Eve didn't show up that night, or the next morning either. But Adria did. She toured me around the castle and had breakfast with me by the garden. And then she ran off all of a sudden.

I walk through this maze of a garden, adoring and identifying all the flowers. There are so many! A bunch of rare ones too I wouldn't typically see in Acullis. There are two things I am absolutely obsessed with. Music and plants. "I wonder who manages this."

"And I wonder who is sticking their face all over my plants." A man pops out of a bush a few steps away, holding a grass cutter. And he's drop dead gorgeous!? A pretty boy, with long white hair and grey eyes that are reflecting the color of the lavender in front of him. "Oh it's the prince's new play thing. Did you know how popular you got overnight?"

"My name is Riselle." I chuckle awkwardly. Rude!

"I'm Luca Donovan, the court mage. I heard you audibly identifying all my plant and rambling about how much you love each one from all the way over here. Just so you know."

The guy Eve mentioned.

"You talk like you want me to be embarrassed."

The mage shrugs. "I have a question for you."

"Yeah?"

"How did you get in here? I heard you moved in all of a sudden."

Shit. I did not have a prepared response for this. And I'm not a great liar! I lie like a dog pretending it didn't rip up the couch! I gulp, and Luca is narrowing his eyes at me.

"If it's confidential I understand."

"It is. If I tell you, the prince will have to castrate you."

He snorts. "I like your humor, plant lady."

"Hey why am I the plant lady when this is your garden and you're the one working on it right now?"

"Because I said so." He grins. "Come here."

I move closer to him and he places his hand on top of my head, pushing me down to the point I'm squatting.

"Luca." I hear the prince's voice a little far off. "I need to speak to you in your office please."

"I will be there in a bit, your majesty." he releases his hand, quickly gathers his gardening equipment and shoves it towards me. "Keep yourself busy, stay out of his sight. Visit me at my office if you ever need me, you'll know where it is."

"Bye..." I watch him leave, a little bit starstruck. Okay, I have to admit I'm a simpleton. Not a little bit, not might be, I am one. And because of that I've been admiring people but never getting myself in a committed relationship because having to commit to someone seems scary. My lack of interest in committed relationships is what urged my parents to make me take lessons and go to the prince's ball. (They also saw a great opportunity since the prince has not shown interest in any maidens. Perhaps he's just not into women at all.)

If Prince Rowan were to be seen holding a woman's hand it would've made history. I'm sure we would see the sun crash into the earth before that happens. And it's not like the ladies don't want him. He has a horrible personality but I know a handful of ladies that would unfortunately overlook that for the himbo that he is.

I'm more into the guys who are hot and romantic. Who said a girl can't wish for both?

Deep into thought, I continue snipping off dead branches. I didn't realize the prince was right beside me.

"Having fun?"

"Eek!" I fall onto my butt.

"I've been wanting to have a chat with you alone."

"I thought you needed to see Luca."

"No, I just made him leave." Rowan grabs the grass cutter from my hand and tosses it aside. "I'll let you in on a little secret."

"I think I'd rather not know, your majesty." I use my feet to push myself backwards, my butt dragging against the ground.

"Too bad." large hands grip my face, mushing my cheeks. "Kace is my dad's illegitimate son who was graciously allowed to live in the castle. He knows the privilege he was given. He has to do every thing I say without question. So sweetheart if you try anything, it won't be just you receiving punishment."

"Ish that all youw had to shway, Your majwesty?" I struggle to reply with his hand still tight against my face. For some reason it seemed to satisfy him and he gripped even tighter. It's starting to hurt...

"Maybe I should do this whenever you talk. It makes you cute."

"Thish ish harrashhment-"

"What did you say!?" The prince pushes me away with enough force I fall onto my back, and he storms off. I definitely hit a nerve with that one. It didn't matter to me if he was the prince, I wasn't going to let any man disrespect me like that.

"Riselle! Oh my pretty girl I am so so so sorry, what happened to you?" Adria runs up to me, holding my dirtied hands into hers. "I had to run to the toilet I am sooo sorry. I saw Rowan walking away, did he do anything to you?"

"Grabbed my face to tell me crap."

"What did he tell you?" She looks at me with concerned filled eyes. I don't know whether to tell her or not.

"About Kace...I don't know, he might just be trying to mess with me again."

"Oh... I basically grew up here, I know those two like brothers of my own. He tells the truth Riselle. Hear the full story from Kace himself." She hugs me. "And Rowan he- he wasn't always a bad person."

She helps me up, brushes off the dirt that clings to my dress.

"Thanks Adria."

"Are you going to be ok Riselle? You haven't even been here for a week yet. I'll talk to Rowan about not treating you terribly, I know he doesn't intend to torture you."

"I'll be okay."

She pulls me into a hug. "I can tell you're going to cry, it's ok."

I don't want to, but I begin to soil her shoulder with my tears. I don't like crying in front of people, I don't like crying at all. But after everything lately, it feels like my body is getting heavy carrying so many emotions. In not even a week I get stripped and tossed into a dungeon, meet a suspicious witch, get harassed and forced into engagement by the prince, get disowned by my house... It feels wrong to cry, I'm still privileged after all.

"It's okay Riselle, let it all out." Adria's warm hands brush against my back. She lifts one hand to brush my bangs aside.

"Hey." Oh so he didn't actually leave.

"Go away Rowan! Scram!" Adria kicks dirt at him. "You've gone way too far this time."

I don't want to look at him. I don't want people to see me cry. I bury my face further into Adria's shoulder. What expression could the prince be wearing on his face now, satisfaction? He doesn't respond to Adria telling him to leave, but I feel something light put on my hair.

"It's a calla lily." Rowan says.

"You don't just put flowers in your brother's fiancee's hair Rowan! Shoo!"

"I'm just trying to apologize."

—-
Art by me