Chapter 7:
(Amber POV)
I finished the walk with Prince Arthur and bid him farewell before refocusing on my tasks for today. I worked with Baileywick and together we quickly got the work done. I was about to leave when he stopped me, "Princess Amber we do have one matter we still need to attend to... Queen Lola's Ball it is next week." I had forgotten about that. I didn't want to insult her or their kingdom so I turned toward Baileywick, "RSVP, yes on behalf of me. I will attend for the family so that we don't insult her but, we don't all need to attend." He nodded, "Very well, Princess Amber I will send that out right away." I sighed as he left.
I didn't have to meet any other suitors until later so I decided to go toward the observatory. It was too early to be able to see the stars but, at this time of the day it was a great place to be alone and not have to worry about being disturbed by anyone. This was the one place in the castle that I refused to bring suitors, it was my safe haven and I wasn't going to listen as they talked about how their astronomers discovered something in their name. I heard the elevator coming up and I turned to see who was coming at this hour. "Hello Princess Amber," Desmond said getting off the elevator. I turned away from him.
What does he think? We don't talk and suddenly everything would be ok? I heard him walk closer and stop next to me leaning on the railing of the observatory. "This is a great view," he said. I stayed quiet but nodded. I wan't going to start an argument. We stood next to each other for a while before Desmond sighed, "I'm so sorry Amber." This caught my attention and I turned to face him waiting for him to say more. I would listen but, I wasn't going to make it easy.
(Desmond POV)
I finished cleaning up my workshop and went to find Amber. I went to the observatory and saw her face me, "Hello Princess Amber." I started but she immediately turned away. Couldn't exactly blame her for that. I walked next to her, "This is a great view." I said looking out to see what she saw. I turned and saw her nod but she still didn't speak to me. "I'm so sorry Amber," I said. This got her to face me but she still wasn't speaking. "I'm sorry," I said again.
She rolled her eyes, "Sorry about what Desmond? Do you even know what you did?" She looked at me and her were beginning to water. "I am so sorry, I said all of that to you. It was wrong of me." She looked down at the ground and it appeared I was making things worse. What did she want me to say? She took a breath and looked up at me, "Thank you for the apology Prince Desmond. It is acknowledged and accepted..." She started and I let out a breath I was holding in, "But that doesn't mean I forgive you." She added beginning to walk away. I had to stop her, "It was all a lie." I spit out.
She stopped walking and turned around, "Go on." "I didn't mean any of that stuff I said. Look I have never been the confident one. I have never been the one to put myself out there. I have never... I have never been brave. I am an insecure mess" I laughed out but, was being completely sincere. "I was so terrified of getting hurt that I ended up being the one that hurt you and I never wanted to do that. I'm sorry," she stood still looking at me. She came closer to me and whispered, "That's a start."
She left me up there after that a little confused. I knew that it would take more than an apology to get back into Amber's good graces but, I wanted to know what I could do. I then thought of something but, it would be a little bit or a risk. I wasn't brave before but, I would try to be now.
(Amber POV)
I left the observatory and went to find James. I knocked on the door to his room and he opened up and let me come in, "Hey Amber what's going on?" He pulled out a chair next to his bed for me and sat down on the bed, "Des apologized." I whispered looking down. I was still confused and trying to process what happened and how I felt about it. I had spent the last week so mad and hurt at Des and focusing so much on moving on and past whatever was there and now I just felt detached. James seemed to understand his and reached out for my arm, "It is ok not to forgive right away. What he did, was really stupid." I nodded, "Yeah, I just fish I knew what I was feeling right now. I haven't forgiven him and although the apology was a good step he has a long ways to go before I will forgive him but, I feel something else right now and I can't put my finger on it." I let myself fall back on his bed.
"Are you going to continue meeting with suitors?" James asked. I looked up at his ceiling, "I am. Like I told you before I didn't start this out of revenge toward Desmond, I did it so that I can move on with my life." He sat down next to me and plopped down next to me, "I know you said that, and if it is what you want I will support you 100%, but I do know you and I know that deep down you know that you aren't going to like any of these suitors right now." I looked over at him, "And how do you know that?" I asked. "I saw you on one of those walks. Amber you are many things but a push over isn't one of them. You let them bulldoze you in conversation and I don't think I heard you talk once," James started. "None of them asked me anything" I said defensively but, all that got was an eye roll, "When has that ever stopped you from talking before?" Huh, yeah I had no response for that. "Look, Amber I am not telling you to move on and I'm not telling you not to move on but, I think that you need to sort through your own emotions and figure out what you want before you drag someone else into it." I looked over at him, "When did you get smart?" I asked. He stretched out, "I've always been smart we just never talked like this before." He was right, but I was glad that I had my brother in my corner.
"So anyone in your life that you want to tell me about?" I asked. He rolled his eyes and sat up, "And with that we are done." I laughed, "Relax I was only teasing, but James if you ever do want to talk about a special someone my door is open." He smirked, "I appreciate that." I left his room and continued to think about what he said. He was right, I had to sort through my own feelings and emotions right now. I did want to move on from Desmond but, I think I was also trying to hurt him by seeing all those suitors and it wasn't really fair to anyone.
"Princess Amber," I turned and saw one of my maids, Marcy, standing there, "There is a prince seeking an audience with you." Another suitor I mused to myself, "Thank you Marcy, take him to the throne room I will be there in a moment." I wasn't going to waste this prince time but, I would speak to him. It was the very least I could do in the given circumstances.
I went into the throne room and saw Desmond standing there. He turned to face me and went into a bow, "Princess Amber, may I escort you on a walk?"