Responsibility

Maria held a fast pace as she went down the hallway, unsure of what exactly just happened, but knowing she needed space to breathe.

She heard Julien's quick steps behind her as he called after her, "Maria, wait". She didn't slow her steps, but he was still able to catch up to her and grab her hand. "Shouldn't we talk about it?" he asked her, his eyes pleading with her.

"I just…" Maria started to say, just as she realized why she reacted so strongly to Julien asking her to run away with him.

It was because part of her really wanted to.

Instead of confronting her feelings though, she decided to push them to the side, knowing that it was impossible to leave.

She couldn't just run away with a man she had just met.

Not only that, but she was supposed to be the Queen, and she was supposed to take care of her beautiful country.

She did not have the option to be selfish because unlike Julien who was second in line for his throne, she was first in line for hers, and if she just up and left, her brother would have to take the burden on his shoulders, and she loved him too much to do that to him.

"I can't, I'm sorry," she managed to finally say while she looked straight into his passionate green eyes.

"Why not?" he asked her. "I can see it in your face that at least part of you wants to."

"You're right, but I have too much here to lose. I have my family, my country, and now these suitors. And they are all counting on me to do my part. I can't just leave everything and everyone behind. I can't," she said in a sad but firm tone.

"Do you really think that you will actually find happiness here?" he asked accusingly, eyes desperately searching hers.

"I won't know if I don't try."

Julien let out a disappointed sigh and dropped her hand as he turned away from her. He took a couple of breaths before he looked back at her and said, "Hopefully it won't be too late when you realize that you should have said yes".

His words hit her like a slap and turned her sadness into anger.

She walked right up to him and angrily asked, "Do you really think my only chance at a good life is to run away with you? What exactly do you think you can give me that a man like Henri can't?"

He maintained a still face and barely reacted to her words. He kept his composure and looked at her while he said, "Freedom and excitement. I'm sure you'll enjoy your probably boring and predictable life with Henri, but it certainly won't be as exhilarating as the life of a wanderer with me at your side".

Maria was mad because she was hurt; in that moment, she realized that Julien was projecting his feelings onto her and that he was the one who probably would not be happy if he married her.

She took a second to calm down before she asked, "Julien, I need you to be completely honest with me-- do you want me as I am, or do you only want this vagabond version of me that you've created in your head?"

"I think it's more you than you care to admit," he retorted.

"Maybe. But even so, I am a princess and I am the next Queen of Greece. Being with me means that you would be King, so if you can't handle that, I need you to tell me now," she said sternly.

With that, Julien put his hand on his forehead and looked down the hall past Maria.

She could see the muscles in his jaw tightening and loosening, and it was apparent that he was making sure to really think about his answer before he said it.

He turned back to face her, and took time to drink in her entire appearance.

His green eyes focused on hers as if he could find his answer in them, and before any words came out of his mouth, he walked right up to her and took her face in his hands before his lips met hers.

Maria could feel right away that it was a kiss filled with desperation.

He had questions, and he thought he could find the answers on her lips.

Her knees started to go weak, and she felt like he had transferred his desperation onto her because now she was clinging to him and needing him.

She craved freedom, and Julien was her one chance at it, so kissing him made her feel like she could reach that freedom.

Even if it was just for a passing moment in time.

Before anything else could transpire, the pair heard a booming laugh come from the other end of the hall.

They broke away from each other suddenly and looked to see that the King and Queen were approaching them; King Nicos had spotted them and outstretched his arms as he teased, "I didn't realize your date was about that kind of dessert!"

Queen Kalli giggled and gave her husband a playful shove before she looked at the pair with apologetic eyes.

Maria was now standing miles away from Julien, so she couldn't see his face, but she imagined that he was blushing just as much as she was at that moment.

"Come children, let's have dinner," the King said before another large laugh filled the vicinity.

The four of them walked the rest of the way to the dining room together, and Maria wasn't able to get her answer from Julien.