Hey guys. Sorry for making you all wait soo long. Don't worry though, unlike a few of my Discordian friends (sending a wink), this is a true update, even if it seems to come on 1st April. Anyways, here's the chapter:
Chapter 14
Isabella POV:
Last chapter…
"What's so funny?" a new voice joined our conversation. We turned to see Prince Edward standing right behind us.
"Nothing, Your Highness," Rowe quickly replied and then turned to leave.
Tess and Lyssa followed her, while Bella and Jo walked away in another direction, leaving me alone with the prince.
"Lady Isabella," he addressed me. "How has your stay been here?"
"Quite fine, Your Highness," I replied. "Please call me Bell."
"Very well, Bell. Then you must call me Edward. Would you like to go on a date with me?"
"I would love to, Edward. When and where?"
"Why don't you decide?"
"Hmm, I'll let you know about my plan."
"Very well. See you later Bell," with that the prince turned and left to meet some other selected.
Now:
Besides knowing what was coming, I was still nervous. Who wouldn't be, if they were going on a date with someone they have known for a long time, even from afar? And who wouldn't be if the said someone was a prince; the Crown Prince, in fact?
Working on my hair, Penelope managed to release some of the stress as her experienced hands massaged my hair. As soon as she was done tying my hair in a French braid, she went on to get some shoes. Meanwhile, Zoey did some light makeup and Lorena took out a white blouse with boot cut jeans. As soon as my makeup was done, I quickly slipped on my clothes and wore the white riding boots Penelope had taken out. As if on cue, a knock sounded on the door and Zoey opened it to reveal the prince. My maids quickly curtsied and left, leaving the two of us alone.
"Lady Isabella," he said once we were alone. "Are you ready?"
"Indeed, Your Highness," I replied and took his outstretched arm, walking out of my room.
Dressed in a cute blue t-shirt that said 'Go Angeles' Stars' and black jeans, I could easily see that he had followed my advice to wear something rough.
"You needn't call me Your Highness," he said once we were walking down the stairs.
"Then you must call me Bell."
"Ok, Bell. Where are we going, though?"
"Patience, Edward. The reward of patience is always sweet," I said.
"Oh really?" he glanced at me as we walked out into the garden.
Leading him towards the stables, I saw that he was surprised to see me walking with ease towards them. Reaching the stables, I saw that the stable boy had taken out the two horses I told we would use and had saddled them.
"How did you know that I always ride Blackberry?" Edward was surprised as he noticed his favorite horse amongst the two saddled.
"A secret," I replied, walking towards Snow, my horse.
Once I had settled on my horse, the stable boy aimed to hand over a basket to me, but Edward took it before I could even touch the handle.
"Mm," he said smelling the basket closely. "What does it contain?"
"Don't!" I said as he started to remove the cover.
"Why?" Edward asked.
"It'll ruin the surprise," I replied and he groaned but agreed to wait.
The sun was setting and we started walking towards the usual path.
"So Bell, what do you do?" Edward broke the silence after the 10 min silent walk.
"I am a vet, right here at the palace."
"What!?" he said, surprised. "No wonder you know the paths of the garden and my favorite horse."
"Yeah. So tell me a bit about you," I said.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
"Hmm. Well I really don't have a lot of free time, helping mom run the country. But I do love to walk around the gardens to release the stress."
"Hmm. I suppose you love watching football."
"Yeah," he nodded. "My favorite team is obviously Angeles." He chuckled at that. "What about you?"
"Well, Labrador is quite good but I love Likely."
"Oh well." He shrugged and we walked on.
"Besides horse riding, what do you do in your free time?" I asked, genuinely curious. I had only seen him from afar in the Palace, and didn't know anything much about him.
"Watching movies, whenever I can." He strengthened his grip on the reins, leading Blackberry back on the trail. He had seen some pretty flowers on the side of the road.
I already knew that. "Oh, and when did you last watch a movie?"
"Um– one month ago."
"Hmm…"
We finally reached our destination. There was a lovely view of the gardens, shaded by an apple tree at the top of a hill. Behind the tree was a movie trap set for the evening.
"Isn't it lovely," I heard Edward say from behind me. He motioned towards the sky and I noticed the colors of the sunset.
"Indeed."
"I don't get to see this much, thank you Bell."
"A pleasure." I offered him a smile, then I shook myself back into my date. "Ok, so what movie would you prefer watching, today?"
"Something adventurous."
"Okay, so we have a lot of options."
I showed Edward a number of options and he chose one. Looking at the cover, I saw it was one of Dan Brown's books, 'The Da Vinci Code'. Setting the movie, we sat on the blanket that was already spread and started watching the movie. Long story short, a grandfather, head of a mysterious organization was killed and wrote a code for his granddaughter to find, a hidden family secret, and that of the organization along with a symbolist. They finally succeeded, despite the numerous problems they faced, revealing a very surprising and shocking truth.
"Wow," I said once the credits started rolling.
"Yeah. I love reading Dan Brown's books."
"Oh, me too."
"Well, I don't know about you, but I am hungry."
"Same," I said, and laughed.
Unwrapping the basket, I took out our dinner that the maids had packed for us. A delicious chicken steak awaited us and I handed out the plates and glasses for lemonade. Hungrily, we attacked the steak and quickly finished it. Desert was a choice of pastries. Taking two each, we leaned back in our cushions.
"So Bell, tell me a bit about your family," Edward said, taking a bite of his own pastry.
"Well, my parents are investors and also own a horse boarding center where I learned to ride."
"Nice." He bit into the pastry again. "Any siblings?"
"No, but I am fine with it. I get all the love of my parents this way."
"Hmm. Having one sibling is fine for me, I can't imagine life without Nazia."
"So, Edward, besides horse riding, walking in the gardens and watching football, what else do you like to do?"
"I do love to read, but I really don't have the time to do it." He paused. "Running a kingdom is stressful as it is, even though we do have a prime minister."
"Ah, I see. Well then you need to find time to read, then."
"What about you, Bell?"
"I love being around animals. I just love them, so I spend all my time around them."
"Have you ever gone to a zoo?" he asked, sitting up.
"No, but I'd like to."
"Ok, I'll arrange something then."
"Thank you." I smiled at him and finished my desert.
The sun had set by then and I couldn't stop a yawn. Seeing me, Edward too started yawning and we lay down on the grass, my eyes closing as I cuddled up near him. It seemed like hours before we heard a sound from behind. I felt Edward moving and opened my eyes to see a guard standing right next to us.
"We need to return to the palace, Your Highness, My Lady," he said and Edward nodded.
We got up and packed the picnic stuff, getting back on our horses and rode to the palace. Handing the horses to the stable boy and the picnic basket to the maid, Edward escorted me to my room and left me at the door.
"See you tomorrow, Bell," he said, kissing my hand before he turned and left.
I opened my door and went straight to bed, collapsing on the comfortable mattress and immediately falling asleep, dreaming sweet dreams about the two of us riding in the forest towards a mountain that shone brightly.
Hope you all liked it. Please review, i love hearing your thoughts on my chapters and how i can improve my self.
I'll be putting up a poll soon, please do vote as it decides what i write in the next chapter.
Shout out to Gummy for the idea and Isabella, I love writing her! I hoped you liked it and can't wait to read your review.
Shout out to Abizeau for beta-ing so quickly.
Shout out (or not ;)) to the Discord for motivating me to write during corona vacation.
Stay safe and healthy. See you soon
Love
Rowe
