PART 34 – A Walk in The Garden

The small group walked farther into the garden.

The hedges where higher there, reaching to their chest, in a miniature labyrinth with a fountain in the middle.

Little Rose ran straight for the fountain as soon as she saw it, followed by Princess Fay, both seemed enchanted by the flowering lilies that were floating on the glittering water.

"This garden is very lovely, Prince Simon," said Princess Tina in an attempt at conversation.

"Yes, it is," replied Simon. "I had no idea there was such a place here in the royal palace..."

Princess Tina kept her poise, yet looked at him slightly from the corner of her eye.

"Is this your first time here as well?" she asked Simon.

"Yes, since I am the 9th prince, and was not allowed to enter the main palace before."

"I heard you were sent by your brothers to subdue the behemoth, with only 500 soldiers to aid you?" Lady June inquired.

"Yes, that is correct," Simon said with an awkward smile.

"So, they basically sent you to your death?"

"L-Lady June!" Princess Tina looked at June, horrified. "How could you talk to his royal highness that way?!"

"I-it's fine... it is the truth, after all," Simon said bashfully.

"Be that as it may, you are still the Kingdom's hero and deserve only our respect!"

Simon smiled at Princess Tina.

'If only everyone would think that way,' he found himself thinking. 'Particularly, the people in the Empire...'

"By the way, aren't you cousins?" Lady June suddenly asked.

"W-we are?" Simon asked Lady Tina, surprised.

"We are second cousins," Princess Fay admitted, joining their conversation while Lady Rose continued to play in the water.

"Our parents are cousins," Princess Tina explained, holding on to Simon's right arm, "but that is not an issue, since nobility have always been keeping the blood pure by marrying within the family," she said proudly.

"Isn't that right, Prince Simon?" Princess Fay smiled sweetly, her long lashes fluttering.

Simon didn't know what to say.

"You can choose any of us," Tina said, holding on to Simon's other arm.

"Or you can choose us both," Fay added.

"But first, you would need to choose which one of us would be declared as your queen and main wife," Tina concluded.

Simon felt his face turn hot.

He tried to pull away from the two princesses, but both held on tighter to his arms.

"I... I'm afraid I can't choose right now..." he finally told them.

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CHOICES:

[I will have to decide when I get much older] go to Part 35

[I shall let my father decide.] go to Part 36

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