Part Three

Breakfast that morning was a timid affair, at least on Sae's part. She had fretted away for many days at home wondering when he would come, and now that he had, she hardly knew how to act. With renewed resolve, perhaps due to the night before, the Prince made efforts to speak to her all throughout the morning meal, bestowing more attention on her than any one else present, even her father, the host. This may have gone against decorum, but Count Arland was ready to forgive the young man; his wife had filled him on where things stood between the Prince and his eldest daughter.

Prince Roderick was surprised to find that he rather liked the quiet, relaxed nature of the manor, compared to the bustle of the palace. Though he wondered what his patrons did with so much free time and in such a secluded property, quite far from a village market or square. After breakfast was over, he was curious about everyone's plans for the day. Count Arland was to journey to a neighbouring farmland under his protection, where there was an imperative matter a farmer needed counsel on. Lady Kiva was to pay a call on a sickly widow who lived on the edge of the western region, and valued Lady Kiva's friendship and company. The children were then left to their own amusements, though the tutor for the twins and Mealina would be coming later for their weekly lessons. Roderick was fascinated that though autumn had set upon the kingdom, the family still spent a considerable bulk of their time outdoors. Evart and Josef were as wild as the ferns that grew on their land, and Mealina seemed to carry a permanent sun-kissed glow in her skin. Even Sae appeared to belong to her favourite garden. She was more natural there than he had seen her anywhere else. He liked the soft expression that misted her eyes when she stepped into her oasis and breathed in the fresh scents surrounding them.

"And this is you're preferred place to be?" He enquired.

"Oh yes. There is something so timeless, so peaceful about this garden that I cannot put into words, but it has magic in it that draws us all. My stepmother claims it must be enchanted; she is often in here, as well as my sister."

Moments later Mealina appeared out of thin air, twirling into the garden. Spying the Prince and Sae, she stopped mid-twirl, her hands flying to her face, her eyes suddenly gleaming. Though the girl had sense enough not to say a word, her older sister could immediately read her mind. The young couple were alone together in the special garden. It was something out of a fairytale. Sae fought the urge to roll her eyes. Leave it to Mealina's presence and her fable fantasies to ruin any tender mood Sae may have felt just a moment earlier.

"I didn't know anyone was in here," Mealina said quietly after a long pause.

"I was just showing Prince Roderick where I like to spend my leisure, when the weather allows for it."

"And it is a beautiful place. Your sister tells me that you spend some time here too yourself." Roderick said sociably.

Just as she had at dinner the previous night, Mealina blushed when the Prince directly addressed her.

"Yes, I do like it here very much," She admitted in a shy voice.

"It almost feels magical, this garden." He offered.

"Oh yes, it does!" Mealina gasped, startled that the Prince could detect it so soon.

"I could see myself sitting here often, day-dreaming the summer away."

"That's exactly what she does," Sae offered wryly. "Mealina loves to spend hours here conjuring up images of princesses and knights and true love."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with that," Roderick said, and Mealina blushed further. "I myself am a fool for a good fable."

"Really?" Mealina asked, scarcely holding back her enthusiasm. "What would you say is your favourite fable…just out of curiosity."

"Hmmm, I don't know if I can name one in particular, though I generally like the ones where dragons are involved." Here Roderick paused, and a slow smile crept upon his face. "However, if you ask me again in a year, Mealina, there may be a new fairytale I can tell you. And, if there's a happy ending, then it will be my favourite."

Though he wasn't looking at her, Sae felt the heat of his attention, and her cheeks rosied. Mealina was content with the promise of a new fairytale, especially as it was from the Prince himself. Perhaps he was friends with a storyteller who was working on something grand, she presumed.

His interactions with Mealina stunned Sae at first. She was accustomed to the distant Royal Advisor, who never seemed to give much thought to his supposed siblings, Cornelia and Whitmark. To see him now, so attentive, making an effort to speak with Mealina, she was truly touched. Whether he was doing it for her sake or not, and the act back at the palace was just that, an act. She appreciated this new side to him very much.

Later that day he even disappeared for an hour with her teenage brothers. They showed him all their secret hideouts and treasure troves around the vast land, something they had refused in the past to show anyone. Sae supposed that the boys were taking advantage of having an older male around who was much younger than their father and closer to their own age. She felt a twinge of envy that her brothers had never felt she was adequate to confide in, but then sometimes these were just the natural ways of the world. If Evart and Josef could relate to an older brother more than an older sister, could she really hold it against them?

o-o-o

As the days changed Sae felt her heart in fuller bloom than Lady Kiva's prised marigolds. Seeing him everyday so calm and collected with her family, tossing her secret smiles and brushing his hand against hers when no one was looking, was the sweet cream to the nights. She would come to stand by his door, he would open it to find her there without fail, and they would converse in secret, talking of nothing special and everything wonderful. She learned of his favourite childhood horse which had died and taught him the meaning of loss, of the places he liked to be most in the kingdom, of the games he used to play with his cousins Lisario and Sevastian when they were young, and how poor Condor would always chase after then and try to keep up. He shared his concern about his dying father, of his uncertainty of ruling the kingdom after his mother, and how he had never shared such things with anyone before because they all thought him to be a rock, and he began to wonder if he was without strong feelings until he had met her.

