Annabelle's POV
A week has passed after the whole incident.
My grandfather was still pretty mad about the whole poison incident, and he wasn't taking any chance on my health or security. Victoria spoilt me with breakfast in bed every day while Richard stood by side everything but I could feel something wasn't right.
"Good morning, Princess." Richard's voice cut my thoughts off. He was holding a tray in his hands.
"Richard, what are you doing here?" I inquired. "I thought you were following my grandfather for a meeting with the Werewolves."
"Yes, and No" he smirked.
"Seriously, Richard."
"I didn't want to go," Richard said.
I wanted to ask him why, but I choose not to. "What's for breakfast?"
"Berries and Cream Oatmeal," Richard announced. "Accompanied by a glass of strawberry smoothie."
A frown crept on my face. Oatmeals have been my major meal for breakfast ever since the incident, but I was getting bored with it.
"Again," I muttered. "I wanted pancakes or anything fried."
"The doctor clearly said that you should avoid oily meals." Richard laughed.
"Doctors love to torture people." I sighed. "Give me my food."
Richard handed me the tray that he held. The oat looked kind of tempting, Victoria garnished the meal with a lot of strawberries and blueberries.
"Where are Isabelle and George?" I asked.
"I don't know," Richard said. "Maybe they went out."
"Why did you serve me my breakfast?" I inquired before taking a sip out of my smoothies.
"Victoria was kind of busy in the kitchen, so I served you your breakfast." Richard laughed. "So enjoy it."
"Have you had your breakfast?" I asked.
"Yeah. I had it with your grandfather," he said.
"Why is my grandfather meeting with The Werewolf King again?" I inquired before shoving another spoon of oats into my mouth. "He had a meeting with them before."
"They never concluded it because of the whole poison rubbish," Richard muttered. "So he needs to go over to conclude it."
"How important is this meeting?"
"Super important," Richard said. "I think you should finish your meal before Victoria comes here or else I'm dead."
"Shut up, asshole." I laughed.
"I missed those," he said. His words left me confused.
"You missed what?"
"Your smile and voice," he smirked.
"Seriously, Richard?"
"You can't blame a guy." he chuckled. "Do you want to go somewhere?"
"I am stuck in my room." I reminded. "My grandfather doesn't want me to leave my room until he was sure I was perfectly fine."
"We will go to The Waterfalls," Richard said. "I believe a change of scenario will help for a speedy recovery."
"I'm perfectly fine," I whined. "Why don't you guys believe me?"
"Unless the doctor says that you are fine, we won't take any chances," Richard mumbled. "You do not know how worried we were?"
'Were you also worried?'
"Yes, I was worried."
I glared at him after hearing what he said. Obviously he read my mind despite the many warnings I have given him.
"Why do you always have to read my mind?"
Richard smiled. "Honestly, I do not know why it's like as if your mind is my open book."
"Whatever, just cut it out," I growled.
"I will try to Princess," he smirked.
I ignored his signature smirk by directing my eyes to my empty bowl.
"I can't wait to take to the skies," I exclaimed. My hands were dancing high above my head.
"Hold your horses, Princess," Richard ordered. "There's no flying for you."
"Why?" I whined.
"The doctor said you should prevent flying, according to him your wings also need to recover," Richard said. "That means no flying."
"Then how will I be able to go there?"
"I hired a Pegasus for you," he announced. "The same one you rode when I took you on the tour."
"Aww thank you, Richard." I smiled at him.
"I see you have finished your meal." Richard looked at my empty bowl. "You are a mean person, Annabelle."
"Meaning?"
"You finished a whole strawberry smoothie without giving me a little." he cried. "That's not fair."
"You didn't ask for it." I chuckled.
Richard rolled his eyes before picking up the tray from my bed. "Rest for a while when it's time to leave, I will fetch you."
════════════ೄྀ࿐════════════
Flying on Cloud was amazing. Her smooth black mane was glistering in the magical sunshine. She was gentle and swift at the same thing. A part of me wanted to keep her for myself.
Cloud's neigh interpreted my thoughts. She landed on the group like the Queen she was.
"You are beautiful." I praised her, my hands running through a silky mane, causing her to release a sight neigh.
"You really like her a lot," Richard said.
"She's just majestic," I muttered. "Can I keep her?"
"If your grandfather agrees, then sure." Richard shrugged his broad shoulders.
"Yay!" I exclaimed. "Hear that Cloud you can become my personal Pegasus."
Cloud neighed before rubbing her mane into my hands.
"She likes you, that's for sure." Richard laughed. "Come, let's go in."
Walking through waterfalls felt amazing, the fresh air brought a lot of relief to me.
"Does this palace ever get old?" I inquired.
"Nope, the beauty lasts for eternity," Richard said.
I stretched forth my hand to touch the coloured waterfall while Cloud starred at her reflection through a ruby gem. She was making faces at it, but she eventually got frighted and ran away from it.
"Calm down, Cloud," I muttered into her ear before stroking her mane. "You don't need to be scared."
She neighed out of fear when she met her reflection again. "It's just your reflection."
"Yeah Cloud, it can't hurt you," Richard reassures her.
Eventually, Cloud became secure about her reflection. She ran back to the gems and continued making silly faces.
"She's cute." Richard complimented.
"I know," I said. "That's why I like her."
Richard smiled, but his smile didn't last for long. Something is wrong with him and I needed to find out what it is.
"Richard," I called out.
"Yes," he replied.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked.
"Meaning?"
'When I was unconsciousness, I remember hearing your voice." I recalled. "At a time you said that I should be strong, you encouraged me to fight the poison and be the brave girl you know me as."
"Yes, I said that, but how does that mean anything is wrong with me?"
"You were screaming a few minutes later, but I didn't know why," I said.
Richard hung his face down, his frown became thicker. "I was worried about you and I blamed myself for your accident."
"Why?"
"I took you to see the snowflakes' patterns on the floor and then after that, a dart was fired at you," Richard muttered. "Indirectly, it was all mine fault."
"Nonsense." I laughed. "Your encouraging words helped me fight for life."
"Really?" he inquired.
"Of course," I said. "Please never think like that again."
"Sure," he smirked.
I was feeling better than ever because of the waterfall's atmosphere. Richard elevated my sprits with his stupid but funny jokes while Cloud played around the garden and after a few hours, we all headed back home.