Princess Runa headed out to the shoreside in the middle of the night. The breeze off the lake was a little chilly, but the lake was calm.
As she walked along the Lakeshore, silent tears trickled down her eyes. She donned a sunshine yellow gown and brown scarf for the cold.
Runa cried out so loud but no sound came out. She awakened from her slumber to find her older brother had been arrested along with her mother. They were to stand trial in a few days for the attempted assassination of Prince Augustus.
She was at the end of her rope, losing her family and having no one to console her. Her older sister was on her honeymoon with Lord Gael and couldn't offer her aid. She felt knotted up inside at her torments.
Princess Runa wished to spirit away and take a break from her family. As she walked, she relished all the beautiful memories her family made by the royal lake; the picnics, sweet outdoor dinner parties, and all sorts of celebrations.
She lifted her head to stare at the moon. The tragedy that befell her family was out of her depths and to the moon and back out of her comfort zone.
"Lasa, come!" Runa heard a yell. A golden retriever with a regal tag around its neck barrelled towards Runa at high speed. "Woof!" The dog gave a greeting to Princess Runa.
A dark-haired girl with long dark eyelashes in a luminous green gown came into view, chasing after the dog. Princess Runa ruffled Lasa's ears for a moment before the dog ran off again.
"Go after it!" The lady ordered the two guards behind her.
They received the orders and ran after the dog. Princess Runa felt completely tongue-tied, and she was standing so close to the girl that she walked away without a word.
"Ummm," she stalled and avoided eye contact.
Her breath was coming fast and she could feel her face flushing. Princess Runa brought her hand to her face and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"I greet you, Princess Runa," she bowed her head with a halfway curtsy to show respect for the title Runa held.
After what felt like an eternity but was probably a few minutes, she spoke up, "I have to go," Runa excused herself. It was all too much for her to bear. Her soul was becoming frail from all the pain in her heart.
She crossed her arms awkwardly planning to make a haste exit. Princess Runa veered around her unexpected guest and marched towards the castle. She halted when she felt her hand being grabbed.
"You told me to forget and I did. You went on to ask me to stay away, and I did that too. Can't I have a moment of your time?" The girl asked.
"Le...leave my h..hand!"
Her voice broke, betraying the cold expression she wished to portray. They stood under an overhang of a gigantic tree near the lake. The light of the moon dimly lit the place where they stood.
They were reduced to two shadows in the shadows of the night. "Can't you be nice to me?" She asked; she walked up to stand in front of Runa. "I'm always good to you, Ru," she added and flashed Runa with a grin that nearly bowled her over.
"My name is Runa Rosalyn Rathmore, not Ru," Princess Runa corrected, a bit flustered by the intimate way the girl called out to her. "You better leave my hand, girl!"
"My name is Immith Kilgore, not girl," Immith fired back, looking amused by Princess Runa's predicament.
Runa snapped a glare at Immith. She knew her name, she just refused to acknowledge that. At that moment, Runa realized there were mere inches between them, and she gulped.
She took a step back to create distance between them; she was surprised to find Immith taking two steps to cover the distance she had created.
"What are you doing?" She snapped at Immith for her bold move. A move that had their bodies pressing against each other.
"If you take one step away from me then I'll take two steps towards you. I won't let you pretend that you don't see, hear, or feel me," she firmly claimed.
Princess Runa's eyes went wide for a split second, she swallowed hard, her heart pounding against the walls of her chest.
She nervously looked around to make certain no one bore witness to their scandalous interaction.
"Step back, Immith," she asked, her hand nudging at Immith's shoulder.
Immith refused to budge which made Runa more nervous. She harshly pushed passed Immith in a race to head back to the castle. Her feet got trapped in one of the roots sticking out from the ground and got twisted in her haste.
"I got you," Immith reached out to help her.
"Don't touch me," Runa avoided her touch like a plague. She couldn't allow herself to be swept up by Immith; her mother and brother were already facing trial, and the last thing they needed was her standing there next to them for charges of engaging in illicit affairs with a girl.
She looked up to see a flash of disappointment in Immith's features. It was difficult to make out in the dim light. For a moment, she considered taking her help.
'Bad idea,' she told herself.
"Your ankle is hurt. I'll help you to the physician," Immith offered.
Princess Runa got up on her own and attempted to pivot on one foot to head in. She teetered to the side and nearly fell.
"I've got you," Immith said, catching her before she could fall hard against the ground.
Runa's small frame fit into her arms perfectly. Immith held on to her and didn't want to let her go again.
"Thanks," Runa said breathlessly, her face buried against Immith's chest.
Immith stood still, fighting against the desire to wrap her hands around Runa, to draw her even closer. But then Runa pulled back abit, she tipped her head to look up at Immith. And she couldn't help herself.
She lowered her mouth to capture Runa's in a tender kiss. Runa melted against Immith, lost in her kiss. All her troubles faded away with the warmth of the girl who secretly owned her heart.
It wasn't until a loud bang echoed in the distance that Runa came to her senses. She pulled away from the kiss, struggling to catch her breath.
"Ru, I've missed you dearly," Immith began, and Runa immediately knew she had to shut the conversation down.
"My ankle hurts," she said quickly, cutting Immith off. "I really need to get inside and have it checked out," she said, desperately wishing she could just walk away.
"I'll get you inside," Immith offered.
"No!" The word came out much harsher than she'd intended.
Immith rushed inside and fetched Estella and Jeanna to help Princess Runa to the physician and retired to her room.
Princess Runa appreciated Estella and Jeanna's help, but deep down, she felt a bit disappointed that Immith didn't come back out to see her off. Her eyes kept darting back, hoping to catch Immith watching her from the shadows.
She let out a heavy sigh and gave up the idea. Runa did her best to push Immith away when all she wanted to do was have her close. It wasn't fair that she couldn't be allowed to be with the person she loved.
'I wish we existed in a world that accepts our kind of love,' she deeply thought.