Sae would tell him of her early memories of her father, his sadness which she couldn't understand and she had thought was normal, until he met his second wife. Her own sadness when she realized she had been the cause of her mother's death, and her early teenage years when she had despised herself for it. She shared her childhood fondness for the harp, and her dream of touring the kingdom to perform for all the nobles, and how she thought she could be the first woman to become renowned throughout the kingdom for her talents. Her jealously of Josef, Evart and Mileana when they were born and her father loved others, and the babies' mother had survived, unlike her mother. Her resolve before coming to Fu Naru never to love for she hadn't believed herself capable of the feeling.

They found themselves opening up during the nights, when they felt shy to speak of during the day. The children were always around, or Lady Kiva would be, and even occasionally Sae's father. Here they felt truly alone.

When they exhausted their speech they would reach out to touch hands, then arms, shoulders, and face. Roderick would start, by taking her hand while she talked. Sae would mention something very personal or emotional about her past or current life, and grab onto his forearm for support. Then he would rub her arm and shoulder, and eventually his hands would cup her face. Sometimes she was the one who got to his face first. Then speaking would no longer be needed, and they would communicate with their eyes. Then their lips would touch, gently, tenderly, then with pressure.

At first it was chaste, but by the fourth night Sae found herself being guided to lay back on his mattress; he would press into her, not thinking. She was startled and pulled her lips away, resting her hands on his arms and trying to sit up. He apologized for his indiscretion and promised her he would keep himself in check. Neither quite knew how it had happened but both of them parted wanting more.

The next night she had returned again for their nightly discussions and again they somehow ended up laying on his bed, kissing ardently, and this time his hands left her face and began to stroke her soft curves. She had never been touched by a man except when dancing, or being handed into a carriage, so the feel of his hands, one stroking her waist and hips, the other gliding down the curve of her back, set her alarm bells off again. This time she waited a moment, letting the unfamiliar feeling sink in, and she began to feel it was more pleasurable and less alarming. They lay in such an embrace for a quarter of an hour and then she felt for priority's sake she should stop him. He seemed lost in his own blissful world, so it would be up to her. Again he apologized profusely and promised to be more careful.

On the sixth night of his stay she stayed in her room. A lady had to show some reluctance after all, otherwise what would the gentleman think! The time for games was over, but still, she couldn't go to his room knowing what would inevitably happen; then he'd think she wanted it just as much as he did, a truth she wasn't ready to own yet.

When she heard the light knock on her door she tried to bite down a smile as she went to greet her caller.

"Oh, Prince. Did you need something?" She asked, leaning against the door frame.

He rolled his eyes and she opened the door to let him in.

"I was surprised not to have a visitor tonight, as I have had the past five." He began, taking seat on the edge of her bed.

She plopped herself down next to him, not too close, but within arms reach. "I thought after your excessively improper behaviour the past two nights, I should stay away to keep my virtue intact."

"Virtuous ladies do not make nightly calls on gentlemen, my lady."

Sae turned red and felt humiliated at the rebuke. "I am not in such a habit! Do not for one moment think it is my usual behaviour Roderick—"

"I know Sae, I was only teasing."

She sighed. "You tease with such a serious tone and face that it can hardly be considered that!"

"I did not mean to insinuate that you were not virtuous. I know you are, just as I know I am the only man you have ever kissed."

She did not deny it, but blushed more deeply and continued. "So, why do you visit me now? We have talked a great deal these past nights but I do not think that is your main reason in coming here."

Now he had the grace to look embarrassed. "Perhaps it is not the only reason…but I do wish to continue to talk to you. Forever, if I could."

Sae sucked in her breath and looked away. She did not know how to answer him.

He pressed on. "I am not comfortable around people in general. There are few people who make me feel at ease, and you are one of them."

"That is something I've always felt myself." She breathed.

He reached out and took hold of her hands. "It's been an interesting past couple of days here. But there is something I have to say to you now."

She kept still and waited for him to continue.

"Sae, beautiful Sae, I am not a man of fine words like my cousins are, but what I am is earnest." He leaned toward her so that they were only a few inches apart, and though the room was dark she saw a light in his eyes. "I feel as though I should give you some grand speech. Sae, how can I….how can I apologize sincerely enough, for what has happened? I am sorry. You deserve my agony and suffering as payment for what we have caused you."

He raised her hands to his lips. She sighed. "I had time to find peace with it before you came to my family's manor. I have long forgiven you. My willingness to share my memories and embraces with you these past nights will signify this."

"You are an angel."

"That is not so." She blushed.

He went on. "I was not looking for love in my mother's plans. I was only looking for an educated girl who could perform well as a future queen, and who I could get on well enough with. I did not expect this. And I almost ruined it. You deserve me to be tied up in the stocks and humiliated for my deception."

