Lazarus wasn't like his other brothers. No, he wasn't paraded around as a girl by the Queen, but he was short, scrawny, and not at all athletic. His facial features were soft, and he looked like he could almost be Corina's identical twin. While his brothers were manly, muscular, and participated in the royal army, Lazarus enjoyed reading and spending time with his dear little sister.
He looked up at the sky, noticing how bright the sun was. "Is it always so hot here?" He asked, feeling as if every pore on his body was a sweat producing factory. "It's rather unpleasant."
"It's the charm of Luminairea," Nadine informed him. "We have wonderful warm weather and a sun that shines longer than it does in the other kingdoms. Isn't it wonderful?"
"It's hot."
"It's beautiful."
"I guess."
Lazarus and Nadine spent most of the morning together exploring the village of Mystic, while Alexander and Corina met with the king and queen. The two of them decided to indulge in tea and cookies at a local bakery. There wasn't any seating inside the building, so the two sat on the patio outside the establishment, underneath the blazing hot sun.
The table was small, with a cute yellow and white checkered tablecloth over the top. The ambiance would have been lovely in the young prince's mind, if it weren't for the fact he wasn't at all used to the sun, which shone so relentlessly above them.
"It's been a wonderful day," Nadine commented. "I wouldn't mind spending more time together."
Lazaraus' eyes widened at her words. He couldn't believe the lovely woman seated across from him was willing to go on more dates with him. He felt it was a small victory. "You mean it?"
"Yes, you're wonderful company," she smiled.
Lazarus nodded. He reached over and grabbed her hand, brushing his thumb over her fingers. "Then, it would be an honor," he spoke, his voice cracking slightly. "Would you like to go out again tomorrow?"
"We'll see," she grinned. "We should ask Corina if she needs my assistance tomorrow and what she has planned. We can go from there."
Lazarus pulled his hand away reluctantly and nodded enthusiastically. He wondered how the woman felt about him. She was pretty, graceful, and polite, but a little hard for him to read. It would only be the second time he attempted to court a woman. The first time, he felt he had little success connecting with his other half, who decided she wanted to run into the embrace of a local blacksmith instead of him.
It hadn't bothered him as much as it should. He could tell that woman was disinterested in the arrangement, so he allowed it without any fuss. Being a prince, he could have ordered her to stay with him, but he didn't even like her too much, and it would feel wrong to force a woman into an unhappy relationship.
Perhaps it would be different this time?
He couldn't take his bright green eyes off the woman as they snacked on the cookies and finished the tea. He felt something inside him that wasn't there with the other woman. "I-I like you a lot, Nadine," he stammered out.
Nadine grinned in response and lowered her gaze to the cookies on the table. "Oh, you're so sweet. I like you as well. But let's take this slow, okay?"
"I understand," he replied with a slight nod. "We can take things at our own pace. There's no need to rush into anything."
"Thank you," Nadine replied. "I'm still recovering from the death of my former love. I hadn't dreamed a man would attempt to sweep me off my feet again."
Lazarus looked at her, concerned over his features. "I'm so sorry to hear it. If it is something you ever wish to speak about, I'm here to listen."
"It's really simple. We fell in love. He was a knight. He died in the war between our kingdoms."
"How awful," Lazarus whispered. "The formation of the peace treaty is a blessing."
"It's just a shame the Queen ran off," Nadine commented.
"Yes, I'm quite worried about Mother. I do hope she is okay. I wonder if she headed back to Crystalia," Lazaraus said. "Hopefully she went back. I don't know what Father would do if he were to lose his mother. I just hope she didn't do anything extreme."
"I'm sure she's fine," Nadine sighed. "She seemed embarrassed and shocked when she was confronted by Corina. "Hopefully, she returns before the wedding so the princess can uncover the truth."
"Over the years, I have attempted to inquire directly with Mother about this issue. Each time, she shushed me and informed me I'm not supposed to be aware or say a word to anyone. It seemed as though she had lost interest in her sons and was solely focused on Corina. Honestly, she was spoiled in most ways. However, Mother wouldn't allow Corina ever to eat sweets or fattening foods. She's so small. Her diet was so strict. I wonder if that's why."
"It may have stunted her growth," Nadine groaned. "The poor girl. I can't imagine how difficult it has been for her to handle such a shock. I'm pleased Duke Alexander has fully accepted her."
"Me too. I was so worried when my father sent her away. I'm pleased the Duke is an understanding man."
"He's always been gentle with us all," Nadine replied with a smile. "When my lover died, he was the one who insisted on delivering the news to me. He held me in his arms while I cried. It was hours. But he just sat there without complaint."
"Wow," Lazarus whispered. "I'm glad Corina is marrying such a wonderful man. I've been scared for her all these years. I'm glad it's worked out fine."
"His grace will provide her a good life," Nadine assured him. "As long as the secret doesn't spread further, there will be no danger to her. I fear what would happen if his parents or other leaders found out."
"True, we have to protect her."
"She's worth protecting."
The two spoke about Corina and her situation briefly before they left the small bakery. As they walked, they began casually chatting about the day and upcoming wedding. Lazarus couldn't wait to see his sister walk down the aisle in a gorgeous wedding dress. He hoped it would be the best day of her life, and after speaking with Nadine, he no longer feared what would happen to her for actually being a man. The prince, who had always been closer to his sister than his other brothers, felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
The two found themselves in a small park. "Nadine," he began, turning to look at her. "Would you mind telling me your life story?"
Nadine tilted her head and raised a brow as she pointed to herself. "You really want to dive into the autobiography of Nadine Augusta?" She snickered.
"I do," Lazarus replied. "I'd like to know more about you."
"Alright," she responded as she took a seat on the bench. "It's not very exciting."
"I don't mind. It'll be exciting to me."
Lazarus took a seat next to her and offered her a smile. He couldn't wait to learn everything there was to know about the woman he was growing fonder of.