The One

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 🚴

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥; 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴." –𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘶𝘨𝘰

Today marked our departure from the kingdom of Harmonia. Both Alexander and I felt a profound sense of sadness. Despite the brevity of our two-week stay, we had undeniably forged a connection. While it may not have been the most profound bond, it was there. The thought of returning home and subsequently journeying to Bellum weighed heavily on my mind. Going to Bellum symbolized the forfeiture of my autonomy. I could foresee a life where every aspect would be dictated to me, and my sole purpose reduced to that of bearing children. It was challenging to even contemplate a future beyond that point.

୨﹒˖˚──﹕♡﹕──˚˖﹒୧

We bid farewell to the Harmonia royal family and returned to our private jet. Throughout the flight, I maintained a solemn silence, refusing to exchange words with Eleanor or my father. It was my way of conveying my disapproval of the impending marriage to Prince Damian, a silent protest.

Eleanor attempted to check on me multiple times, but I ignored her, resolute in my stance. It may have been impolite, but I felt it was my only way of making my feelings known.

The journey back was long and silent, and when we finally arrived home, I was utterly exhausted. After such a prolonged period of wakefulness, I finally allowed myself to sleep. Later, I sorted through the stack of letters that had accumulated during our absence. I couldn't help but smile when I found several from Alexander, one of which was penned just this morning.

His letter read:

Hello Athena,

I trust that you and your family returned home safely. I wanted to express in writing what I was unable to convey fully in person—how much I cherished your company. I'm hoping we can meet again soon...

As I examined the bottom of the letter, I noticed that the words 'I love you' had been erased as thoroughly as possible, yet their faint presence remained.

With gentle care, I cut out the 'I love you' and set it aside. Then, I began composing my response to Alexander.

Dear Alexander,

I'm pleased to inform you that my family and I have returned safely. I want to convey that I, too, greatly treasured your companionship. It so happens that my family will be hosting a ball next week, so I'm hopeful that 'soon' won't be too distant. You are welcome to join as my guest if you desire.

With affection, 

Athena

P.S. I love you too

Next to where I put 'I love you too' I glued the faint 'I love you' into my letter. I smiled, and put it in an envelope. 

୨﹒˖˚──﹕♡﹕──˚˖﹒୧ The Next Day

My letter to Alexander had already been dispatched, and his response had been received. He graciously accepted my invitation to accompany me as my guest to the upcoming ball.

Today, I felt the urge to explore the city of Harlowe in search of the perfect dress for the occasion. Although I could have opted for online shopping, the idea of venturing into the bustling city appealed to me. I chose to wear a comfortable yet presentable ensemble, comprising a stylish sweatshirt and leggings, coupled with my trusty Converse shoes. My hair cascaded freely, accentuated by a delicate necklace. Before departing, I left a note for Eleanor and my father, apprising them of my whereabouts.

I exited through the palace's rear entrance and passed through the grand gates. My first destination was a quaint street adjacent to the castle, which happened to house numerous dress boutiques. Upon entering one of the shops, my gaze immediately fell upon a striking deep red dress. Its intricate lace and floral embellishments, along with its elegant long lace sleeves, captured my heart. I knew without a doubt that this was the dress I had been searching for.

Summoning the cashier, I inquired about the dress and promptly completed the purchase, arranging for one of our maids to collect it in a few days. With gratitude, I took my leave of the boutique, heading towards an accessory shop a few blocks away.

I spent some time perusing the shop, but the perfect item eluded me until I ventured to the back, where I found exactly what I was looking for. A golden necklace with a single sparkling diamond, it exuded simplicity and elegance. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't locate the headpiece I had in mind. Accepting this fact, I decided to purchase the necklace and exited the shop.

As I stepped out onto the street, my gaze was drawn across the road to a gathering of people. It became apparent that these were members of the press and paparazzi, accompanied by two security guards. Intrigued, I decided to investigate. I crossed the street, positioning myself on the opposite side of the intersection to avoid raising suspicion. Once the press noticed me, they flocked in my direction, leaving the individual they had been surrounding. To my pleasant surprise, it was Alexander.

I greeted him with a smile, ready to field their questions.

"How did your visit to Harmonia go?" one of them inquired.

"Is Prince Alexander accompanying you?" asked another.

"Which royals are set to attend the upcoming royal ball?"

Politely, I informed the press that I wouldn't be answering their questions at that moment and began to walk away. While doing so, I noticed that Alexander was strolling along the other side of the street, mirroring my path. I offered him a warm smile and decided to cross the street to greet him.

I cautiously examined both sides of the street twice before proceeding to cross. I had reached the midpoint when suddenly, my world plunged into darkness. After a few disorienting minutes, I regained consciousness, my head throbbing with pain. As my vision cleared, I spotted Alexander and an unfamiliar gentleman by my side. Alexander extended a helping hand to lift me to my feet, while the other man was profusely apologizing. It was apparent that he had been riding his bicycle too fast and had accidentally collided with me. 

Upon standing, I sensed a faint trickle of blood coursing down my face from a minor gash. Instinctively, I raised my hand to wipe it away with my sweatshirt, as it was the only cloth within reach. However, Alexander acted swiftly, preempting my actions. He gently applied pressure with a black washcloth, preventing further bleeding. Grateful for his quick response, I thanked him and offered a reassuring smile.

Alexander then assisted me to the sidewalk, showing concern for my well-being.

"Is there anything more I can do for you?" he inquired, his tone filled with genuine care.

I appreciated his quick response, and I replied, "I don't think so. Thank you for helping so quickly."

"Of course. Would you like a ride back to your palace?" he offered.

Grateful for the assistance, I accepted, saying, "That would be great, thank you."

A few minutes later, we settled into his car's back seat. As we drove, we engaged in a pleasant conversation, reconnecting despite the brief separation.

The drive seemed to stretch longer than usual as we made our way up the medium-length driveway. Upon arriving at the stopping point, both of us exited the car. Alexander walked me to the front of the vehicle, glancing around quickly.

"Goodbye, Athena. See you at your ball," he smiled, concluding our conversation. Then, in a surprising and unexpected moment, he leaned in and kissed me. Instinctively, I returned the kiss. In the midst of this unexpected embrace, I thought I glimpsed a brief flash, but I chose to disregard it.