𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 (𝙔𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚!𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙭𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧)

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Rendezvous (Part 1)

The night had seemed to run as fast as a flying bird, with its chirping to be heard from the morning dew. The curtains came to a bright greeting, with its sunlight emitting through my eyes in surprise. I groaned and turned to the side, hugging my pillow tightly. "Wake me later..." I sighed, beckoning Imelda to leave my chamber with a hand.

The sound of her footsteps came closer as I felt the mattress sprung in a light motion. A hand stroke my hair gently, putting it from behind my ear. I shot my eyes open in an alarming state and turned around, meeting eye to eye with those same blue eyes I had last saw from last night. "Good morning, my dearest (y/n)." he smiled and leaned closer, kissing my cheek as I sat up.

"Where's Imelda, Nikolas? What did you do to her?" I asked, my eyes darting around and ignoring his early greeting. Nikolas touched my cheekbones and with great strength had he made me gaze back at him.

"Why, you always assume the worse of me my dearest (y/n)," he frowned but had it soon crumbled in relinquish with a laugh, "But you do not have to worry about a thing, my dearest (y/n). She's fine." Nikolas rolled his eyes, letting go of me and standing up. I let out a quiet sigh of relief and slowly let go of my grip on the linen sheets, "What are you doing here?" I questioned once more with a raised brow.

Nikolas busied himself by adjusting his vest and brushing through his blonde locks, staring back at me at the mirror. "I'm taking you out, (y/n)." he replied back, taking me aback from his words. I shook my head and glared, "If that's your plan to woo me over, I don't think that will ever work, Nikolas." I answered, feeling distaste over his words as I let my back fall to the cushioned pillows from behind with my arms crossed.

He turned around and grinned, slightly amused of my reply. "You have no choice, my dearest (y/n)," Nikolas took my hand and pulled me as I tumbled out of the bed, getting caught in his grasps with his hand snaked around my waist. "For you are nothing more but below me." he whispered in a hush to my ear, kissing my neck before pulling away.

"Oh, please. You already are below me." I whispered back with a matching smirk, feeling victorious yet fearful of the words I had said. Nikolas scowled, feeling taunted over my insult as he squeezed both of his hands into a fist. He took a deep breath and forced himself a smile, keeping cool of his temper.

"Funny, (y/n)," he replied with a dry laugh, clearing his throat and glancing back up with a stern gaze. "Now then, I'll give you five minutes to dress up. I shall wait downstairs at the carriage, my dearest (y/n)." Nikolas smiled, taking his leave as I did not bother to look behind.

After hearing the door close, I turned around to ring the bell but only to grasp on nothing but thin air. I faltered my eyes to the bedside table, the bell no longer visible. Many insults began to come up in my head, feeling dumbfounded over Nikolas's bitterly revenge.

I twist the doorknob open, hastily looking as I spotted Imelda. I pulled her inside as she began helping me to my corset, tying it tightly and running to my closet as I approved of the first dress she pulled out. I slipped inside and combed through my hair, running down the stair as if I was in a middle of a dangerous chase.

Nikolas and I made eye contact while he looked at me in pure amusement, "My, aren't you quite divine?" he complimented with a laugh. He took my hand and kissed the top of it, greeting me once more with Maven behind him. "Where do you think you're going, Nikolas?" we heard a yell from behind, making us stop from entering inside the carriage. I took the chance and yanked my hand away from his and turned around to be met with Aleksander's stoic expression.

I bowed my head low and greeted him quietly. "And what will that concern you of, Aleksander?" Nikolas questioned back, eyeing each other down like a rivalry cat and dog. "I hope you know that since I am in charge of the palace, I have the rights to know where and why the prince is leaving. The public might go in a craze to see you out there unannounced." Aleksander replied while glancing back at me every now and then.

Nikolas laughed and once more pushed me back, telling Maven to assist me inside the carriage without defeat. "I can do what I want, Aleksander. You're not the king and you will never be. Now stay out of my sight!" Nikolas snapped, his voice raising to a shout after losing his temper. "And does your wife even want to go?" he asked, all eyes suddenly laying on me.

My mouth went agape as I let myself sunk back to the cushioned seats even further, trying to hide myself from everyone's view. "I have no problem with that, your highness." I replied, unable to peek outside to avoid being flustered. "I told you. Now quit wasting our time!" Nikolas groaned, the carriage door swinging open as Nikolas stepped inside and sat across from me with legs crossed.

I tilt my head to the carriage window, meeting eyes with a defeated Aleksander. I waved my hand goodbye but was only told off by Nikolas. I faltered my eyes down the floor, feeling nervous of what's to come. "Where are we going, Nikolas? Is this some kind of abduction you're planning?' I asked with a scoff, finally able to look up once more as Nikolas smirked to my assumptions.

He leaned closer and rest his head to his palm, "If I could, I would've my dearest (y/n). I am a selfish man, and I only want you to be mine and I mean only mine," he responded, his stare only going more profound.

After what felt like a never ending ride, the carriage came to a halt. The door swung open with Nikolas stepping out first. I let my eyes linger outside when Nikolas helped me out, realizing that we were at the center part of town. The streets were filled with busy individuals, all staring and greeting us when telling apart. I kept my held high, keeping my profile as Nikolas had warned me before stopping here.

"Smile and only wave, do not let them touch you with their filthy hands. You wouldn't know were they had stuck those muddy fingers of theirs!"

I had no protest for I had no power either, it would've been worse if I uttered out a word rather than do the obvious. Silence.

Nikolas began to drag me at a boutique full of lovely dressed and frills that I noticed from outside. My eyes was drawn to the buildings, feeling at lost for words after not stepping outside the town for months on end. I heard a thud! on the unpaved road, making us stop and look down. "Are you alright?" I asked with a frown, reaching out a hand for the raven haired boy to grab.

Nikolas slapped my hand away, making me wince and glance back up. "Maven, take that boy away. He shall be punished for hitting my wife." Nikolas hissed pulling me from behind, "He's just a kid, Nikolas. Let him go, I was the one who bumped into him." I pulled on his sleeve, tearing the child away from Maven's grip. I let him go as he ran, thanking me in a whisper.

Nikolas yanked my arm away and wiped his hands clean with his handkerchief, "Please wash your hands, my dearest (y/n). It's filthy."