The Crown

Chapter Ten

They separated with a breath, looking to one another once more.

With parted lips, Beatrice faltered in his grasp. Her mind swarmed with the realization of her actions; I will be ruined. Her heart beat twice as fast, wanting to run away and hide.

"Are you alright?" Tobias asked softly. He tried his best not to make his excitement too apparent.

Her breath hitched as she took a step back. Tobias complied, letting his hands fall from her skin and return to his sides. Beatrice turned away from him, running a hand through her hair, resting it against her forehead.

"I do not know how to feel," she confessed, looking back at the prince. "Prince Tobias, I-"

Tobias rose his hand to silence her, to which she complied. He glanced at his hand and cringed, putting it back down to his side. "Please, call me Tobias. I do not wish for you to address me as prince anymore."

Her brows dipped as she sighed at his words. "I am so conflicted!"

"It does not need to be confusing," he promised. "I meant every word I told you."

She shook her head in disbelief. "You could not have. We are in two very different positions to be doing this," she lifted her hands and pressed her face into them. "I have to resign."

"Resign?!" he asked incredulously. He took a step forward. "I will accept no resignation from you."

"I broke the rules," she breathed out.

He shook his head. "Please, Beatrice. Do not speak like this. You did nothing wrong. Our social class should not impede on our desires to see each other."

Beatrice glanced at him, a tear slipping from her eye. "I don't understand the emotions I feel."

"Then explain them," he offered.

She chuckled, shaking her head. "I want to stay with you."

"I want to stay with you," He repeated, taking another step closer to her. "Allow me to do so, Beatrice."

She looked up at him, still unsure.

"Let this be our choice in a world where we are granted none," he whispered.

With a deep breath, Beatrice stepped forward. She boldly reached for his hand, sighing at the contact. She looked up and smiled at him. "I would like that."

There was no hesitation as Beatrice stepped forward once more and pressed their lips together. Tobias sighed at her acceptance, reaching with his other hand to hold her face once more.

Nothing in their lives had any importance, other than being together.

As they parted, Tobias leaned and pressed their foreheads together. Beatrice instinctively clutched his hand, closing her eyes.

"I don't want this night to end," she told him. "I fear if I fall asleep, this will have all been a dream."

Tobias chuckled at her words, leaning back so that he could hold her hand more properly. He raised her hand flat on his before intertwining their fingers together.

"It does not have to end so soon. We have yet to complete our walk," he offered.

She smiled. "I'd like that."

Hand in hand, Tobias led Beatrice down the path once more. He relished being able to hold her hand so outward in public, even if no one was around them to see. He almost preferred that; his first intimate moment with her was in the confines of their privacy. No one could intrude on the phantasmal bubble they created.