Chapter 6

"…and so I fell asleep in the library and then you found me there this morning." Daria finished off.

They were sitting in the garden. It was afternoon and Daria had finally finished her lessons. She had sneaked away to have a long over-due chat with her best friend.

Lara, as promised, had been silent throughout the whole story.

"Really, Daria. There's only one thing I can say."

Daria leaned slightly forward. "Yes?"

"You are too dramatic. Of course, it was embarrassing. But if he really is as nice as you say he is, he will forgive you. Think on the positive side, only the Countess and the Prince saw the "incident". Right?"

Too dramatic? Am I?

"WHAT? I thought you would understand! It was positively humiliating!"

"Alright, alright. Still, don't be too bothered by what happened."

Daria remained silent. OK, maybe Lara is right. I might just be…a tiny little bit…ok maybe I was just that little bit…dramatic.

"Still, I'm still confused about my feelings…",Daria began unsurely.

"Well, out of all that thinking going in your head…that was the only part I could understand."

"What are you saying?"

"That your decision was right. Wait a bit to sort out your feelings. Don't rush headlong into a muddle like you did at the dinner. But there's something else…about this Derek…"

Her mind was already drifting off, thinking about what Lara had just said. Daria felt more calm and sure of herself after her talk with Lara. Lara, as her best friend, always had that effect.

A smile on her face, Daria leaned backwards and lay on her back. Grass tickled her arms and face. She focused on the clouds floating above.

Then the look on her mother's face suddenly came to her mind. What had it meant?

"Daria? Daria? Don't tell me you weren't listening to what I just said."

"uh…sorry?" Daria offered a cheeky smile.

"hmph."

"Lara. Have I ever told you, that you sound like an old lady when you say that?"

Lara's look was enough to melt ice. Daria just laughed while Lara pretended to be offended.

"I was saying. About Prince Derek. There's something I meant to tell you yesterday." A serious look was back on Lara's face.

"oh?"

"There are those rumours about him. He's not trustful."

Daria sighed.

"I thought we went through this yesterday?" She said, annoyed. "Plus, I haven't even got to know him yet and you're already telling me all these things about him."

"Because you need to know. I know you aren't sure of your feelings. Which is why I have to tell you now. Before it's too late."

Daria scoffed. "Too late? Now who's being dramatic?"

"Listen, Daria. Last time he came, he was only what, seventeen years old?"

"Eighteen."

"Anyway, the kitchen maids were whispering about all the ladies he had. Most of the noblemen's daughters in Swarical had something or rather to do with him. They said he was quite the ladies man and that was when he was just Eighteen. He wasn't even Crown Prince then."

"What? Wasn't he always Crown Prince?"

"No." Lara frowned. "I thought you knew. His elder brother, Frederick was Crown Prince but he died of a horse-riding accident a year or so ago. So then he became the Crown Prince."

Lara didn't need to say it. Daria knew what she was thinking. The death was suspicious. Still…Daria shook her head.

"Lara, I never heard of these rumors. Some of those silly maids look quite unreliable. No doubt those rumors have just come from gossiping ladies from Swarical who passed it on through their maids."

No, Daria could not believe it. Prince Derek, a ladies man? No! He was only everything polite and courteous to Countess Harriet.

Daria had seen nothing that implied any inappropriate conduct from him. Nothing unrespectable.

She shook her head.

"No, Lara. It cannot be true."

"Think whatever you may, Daria. I'm only cautioning you."

"For heavens sake, Lara! You sound almost like mother!"

"If anything happens…"

"Nothing will happen!" Daria snapped sharply.

Lara remained silent. Daria's temper was quite bad, once she got started.

It's hopeless. She won't listen to me. Lara frowned.

The sky was a light calming blue. But Lara couldn't enjoy it.

She really is one of the most stubborn people I have ever met!

"I had better go." Lara stood up resolutely.

"Lara…"

"Just think about what I said. Use your common sense. You know nothing of him-"

"I told you already. It can't be true!"

"So you do like him then. You're so anxious to protect him!"

Daria gasped.

"I…I don't." To her own ears her voice sounded weak and unsure.

Lara gave a sniff and spun around, skirts trailing behind her, into the cooler shade of the palace. Daria remained on the grass.

What had just happened? Lara and I never fight!

Daria closed her eyes and tried to enjoy the cool breeze. However, the fight with Lara kept pushing its' way through her mind.

"Good afternoon, Princess." A soft voice was coming from above.

Daria sat up quickly, her hand trying to adjust her hair. Too late. Lying on the grass had made it loose.

"Prince Derek!"

He smiled. It made Daria feel hot all of a sudden and lowered her eyes embarrassed.

"I didn't see you."

"Well, I wanted to see if I could surprise you. You looked quite peaceful on the grass."

Daria blushed. I think he saw me lying on the grass and playing with the flowers!

He only smiled again.

"Prince Derek…"

"Derek, remember?"

"Yes, of course. Derek…" She began nervously. "I would like to apologize. About what happened at dinner…"

"I understand, it was entirely an accident." He finished smoothly.

Daria felt herself relax as Derek offered her an arm.

"Would you like to take a walk in the garden?"

Daria consented by placing her hand on his, at a respectable distance.

Ok, it's just a smile. It's nothing. Really…

"Princess?...What do you think?"

Prince Derek turned his face towards her.

Daria flushed and gave a confused look.

"I was just remarking about the Countess Harriet. She is uncommonly pretty, is she not?"

"Yes, very elegant." Daria felt herself gag. Countess Harriet – elegant? Ha!

"Allow me to say, Princess. Your looks are indeed far more superior."

Daria felt a little surprised. That comment had just sprung suddenly.

"Thankyou." She allowed a small smile.

"I noticed you were absent after dinner yesterday."

"Yes, I was at the library."

Fortunately, his reaction was the opposite of her mother's. Daria felt herself liking him better for that.

On top of his good looks, of course. A little voice whispered in her head.

Luckily for Daria, he did not really inquire her reason for being in there.

"Would you be so kind to take me on a tour of the palace. It is rather large."

"Of course."

Daria lead him to the library first as he had professed a wish to see it.

"It's huge!"

Daria smiled at his not-unexpected reaction.

"My family has been collecting these books for centuries."

Daria stood near the window while Prince Derek walked around the library, surveying the books.

"I wonder-"

"Oh! Finally, I've found the two of you! In the library too, of all places!" Followed by a tinkling laugh.

Daria made a face at the window. The person who owned the voice was probably the last person she wanted to see right now.

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