CHAPTER 6: THE DATE.

(POV: Lady.)

When I awoke the next morning, I found Thomas still sleeping soundly next to me.

"Still looking naïve and cute as ever." I Thought as I then hugged him. "Oh stay by my side till the end, Thomas. I love you so much.

As I then looked over as the boy whom I wanted as my husband, I saw his eyes open. Startled by his sudden awakening, I stumbled backwards and watched as he stretched and rubbed his eyes.

"M-morning Thomas."

"Morning Lady." He yawned.

"D-did you hear what I said?" I asked, unsure if he did.

"Not really." Thomas replied. "What did you say?"

"Oh nothing important!" I stammered, feeling embarrassed, trying to get used to having a romantic relation with him. "Anyway, shall we head to the magic railway? Tidmouth beach? or even the town of Knapford and have some fun?"

"Well, Lady.." He replied. "I've got something else in mind for today."

I huffed with disappointment as I heard that.

"So are you saying no to having fun with the girl who will be your wife?" I pouted.

"No." Thomas replied. "I'm saying that my plans are to head somewhere different than usual, and have a date with you there."

"Oh." I replied. "I'm sorry if I..."

"No it's fine." My lover kindly interrupted me, knowing just what I was about to apologize about. "Anyway, let's get ready so we can leave soon as we can."

"Right." I replied as I then watched Thomas leave the guest bedroom to give me some privacy.

After we had gotten dressed, Thomas and I then left the mansion and made our way through a forest that I have never really seen before.

"Where are we going?" I asked, curious to find out what our destination would be.

"It's a surprise." He replied with a smile. "And frankly, I never found out what this place was for a reason that you're going to soon see."

As I then nodded, my curiosity only grew more. For Thomas too was curious, and IF he wanted me to come here so badly, it probably meant something that was concerning me or my family. As we then continued along, Thomas suddenly stopped and looked towards his left.

"Uh... Thomas... what are you..."

My question was cut short as he then carefully, placed a golden rose in my hair. I giggled slightly as a question that I had since Christmas had finally been answered.

"So that's where you found them."

"Yes." He replied. "And since we still have a ways to go, I think stopping here for lunch would be a good course of action."

As we sat down and ate the picnic lunch that we had with us, I couldn't help but enjoy the time that I had with Thomas. The scenery was beautiful and there were so many creatures that I only saw in the illustrations within books. I was so amazed and captivated by my surroundings. As I then felt Thomas wrap his arm affectionately around me, I cracked a smile, for he was just that caring. As we then finished our lunch, we continued on through the forest. More time passed, and then before I knew it, we arrived at some trees with a special marker that was standard for Sorcerer-knights. As I then gazed at the trees before me, I saw a familiar crest carved into the center, as well as the existence of a magic barrier.

"An imprint barrier." I exclaimed as I examined the trees that Thomas brought me to. "And it needs the one within my mana circuits to let us through."

"So you're able to open it then?"

"Yes." I replied. "Enough chit chatting. Let's lower this thing and see what of my family's is on the other side."

As I then placed my hand within the seal, it began to glow as so did the mana circuits within my hand. As the barrier then disappeared, Thomas and I held hands, and stepped through the now revealed entry. We were on a newly revealed path for about a few minutes when we saw IT. Both of us gasping in amazement, we saw a palace about the equivalent size and shape as the one I grew up in. It was a little run down, overgrown and in need of repair, but still in good condition nevertheless. However, it wasn't the palace's location that shocked me, but the palace itself, for up until now I had only seen it in photos that my family had. As I then turned towards my lover, my excitement filled my words and limbs.

"Thomas! I can't believe this! This is my Grandparent's Palace!"

"Really?!"

"Yes." I replied. "Father told me about it as well as showed me a few pictures of it. He said that it was lost for good after he married mother. But, here we are, looking at it as it stands before our very eyes."

"Your father must have very fond memories of this place if he has pictures of it." Thomas then remarked as he grabbed my hand.

"Yes." I replied. "He did."

As Thomas and I continued to gaze upon my father's childhood stomping grounds, a thought struck me. One that, I may require Thomas's agreement to.

"Thomas." I began and I grabbed his attention. "I'm not sure if you knew, but a palace or any place or home of a magicborn, even an abandoned one would still have many books and artifacts still inside. With how vulnerable this place is to misusers I think..."

"That we should live here in the future." He said, saying exactly what I was going to say. "I've agreed to marry you, Lady, and so, I have agreed to live in a palace within the royal life. It will take a bit of getting used to, but will settle in here with you with no complaints."

As I then cracked a smile, I went ahead and shared a kiss with my lover, before we exited the grounds and re-applying the barrier so it would be safe until we were ready to have some work done on it. My upcoming life with Thomas was coming together nicely, however, we did not reckon that Allen would have one last trick up his sleeve as I planned to arrive back home a few days later.

(To be continued...)