Chapter 3:
(James POV)
Things had been crazy in Enchancia with all of Amber's suitors. This however, gave me the perfect opportunity to see Clio without everyone asking me too many questions. The focus was on Amber and I knew that this allowed me to go unnoticed for a few hours everyday and I planned on making use of this with going to see Clio. We had met up at her castle and gone riding for a while simply enjoying each other's company and competing with one another, but that day I had something special planned.
That morning I had done my training early and did everything I had to do, I left Desmond a note letting him know how to contact me if we were called out on a quest, I sent word to Clio so that she knew I was coming and I had told my parents that I would be leaving the castle for a few hours. I rode off towards Corinthia and couldn't wait to take Clio out on today's outing.
(Clio POV)
I was having so much fun with Sir James or James as of our last race. I was so glad that we wanted to spend time with one another. We hadn't really done that as kids and I regretted that now. He was so much fun to be around and he took all the pressure of royal life and being a performer away for an hour or two. Today James sent me a letter before coming to the castle warning me to wear comfortable shoes and it peaked my interest. I got ready in a simple soft pink summer gown and put on a comfortable pair of boots. Unlike my friends growing up I had never been a big fan of wearing a tiara and instead grabbed one of my favorite hats that's ribbon matched the color of my dress. I went down to the foyer and waited for James to arrive looking at the clock.
Time passed slowly as I waited growing more nervous. I saw him riding closer and soon he was outside the palace. He handed his horse off to a stablehand and I soon heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and there he was with a bouquet of flowers in one hand. "Hey Clio, sorry I'm late. These are for you." He said handing me the flowers, "They are beautiful, thank you." I handed them to a maid who was going to put them in water. I turned back to him and he looked great. Unlike last time I saw him he wasn't in his armor but rather a navy blue waist coat and dark black riding pants.
He held out a hand for me, "Shall we?" He asked. I took his hand, "Where are we going?" "That is for me to know and you to find out," He said. We began to walk as he guided me to our destination and we made polite conversation as we walked. He asked about how school had been and how my singing and performing was going. That made me feel more at ease and conversation was able to flow.
(James POV)
She looked stunning and I could only hope she actually liked the flowers. "Where are we going?" She asked and I playfully smirked, "That is for me to know and you to find out." The first couple of moments we walked in silence and I knew I had to think of something. I began asking her about her school and her recent performances and she lit up. She was so filled with life as she spoke of her passion. It made the walk breeze by and I was genuinely interested in what she was saying.
"We're here," I said as we stood before a stone archway in the middle of a field. She looked around and asked, "Where is here?" Her eyebrows scrunched together as she tried to figure out where we are. She let go of my hand and began looking around walking around the archway trying to figure out what was going on. I laughed at her confused expression, "Just trust me." I said holding out my hand for her. She uneasily put her hand in mine and we walked through the archway.
As we got to the other side of the archway we entered. Clio stared in awe as she saw where we were. We were now in a grove covered in different flowers and hundreds of butterflies "How did you find this place?" she asked"When I was at Knight School we had to learn about all the different kingdoms, their geography, safe places to hide and a bunch of boring stuff like that," I said rubbing the back of my neck, "But one of the things that stuck with me was the Corinthian archway. It can only be found in the middle of empty fields and it leads to the glass butterflies." She held her finger out as one landed on her and she looked at the intricate frail wings. "It is amazing," she whispered. Yes, you are I thought to myself. I quickly cleared my throat,"I remembered once hearing, from Amber or Sofia, that you loved butterflies. I thought you might like to see this."
(Clio POV)
I was a little nervous walking through the archway especially when James said that I had to trust him, (That automatically makes things sound more sketchy) but I was glad I did. I never knew this place existed at all, let alone in my own kingdom. There were so many of these small alive butterflies whose wings were made of glass. I looked at the one that landed on my finger, "It is amazing." He is amazing I thought to myself. I heard him clear his throat and I turned to look at him, "I remembered once hearing, from Amber or Sofia, that you loved butterflies. I thought you might like to see this." I lifted my hand up encouraging the butterfly to fly off before going over to James and surrounding him in a hug, "Thank you."
I blushed as we separated and he rubbed his hand through his hair again, "No problem Clio, I'm glad you like it." We sat down in the middle of this haven on a stone bench. "James," I started as he turned to face me, "Why have we never done anything like this before?" He shrugged, "Well when we went to Royal Prep you were friends with my sisters... I was friends with the princes... we were stupid kids... Take you pick." I laughed at that. I did remember that from spending time with James when we were younger, he always made me laugh. "How is your family?" I asked. "As far as I know they are all doing alright. Amber is training to be queen and doing a good job with that. And Sofia is off being a protector, she doesn't write much these days." James began looking down at the ground playing with a rock with his foot.
That seemed to be a sore spot so I decided to change the discussion, "So what else did they teach you at Chivalry Hall, besides where to find beautiful, hidden groves filled with butterflies?" I jokingly asked. This seemed to perk him right up as he started telling me all about his knight training. It was actually kind of interesting. We continued to talk going back and forth for a while. We weren't talking about anything of significance, mostly we were just catching up, but it felt like nothing existed outside the grove. Like everywhere in the world time had stopped and all that was left was James, me and the butterflies.
(James POV)
We finished up in the garden that day and then I guided her back to her castle. "Thank you for showing me that James, I had a really great time" Clio said as we were at the doors to her palace. "Same here, would you want to do something like this again?" I asked. She smiled at me, "James, I would love to do something like this again." She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, "Good night." She went inside and closed the door. I brought my hand to my cheek, "Good night." I said to the closed door.
(Clio POV)
We got back to the castle and I could feel every beat of my heart against my chest. This was the most fun I had ever had and it felt amazing to see James again. "Thank you for showing me that James," I said looking down at the ground trying to prolong the little time we had left before I went inside and the night was over, "I had a really great time." James looked over to me, "Same here, would you want to do something like this again?" My heart beat faster as I smiled. "James, I would love to do something like this again" I felt a sudden rush of bravery and I went over and planted a small kiss on his cheek. "Good night," I said before turning to go inside. I closed the door and continued smiling to myself. It was the perfect end to the perfect evening.
I went up to my room still wearing the same silly grin as I thought about the day. It was one of the happiest I had had in a while and James just continually made it better. "Clio, where were you today?" I turned and saw my mother standing outside my doorway, "I was catching up with a friend from Royal Prep." She nodded, "The same friend you have been meeting up with the last couple of days." "Yes Mother" I said looking down to the ground. She thought on this for a moment, "Alright well, go clean yourself up. We are having dinner soon." "Right away Mother," I said. I walked passed her and closed the door. I began to smile again as I thought about my day.
James and I had both agreed that we wanted to keep us spending time together to ourselves. We didn't want to put a label on anything and were really just enjoying each other's royal every aspect of our lives was so public that it was nice to have something for ourselves and I knew telling my mother would be like telling the realm and neither of us wanted them speculating on our lives and putting more pressure on what was right now a great friendship. I wasn't going to be the one to ruin that and I knew neither was he.
I couldn't wait to see him again and see what he would plan next. Knowing him though I'll have a smile on my face the entire time.