His Highness’s Gift
“Your highness,” the servants murmured in unison, bowing low as they stepped aside for the prince to advance until he stood before the princess. With hands crossed behind his back, he lowered his gaze to the flowers across the floor before lifting it to her.
“Are the flowers to your taste, Princess?”
As her eyes fell on him, Elora looked away. She cleared her throat, heat rising to her cheek as an unwelcome memory of the previous night appeared in her mind. Why on earth had she leaned into his body in her sleep? Utterly shameless.
“Your highness.” She inclined her head. “The flowers are opulent. Thank you.”
He hummed with a silent nod. “Then I trust you have enough flowers not to accept more from strangers.”
Her forehead creased into a frown. Had he plucked her flowers because he didn’t want her to take them from someone else? Lia’s words rang in her head. Was the Prince perhaps….
‘Get it together, Elora,’ she yelled at herself inwardly.
“Absolutely,” she faked a smile. “I…I heard that you went to Yvlies yourself. You didn’t have to go through the trouble just to get me flowers.”
Rafael lifted a brow and scratched the tip of his pointed nose with a finger. “And who said I was in Yvlies just to get you flowers?” He passed her a teasing look. “I had business in Yvlies. The servants did all the plucking.”
“I…I see.”
For a minute, they maintained a stare, neither of them saying a thing. Elora dug her toenails into the floor and her hands fiddled with the side of her dress in nervousness.
“Splendid,” He broke the silence between them. His throat bobbed and then he said. “In that case, I’ll leave you to continue.”
Turning away from them, he began to walk in the direction he’d come from. But suddenly, he halted in his steps and sharply swiveled again to her.
“Did you say that you love painting?” He squinted an eye.
“Huh?”
“Last night. You said that you love painting, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” she replied almost immediately. But why was he asking? “I do love painting.”
“Perfect.” He strode back to her.
Her breath caught and she glanced at him in confusion.
“Will you come with me?” He demanded.
“Huh? I…I mean…why?” Did the prince love painting too? Did he want her to teach him a few painting tricks? No, obviously. She doubted that the prince painted or even had any hobbies aside from going to wars and whatever they did at the training ground. The prince looked like he was too busy with life to have normal hobbies like painting. Dismissing those thoughts, she peered up at him and waited for his reply.
“I do have something for you. Permit me.”
He extended his palm. Her eyes were glued to it for a full minute before she slowly and reluctantly placed hers on his. Her breath ceased and her eyes grew wide when he pulled her to his chest, her soft frail body crashing against his hard one.
“Your highness.” His hands curled around her waist.
“We’ll be there in a minute.”
His hand around her was tight and secure and she held onto his coat tightly and clamped her eyes shut as the whoosh of the air hit her face. He sped past the numerous doors in the mansion and finally, they arrived before the withdrawing room.
“We’re here. You can open your eyes.”
Slowly and steadily, she parted her eyes open and looked around. They were indeed before the drawing room.
“We should go in,” he suggested.
Elora nodded but when he didn’t move or attempt to take a step, she looked up at him only to find his brows raised.
“I must say that you quite like my body,” he teased.
Her mouth fell open when she realized it. She was still clinging to him so tightly as if wanting their bodies to be one. Instantly, like she was suddenly scalded by his skin, Elora loosened herself from him and backed away.
“I…I don’t.”
“But it doesn’t seem so. Considering how tight you held onto me last night. It…”
“I don’t, okay?” Her face burned and her ears and neck turned red as the scene last night flashed into her head. “I…I was asleep. I don’t e…even remember.”
He took one step closer to her and it was all it took for him to stand right before her, their bodies a few inches apart. “Don’t you think it’s quite unfair, Princess?”
Unable to meet his sharp attractive gaze, she forced her gaze to her green silk shoe. “What is?”
“Isn’t it unfair that you’re allowed to hold me as you please and even use my chest as a pillow while I am not permitted to do any?”
She stepped backward. “Your highness…”
“Rafael,” he corrected.
“Rafael, you…you sound perverted,” she spoke in a tiny voice. How was he already complaining? It wasn’t like she touched him on purpose.
She heard him chuckle. What was funny?
He glanced at the servants at the door and they pushed it open for them.
“Go in.
Elora stepped into the withdrawing room and immediately began to look around for the supposed thing they’d come to look and when her eyes caught sight of the numerous painting boards at the other side of the room, she froze.
Her eyes sparkled. “Oh my.” She held the sides of her dress and raced toward the drawing boards. Her hands ran over them in excitement and she smiled when she saw the painting brushes on a bench at the side. She picked them up set by set and examined them. There were a lot, way more than she possessed back in Yvlies. At the thought of having something else to do other than plant, eat, and sightseeing, Elora squealed.
“Do you like them?” His voice rang out from behind her. “If they are not to your taste, I could get you…”
His words were cut short as all of a sudden, she whirled around and jumped into his arms.