A Love Story Ends. A Romance Begins.
The unwelcome heat of the summer sun spread across her placid skin. Burning and sweltering the surface before a pleasant cool breeze came to its aid. She sat at a table with a rich mouth-watering cup of hot chocolate. With her hair tied back Caeldori continued to read on. Each word impacting the scene that she envisioned in her mind. She pictured a scene of grassy hills and a field of violet lilacs and bright daffodils. A young lady stood on a hill wistfully watching the sun go down. She stood there. All alone. Once night fell she would return home but as day broke from its slumber she would return to wait. She waited for her fiancée to return to her on the lone hill. Days turned to weeks but the girl never stopped hoping. A fortnight. That was all the time it took for them to realise they were two halves of one whole. And all the time they had together before he was deported. His smile. His laugh. His ever-so corny jokes. The only things that entered her thoughts. Reminding her of what could be. And now, she held on. She held on to the hope that they could truly be together. Forever. Sleeping side by side. Cuddling within each other's warmth. And so she dreamed and she waited.
As she closed the smooth leather bound book Caeldori could only gaze across the tents. Unable to fix her eyes to a specific point as the words kept replaying in her mind. Re-creating each action and bolstering the recurring longing in her heart. A chaotic mixture of grave loss, love and hope collided inside her soul. Creating a confusion that her mind could not forcibly control. The chaos was welling up inside her. Ready to burst out in the colours of the rainbow. Each colour a different emotion. Each emotion a different feeling. Each feeling a different meaning. A tugging in her yearned for her other half. But Caeldori was too susceptible to her own hormones. She fell in love too quickly. And always those who couldn't reciprocate her feelings.
"I want an ice-cream! A chocolate one! Please!" an excited girl called out to her caretaker as they walked toward the counter behind Caeldori. Caeldori slowly tilted her head to the direction of the voice as another child joined in the chorus.
"Ooh, me too! But I want a rainbow!" a boy said as excited as the girl.
"You can't have rainbow!" the girl instantly shouts.
"Yes I can!" the boy retorts.
"No you can't! You're a boy! And rainbow is for girls!" the girl points with pride splattered across her face.
"No it's not! I have rainbow every time! Corrin does too and he's a boy!" The boy defends himself as he looks up to his caretaker who he had just included into this childish debate. "You eat rainbow too. Right, Corrin?"
"Of course I eat rainbow, Tomoya." The ever friendly Prince Corrin replied in his sweet voice. "Now, Yui. Why do you think boys can't have rainbow ice-creams?"
"Because it's got the colour pink." The girl named Yui replied.
"And why is that a bad thing?" Corrin asks.
"Because pink is a girl's colour. Duh."
"Okay. Fair point. But isn't chocolate for boys. Since strawberry is for girls. Because isn't red a girl's colour too."
"No! Chocolate isn't just for boys and I don't like strawberry. I like chocolate!"
"And doesn't Tomoya like rainbow. So he should be allowed to eat it too. Isn't that right Caeldori?" Corrin countered.
Caeldori was too busy smiling and watching Corrin to fully register his question. But when she did she found herself being gazed upon by two children with black hair. Their eyes bulged out like a puppy's, cute and adorable. But as they continued to stare she realised that she hadn't answered Corrin's question. "
Uh, yes? I mean of course if you like it you can eat it." She blurted a little flustered. "I like chocolate AND rainbow. Does that make me any worse?" She paused before answering her own question as she looked at the young girl who drew great similarities to her big sister except for the lack of purple eyes. "Of course not. So go on and let your brother eat his rainbow. Or am I going to have to tell Kay Kay that you're being mean to Toya again."
"Please don't tell Karui. I'll be nice, Dee Dee. Just don't tell Kay Kay." The girl replied swiftly.
"Okay now that's settled." Corrin sighed as he took out some gold and handed it to the two siblings. "Here. Go get your ice-cream and come back here. Okay."
"Yes, Corrin." The two replied in unison.
