Wants!

A few hours earlier; The Royal Palace

It bore an ample size, a colossal chandelier extended from the ceiling with lustres illuminating different hues of colours, lighting up the vast room. The windows extended to the high ceilings, drapes with Alderian Royal family crest were detailedly woven on them.

A round table was situated at its center_Viscounts, Counts, Earls, Barons, a few Dukes; members of the high society and Royal council surrounded it, debating among themselves.

At one end of the table, he sat there mindlessly flipping through the documents in his possession, his eyes had a distant gaze as he stared into a void, their voices were as distant as the Ocean which separated the Alderian Empire from the ice-capped Empire of the North, Valoria.

It has been months but she has been the only occupant of his thoughts, She confounded him more than he could comprehend. It has been a long while but still he recalls every tiny detail about her, her eyes drew him like a moth to a flame, their calmness entices him, arousing emotions he was never known to have, her hair burned brightly like flames of fire and radiated more under the sunlight, he could not forget her lips, they were like enchantments that awakened an unknown desire within him.

Each time he closes his eyes, she appeared in his head bearing a smile that stops his heart for a moment and stairs up selcouth emotions that leaves him confounded.

"Your Majesty, we await your decision!" The Viscount beside him spoke up after their debate settled.

Cedric flipped through the pages, bearing a look of someone lost not saying a word or making the slightest of sound.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" He called out, he recieved nothing but absolute silence.

A light mutter began among them, his behavior was odd, they whispered among themselves, chattering in soft tones, puzzled by his recent behavior.

Ronald always situated by his side, noticed the bewildered expression each bore on their faces, he inched closer to him and shook his shoulder gently which brought him back.

Cedric looked up and stared at him, bemusement and shock flickered in his eyes.

"They are awaiting your final decision Your Majesty!" He reported.

Cedric tore his gaze away from him and looked forward, different pairs of eyes stared back at him, each anticipating his reply.

"The meeting is adjourned!" He said to the surprise of everyone present.

He stood up whilst they mumbled within themselves.

"Your Majesty, you can't. . ." The words hung in his throat—His eyes grew portentous, the atmosphere in the room grew thick and cold, a blanket of silence fell over, covering the members with its unpleasant torture, the fear emanating from everyone present was palpable. Cedric stared down at him like an unwanted insect he crushes beneath his feet. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he avoided the horrendous gaze.

"We can adjourn the meeting like you said Your Majesty!" He uttered slowly. His voice was shaky and full of dread.

Cedric withdrew his eyes from him and proceeded to the door, Ronald scurried after, hoping to catch up to his pace.

"Is everything alright Your Majesty?" Ronald asked whilst closing the door that led to The Crown Prince's office shut.

"You seem to be out of it for sometime now, is there something that bothers you? Or perhaps, you. . ."

"Fetch me a teleportation stone!" Cedric commanded. He made himself comfortable on the chair behind his table.

His words threw Ronald off "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty?".

Cedric sighed, rubbing his temples as he reiterated the words "I need a teleportation stone!" His tone was low and coercive.

"May I ask why you need it?"

He looked up, his face bore no expression, it was apathetic with a hidden sinister mein beneath, Ronald understood the look he had.

"I will get you the stone!" He said quickly, turning on his heel he left the office abruptly.

>>>> "I brought you the best teleportation stone that I could find on quite the short notice!" Ronald said breathlessly, he has been scampering about the Royal capital, in search of a teleportation stone that befits the Crown Prince.

Cedric lifted the lid of the tiny wooden chest before him, nestled neatly on the purple fabric was a yellow stone, it bore a fragile nature and an elegant appeal, its edges were adorned with gold, augmenting its delicate features.

He picked it up carefully and looked it over, under the moonlight it was a miniature kaleidoscope, radiating different hues of colours.

"It can be used by even the weakest of wielders, just imbue a bit of your energy into it and it will transport you to where you desire to be even if it is in an entirely different empire!" Ronald explained, a proud smile plastered on his face, he felt pleased with himself at his stark accomplishment.

"You did good, Ronald!" Cedric merely said.

He grinned widely, a feeling of pride welled up within him, he left the office bearing the proud expression.

