Fifteen

I decided later that evening to go and have a night stroll in the gardens. There was usually no one roaming outside at this hour. It wasn't very late but still. I silently made my way into the green covered place. The air was cold but not bone chilling, so the small flimsy jacket I wore was just enough to protect me from the air.

I walked until I got past an arch shaped kind of entrance but it was made of vines from the plants growing on either side. I won't lie that I know what kind of plant it was. I found a wooden bench facing the open plains that were behind the palace leading into the forest beyond.

I sat for short time, listening to the whistle of the wind and the creaking of crickets. At some point I heard a bullfrog croaking not far from my right. It had startled me so much that I felt my heart jump out of my throat. I didn't even hear someone approaching.

"Why are you so startled?" asked a deep voice behind me.

That was another scare in itself. I thought I would collapse from the shock of it all. 'Oh God! Could it be a murderer standing behind me, a thug perhaps?'

After that thought crossed my mind, I stood up abruptly and turned my head so fast I think I almost got whiplash. It took me a moment to recognise who was standing in front of me. I tried to collect my thoughts as I abandoned my initial thought of breaking for the hills. I finally managed to get a closer look and realised it was Prince Alexander.

I immediately gave my respects to the Greek god in front of me, "good evening, your highness."

He was silent for a minute and I thought he would not answer. So I immediately thought of an excuse to leave. I figured he was to clear his head and I did not want to be a hindrance in the slightest.

"I--" I started.

"It's you!" he simply stated.

It's me! The hell does that mean.

He walked towards the bench I was seated on a few minutes before and sat down. I took that as my que to leave.

"I… I'll be on my way." I then turned around to leave and had walked a few centimetres from where I had been standing when his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Why are you out here on your own?" he asked.

I felt a little self-conscious not really knowing it was okay for me talk to him so freely on palace grounds. I could be thrown into the dungeon if I didn't know my place. But since he had asked…

"I was just out on a stroll. But I'll make my way back now—"

"Come," he said and parted the spot beside him on the bench, "take a seat."

I was a little nervous—okay, that was an understatement. I definitely was nervous that I began to shiver involuntarily. It must have been because of the cold, I swear. The shiver had nothing to do with my nervousness. 'What if one of the guards sees us out here? It'll most definitely be me in trouble. I know sitting with a Prince when you are just maid can possibly warrant you with a dungeon sentence…'

Seeing as I wasn't making a move from my spot, the Prince calmly said, with no emotion on his face whatsoever, "I don't bite. Besides, you were here first. Don't let me ruin your evening."

I immediately thought of an excuse because I really did not want to spend the rest of my days in a dungeon. "It's okay, your highness. I was actually on my way just now—"

He abruptly stood up and matched over to me before grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the bench. I had hardly had any time to register what just happened when I was forced to sit on the bench and the Prince sat beside me, casually leaning back against the backrest.

I was stunned into silence. 'What just happened?'

I tried recollecting my thoughts that were currently scattered. I then took a chance and glanced at him beside me. He just looked out at the forest, not minding me in the least.

Much as I was afraid of anyone finding us—not that we were doing anything bad or anything—I decided to keep my cool and enjoy the night breeze with him sitting beside me.

The night was bright that you could see almost everything in the plains. Tonight was a full moon. As I relaxed, I sneaked another peek at him. He stared on in the night without saying a single word. For a moment I was mesmerised by him. The way the light of the moon hit his face at an angle was just captivating.

I snapped my eyes away from him before I could drool all over him. I then looked up at the sky. The stars and moon were beautiful. I wished I had brought m phone out with me. I could have taken a picture.

I sighed, "It's beautiful, isn't it?" I muttered.

It was silent for a while. I was just looking up at the sky in a trance.

"Yeah. It is beautiful!" exclaimed the man beside me.