After watching the two children jet off toward the ice-cream lady behind the counter Corrin gestured toward the empty seat opposite Caeldori. "May I?" he asked.
"Uh, of course. Prince Corrin I would be honoured."
Pulling out the chair Corrin slowly leaned into the seat as he smiled at her. An awkward silence spread through the air as both tried to find some level ground. Both fidgeting with some part of their body. Corrin tapped the table with his finger while Caeldori twirled a loose strand of her silky hair around a finger. After a few moments Caeldori broke the ice. "So how did you get stuck with babysitting duty?"
"Well, Karui was needed someone to tag along with them and I was nearby so she asked me to do it. And since I had nothing to do. I was to oblige." Pausing Corrin gestured at the book that Caeldori held in her lap. "So what book are you reading?" he asked.
"Uh, you mean this?" She held up. "Well it's a little embarrassing."
"That's okay you can tell me." Corrin says as he winks.
Blushing lightly Caeldori flusters as she avoids eye contact. "W-well it's titled Make Him Fall for You in a Fortnight."
"Ooh, Cool. What's the story about?"
"Well, it's really hard to explain. But well, there's this girl. And she meets this guy. And well long story short. They fall in love. But then the guy has to go to war and well the next book is supposed to continue on from there."
"Is that right? Sounds interesting."
"Sorry, I know I have more important things to do and I don't want anyone thinking I'm shirking my duties."
"No don't be. In fact I like reading that sort of thing too!" Corrin replies in a cheerful voice.
No way! Prince Corrin reads love stories. "Really?" she asked.
"Yes. In fact, back when I was stuck living inside the North Fortress books were the only thing I could have fun with. So I read a lot. ROMANCE novels included."
"Yeah just like me I guess." Caledori agreed. "Apart from Karui and her little brother and sister I didn't have other's to play with so I read books to keep me company. And in the end I guess they were good for me since I learnt a lot from them. Hidden meanings and truths. But sometimes it would get lonely."
"Oh I see. Well then what are your favourite love stories?"
"Hmmm?"
"You know… What makes Caeldori's heart aflutter?" Corrin smiled.
Thinking back Caeldori racked through all her favourite novels and distinguished what she loved about them. But before she could reply Tomoya and Yui returned with their cold treats and they hustled the prince.
"Let's go Corrin." Yui urged.
"Yeah, we need to get back to Kay Kay and give her her ice-cream before it melts." Tomoya added.
"Wait! You bought some for Karui?" Corrin asked bewildered.
"Of course, we did! She's our big sis." They both chimed.
"Okay then! Well." Corrin moved out of his seat and looking at Caeldori he said his farewell. "I guess I'll have to bring these rascals back to Karui. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow morning for training."
"Yes of course, Prince Corrin. I'll be there. Ready as usual." Caeldori stated.
"Well, let's go kiddos." Corrin said before adding. "Don't forget to say bye to Caeldori."
"Oh yeah, Bye Caeldori." Yui said. "I want to hug you but I have two ice-creams" the girl said as she held up her ice-creams.
"Bye Cally." Tomoya added.
"See-ya later alligators." Caeldori chuckled as she waved them off.
Leaning back in her seat Caeldori stared at the sky above as she answered Corrin's question silently with a sigh. "Love stories with princes and non-royal ladies. Those are the ones I like."
Hi everyone. Well, I am deeply sorry I didn't get a chapter out in the last week. Kind of had a mental writer's block and so many things to do since I'm starting Uni. Yippee! So yeah I'm settling in nicely but I will definitely try and get you readers a chapter once every fortnight at the latest. Hopefully, I can do that and more. Anyways, So we meet Karui's little brother and sister did anyone think she had siblings? I certainly did. didn't. I don't know. But yeah who doesn't love ice-cream.
And to answer some questions from your reviews.
Who is Soleil's mother?
Peri, Of course. The wild, crazy sweet loving Peri.
Will Cal meet Robin?
Well, I'll let you imagine it.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and all rights go to the awesome team at Intelligent Systems.
