She felt a weight of sadness and had a strong urge to talk to Ezra, but he hadn't responded to any of her texts, and all her attempts to reach out to him were met with silence. She felt utterly devastated after she finished getting dressed. She made her way to the waiting room, she needed to speak to her father. Her father wasn't present, which didn't surprise her as he had been occupied lately. A guard walked into the room.
"Your grace, Lord Damian is here. He is waiting outside," Eric reported, bowing respectfully.
"I'll be out in a bit. Thank you, Eric," Esmeralda replied. Eric bowed and left the room. Esmeralda took a deep breath, got up, and smoothed out her dress. The beautiful red dress she wore was knee length and flattered her figure. The dress teased her cleavage and rounded her breast ever so beautifully. She walked outside to meet Damian, who was standing in front of his white Audi. He looked dapper and handsome, his blonde hair glittering under the sun. His summer tan added a radiant glow to his skin, making him the epitome of perfection. As soon as he saw her emerge from the palace doors, he smiled and removed his sunglasses.
"Princess, here, let me help you down those stairs," he said, rushing to her side and offering his hand. Esmeralda reluctantly took his hand, noticing his unusually glowing blue eyes when they locked gazes. He found her breathtakingly beautiful, and marrying her didn't seem like such a bad idea after all. Despite her seeming distant, he was confident that he could win her over in no time. Damian was a werewolf bad boy, infamous in the Effiong empire for his numerous conquests. Many werewolf maidens had fallen for his charm and roguishness. Damian believed he could conquer any woman, given his track record. This beautiful wolf princess, with her agreeable disposition, wouldn't be any different. He considered himself a modern-day Casanova, well-versed in romance and seduction. The future of his entire family depended on him securing this match and marriage, and he wouldn't let even the emotionally distant princess stand in his way.
"Thank you, Damian," Esmeralda said as she settled into the passenger seat, and Damian entered the car.
"Please put on your seat belt."
"How did you convince my father to let you take me out without any guards it's rather strange."
"He trusts me, I assured him that I would die before anyone laid a finger on you. Trust me princess only a mad man with a death wish would dare to approach you while in my company."
He was super confident in his abilities, she secretly found it kind of sexy.
"So, where are you taking me?" Esmeralda asked curiously.
"Well, in order for us to get better acquainted, I figured we need to know each other somewhere intimate and romantic," he replied with a charming smile. "We are going to have a picnic."
"Okay, let's go," Esmeralda replied. After driving silently for a while they arrived at a vast field filled with beautiful flowers of various species.
"Wow, it's beautiful," Esmeralda exclaimed, her jaw dropping at the sight of such splendor and wonder.
Damian flashed a satisfied smile, his plans underway. Seeing her awestruck reaction pleased him immensely.
He got out of the car, opened the trunk, and retrieved the picnic basket and mat. Then, he circled around and opened the door for her. Taking her hand, he led the way. The weather was warm, and the sun shone high in the sky. The morning air was crisp, and the delightful aroma of the flowers filled her nostrils. Once they arrived at his chosen spot, Esmeralda closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Wow, Damian, this is amazing."
"I knew you would like it. I remember how much you loved flowers as a child," Damian said as he laid out the mat.
"You remember that?"
"How could I forget? You were my childhood crush, Esmeralda," he replied, his eyes softening as he gazed at her. They held a beguiling charm and a yearning for her. Esmeralda cleared her throat.
"I appreciate the kind gesture, Damian." She smiled back at him, and he reached for her hands, gently nudging her to sit beside him.
She obliged, sitting next to him on the mat with the picnic basket in front. He opened the basket and took out a bottle of wine and two glasses.
"Oh my, I didn't even ask if you drink," he remarked.
"I'm going to be 18 in two days, so I think I'm well within my rights to have a glass of wine," Esmeralda replied.
Damian smiled. "That you are," he said, handing her a glass and pouring wine into it.
"Cheers," he said, peering into her eyes.
"Your eyes are super intense, Damian, do you know that?" Esmeralda commented.
He let out a laugh. "I have been told I have a piercing gaze." He took a sip from his glass.
"So two days from now is the big day, huh? How do you feel?" he asked.
Esmeralda took a deep breath and sipped from her glass. "I'm a bit nervous and excited. My emotions are complicated, to be honest."
"I completely understand. When I went through my initiation ritual two years ago, it was a very daunting experience, perhaps not as much as yours, given that you are a princess," Damian shared.
Esmeralda took in another deep breath and gulped more wine from her glass. "The pressure is on, that's for sure," she responded, gazing into the vast field of flowers.
"How has life been for you since you left? I remember the last time I saw you was at your mother's funeral, and then you disappeared for years. No one knew where you were, and your father wasn't exactly forthcoming with the details of your departure," Damian inquired.
"I was in boarding school," Esmeralda explained.
"Wow," Damian responded, a bit surprised. "Yup! What about you, Damian? What have you been up to all these years?"
"Ah, nothing much, just shadowing my father. Being a lord has its unique challenges, but it also has its perks," Damian replied.
"And what are the perks?" Esmeralda asked.
"Well, um...," Damian hesitated, not wanting to explain the less savory aspects of being a lord, which involved other women. The last thing he wanted was to make her think he was a womanizing delinquent. He sipped more from his wine glass as he desperately thought of a more PG13 answer to her question. "Well, there are certain privileges and responsibilities that come with the title."