Rahua's POV
It is the next day and I haven't slept well, I couldn't take that moment off my mind all I could think was his last words to me and relive the night in my head over and over.
As I watched Damion disappeared into the garden, my was heart yearning for more time with him. I haven't seen him in such long time, now that he is back, he is different more manlier, stronger, taller and somehow more aware.
As I made my way back to the grand hall, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hopefulness. Finally reconnecting with Damion had opened up a world of possibilities, I never had thought of him in any kind of way, besides as a dear friend and like ... a brother. That moment in the garden had change the way I saw him, without realising I was feeling attracted to him.
His last words struck a chord in me, awakening a longing that I never knew I had. As I went about my daily routine, the image of him lingered in my mind, his words echoing through my thoughts.
Since I transmigrated to this world, I have been prioritizing my family's and my own survival, ensuring that we have a means to get through the famine, my mind has been so busy and worried about everything except for romance, well at least my own, which is something new for me. But now, with his last words still ringing in my ears, I can't ignore the fact that I see him..
"Rahua??? What are you doing?" I look at father who called me out of my thoughts. I look down and I notice that I am spilling the tea out of the cup, that I was supposed to serve the customer.
"Oh I am sorry, I am going to clean up, everything." I say getting a cloth to clean the floor. As I mop the floor, I realise something. I am just a normal girl, a commoner, a peasant and he is... Some nobleman kind of knight I think, I am not really sure who he is, or what titles his family possesses but I know enough to know we don't belong to the same class.
Or maybe I am just taking things out of context like always, maybe it's all in my head and this is me just confusing his and my feelings. I can't help but to sight.
"Rahua, are you sure you are okay?" Mother asks with worried look. "Maybe you should just take a rest, you were working until late yesterday."
"I am sorry, Mother I haven't been great help haven't I?" I say my mind completely not present for the moment.
"Don't worry big sister we will help, mother and Father. Zack and I will do our best. Big sister Kira and big sister Saya are not around but we will give our best." Zoe said while Zack cheered and nodded her every word. I just smile at them feeling a little guilty.
I decided to take a step back and reassess my life. As I left the shop, my mind keeps drifting to the same thoughts again. Yes, my family's survival was important, but so was my own happiness. How could I truly be there for them if I was not content with myself? But then again, I don't really know if Damion does has feelings for me, maybe I am just taking his kindness out of proportion. However it seemed like we were about to kiss yesterday, or maybe I just misinterpreted everything, like I used to do all the time.
I hate this feeling of not being sure, how the things are. As I walk through the park I see Lady Bianca and Lady Carmelia sitting on the park bench.
My curiosity was bigger than my problems, as to say this a my healthy way to run away from my problems. So I sat close by to listen to their conversation.
"What did you do yesterday at ball?" Carmelia asked worried. "My father was overjoyed that he was almost singing, because apparently someone saw me, as in you, talking to Lord Marquess Ceaser. "
"But I didn't do anything, we just greeted eachother and we parted ways right after. You have to believe me, I wouldn't do anything to p
hindrance your opportunities with Sir Leon. " Lady Bianca says while holding Lady Carmelias hand dearly. "I stayed as neutral as possible at the party not talking with anyone non essential like we had agreed."
"Ohh I see." Says Lady Carmelia.
So that's what happened, they just greeted eachother, but why?? Why didn't they fell in love right there and then? "How did it go with Sir Leon? You managed to meet him." They kept talking, apparently for Lady Carmelia her storyline didn't change much, but why it did not work with Lady Bianca? I left to think my problems over. As I walked through the park, I noticed another group of ladies.
"Did you notice, yesterday the Prince dance with so many ladies, it was almost impressive how he had so much stamina to dance all night. " Lady 1 said. I wanted to listen to more of the gossip so I made myself comfortable close by.
"Yes, I did if had the courage I would also have danced with him, even with the mask he looked so gorgeous. " Lady 2 said as all the three ladies giggled. I didn't even get to see the Prince I was so engrossed with Ceaser's -Bianca's - romance-plot-failure, that I totally forgot to check how the Prince looks, is or behaves.
"I guess him dancing with many ladies yesterday day at ball, silenced the engagement rumours going around." Said Lady 3 talking like she was discussing a conspiracy theory.
****
Damion's POV
I was replaying the night before in my head over and over again. I couldn't focus on anything else, my thoughts consumed by the memory of Rahua's presence, her laughter, and the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at me.
I couldn't wait to see her again, to continue where we left off in the hidden garden. The day seemed to drag on endlessly, every second feeling like an eternity.
"Your Highness, your cousin Lord Duke Vital Burious request an audience with you." Loyd my now personal caretaker announced, I freeze in place, my cousin is not someone I enjoy talking and is never good when I encounter him, it feels like he always speaking down to me. He had always been someone I was very wary of, but before I was a scaredy, clueless kid, I have grown, I might as well prove to myself, that I did in fact changed.
