Morgianna had never felt so uncomfortable in her life, even the sex talk with her mother had been less awkward then what she was currently facing.
After everyone had surrounded her to make sure she was okay, she had been ushered to a bath and then brought to the sitting room. Surprisingly she found Prince Caspian to be among its occupants, the whole room in tense silence. Her father was the first to break the tension a small smile on his face as he gave her a hug. "I am glad you are alright, we were so worried for you when Fafnir brought you back and said that you had fallen in the water when he was not looking."
To Fafnirs blatant lie Morgianna could not help but give him a discreet eyebrow raise to which the man only shrugged. "I am sorry for worrying everyone, I will make sure to be more careful in the future." She made sure to lock eyes with Fafnir as he seemed to have been affected the most from her collapse. She owed the man so much that she knew she would never be able to repay. It was strange to think that he had reacted stronger than her parents, but truth be told, since coming to this world the person she had spent the most time around had always been him.
As she sat on the edge of her chair, crossing her legs and trying to not slouch she found that everyone in the room had their eyes glued to her. It made her want to squirm but instead she forced herself to speak. "I know that was a bit of a scare, but may I know why we are all gathered here?" She saw her mother practically bouncing on her seat and knew that whatever it was she would not like it.
"I requested they allow me to stay with you a little longer. We hardly know each other and if we one day were to get engaged I think it best if we interact more." At Caspian's words Morgianna felt her mouth gape open before she could stop it. This thirteen-year-old boy had spoken about getting married as if it were nothing, just a fact of the world, and she guessed for him it was. In her last world people did not really speak of marriage until they were much older and she found it hard for even her, a grown woman to grasp how he was easily able to speak about it.
She wanted to refute his claim, tell him she would never marry him, but she took on look at the hearts in her mother's eyes and couldn't. "Oh isn't he just the sweetest boy, not only did he come to check on you when he found your health was not at the best, but he told us that he did not want to make you uncomfortable around him so he asked if we could all meet together to set your mind at ease. At least until you grow more accustomed to him." Her mother was immediately gushing, and she felt like if this were her old world her mother would be snapping 100 photos and then breaking out the embarrassing photo albums. She had never experienced it herself, but that was the feeling she imagined when she had seen it in movies and read about it in books.
Words were stuck in her throat but still, Morgianna forced a smile on her face. "Yes, that was very nice of him to help me. I believe today is our first meeting though we have been at some similar gatherings in the past." Everyone understood the underlying meaning that he had never spoken to her before even when he had the chance. "If I had known we would be meeting on this trip I would have brought you a gift." She put on a mock sincere look and hoped her mother would not see through her act.
If Caspian was aware of her cold shoulder he didn't voice it choosing to smile at her gently as if he were already a boy in love. 'What a croc' She couldn't help the thought crossing her mind as she looked as his too sweet smile.
...
They sat in the sitting room for almost an hour passing pleasantries around. Morgianna would occasionally say something but unless she was directly spoke to she mainly just listened. She wanted to ask when Prince Caspian would be leaving but knowing the wrath her mother would unleash later bit her tongue and soldiered on.
"Would you mind going on a walk in the garden with me Morgianna?" Prince Caspian's words cut through the idle chatter like a warm knife in butter. Once again all eyes were on her, some looking in excitement and a few looking in worry.
The silence was unnerving and Morgianna felt a twitch in her eye as his blue eyes stared at her in anticipation. If she did not know any better she would think he was purposely trying to make her uncomfortable with his gaze.
Standing from her seat she curtsied in his direction. "I would be honored." 'To wring your neck and run away from this kingdom and never return.' She sneered internally at his obvious satisfaction at her response.
As he moved to her side he held his elbow out for her to take. After a moment's hesitation that earned her a small glare from her mother she relented and took it. Expecting Prince Caspian to at least ask for directions to the garden, she was surprised when he deftly maneuvered the castle halls as if he was walking in his own home. She wanted to ask about his knowledge of the place but refused to be the first to speak when he was the one who wanted to be in her company.
After walking for what felt like an eternity but was probably more accurately closer to 10 minutes, they arrived at the door that would lead them outside. She watched his hand reach for the handle and then pause in midair. He turned to look at her and she assumed he saw what he was looking for as he finished reaching for the handle and pushed the door open. The air was chilly but she was not cold in the slightest. Whether it was her vampiric nature or the fire that ran through her veins due to Fafnir or Alnwick she did not feel the bite of the wind as it ruffled her dress. All that seemed to matter at that moment was that against all her plans she was now alone with one of the 6 people she wished to avoid desperately.
They began walking forward, letting the door swing shut behind them, and in her ears it felt like a coffin lid shutting on her. She started to panic thinking that one day the very person she was walking with could be the person that kills her, or at the very least be a reason she dies."You know you don't have to look at me like I murdered your family." His words were low, but she felt like she might have caught a small tinge of hurt.
She gave him a side-eye but found he was staring intently at her as if he would see the answer in her eyes. "I am not looking at you like that." She would have kept denying it but she already saw he was shaking his head.
"Yes you do. I do not know why you detest me this much, but if you will let me I would like to fix it. How about we start over? Hello, my name is Caspian, I am the crown Prince of Aquaria and I just turned 13 this year. My favorite color used to be orange, but I think it is red and gold now." Morgianna saw his cheeks turn slightly pink as he said the last part and could not understand why he would be embarrassed over a favorite color.
She saw the expectant look on his face and sighed. "It is a pleasure to meet you Prince Caspian. My name is Morgianna, and my 11th birthday was the day before yesterday. My favorite color is and has always been red."
"I wish it were blue." He muttered under his breath but still, Morgianna heard it. She wanted to ask what he meant but thought better of it.
They continued to walk, admiring what flowers were still in bloom. Every now and then she would find him asking her a question, and she tried to answer truthfully, but curtly. If he thought he could win her over so easily he had another thing coming. Not once did he get angry at her curt answers, but instead would ask another question, or point out something in their surroundings never once losing his patience.
They had almost come full circle again when he asked something that made her stop in her tracks. "Do you have feelings for someone already, or do I still have a chance?"
He had stopped to when she had but she didn't want to turn to look at him. She knew from the game that each of the boys would try to win her over in their own way, but would leave once they met the heroine at school. "I do not have feelings for anyone." Though that was all she said Prince Caspian was happy.
He did not see the look crossed her face as she looked away from him and chose to only think that since she did not already like someone then he had just as much of a chance as everyone else. With his late entrance into the competition he had thought he would miss out on being able to try to win her. Sure her powers were something that was no joke, but it was her eyes that made him interested.