"I just want to introduce myself to you, Diona. And I want to tell you something else." Avery said.
"Emm... Yes, okay. Just say it."
"Can our horses be tied to trees at the edge of a field? I don't feel comfortable talking in this position."
Diona furrowed her brow. Felt weird about Avery's treatment. But she nodded only and followed Avery leading his horse to the leafy tree that stood on the horse's edge.
Diona also attached a horse rope to one of the trees and told the horse that it would have to wait a while.
Avery was able to adjust his breathing. The guy was a little nervous about talking to diona. Avery pulled out a box of cookies from the hammock next to his horse. The man walked slowly toward Diona standing under the frozen apple tree.
Avery smiled as he made his way to Diona. "I brought this for you. I hear you like this food very much."
Diona looked down and received a box from Avery. The girl smiled as she gathered lots of cookies in the box. "What a pastry? This is my favorite food. How do you know I love this food?"
"Ah, I just heard from some locals here. I'm glad you like the cookies I brought for you."
"Thank you, Avery. I really like crackers. I'll eat this cake at home later."
"Well.. Um, I wanted to introduce my real self to you. But please, don't go when I'm done introducing myself to you, Diona."
"Ah, of course. I'm not just gonna walk out on you. Say what you want to say, Avery." Said diona.
Avery smiled. "My name is Avery Frederick Fitz. I am the crown prince of the kingdom of pearls." Avery immediately extended his hand to Diona for the handshake.
After hearing the real identity of Avery, diona was, of course, surprised. The girl could only be silent and open her mouth for a moment. It didn't seem as though her right hand had been taken by Avery's right hand.
"I haven't known you long. And you didn't know me long, either. We met by accident on this field. Even when I was bumping into you on the way out of the field. But as long as I've known you and I've been riding together, I've had other feelings." Said Avery confidently.
While Diona was now only able to swallow her saliva nervously. The girl looked up at Avery taller than her. It was so quiet when Diona listened intently to Avery's words.
Avery stared at Diona. The man then went down and knelt before him while he was holding Diona's right hand. "Diona, I've been carrying this feeling all by myself. I like you. Can I get closer to you and get to know you better? Let me be your boyfriend."
Unexpectedly, diona dropped a box of cookies right from her hand. The girl also pulled her right hand out of Avery's palm. The girl's footsteps slowly retreated, creating a long distance from Avery.
"You.. You were prince Avery who came to princess Ariadne's birthday party? You.. You've been posing asa civilian the whole time? Oh God, why didn't I realize you were a prince? Sorry.. I can't prince.. You're --"
"Diona. Please listen to me. I loved you from the moment we met, diona. I like you."
"But you are a prince. You too will marry princess Ariadne. People have been hearing about it for months. Why are you declaring love to me all of a sudden? You would betray princess Ariadne?"
Avery's rattled. The man couldn't explain them one by one to diona. Diona didn't get the whole story.
"Diona, hear me out."
"No.. Can't. can't. I'm soon to be married to a man from another village. I'm getting married to that guy next month. Prince, go. Go back to your kingdom. Please don't come see me like this again. It's dangerous. I'm so sorry."
"No.. Diona... I --"
Avery's sentence stopped. The man saw diona who had now taken her halter off the tree. The girl looked in a hurry to leave Avery. The snow grew thicker and the temperature became very cold.
Diona's riding on her horse. The girl was seen crying as she justified her coat hood. Se laid off her horse beside Avery's body.
"Forgive me, prince. I cannot accept you. I didn't even realize you were prince Avery from the kingdom of pearls. Forgive me.. Go back to your kingdom and stay out of it." Said Diona. The girl spoke while wiping away her tears. Then chose to go with her horse and leave Avery alone in the field.
This is exactly what Avery was so scared from the very beginning. Loving a country girl is not easy. There's a lot of risk coming his way.
Avery couldn't get diona to love him. And Avery now found out that his love was one-sided. Diona's even getting married to another man next month. Turns out the answer from Avery's plea to Diona ended up in agony.
The man slumped over a layer of increasing snow. Retrieving the box of cookies that Diona had sown. Avery wanted to cry but couldn't. He felt ill and suffocated. Was he also not allowed to love the woman he loved in his life? Why is reality always so bitter than a shadow?
Distraught and shattered, Avery stood up and jerked his way to his horse. He put the box with the pastry in the bag hanging from the horse's stomach.
Avery was forced back to his kingdom with a feeling of disappointment. Riding his horse quickly and penetrating the cold, piercing flesh. It was snowing so much that Avery was distracted watching the roads.
While in the kingdom, Alice was standing at the edge of the kingdom hall. She watched as the snow poured down from the sky. Alice moaned as she thought of Avery. Is Diona accepting Avery's love? Is Avery smiling now with Diona? Are the two of them kissing behind the snow right now?
It sounds so romantic. But for Alice it really hurt her heart. Maybe Alice should let Avery go to love another girl.
***