He told me to meet him at six in the piano hall. I was both excited and nervous. I was looking at clock again and again. Amy was watching my every move. She must be thinking I had gone crazy. She told me that I was acting weird. When I told Amy to do my hair nicely. she was shocked because I was not interested in things like dressing up and makeup. But , I wanted to look preety. I wore a blue multi-layered gown which had thin straps on it. Amy styled my hair down and added some flower clips.
I was so ready to meet him. But, six hours were still left. Every minute passed like a year. I was restless for the first time.
" I don't know what is going in your head. But for, Mother Mary stop pacing the room. I am going dizzy, princess." Amy said .
I was pacing the room in circles. What could I do?
" Princess, tell me what happened? " Amy asked me.
" Nothing...you don't have to worry." I said.
I was sorry. I didn't want to lie but what would I say to her? I didn't even know what was going on?
" Amy, I am going out to walk. I might be late. So, don't wait for me." I informed her and walked out of the room.
Maids were cleaning the corridors. They greeted me with smiles on their faces. I saw some familiar faces and nodded in their directions. People were recognising me.I went into garden and saw Crown prince Balder and Princess Akshita coming out from maze. What were they doing there?
I walked to them and greeted them. They greeted me back. Prince Balder's hair were messy and Princess Akshita's face was all red. She was avoiding my eyes. They bid me goodbye and I walked forward.
Princess Akshita was blushing and their clothes were messy and creased. They were alone in the maze. They must be doing something. I realised why was she blushing. I blushed on that thought. They must be thinking I caught them doing something funny. What was I thinking?
My face was on fire by such thoughts. I fanned my face with my hand.
After walking alone after a few minutes I was bored .
" I am bored. What to do?..." I muttered to myself.
" Oh yes, I have not been to town yet. Let's go outside." I told myself.
I borrowed a carriage from palace and went to town. It was chaotic. I wore a black cape to cover my dress fully. I was finally outside.
There were different kinds of shops. Everyone was in a hurry.
" Here, buy this fresh watermelon. It so sweet." A vender shouted.
" No, no.....take my strawberries. They will melt into your mouth." Another vender shouted.
They started shouting more. Many other shopkeepers were yelling to sell their products. I smelled something sweet. It was coming from a cafe. I was hungry. So, I went into cafe. When I entered the cafe the door opened with a jingle sound.
" Welcome, please seat anywhere." A girl of my age told me.
She must be working here. The owner was behind a wooden desk. The owner was an old man. He saw me through his dusty glasses. He cleaned them and saw me again,
" Have'nt seen ya ere before ?" He said in his thick accent.
" I am not from here." I told him.
" Oh...traveller?" He asked.
" yeah, something like that." I said.
He nodded and picked up the newspaper from desk and started reading carefully.
The girl came again and asked," Have you decided your order?"
" Can I have chocolate mint cupcake and a cup of tea?" I asked
" Sorry, but we don't have chocolate mint cupcake." She said .
" Then, a cheese cake please." I asked
" Sure, right away. " She said and walked into the kitchen.
The cafe and wooden floors and brown wallpaper was on walls. Everything was clean. There were wooden chairs and tables. A flowerpot was beside wooden desk.
The atmosphere of this cafe was cozy. She came with my order after a few minutes. I took my time in savoring each bite of cake. It was so nice and sweet.
I got up and paid for the cake and tea. I opened the door to go out but someone opened the door before me and I bumped into him.
" I am sorry. " I muttered an apology.
He was just staring at me. His hair were red and his eyes were dark. I felt like he was piercing me with his gaze. I felt creeps and chills. He wasn't moving from his space. So, I steeped aside a bit and went out. He was weird.
I walked to the end of the street to the carriage. I was passing and someone pulled me into the alley. I was so terrified. It was that man from cafe.
" Leave me." I shouted.
He was grabbing my arm tightly. He was just smiling crazily.
" Stop manhandling me and let me go." I yelled at him faking the confidence in my voice. But, from inside I was shaking like a scared cat.
" A little bird captured in hunters cage, fighting to fly again. Hmmmmm....
What is your name?" He said calmly.
Like it's the most normal way to know other people.
" My name is none of your buisness." I said.
He laughed and muttered," You are going to be my buisness soon."
" What did you say?" I asked to confirm what I heard was right or am I imagining this creep?
" Nothing worth mentioning.....you look like a nobel by the way you are dressed..
I have to go now but we will meet again little bird." He said and walked further deep into the alley.
" Creep." I said.
I looked at my arm. I could see his handprints. He surely did a number. I ran all the way to carriage. I was scared that he might come again. He ruined my outing. Everything was nice until I met him.
I sighed in relief when the carriage entered the palace. I was safe. The sun was going to set. I climbed down the carriage and started walking to my room. I felt like I was forgetting something very important. My steps faltered when I remembered.
" Piano hall.....oh no...." I muttered and started running.
I ran all the way to piano hall. I was breathless. I bursted into the hall like a bull.
Prince Alaric was standing there waiting for me. I came to a stop in front of me and was struggling for breath badly.My lungs felt like they were going to burst. I was huffing and puffing.
"Are you alright? " he asked.
I nodded and inhaled deeply. I calmed down a bit.
" I am sorry. I came late." I said while removing my hair from my eyes.
I was sweating and my hairs were sticking to my neck.
That wasn't how I imagined meeting him. I was a mess. Nothing was going right. I felt like crying. I was ashamed of myself. He must be thinking that I was so unlady like. I looked down to avoid meeting his eyes. Mud was sticking on my shoes. There were also dirt on border of my gown.
He grabbed my shoulder with his hands gently. He touch was gentle unlike that creep who was manhandling me. Why was I even comparing them?
" It's okay. I won't mind." He said in his sweet and kind voice.
Like he knew what was I thinking? I looked at him. He reassured me with his eyes that everything was fine. It didn't bother him at all.
Everything came to me at once that happened today.My eyes filled with tears that spilled out of my eyes.
He hugged me and caressed my head. I hugged him tightly like he was my last lifeline. I sniffed and sobbed.
We stayed there like that for few more minutes and parted when I was calmed down.
" Did something happen today?" He asked.
" A lot" I said while sniffing.
I wiped my face with my hands.
" I think I can make you happy." He said.
I looked at him confusingly.
He went and sat down on the piano. He started playing it. He was really exceptional at playing piano. He was looking so elegant and graceful.
The sweet melody he was playing relaxed my mind. After a bit he changed the melody and it was divine like him.
He looked at me while playing the piano.
Everything was shining. The faint rays of sunlight lighted the room well enough. His eyes were shining and saying something to me.
We were taking with our eyes. His music was his language. He was attracting me more and more like a siren on Oceanside.
I felt like it was for me only. Everything he did was for me. But why?
I steeped towards him slowly. I was on auto mode because I could not think straight. I sat beside him and saw him playing the piano closely.
He smiled at me warmly and I smiled too.
" You are smiling." He said playfully.
" How could I not?" I replied.
He stopped and got up . He lifted a hand in front of me and said,
" Dance with me."