They zoomed through the castle as if they have no time to spare. Selene however, together with the fact that she can't keep up, strayed away from them, and prepared the lunch that Meriane had been looking forward to. Pass the corridors then the garden where Nicolas seemed so rushed that Meriane almost lost her balance. Although it's a shame that they can't have lunch on what should have been a perfect place, she had never entered Nicolas's room before and it's still as equally exciting for her.
"Forgive me if it seems like I dragged you here," Nicolas apologized as they reached his room. "I hope you don't mind but could you wait outside for a bit, I just need to tidy up some things."
She agreed, fidgeting with her fan while trying to fix her hair and dress as much as she could. Despite refusing to get her hopes high, there is still a tickle of thought and expectation on why Nicolas would present his room for the venue.
"All done, you can enter now. I can't guarantee that I did a good job, but I did my best."
His room does not deviate much with the other guest rooms, the paintings had not been touched ever since then. Even most of the displays showed no signs of displacement. Everything is the same and the only evident changed is the bookshelf that through the years had now been filled.
"How you read all of this already?" she examined the shelves a bit closer. "I assume you have gained your knowledge from these."
"Yeah, I don't have much of a desire and this are the only things I fancy. Want to borrow some? I don't mind if it's you," he reached for one of the books and handed it to her.
Meriane just stared at him and the book before laughing, "Don't you have anything else? This one in particular—," she accepted it and opened a few pages, "It's quite you know, technical. Perhaps you have something that warms the heart and does not hurt the brain?"
In some peculiar way, it made Nicolas laugh which brough delight to the princess. Thinking if she keeps this up, then her dream will not be so far to accomplish.
"If you're looking for things close to the types you read, this is the only thing close I have," he pulled another book from the shelf, this time about monster and a sort of fantasy.
"I don't think any girl would be reading this, but since you recommended it, I'll give it a try," her thoughts are running differently though. All she could do is laugh as she realized something, "This is so you. A bit dense, but that's why I like you," she whispered to herself when Selene suddenly called through the door.
"It looks like they're here," Nicolas took note and went to the other side of the room where a table is set. He pulled one of the chairs and offered it to the princess, "You can wait here, I'll let them in."
The smell of roasted chicken and steak filled the room as Nicolas opened the door. He expected a simple lunch, simple dishes, and a bit of desert. To his surprise, it looked way more like a feast for five. The only thing that put his heart at ease was the freshly squeezed orange juice that was last placed at the table
"Seems like they prepared too much, I barely have space for dessert. Do you want some juice?" she asked, Selene already holding the pitcher ready to pour.
"Oh, thanks. I'm stuffed myself," an awkward reply from the awkward prince who's not well verse in a one on one. The last time he had someone to talk like this, Alisa was still alive.
"If you don't mind me asking. Why the sudden change of place, I know how much you like to spend time in that corner of the garden."
Nicolas was caught in a deep thought, should he tell her what happened, by doing so, how much would it impact his future movements. It was a contradictory thought, he already accepted that he would be facing the princess head on but he's still unsure if she's the kind of person that could keep a secret.
"Nothing, I just thought you might feel a bit cold there since the wind is a bit chilly since you left."
How thoughtful, it was Meriane's thoughts, not even questioning if it's a lie or not. "I would have been fine though, although I look like this, I'm not that delicate you know. I might even beat you in a sword fight," she flexed her arm, adjusting her clothes to show her futile attempt.
"PRINCESS," Selene shrieked as she down pulled her sleeve.
It caught the princess in a daze. Embarrassed by what she did, she remained silent. The room was stagnant and suffocating for her before the prince broke the silence with a laugh.
"I guess we're even now," he continued laughing.
"You don't have to cackle at our princess, your majesty," Selene also followed the celebration sinking Meriane deeper in the depths of embarrassment.
In an attempt to regain her composure, she excused herself to the comfort room. It no longer surprised her when the bath and the toilet was as bare as a bald man's head. She washed her face, asking herself what she's doing. What if Nicolas hated what she did? Did she ruin the lunch? She was so distracted by this thought until she faced another problem.
She left her handkerchief at her seat. "What should I do, I can't go out there looking like this. What if I just wiped with my dress— Am I out of my mind, it would look like I soiled myself," in the midst of her panic, her eyes we're drawn in a white towel hanged beside the bath.
She could not take her eyes off of it; her breathing is getting heavier as she inched towards it little by little. Is it used? Should she wipe her face with it as her last resort? There is also the option of the curtains, but it has a rough fiber, she knows because she already tried once, and her delicate skin could not take it.
At last, she made it. It's as if her mind was spinning from all the thoughts that's running through her mind. She took it in her hands and felt its dampness on her skin, fairly used but not soaked. Blushing as if every bit of blood was in her cheeks, she tried to stop wondering on what places the simple piece of cloth has caressed, but no matter how much she prevailed, her vivid thoughts won. Especially when she finally ran it over her face and smelled the similar fragrance that's a familiar smell of Nicolas.
Meriane savored the experience much more than her lunch, her heart racing and her face redder than ever. She was too focused that her mind strayed in the deepest colors of green before a knock came to the door.
"Meriane—," it said, it was Nicolas.
She squealed, throwing the towel to the bath. Her hands to her face as she fell to her knees, asking herself as to what she's doing. Enjoying herself with thoughts she could never speak of to anyone including Selene.
"I'll be out in a second," she replied, her voice still high and rushed. Picking up the towel once more, she finally put it back in place and quickly left the door, leaving the shame inside to be sealed, never to see the light of day.