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Chapter 3

A dip in the pool & horseback riding

After breakfast I decided to swim at the palace pool, it was built for me, a gift from my parents when I turned ten.

I put on my black bathing suit, sandals, I grabbed my sunscreen and rubbed it on, and after that I put my hair up in a ponytail, and slipped my satin robe on.

I had been doing some backward swim laps when Edward went down to the pool area.

"I did not know that you were a swimmer princess, what other hidden talents you have?" he asked me smiling. He was wearing a white simple shirt, sandals and black swimming trunks; he had a towel, his iPod, and book on his hands.

"You indeed know anything about me Sir Edward, and yes I do have other hidden talents now that you inquire" I replied with smugness.

"Care to elaborate your highness?" he asked sitting on one of the lounge chairs facing me. I rested my hands at the edge of the pool and looked at him.

"What are your hidden talents?" I asked, "no, no, no my dear princess; I asked first. It's unethical to answer with a question" he reprimanded me.

Fine then, I thought.

"I play the piano, and paint. Some of my artwork it's displayed at the castle's gallery, but I don't allow them to keep the same paintings on, they have to be changed every week" I replied.

"Nice" he said "may I see them sometime in the future?" Sir Edward asked.

"Probably" I replied swimming away from the edge, and going into the deeper part, I got in position and continued back swimming.

I could feel Sir Edward watching me, all the sudden I felt self conscious and stopped, "why did you came down here anyway?" I asked him.

"I saw the pool yesterday and wanted to use it, why is that a problem?" he asked, "not exactly but in case no one informed you, this is my pool. As in I am the owner so, next time ask permission please" I told him.

I got our after that, Sir Edward watched my every move, the spark I'd felt yesterday was present every time I felt his eyes on me.

"My apologies your highness" Edward said kissing my hand.

My skin tingled where he had placed his lips, I couldn't take it anymore, and I had never in my life been affected by another person like this before…

Awkward silence followed after that, I decided to slip my robe on and gather my things; it was time for me to work on my summer reading; Even though I didn't need to I'm the princess. If I did not do my schoolwork it was fine, but that is not who I am and how my parents raised me like, I was very responsible, a big quality the heiress of the country needed to be conscious of.

I turned to leave; Sir Edward's voice stopped me.

"Princess" he called, "yes?" I replied.

"I was think that we should, as the villagers say 'get this show on the road' and start getting to know each other better, so I was wondering if you would like to go horseback riding with me today at noon…" Sir Edward said uncertainty on his tone.

I deliberated for a second, "sure why not" I accepted.

Edward sighed and smiled at me. "thanks your highness" he replied; before I left I told him one more thing he needed to keep in mind for future invitations, "next time you have to write a formal invitation and send to me with one of the servants Sir Edward, I will let it slide because it was the first time; just please don't make a habit of it" I said.

He blushed and bowed his head, "yes you highness, my apologies" he said.

~0~

I had bathed after the pool session, I read 5 chapters of the school book I needed to finish, and then nana Cope brought me my snack, I freshened up after I finished it and got ready to my horseback date with Sir Edward.

20 minutes later I was at the stables waiting for him. He finally arrived 15 minutes after I had gotten there.

"Finally, Sir Edward, you kept me waiting long enough" I told him.

"Again my apologies your highness" Edward replied.

Carlo's came out from one of the stables and directed towards us, "which horse may I saddle for you today princess?" he kindly asked with a bow.

"My mare please" I responded, Sir Edward looked at me as if I had grown another head.

"Your mare? You have a horse…?" he said, "of course I do" I said.

Carlo's brought Bree saddled and ready, she neighed excitedly when she saw me. "You are very happy to see me don't you?" I asked her petting her head, I have her an apple and waited until she swallowed it, Carlo's helped me get on Bree while Edward just stood there looking dumb folded.

"Are you coming or not?" I asked him.

"Yeah, yeah of course" he said, Carlo grabbed the basket that until now I did not noticed Sir Edward was carrying, while he got mounted and then tied it up on Bree's carrying rope.

"Do you need any guard's princess?" Carlo's asked, "No we will not go far" I replied, Carlo's nodded and left with a bow.

~0~

"So when were you going to tell me that you knew how to ride a horse? I thought that only swimming, painting, and piano where you talents. I was mistaken" Sir Edward said after we had gotten a little far from the castle and into the forest.

"I had to leave something for later on didn't I?" I asked.

"I guess so" he replied.

"Where are we going exactly?" Edward asked, I giggled "are you scared?" I asked him; "of course not I simply want to know" was his answer.

"Just wait and see" I told him, he sighed in annoyance.

"So, when all the modern accommodations were done to the castle? I mean the most recent ones like the pool?" Sir Edward asked me.