"Lead him to my meeting room. I will be there soon." Loyd nodded and bowed before leaving. My heart was pounding I was feeling nervous, but like Rahua said one time, being nervous is just sign that I am about to do something important. I suddenly smile and my heart quiets a little. She has such effect on me.
As I gathered my thoughts and composed myself, I made my way to the meeting room. It was a grand, luxurious chamber, adorned with tapestries and paintings of my ancestors. I took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy doors.
There, standing in the center of the room, was Vital. He was a tall and imposing figure, he was always spotting an strangely gentle expression on his face.
Despite of his gentle expression, that always made my skin crawl, I never understood why he had such effectt on me. We locked eyes, and I could feel the tension in the room rise.
"Damion, your Highness," he said in a cool, formal tone. "I trust you are well?"
I nodded, trying to appear confident. "Indeed, cousin, please drop the formalities, we are family." I say, " And yourself?"
His lips curled into a faint smirk. "I am as well as can be expected, considering the circumstances."
I knew there was no use in beating around the bush with him. He always had a meticulous way of doing things, and it smeed he always had something he wanted from me. I had to be prepared.
"I assume you did not request this audience simply for small talk, cousin. What can I do for you?"
He sighed, leaning casually against a nearby table. "Straight to the point as always, Damion, we haven't seen eachother for so long, and you visibly changed. Yesterday we only managed to exchange a few words. " He said seemly like he was going nowhere, I grew visibly impatient.
"You seem impatient, Very well. I was worried." He paused. I couldn't hide my surprise since worried would be the last thing I would expect him to be about me. "Yesterday you were acting strange all night, it was like you were.... Someone else, like someone else had taken your place."
My heart skipped a beat. I tried to maintain a calm demeanor. "Yes, cousin, I had a mage take my place while I was playing around." I say with a serious face, after a little while I smiled.
"Ahahaha, you have changed indeed. Saying such outrageous things. I would never think that you were once a small timid boy." Timid? I wouldn't say I was timid, I was clueless, defenceless, no idea how the world works, but timid was not it.
"I am sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood. I get nervous still in such events full of people. Maybe I was my way of dealing with the uncomfortable situations. I would say." I tried the remain as neutral as possible.
"Nervous? You say, dancing with so many ladies, one would not use that word to describe how you seemed, maybe audacious, or rather flirtatious." With a gentle smile, he seemed to be studying my reaction.
I can't believe Cirius danced with so many ladies last night, I told him to maintain as discreet as possible. How could he think dancing with all those ladies would be okay?
"Don't judge me too hard, I am still inexperienced, cousin, I guess I went too far trying to please many ladies at same time."
He smiled again, "Don't be too hard on yourself, knowing how to navigate in society without starting rumours will soon become a second nature too you, Damion."
I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Despite Vital's intimidating presence, it seemed like he was genuinely concerned about me. Maybe my perception of him was wrong all these years.
"Thank you, cousin. I appreciate your guidance," I replied, genuinely grateful for his words of reassurance. Perhaps this meeting wouldn't be as bad as I initially thought.
Vital walked over to a nearby table and poured himself a glass of wine. He gestured to the decanter, silently offering me a drink. I hesitated for a moment before accepting, figuring it might help ease the tension between us.
As I took a sip, Vital leaned against the table, his gaze fixed on me. "Tell me, Damion," he began, his tone softer, "what has brought about this sudden change in you? I have observed your transformation from afar, and I must admit, I am curious."
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, unsure of how much I wanted to reveal to my cousin. "It's hard to explain," I started, choosing my words carefully. "I think I reached a point in my life where I realized I needed to step out of my comfort zone, to explore the world and find my own path."
Vital nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "A noble pursuit, indeed. But I sense there is something more to it. Something deeper."
I couldn't hide the hesitation in my voice as I replied, "There might be."
Vital's gaze intensified, and for a moment, I thought I saw a spark of recognition in his eyes. "Love, perhaps?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
He was too perceptive. Couldn't help but feel a blush creep up my cheeks. "Maybe. It's... different. I've never felt like this before."
A knowing smile played on Vital's lips. "Love has a way of changing us, of making us question everything we thought we knew about ourselves. Embrace it, Damion. Let it guide you. I wonder if the dancing with all the ladies, was not just a scheme that you made to divert unwanted attention from the real pursuit."
I was taken aback by Vital's unexpected way he quickly made a connection, I am ashamed to admit I must learn how to navigate in this world quickly, or I will be surpressed by anyone.
Maybe there was more to him than meets the eye."Thank you, cousin," I said sincerely. "Your words mean a lot to me." I chose not say more than this.
Vital raised his glass in a silent toast. "To new beginnings, Damion. May love guide you on your journey."
I clinked my glass against his. Maybe, this meeting with Vital wouldn't be as disastrous as I initially anticipated. Perhaps it would be the start of a new chapter in our relationship, one built on understanding and support.