The next day, the princess woke up to an empty palace.  The whole thing was odd since it was usually a bustle of business. She looked around her. She saw a note that read "Wedding of Princes to the Duke to take place the day after tomorrow."

     "No," She gasped. She did not want to be stuck married to him.  Yet, in bold letters, the words read as if she were to marry him sooner.

       "I must go to Luka. I have to paint a portrait of him."

         She went to her room, gathered her sack, added the letter she had spent most of the night writing,  and gathered her beach items.  She headed out the back entrance.

        She ran to the beach not caring it was daytime. She had to hurry. She had to see Luka. 

        She had to tell him the dreadful news. She knew it would break him.

       The princess arrived at the beach out of breath. She made her way to the chair.

         With tears in her eyes, she placed the letter into their chest. She started to paint.

                 Luka arrived but had not seen her yet. His back was faced away because he was on a jog. When he finished he came to sit on his towel under the trees. He saw her and smiled.

                  "Princess?"

                  "L-Luka?"

                "Yes, I am here."

                He laid back on the towel and slept.

         The princess sighed. She looked at him and began to add him to her latest painting. She had to because he meant so much to her. She didn't know how or when it happened. Only that she knew she loved him.  She hated the dreadful upcoming day more now. 

             She finished the painting as he awoke from his nap.

              "Go stand by the sea."

            "What?"

           "I wish to a portrait of you by the sea," she said.

             Luka did as she wished. He stood by the sea.

                The princess tried to hold back the tears as she did his portrait by the sea. After a while, it became cloudy outside.  Luka saw her motion for him to come back.

               Luka came and sat beside her. He saw her tears. He knew she was troubled.

                  "Whatever is wrong?"

                      "N-Nothing, everything is fine." She spoke but looked away.

                      "Something troubles you, and I intend to find out what it is so I can help you."

              Luka realized she was not going to speak. He felt sad at the silence. What had become of their friendship?  He hated not knowing what made her so sorrowful.

              He stood up and lifted the lid to the chest. He pulled out the letter.

              As he read it, he felt his face fall. What?  How could this be?

                 "Is it true?" He asked, as he reached over and held her hand.

                     "Y-yes."

               "No, no...Tell me it's not true. You can't marry him. Oh, you mustn't marry him, Princess Chole Bougerious."

                  "Chole, you called me Chole?"

                 "What of it? It is your name."

                 "Yes, but no one ever calls me by name anymore."

                    "It is time that changed."

                   "I have no choice."

              "What do you mean? There is always a choice."

              "I am afraid there is not. I tried to tell them. To tell mistress that I  don't love the Duke. She said it is my duty. That is all she ever speaks of is my duty. Well, I don't care about duty. I only care to marry for love."

                "Why don't you then?"

                "It's not that simple."

               "Yes, it is Chole, and you know it."

                  Luka helped her stand. He held her close. So close that she could feel his heartbeat. So close that she felt safe. So close that she...

                 Chole felt her lip tremble. "Please, you mustn't..."

                    "Shh, just let me love you,"  Luka spoke.

              Before she said another word, Luka wrapped one arm around her. He lifted her chin with his left hand and whispered, "Shh, I know you want this as much as I do."  With that, he kissed her.

          Princess Chole felt as if she were on cloud nine. She did not know how to respond. She had wanted someone to love her and now that it happened she wished for it to last. How could it? She had to deal with her responsibility as a princess and she was to marry the Duke despite her distaste for him.

      She heard a moan. She was not sure where it came from. She felt Luka pull away.

       "I know you feel it. So please don't resist me, Chole." His voice sounded husky.

         "L-Luka, I c-can't..."  

          Luka shook his head. He refused to believe she had no feelings for him. He had seen it in her eyes and could tell despite her protests that she cared for him. Why did she insist on denying it?

             "I love you, Chole." He whispered near the corner of her lips.

             Chole felt her lips drawn to his like a magnet between them. She kissed him and felt his arms draw her close. She didn't resist this time. She threw her arms around his neck.

               She closed her eyes. She didn't know why she reacted this way. She just knew she didn't wish for it to end.

             Luka deepened the kiss. Soon he felt one of her hands release his neck to touch his hair.

                   He pulled away this time. 

              "W-we k-kissed."

             "We sure did love."

             "Luka, I love you."

           "Great, that is all I needed to hear."

       Luka carried her to the chair and set her on it. He sat at her feet stroking her arm with his fingers.

       Chole felt so comfortable with him that she lost track of time. She fell asleep. Luka did as well.

   Meanwhile, at the castle, the others could not find the princess. They had no idea where to search for her. It was not like there were any signs of where she might have gone.

      One day later, one day before the dreaded day when Chole was to marry the Duke, Luka woke up to feel raindrops.  He saw she was still asleep. He packed her things inside her sake.

    He carried her and his towel to his place. He could not have her getting sick because he left her out in the rain.

      He placed her on his bed and tucked the covers in around her. He entered his bathroom, shut the door, and took a shower. He changed his clothes.

     When he came back she was sitting up, yawning.

      "Morning, darling."

    "M-Morning, oh no, I have to go."

     "Not yet, it is raining out there and I can't let you get a cold."

       "Fine, I shall stay then."

      "I could use some spare clothes."

      "Ah, yes."

Luka handed her a clean towel, a washcloth, a bar of soap, a shirt, and a pair of jeans.

     The princess went into the bathroom and he smiled as he heard her close the door. She was adorable and she was his. If only he had some way to keep her that way.

     He was not about to take advantage of her. He was a gentleman, but he had to find a way to keep her from marrying that Duke.

      Chole had no idea what was going on in the mind of Luka. She washed grateful for the soap. She saw some shampoo and used it to clean her hair. She was careful not to let her bandage get wet. She wrapped a spare towel around it. She finished, turned off the water, exited the shower, and sat on the floor to dry off. She soon put on the clothes he had given her. She grinned. 

    No one would recognize her now. She was glad she had left her crown in her sake.

       At least Luka cares for me for me and not my status. She frowned when she remembered what tomorrow brought. I must try to enjoy today. Today, is for me and my darling, Luka.

    She found a comb and combed her hair. She saw a funny thing she did not recognize. what was it?

  She turned it on and felt heat come out the end.  What sort of strange sorcery was it?

     She turned it off.

     "Luka?"

     "May I enter?"

   "Yes, you shall my fine and noble Luka."

       "What may I help you with this day?"

         "Umm, what is this?" She held up the strange object she had seen earlier.

         "Oh, that it is a hair dryer. You have never seen one?"

           She shook her head.  "They only have towels at the palace for drying things."

            "I see."

          Luka showed her how it worked. She smiled. Chole used it to dry her hair.

             "Here have this," he handed her a brush.

            "Thanks, Luka."

          "you are welcome," He kissed the corner of her lips and laughed when she blushed.

     He left her alone and went to make some breakfast. He had no idea what she liked. He made sure there were plenty of options.

      Soon, she entered the kitchen.  Luka pulled her chair out for her. Once seated, she saw him give thanks for the food and closed her eyes.

      After she heard him finish the prayer, she put fruit, eggs, and other food items on her plate. She ate, and Luka did as well.

       "Is there anything to drink?"

     "Oh, yes, would you like some juice or would you like some coffee?"

      She gave him a look of confusion, and he handed her a glass of orange juice. She drank it.

   He had some coffee.

The duke arrived at the castle furious that the princess was missing and that no one had searched for her. He sent out a search party at once. Where was the missing princess?

The story continues in Chapter 6 The Search Party

  Until then,

bye-bye, little owlets!

Summer out!