"The pool was a gift for my 10th birthday, the castle has been modernized as the outside world changed and according to our needs, there are still parts of the castle that don't have air conditioner, the basement and attic doesn't even have electricity still. Our clothes have changed too, even though we still have some of the traditional old gowns and yes we have to use ball gowns in certain events, but mostly I use skirts and dresses." I explained.

"What about pants, do you use those?" he asked me.

"Yeah I own a few, I don't fancy them much though" I said with honesty.

We had reached the part where the forest connected with the river, it was a beautiful meadow surrounded by trees, wild flowers. It was a very serene and peaceful place, I told Bree to stop, and Sir Edward dismounted and extended his hand to help me dismount.

"Do you like it?" I asked.

"It looks nice, very natural and refreshing" Sir Edward answered.

He grabbed the basket and motioned me to lead the way, after I tied Bree to a tree trunk. We reached my favorite spot I stopped, Sir Edward was behind me I turned around; he had laid down a blanket and was emptying the contents of the basket.

"Will you accept to have lunch with me you highness? The table is served" Sir Edward said.

I smiled and took his outstretched hand, "well of course" I said with a curtsy. I took a spot in the blanket and sat my legs on the side, Edward sat beside me. He handed my water bottle, "thank you" I said.

We sat in silence enjoying the view, the sun shined bright, the birds sang and the wind blew refreshing us with its breeze.

"This is my favorite place in the whole world" I said absentminded. "I come often to think, it its very relaxing" I added.

"Yeah I see what you mean, I feel pretty content, would you like a Panini?" Edward asked me.

"Sure" I took it from his hand with a smile.

"I met your nana, she is very nice. She prepared the basket" he told me.

"How does it feel?" I asked after a while, "How do what feels, your highness?" Sir Edward asked me.

"Having siblings" I replied.

"Ahh, my sisters…Rose, she just turned 18, she looks like my father while I inherited the looks of my grandfather Sir Edward Anthony Cullen the third, that makes me Edward Cullen the IV." He told me, "Elizabeth, is shy sometimes but very intelligent and active, and last but not least is Mary Alice, she is my best friend in a way, we have a very strong bond; although I have to admit that Mary Alice can be a pain, she is a bit nosey…" he said with a laugh.

"I don't regret being an only child…is just that sometimes I feel alone, can you believe that I princess Isabella, the heiress to the throne has only one friend!" exclaimed.

It was true; my only friend is Lady Angela Sophia Sinclair, Duchess of Sicily.

"I'm sorry your highness, but don't worry, now I'm here too so that means you have two friends" he told me.

"Thanks but I don't need your pity" I said.

"Pity?" he repeated, "I don't pity you princess; that would be an insult from my part. I really want to be your friend, I'm pretty sure that we have lots of things in common. I'm sure we can make this work" he said with conviction.

"I apologize" I said.

"Okay, let's start over" I said taking a strawberry from the plate.

"Do over" he stated.

"How old are you, my parents didn't tell me that" I asked.

"I'm going to turn 16 at the 20th" he confessed, I gasped "that is only a few weeks away…did you had something in mind?" I asked.

I don't know, my mother is in charge of that, but I'm pretty sure they will plan something"

"Ah well, I have to ask your mother then" I told him.

~0~

The rest of the conversation flowed freely after that and indeed, Sir Edward and I had a lot of things in common, we even talked about the academy, he wanted to know all about school, I told him everything about Volterra Royalty Academy it is a very well structured and strict school, their duty is instruct the future rulers of our country that was a lot of work.

I told him that it was a good school and that our new semester was going to be great. I hoped that before it started he and I had made some progress in our relationship.

We finished our lunch; Edward packed everything up while I gave Bree another apple and some water. We headed back right on time for tea hour, my father and Lord Carlisle did not accompanied us though, they had some things to discuss, they informed us that they will be at dinner.

I noticed that Lady Esme, my mother, and even Rosalie were giving Edward and I looks, I think they hoped we had some new by then but no, we had only treated each other for a day.

After dinner right before I went to bed, mother came to my bed chamber and interrogated me about the events developed today. I told her everything, and I could tell she was delighted of the progress we were making; I did not want to disappoint any of them.

She told me goodnight and left.

Yes, Edward and I had a great time today, he was so stalling and kind of dazzling, and we got along well.

I definitely saw something more there…we just had to keep having "dates" like we had today and who knew, maybe we would double celebrate by September…

Tomorrow I would ask Esme what she had in mind for Edward's birthday, I have gone to boys 16th birthdays before they have a dinner and then the "children" go dance while the parents and other relatives mingled.

I was looking forward to that.

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