Chapter 14.

“Even when the night is cold

I got that fire in my soul…” Me, myself and I - G-easy feat. Bebe Rexha

February, 2137

Eveline

Roman drove for a long time towards the exit of town near Havoc, and we stopped at a big climb where we could see the whole town. When he turned off the bike I took off my helmet and left it with him so I could sit on the grass and observe the city during the day.

The grass was so fluffy when I sat down that I took off my heels and ran my feet over it as I closed my eyes and enjoyed the rays of sunlight against my skin protected only by my sunglasses. When I opened my eyes again I noticed my guard was leaning against the bike with his arms crossed watching the view.

“Sit here,” I said and patted the grass beside me and he came over to me and sat there, our shoulders touching but I felt extremely comfortable with his presence.

I then lifted my sunglasses and turned to him, seeing only his profile and his eyes still covered by the glasses and I wished I could see them when I asked what I wanted.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?" He asked, suddenly turning his face towards me.

“First call me Eveline, we're not at the palace and it doesn't always have to be so formal,” I say and he nods with a shy smile on his lips“I think I'm fine, a little freaked out because I just got engaged,” I say as I survey the city with that psychedelic glow in the distance.

"When did this happen?" He asked curiously as he pushed some brown curls back and I saw his rings shining against the sunlight, the red gem glowing.

“In the interview this morning, I left the press room and ran to the garage to look for you. I needed to get out of that place as soon as possible and have the last normal hours of my life in peace,” I say and he just watches me so I go on “I'm sorry I disturbed you, I didn't even ask if you were going anywhere, but the thought that my fiancé was on his way and that the engagement will be formally announced next week during the Spring Ball scared me because I didn't think it was that close,” I say a little annoyed as he just nods and frowns.

“Is he already at the palace?" He asks casually and I deny it.

“My dad said he would be here soon, so I preferred to leave before I had to have a formal dinner with him,” I said with a sad laugh before we fell silent.

I Heard the sound of birds and the sound of the city coming from far away, I heard other vehicles passing and then everything went quiet and I wanted to ask what had been bothering me since this whole wedding thing came up.

“Roman," I called him and he put his glasses up and stared at me, his beautiful green irises glowing in that unique way that fascinated me and under the sunlight his golden dots gained more prominence "have you ever loved someone?" I ask and he takes a moment to think before answering me.

“Yes, but it was a love between longtime friends, I've never loved anyone in the way you're asking,” he says and I matter by turning around and playing with some strands of grass that I pick up and twirl around my fingers.

“I know I decided to make this commitment but I thought I would have more time and maybe I would find someone who loves me, but no one touch my hearth in this way and now I will be stuck in a marriage I don't know how it's going to be,” I said extremely exhausted “I'm doing it for my people but as you've told me sometimes I have to think about what I want to do instead of what they want me to do, and today I wanted to enjoy my last moments with myself before everything goes to hell,” I say frustrated and my hands curled into fists against the grass and when I realize I'm crying and thick tears are running down my cheeks.

“Shit Eve, come here,” I hear him say and his hands pull me against him until my face is pressed against his chest and my hands are holding tight to his shirt as I cry myself out.

Eve.

The nickname echoes in my mind while he hugged me, his scent always giving me comfort as I try to calm down and relax, and I'm surprised when he strokes my hair very slowly and I pull him tighter against me when heavy sobs escape from my mouth.

“Would you be able to sacrifice your happiness for the greater good?" I asked through the sobs and he put his head on top of mine and kissed my hair while I waited for his answer as I heard his heart beating.

“Only if it was really worth it,” is all he says before we fall silent again, and even though I found it strange to be in such a quiet place with a quiet person like him I appreciated this comfortable silence we are in.

We stayed in this way for a long time until I calmed down and could speak normally again.

"On the day of dinner I'll probably be alone with him, but could you and the other guards be around?" I ask while I look up at him and catch his eyes looking at me while he strokes my hair before answering.

“I'll be there Eve, and I’ll be there every time you needs me” he says and I smile more peacefully as I stand up properly to face him, he watches me and smiles in this beautiful way as he lifts one hand, the one with the rings and gently wipes the remains of my tears away “don't cry for the ones who don't deserve your tears Eve,” he says very softly and I smile feeling calmer around him.

“I just don't want history to repeat itself again, even more so with the new rebels acting up,” I say as I turn to look at the horizon.

We spent some more time there watching the city and the sunset until I decided to go back to the castle, but Roman had other plans and decided to take me to eat downtown. I agreed but when we arrived in the center of Waybrook I was little scared if someone would recognize me, and when Roman invited me to go out to a Cybercafé with him I started to freak out so I just choose to watch people walking in the street.

He then stopped at the curb along with several other bikes and got down, taking off his helmet and looking at me with bright eyes.

“You didn't come with me?" He asked as he straightened his hair which was completely messed up by the helmet and I just shook my head in denial and he nodded in agreement "if you need something call my name," he said and I nodded as I searched for my wallet and I realize I had forgotten it in the palace.

He just smiled at my gesture and dismissed it while he shook his own wallet for me. I rolled my eyes and his smile grew a little and he said he would be back in a minute while I nodded and leaned over the bike's tank as I waited for him.

Roman opted for a Cybercafé near the big river that ran through the city and for the first time in a long time I could see the city come to life, people in their colorful fluorescent clothes and mechanical limbs laughed as they walked in and out of the establishments, some merchants turned on the lights from the signs and windows of two stores and even the bridge that spanned the river lit up with blue and red colors, the colors of our flag.

It was extremely beautiful to look at and I found myself wanting to be able to walk freely among pedestrians like a normal person, but due to my position I could only observe them from afar.

I felt when someone touched my arm and when I raised my head I realized it was my guard, I then took advantage of the fact that the lights and the sky could camouflage me so I removed my helmet and accepted the brown paper bag he held out and thanked him softly and when I opened it and realized they were the famous cinnamon buns we made in our town my smile didn’t fit in my face because it’s so big.

“Thank you, I owe you one!” I said to him while I saw him smile and his dimples pop out in his cheeks in a beautiful way.

I love this type of cinnamon buns but they weren't as good as Grace's.

We ate in silence leaning on the bike, Roman had brought some coffee and I accepted my cup with extreme gratitude as the weather even though it was almost spring was still slightly chilly.

When we were done he threw our trash away in a bin and I got ready to leave putting my helmet on again while he sat down across from me and I hugged him from behind and leaned my head between his shoulder blades.

“Roman?" I called him and even over the noise of pedestrians and the roar of the engine he turned to me with the visor still open and I smiled slightly before continuing “Thank you so much for today, it meant a lot to me,” I say and lower the visor noticing he's smiling too.

“At your service, Your Highness,” he said and I smacked my hand against his back and he cracked in giggles.

“You idiot!” I said while I chuckled, then we left the parking lot and we headed to the main avenue very slowly on our way back to the castle.

And something told me he did it on purpose so I could have my last moments just being me and watch the lights of the city. That made me extremely grateful to him because despite the short time interacting with each other he knew exactly when to help me, when to talk to me and he said the right things in the right time like Nick and it caught me thinking of him too, the two of them would get to be good friends when they met.

And thinking about this, the journey back to the castle turned out to be a good thing, but the good ones didn't last too long.