SHE HATED BEING royalty.
While Elixane knew that many girls her age would kill to be given a chance in her position, she could not help herself but sulk about her unfortunate fate. After all, the grass was always greener on the other side. While others might wish for her high status and extraordinary wealth, she wanted nothing more than to lead a simple life out of the limelight and away from her responsibilities.
That was also why she was daydreaming again.
Princess Elixane of Loumotiem had to attend her royal classes, as per usual, and it was boring her dreadfully. Though she wanted nothing more than to escape to the palace gardens, she knew that she still had to act every bit the lady she was raised to be—polished and perfect; superficial.
Hence, instead of fiddling with the hems of her ball gown like she itched to do, Elixane simply sat up a little straighter, arching her back almost dramatically just so that she could stretch as subtly as possible. Her teacher, a nobleman that her mother had hired to tutor her, noticed, unfortunately.
"Is there something of the matter, Princess?" He asked, a single eyebrow raised as he adjusted the collars of the unfortunately colored olive coat. "I apologize if the lessons are… boring you."
In Elixane's eyes, he definitely did not look at all sorry. In fact, it seemed as though it was quite the opposite. Professor Argonton looked just about ready to start reprimanding the young teenage princess to the high heavens.
Elixane cleared her throat just the slightest, displaying a radiantly beautiful smile all while shaking her head. Her head of silvery-white hair fell down the sides of her face, her perfect bun compromised.
Unfazed, she reached up to tuck the loose strand of hair behind her ear once more.
"Of course not, Professor. It is simply that I did not get too well of a rest last night and I am feeling a little bit under the weather. Please do pardon my inexcusable behavior. It was uncalled for and extremely unladylike."
Professor Argonton narrowed his eyes into slits, pressing his round-framed glasses closer to his face.
"Of course, Princess."
The princess beamed brightly, flashing the smile in which she had inherited from her mother to her professor. Both the professor and the princess knew that Elixane was lying yet the former was not in the place to accuse otherwise. After all, his status was much lower than that of royalty.
Three swift knocks in succession broke the tensed silence between the teacher and the student, causing both of them to whip their heads around in curiosity. The large metal doors caused the knocks to reverberate around the study room they were situated in, the sound resonating in the air even long after the knocks had stopped.
"Who is it?" The professor asked, making sure to amplify the volume of his voice so that the person outside could hear him.
"Father, it is me," came the reply which made Elixane's breath clog up in her throat.
She cleared it hastily, adjusting the lower half of her skirt properly before she waved her hand at the door, willing it to open with nothing more than the sheer power of her mind. Magic flowed from the palm of her hand to her fingertips and though it was not the first time she had manipulated metal like it was nothing more than thin air, she could still feel Professor Argonton's keen eyes following her movements in awe.
The heavy doors swung open slowly, opening a passage for the outsiders to enter the room. Once it was fully open, Elixane pulled her hand back and rested it on her lap, smiling slightly at their visitor.
"Bertrand, how nice of you to visit. Class was getting a bit weary for the both of us, wouldn't you agree, Professor Argonton?" Elixane pivoted in her seat, turning to smile at her aged professor. Instead of reciprocating the smile that the princess offered, the professor merely sneered, nodding in agreement.
"Your Highness, your radiance is always a sight to behold." Bowing down deeply, Bertrand pressed a fist against his heart to display respect.
"Please, Bert. That is no way to greet a friend." Standing to her feet, Elixane slowly strolled towards the handsome young man, tilting his face up by his chin as the rest of his upper body slowly followed. "You are always welcome in my presence."
"And it is the greatest honor that will ever be bestowed on me."
The pair were disturbed by the sound of someone clearing his throat. Elixane turned at the noise, eyeing the professor in distaste as he stalked closer.
"Is there something of the matter, son?" He asked, tightening a scroll in his hand.
"The research that you had put me on is now accomplished. I have the notes in my quarters if you would like to see it."
Instantly, Professor Argonton was silenced. Elixane watched with unspoken curiosity as her tutor's eyes widened, lips slightly parting as he gasped in a short breath of air. With quaking fingers, he quickly bowed down to the princess, the words hurrying to form in his mouth.
"If you may excuse me, princess. This matter is of utmost importance." He coughed out, barely able to keep his voice stable.
"Then hurry out, professor. We will end our lesson early today, I suppose. Thank you for your time." She waved nonchalantly, eyes pivoting back to examine Bertrand instead.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
With that, the old scrawny man scurried away, feet tripping over themselves in his anxiousness to get away.
"Sometimes, Bertrand, I feel like your father takes more pride in his private studies than in serving his kingdom. It takes a lot of courage to do something so utterly foolish yet passionate." Elixane mused after the stumbling figure, watching with amusement as Professor Argonton nearly tripped on the red carpet that lined the stone floors of the castle before turning down a corner and disappearing from her line of sight.
"Yes, Princess. Father tends to get in over his head sometimes when submerged too deeply in his leisure work but believe me when I say that his best interests are still in the kingdom of Loumotiem and its people."
"It has been years, Bertrand. Please, Elixane is fine."
Princess Elixane watched as Bertrand's lips quirked up into a small yet undeniably handsome smile, his pale blonde hair falling over his eyes when he nodded a single time. When he opened his eyes again, Elixane was met with stunning amber eyes that resembled the burning fires that ran wild in the forests beyond the kingdom's borders.
Bertrand's personality had always been similar, in a way. For as long as Elixane knew him, the boy was unpredictable, tending to change sides whenever the wind blows in the opposite direction. Yet, he was also a burning sort of passion that licked at everyone when they came to close, scorching their hearts with the imprint of his memory when they touched him.
Elixane was one of his victims. She had been branded by him, a memory and an infatuation scarred into her heart.
"As you wish then, Elixane." He grinned, taking hold of her hand before pressing a tender lingering kiss on the back of her hand.
Suppressing a girlish giggle, Elixane bit on her bottom lip before withdrawing her hand. She tried to use small minuscule movements that were nearly impossible to catch, wiping the back of her hand on the fabric of her skirt to will the imprint of Bertrand's touch away.
"Something tells me that your reason for barging into my lesson today was not simply just to inform your father about the completion of your research." Tapping a finger against her chin, she allowed herself to display a cunning smile that matched Bertrand's own widening ones. "Care to indulge me?"
"Unfortunately, Princess," he paused, catching Elixane's playful glare before grinning. "My apologies, Elixane. Unfortunately, I have been sworn to secrecy by none other than your lady-in-waiting."
Elixane perked up greatly at the mention of her fond companion, her eyes lighting up into a dazzle. "Vida sent you?"
"With utmost urgency. She mentioned that she had something completed for you and wanted you to see it for yourself. However, if I may be so bold…" Bertrand trailed off, shuffling his feet from where he stood.
"Out with it, Bertrand. No need to stand for formalities when it is just the two of us."
"I was wondering if you would be free and so kind as to accompany me through the palace gardens later this evening."
Elixane felt her heart skip a beat in her chest. The warm feeling was back, blossoming like stars in the night and spreading like constellations into the rest of the universe.
"It would be my utmost pleasure, Bertrand."
"Believe me, princess," Bertrand bowed, "The pleasure is all mine."