Samuel laughed in joy as he saw the confidence in Isabelle that he struggled to bring out, but it was there.
Cassian flinched as Samuel exclaimed Isabelle's name with admiration.
Cassian's anger and jealousy took a new depth as he only now realised that Samuel spoke to Isabelle on the first name basis, and moreover, he used her real name. The jealousy flowed through his veins and he saw red. He was ready to go up there and pull him into shreds when someone pulled on his arm.
Before he recognised the person beside him, he heard Isabelle's voice carry across the field.
"Are you going to give up, Sam, or shall I show you what a real sword fight is?" Isabelle tried to provoke Samuel in return. Samuel was panting, yet Isabelle was unshaken. He shook his head in defeat.
"Here you are, Cassian!" Annette squealed beside him in an unbearable pitch as she grabbed his arm. Annette's voice made Isabelle look over. Isabelle's face lost the smile as she noticed Annette intimately hanging onto Cassian's arm. "Oh dear, is that her highness? What is she even wearing? And a sword?! And the mud! That's disgusting!" Annette's voice reached Isabelle's ears whose cheeks turned red and she looked down in embarrassment.
Isabelle put the sword away, giving up on further sparring, not like Samuel was in any condition to continue.
"Remember, do not let it to get to you." Samuel walked up next to her as he untied his own gloves. He then proceeded to wipe a bit of mud off Isabelle's face with his warm callused fingers. "We can annoy them in return?" He said to Isabelle with mischievous smile. Isabelle scowled at him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You can make him jealous." Samuel smiled mischievously.
"Why would I do that?"
"Give him a taste of his own medicine."
"I am not jealous."
"You are hurt though. And I have just a person in mind."
"Is it yourself, by any chance?" Isabelle sneered.
"It would have been if I wasn't already threatened by your husband once before. I do value my life a little bit." Samuel admitted as he started to put his gear away. Isabelle looked sideways without asking the question. "I have a better candidate. A royal as well!"
"I do not wish to partake in it." Isabelle said decisively whilst rolling her eyes. "I am not going to lower myself to that level. Thank you, Sam. I appreciate your concern but please, do not try to get involved in this."
"Sure." Samuel shrugged. "Thanks for beating me again."
"You're so focused on trying to predict the next move that you fail to properly execute the current movements."
"And you're distracted."
"I am." Isabelle nodded in agreement. "Why did you want a sparring session today?"
"A need for distraction. Mostly."
"Ahh… and I'm your entertainment?"
"Amusement."
"I'm glad that I can be of service." Isabelle grumbled.
"But seriously, your hair is perfectly fine as it is. If it bothers you, it'll grow out soon enough." Samuel returned to the earlier conversation, still troubled by Isabelle's statement.
"I hope so." A slight whine escaped Isabelle's lips.
"If it makes you feel better, I am more than keen to lighten my hair to match yours." Samuel offered seriously but the suggestion was met with a scowl.
"Don't be ridiculous." Isabelle rolled her eyes as they've started walking towards the castle. Annette and Cassian were long gone by now.
"I know that you used to love horse riding. I know a perfect spot for a nice ride. Come with me tomorrow."
"I don't really want to." Isabelle protested.
"It'll do you good." Samuel said as they've walked towards the castle's main entrance."There's a meadow nearby which I think you'll enjoy seeing. Besides, let's escape before Annette gets you entrapped for the day."
The last argument persuaded Isabelle. She gave Samuel a nod.
"When?"
"Meet me at the stables at dawn."
"I'm not sure if his highness will approve."
"He doesn't have to know."
"I don't really like that, Sam." Isabelle fidgeted nervously.
"Okay, I'll let him know." Samuel sighed. He didn't like that Isabelle still thought that she was dependant on Cassian and his wishes. "'Till tomorrow, your highness. It was a pleasure to lose to you."
"Thank you, Sam." Isabelle smiled to him at the entrance before going separate ways. Isabelle didn't notice Cassian's gaze from the balcony as she hurried back to her chamber to get changed and to get on with her intended lessons.
Cassian clenched his fists as he looked down at Isabelle's much calmer demeanour whilst with Samuel. She was now with Samuel almost as when she was with him years ago. They were sparring, conversing, battling their wits. Cassian felt like he was being replaced, and all that was happening right in front of him. He was jealous and afraid that he was going to lose Isabelle to his best friend. Moreover, he was anxious of what his father intended to do when he arrived and why he was so eager to meet Isabelle. He was afraid of his father's judgment when he finds out that after weeks of marriage, him and Isabelle were nearly as apart as at the beginning, of not more, with the canyon still deepening between them.