Cedric got up from his chair, he clutched the stone gently. His eyes drew shut whilst investing a bit of his energy in it, it glowed within his hand. She appeared in his mind, smiling brightly at him. Slowly, he opened his eyes before him was a portal, brimming with energy. Taking a deep breath, he walked in, his heart elevated with joy at the thought of seeing her again.

* * * * * *

It led him to a dark side of the Everhart estate, he looked around, not familiar with the strange surroundings.

'Am I in the right place?' he thought, before him was an old tree its lifespan must have been a good number of years. He was about to draw closer to it when a tiny figure walked out from the side of it, its presence startled him. He watched closely as it pushed back the vines revealing a tiny fenced wall. Its actions intrigued him, he drew forward just as it was about to leap to the other side.

"This was not the sight I was expecting to be greeted with!" He said abruptly.

It turned to where he stood startled by his voice, their eyes met for a split second, a tiny gasp escaped from his lips, It was her! He could recognize her in a heart beat, even if she changed her hair color a thousand times, he would never mistake her for another, she looked different and was not dressed ladylike at all. She looked more like a commoner than a Duke's daughter.

Why was she dressed that way? And why was she escaping from the Duke's estate? Those questions bothered him more.

Before he could spew one of them, she grabbed him and pinned him to the tree whilst covering his mouth with her palm. Suddenly, he heard voices approach them, they sounded like guards that were on patrol. The entire situation felt strange to him, he could not grasp what was happening.

Cedric was yet to comprehend the entire scenario when out of the blue she inched closer and rested her body against his.

He suddenly forgot how to breath, the closeness of her body was too much to bear, his heart drummed faster than a galloping horse at a rate that could be deadly. He felt heat creep to his ears and neck slowly enveloping his entire being! This experience was beyond describable even during battle he has never felt this level of anxiety.

Once the voices departed from where they hid, she drew back. He could finally breathe, for the first time ever he was glad that he could breathe. She looked at him with an expression that was somewhat displeased.

"What are you doing here, Your Majesty?" She queried.

"I am here on an official visit!" He said finally after a moment of thinking.

She stared at him, not convinced at all "Then, how did I not know that you came for a visit to my Father's estate?"

He folded his arms as he gave a reply "When we met for the first time in the gardens, did you have a clue that I came for a visit?"

The question threw her off, her cheeks flushed a little as the memory flooded back in "No! I didn't!" She mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

A smile played on his lips, the flushed look she had was beyond adorable. He was struck by it. Her eyes stared at him he quickly transposed to his stoic expression.

"If I may ask, why are you sneaking out from the estate dressed like a. . . thief?" He questioned giving her a once-over.

She fidgeted for a while, pondering on giving him a reply "I want to visit the Capital and enjoy the festival. I am not allowed to go because of something I did" she muttered the last sentence.

His brows quirked up, surprise flickered in his eyes. She was an interesting character.

"Will you tell my Father that you caught me sneaking off?" She asked suddenly, fear evident in her voice.

Cedric kept quiet for a while, she waited patiently for a reply from him. The suspense was killing her within.

"I will not!" He said finally, her face lit up being brighter than it was all evening, "Only on a condition that I will come along!" he added.

Her face fell on hearing that, she found the condition rather strange but it was the only thing that stood between her and the festival at the moment.

"Fine!" She said after much contemplating. "Let's go!"

She stepped on a protruding brick from the wall, using it as a boost she launched forward and leaped to the other side.

He had a smile on his face, he was paralyzed with happiness, joy engulfed him; the thought of spending time with her filled him with a delight that he could not conceal.

He climbed over the wall with ease, landing lightly on his two feet. Rosalind rolled her eyes at the perfection of his landing.

"Show off!" She mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" She said quickly, increasing her pace and walked further.

>>>> His hand clenched to a fist, a wave of fury crashed through him. The thought of her enjoying the festival with another man was maddening.

Roderick ran his hand through his hair, furious. He was enraged but he didn't know why.

"What is wrong with me?" He asked breathlessly.

Why was he infuriated at the thought of her being with someone else?.

And why did he suddenly bear an attraction to her?.

Was it her laughter, her voice, the kindness she possessed that enticed him, the way she looked at him? He wasn't certain what drew him to her.

But one thing was certain to him, he wishes to be the man she enjoys the festival with, the man she graces her presence with all night, the man she shares her thoughts and laughter with. No! He didn't wish to be, he wants to be!.