Chapter 2
Tonight was Nagit's 18th birthday celebration. The palace was buzzing with all the commotion of getting ready for the guests. I was feeling quite depressed since this was a special birthday and I did not have anything to give Nagit as a present. In Libra you are an adult in the eyes of the law when you turn 18. I worked hard in the kitchen to help the new girl, Sophia. It was quite late when we finally finished cleaning up in the kitchen. That was when Mrs Spoon walked up to me and said I could have some ingredients to make something for Nagit. I was surprised since she was usually very strict and not very friendly to anyone. Somehow she understood me. I decided to make Macaroons, one of Nagit's favourite sweet things.
The party was still in full swing when I snuck to Nagit's room. I could hear the music and see the lights from one of the corridor windows. I wondered what he was doing and if he was having a good time. Esmerelda had invited nobles and royalty from neighbouring countries to attend. No doubt scouting out possible marriage partners for Nagit. If he married well it could significantly strengthen Libra's power. The thought made me even more depressed. I softly opened and closed Nagit's door behind me. It didn't look like anyone followed me. I walked to where there was a table against a wall. It was dark so I had to walk carefully so as to not bump into the table and put the macaroon parcel on it, sighing. Suddenly I heard a match being struck and a lamp lit up the entire room. I almost had a heart attack. It was Nagit!
"Cari!"
"Nagit!" we both spoke at the same time.
Why wasn't he at the party? I didn't expect to find him here... Wait, he could be here with someone! Where is my manners?!
"Er...your highness, please forgive my rudeness!" I quickly said with a clumsy curtsy while dropping my gaze. I didn't notice any one else in the room, but then again I didn't have a chance to look at his bed...
"You don't have to be formal Carli, there is no-one else here," he said as he put the lamp on a stand. He sounded a bit tired.
I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding and immediately felt embarrassed. He surely heard that!
A chuckle made me look up at him. He was still dressed in his formal Libra attire and looked extremely handsome. I was reminded that he was no longer the little boy who I used to look after and play with. Many girls' hearts were going to be broken by him. I felt a bit jealous of whoever got a chance to dance with him tonight. Wait! What am I thinking!
Nagit now laughed at me. This reminded me of the times when I couldn't best him with something like racing on horse-back. I would pout and then he laughed like that. Wait, did I just pout?!
"What?!" I asked in a pretend-annoyed voice, but dropped my gaze again. "I'm sorry," I quickly said. It felt so strange, being here like this. Once, some years ago we proclaimed that we were always going to be best friends and carved our names in a tree. Now, I was torn between treating him like a friend or a prince.
"You may be five years older than me, Carli, but you always sucked at playing chess...and hiding your emotions." He was standing close to me now.
"Does it make you jealous if I dance with other women?" he asked suddenly, very serious. He always managed to read my mind and my face one again betrayed me. I desperately tried to find a way to change the subject.
"Er...I...it is not much, but I brought you something." I gestured to the parcel on the table.
"A birthday gift?" he asked, still sounding amused.
"I wouldn't call it that..." Surely simple macaroons can't be considered a birthday gift... He was starting to reach for it.
"Wait! Please open it when I am not here!" It would be too embarrassing to see him open it. Perhaps he would be disappointed?
"Okay," he said and I looked at his face. He had a mischievous glint in his eyes. What was he scheming this time, I wondered. Usually it involved getting into trouble with the head butler or Mrs Spoon...
He had walked closer and I suddenly realised he was very close to me and instinctively stepped back. Was he drunk? No, I can't smell alcohol on him. He stepped closer again and I stepped back, pressing my back against a wall. He placed his palms on the wall so that I was trapped.
I stopped breathing.
"Then where is my birthday present?" he asked. I felt my face heat up with embarrassment, and could not look at him.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have anything else to give you Nagit."
"What about a kiss?" His sudden request made me look up into his eyes. Surely he couldn't mean it? His face was serious and his eyes focussed. Nagit...I wanted to kiss him very much and my eyes lowered to his lips... what was this feeling I had? Is it lust or... I suddenly came to my senses. What was I thinking!? He's a prince and I'm a maid, apart from me being 5 years older than him!
"Nagit!" I quickly said as he was lowering his face towards mine, "you should save your first kiss for the girl you like!"
He stopped briefly. "What if I am kissing the girl I like?" he asked in a low voice. My heart was racing like mad. Does he mean...? No, we can't!
"Nagit...!" my sentence got cut off when Nagit pressed his lips against mine and my mind went blank. His one hand was still caressing my cheek when he stood back. I could see his face looked a bit red as well, was he embarrassed? Did he suddenly realise what he did and felt guilty about about it?
"I..." I couldn't speak.
"I think I like this present most," Nagit finally said. I could see desire in his eyes in realised that I had to go before anything else happened.
"We shouldn't have!"I said and my hand went up to my lips. "I must go!" With that I fled the room. He didn't try to stop me.