"I don't know about the stocks," she murmured. "Spending time with Evart and Joseph as you have done would do anyone in nicely I imagine."

He laughed and tightened his hold on her hands. "Sae, how can I…how can I make this up to you? I love you, and I am sorry. I regret so much of what has happened. If you accept my apology, then perhaps after I have been duly chastened you would still accept your prize for defeating my mother's tasks—"

"I did not defeat all of her tasks. You did not give me the chance on the last one." Sae murmured.

"Nonsense. You as good as defeated all of her tasks, even she concedes. So, knowing this, would you consent to be my–"

"Shhhh," Sae whispered, pulling her hands free and encircling him. "For someone who denies being a great talker, you talk too much."

She titled her face upwards to capture his enthralling kisses. By now she had grown accustomed to the feeling of his lips and the heat they gave her. Sooner than expected they tumbled back onto her bed, a pool of heat and hands, stroking and exploring. He manoeuvred over her and she felt his weight press her down into the bed. He was touching her in more sensitive places than the night before and she felt her body respond in such wonderful ways. He kissed her throat and her collarbone and moved downward.

Then they were startled out of their hedonistic conduct by the sound of heavy pounding coming from below.

"What—" Sae began, but Roderick cut her off with a quick kiss, as he jumped off the bed and tried to straighten his dishevelled shirt.

"It will wake the whole household. I'm sorry, my Sae, but I must—"

"Yes, and be quick!" Sae interrupted, understanding him.

He fled her room, and not moments later she heard her father in the hall way cursing as the servants were opening the grand entrance to discover who was pounding on their door.

There were heated words between the servant and strange caller, though Sae could not distinguish the muffled sounds for actual words, and soon she could tell her father had joined to see what was going on.

Then, her sister came knocking.

"What is happening down there?" Mealina yawned, opening the door.

"I haven't the faintest idea but come in here and keep still, and maybe we can hear."

Mealina stepped inside the room, leaving the door open only by a crack for the benefit of their ears.

They could hear their father's exclamation and the sound of him retreating back to the stairwell.

Mealina had come to sit on Sae bed, and fingering the bed spread, she remarked in a low voice. "Why are your sheets so tangled at the bottom? Were you sleeping on the wrong end?"

Sae felt the heat on her cheeks and didn't look her sister in the eye when she responded with "I couldn't sleep, so I was sitting up on the edge of my bed."

Mealina frowned, looking at her sister. "And what happened to you?"

The elder sister raised a brow in confusion, and the younger gestured to her night gown.

Looking down, Sae was horrified. Her lace gown was half undone in the front, showing the white expanse of her breasts and poorly hiding their darker tips. Some of the skin also looked blemished from her throat and down, as though she had been scratching it. She hadn't realized how carried away the Prince had gotten.

"I had a terrible itch here, so I was just….relieving myself."

Mealina accepted this response and was about to ask another question when the sound of their father upstairs again silenced her. His footfalls passed the room and continued to the other side of the hall.

They could hear him knocking on the prince's doorway.

"My lordship, my lordship!"

"What is the cause of all this ruckus below?" Prince Roderick asked, feigning one who has just woken up.

"A Sir Lisario and his guard wait for you at our entrance, my lord. They call for your urgent presence."

Though she could hardly believe it, Sir Lisario was indeed in her home, stationed in the foyer, determined to leave at a moment's notice.

The prince and count descended again and Sae could not help but creep out of her room, Mealina following. They made it to the stairs and took a few steps down, until they were within clear ear shot of the happenings.

"It is true." Lario's voice carried up the stairwell. "You are needed back at the palace. The ambassador from Fu Tari kingdom has sprung up on us with the young Crown Prince Barth and he is demanding to speak with you. Completely out of the blue, and quite without the knowledge of his parents, he stole away to Fu Naru determined to seek you out your highness over matters he will not address to anyone else. We need you at the palace if we are to diplomatically see to it that his needs are met and then he can be returned home promptly before Fu Tari proclaims war on us for harbouring their runaway son."

"This is absolutely unheard of! Prince Barth is seeking out our Crown Prince? For what purpose? What can he mean travelling all the way here with some sort of secret. And not telling the King and Queen of his intentions to travel here!"

"Yes, it's highly peculiar Count, but it must be resolved. I regret to say this is the end of my stay here. You have been a magnificent host, a very loyal friend to the monarchy, and I have enjoyed this past week with your family. Thank you Count Arland."

"It is just all so strange you must leave in the middle of the night like a thief!"

"Again, I am sorry to have woken you but we could not delay this even by a half day." Lisario explained.

"Well, your highness is welcome back once matters are resolved. Do not forget I invited you for the month!" The Count responded jovially.

"Thank you for your invitation." He smiled at the Count, then turned his eyes to the stairwell. "I look forward to the day when I can stay with your family again. Until then."

"Goodbye." Sae murmured.