long months, he chased me at parties, cornered me in hallways, and slid into my DMs, but I was no fool.
I could sense the red flags waving. Trusting a boy like him was out of the question.
I knew he wasn’t interested in my personality; he made that ever so clear. But one night, fuelled by too many drinks and a wave of loneliness, I caved. I craved comfort and a boost to my ego, so I finally said yes.
Afterwards, he surprised me with his affection, cuddling me.
I expected him to leave immediately, but instead, he held me close and kissed me tenderly.
When he finally said goodbye, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his lips against mine, I found myself questioning everything.
Maybe I had misjudged him. Perhaps there was more to him than I initially thought. Perhaps I was worthy of love.
The next night, I found myself at another high school party.
The summer was ending, and everyone gathered at some random guy’s house for one last hurrah.
As I stepped through the door and locked eyes with the boy I had slept with, he scoffed and turned away, ignoring me completely.
To his left stood the other “popular” kids—boys laughing boisterously and girls glaring at me with daggers in their eyes, the word “slut” written across their faces.
I felt mortified and left the party in tears.
It was my own damn fault. I had been stupid to believe that jerk was anything other than what he said he was.
I knew what he wanted, and I was the idiot who had given in to him.
That night, I made a vow to myself: never again would I let a man take advantage of my emotional state or my body.
No one would be allowed into my heart or my pants without first proving themselves worthy.
“A date. Yes. If you will have me?” Jion requested delicately.
My eyes widened and shifted between Kaiyah and Jion, both eagerly awaiting my response. When I turned to face Kaiyah, she nodded approvingly, though her eyes hinted at a hidden turmoil as her nostrils flared.
Glancing back at Jion, I stuttered, “I, uh, of course.”
What else could I say? Did I even have a choice in the matter? This was the Prince of Ornath, after all. Jion was the heir to the throne, the future king, and I was a prisoner, trapped in the facade of a dream.
A very forced smile graced my lips as Jion extended his arm for me to take.
“Well, let us go, my lady.”
A little while later, we found ourselves seated in a quaint café tucked away in town.
I had no idea that Ornath even had cafés, but here we were, settled at a small rectangular table, sipping on a drink that resembled coffee both in appearance and taste.
The cozy ambiance enveloped us, and I felt a mix of nervousness and curiosity as I glanced around, taking in the soft chatter of other patrons and the rich aroma wafting from the barista’s station.
Jion nibbled on what I presumed was a cheese croissant, his eyes roaming over me as if trying to decipher the right way to start our conversation. He wore a cape and hood, obscuring his physical characteristics from the villagers around.
“I’m sorry if I seem uncomfortable, Jane,” he admitted sincerely. “I’ve never been on a real date before. But I am incredibly happy to be here with you.”
His openness was refreshing, though it didn’t entirely dispel the unease I felt. It seemed that his confidence remained intact, unshaken by his admission. I supposed that was the effect of being raised as the chosen one, the heir to his father’s throne.
“You don’t say?” I cocked my head to the side, blowing steam off my scalding drink. “I’m your first? What an honour.” I giggled, placing a hand on my heart whimsically.
The prince chuckled to himself, bashfully glancing down at his hands folded in his lap.
“My first date,” he clarified, insinuating his past romantic experiences.
“I was never allowed to court ladies or have real relationships with women in the kingdom. Not when the ‘Last Daughter’ was out there somewhere,” he muttered, rolling his eyes as if the very notion annoyed him.
“Oh,” I breathed, taken aback, my grin slipping away.
“Oh Goddess, I’m sorry,” Jion hurried to say, leaning toward me to grasp my hands. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just honestly didn’t believe the Last Daughter prophecy was even real. Not until the Blue Light Wielders found you, of course.”
I raised a hand to stop Jion from rambling out of guilt. “No, it’s okay. I understand, Jion. I hadn’t realized how much the prophecy had affected your life until now. You’ve never been allowed to love, have you?”
“Ah.” Jion gritted his teeth as he spoke.
“No. I have not. From a very young age, I was told I would be saved for marriage to…you. It was easier to never get my hopes up and fall in love with some Ornathian girl. Though, there were a few times I came close.” He lowered his chin and tittered to himself.
“My whole life has been about preparing to be this ‘bringer of peace’ within the universe.” He paused. “It has been exhausting.”
The corner of my mouth quirked into a grin as I teased him, “It makes you wonder, which is worse: being told your entire life that you are the ‘chosen one,’ or being completely oblivious to it until one day it smacks you in the face?”
Jion lifted his eyes to meet mine and returned my grin. “Oh, smack in the face, for sure.”