: Bouquet

I woke up with a pounding headache and glanced at the clock beside my table, noticing it was already seven in the morning. Then, I turned to look at the calendar hanging on the wall.

   "Oh no! I have a geography exam today." I leaped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. My geography class starts at nine o'clock, so I have half an hour to get ready. After that, I'll need to head to the cafeteria for breakfast. Hopefully, I'll have an hour left to study before the exam. Gotta move fast!

    I smiled at the mirror, pleased with my appearance, I headed straight to the cafeteria. Thankfully, it wasn't too crowded. Most had already finished breakfast between seven and eight. It was past eight now, so the room was relatively empty. I grabbed some food and found a quiet spot to sit and eat.

  I intend to study while eating, opting for a mashed potato and a chocolate shake. In the real world, I often consume chocolate while studying because it's believed to aid memory retention.

   I was engrossed in eating and studying when I noticed a plate of princesstårta placed on the table. Looking up, I saw Rufus smiling at me. He was dressed in the uniform of the Royal University of Vrawyth, the sister school our school, the Vrawyth High School of the Nobles. Our schools were adjacent, and students could visit each other with the appropriate permission slip.

   "Princesstårta for the lovely Lady of the Lauretré family," Rufus greeted me with a grin, sliding the cake toward me. "Why not indulge in a bite? I picked it up from our favorite pastry shop."

    I look at Rufus and the Princesstårta. My mouth instantly watered by just the sight of it. "You're flattering me too much. What are you doing here?" I raised my eyebrows at him. The permission slip only works with nobles or commoners. However, royals don't need one to enter the schools. Talk about privilege.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to visit you. It's been a while, haven't seen you around. Don't you miss me?" Rufus cuts a slice of the Princesstårta and takes a bite, then offers me a spoonful.

As I'm about to take a bite, someone swoops in and eats the spoonful of Princesstårta out of nowhere. I turn around to see Prince Fraser glaring at Rufus.

"Brother Rufus, what brings you here?" Prince Fraser ask, his expression serious. He settles beside me, takes the spoon from Rufus, and helps himself to a spoonful of Princesstårta. Before I can protest about him taking my food, he offers it to me. "Here."

Observing Prince Fraser's furrowed brows, I quickly accept the offered spoonful of cake and force a smile. Hastily, I begin eating my salad, intent on finishing quickly and making a swift exit. I'm not keen on engaging with a Crown Prince in a sour mood.

"So, Brother Rufus, what brought you here?"

I glance between Prince Fraser and Rufus, sensing tension building. This isn't good. Hastily, I close my notes and eat down the remainder of my salad, eager to leave. Lost in my haste, I end up choking on my food.

Frantically, I search for the chocolate shake, but my eyes widen in dismay when I realize it's all empty. Prince Fraser and Rufus swiftly rise from their seats and rush off in search of water.

Within moments, Rufus returns with a glass of water in hand. "Csille! Here, drink this," he urges, handing me the glass. I hastily grasp it and take a sip, feeling the relief as the water soothes my throat.

    I glanced at Rufus and offered a grateful smile. "Thank you." Then my gaze shifted to Prince Fraser, who stood behind Rufus, also holding a glass of water. He placed it on a nearby table before turning away, his expression downcast.

   "Csille, you need to be more careful while eating. Are you trying to choke to death?" Rufus scolded me.

   I glanced at Rufus and offered a smile, but my thoughts were preoccupied with Prince Fraser's sad gaze and abrupt departure.

Why? Why do you look at me like that, Fraser?

_________

My classmates and I just finished our geography exam, and we're discussing how challenging it was. Personally, I didn't find it too difficult since the history here parallels that of the real world. So, it wasn't much of a challenge for me.

   "Hey Csille, how did you find the exam? Was it tough?" one of my classmates asked, but I was lost in thought and didn't hear them.

I absentmindedly gathered my things and stood up from my seat, lost in my own world. My classmates didn't seem to mind, so I walked out of the room in a daze.

   My mind kept replaying the scene from the cafeteria, trying to understand why Prince Fraser had looked at me like that. Lost in thought, I didn't notice when a senior student, a fourth-year who was somewhat famous in our school, blocked my way. He hailed from a family of physicians, with his parents working as Royal Physicians in the palace.

   "Csille Lauretré," he began, his face flushed with nervousness. Oh no! I braced myself, sensing what was coming next. From behind his back, he produced a bouquet of flowers and extended it towards me. "I... I like you. Can I court you?" he asked, his gaze filled with shyness.

   Oh boy! I knew it. He looks okay, actually. He's handsome. If I will compare him to the standard beauty of men in the real world, he could pass. If I could rate him by looks, he's probably a nine over ten. However, I still haven't forgotten that this world is just a fictional world. And Csille Lauretré will fell in love with Prince Fraser in the future. I don't want to used people or hurt people. He seems like a nice guy.

With a gentle smile, "Thank you for your appreciation, but I'm not looking for a relationship at the moment. I hope you understand." I look at the flowers. "I do believe there is someone there better deserving of it."

He smiled sadly at me. "But not you." His response catches me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless. Before I can respond, he continues, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that. Can we just be friends?"

I look at him, considering his offer. He seems nice, and as a graduating student, he'll soon be occupied with university and possibly pursuing medicine. Realizing that our paths might not cross often, I nod in agreement.

He gazes at the flower and then gently takes my hand, placing the flower within it. "Then you should keep this flower. It's a symbol of the start of our friendship." With that, he quickly departs, waving goodbye as he goes.

I was left alone holding the bouquet of flowers. Dumbfounded by what just happened. I look at the flower and shake my head. "Oh well, this flower looks so lovely. It will be a waste just to throw it."

As I made my way to my room, my steps came to a halt when I spotted Prince Fraser standing in front of my door. His gaze shifted to me, then settled on the bouquet of flowers I held in my hand.

And here's another one. Approaching Prince Fraser cautiously, I offer a polite greeting, "Greetings, your Highness. What brings you here?" I refrain from opening my door, still mindful of my previous awkward invitation for him to enter.

   He remains fixated on the bouquet of flowers, prompting me to draw his attention with a snap of my fingers. "Your highness," I address him.

He finally shifts his gaze towards me and sighs, "Won't you invite me in?" His eyes drift towards the closed door expectantly.

   I immediately blocked the door and held my keys in my pocket. "I'm sorry, your highness. My room is in a mess right now. I cannot." I shake my head in refusal. You can't enter the room! No no no! Cannot be.

   Prince Fraser arched an eyebrow at me. "Didn't you say last time that I could come into your room? What's different now? Besides, it's just a bit untidy. I'm sure Rufus' room is even messier than yours. So, open up."

   Prince, why do you want to go inside? That's not part of the script. You shouldn't enter the villainess room! Come on. Please cooperate with me.

    I laughed at him and pretended to look for the keys. "Oh no! I think I have lost my keys. I'm sorry, your majesty, I think I ne-" before I could even finish what I am saying, the keys on my pocket fell from my hands. I laugh awkwardly. "Oh, look, the key. Hahaha it's on here. I didn't notice, my bad."

   Prince Fraser takes the keys and slips them into his pocket, causing me to feel uneasy. His demeanor suggests he's in a foul mood. Oh no, I must have made a mistake. He steps closer, his arms on either side of me, effectively trapping me.

   "Where did that flower come from? Was it from Prince Rufus?" His voice is barely a whisper, but it carries a dangerous edge. Gone the friendly Crown Prince Fraser.

    I shake my head in response, feeling overwhelmed. All I can think about is how close the Crown Prince is standing to me.

  I beg you, my Prince. Stop this right now, or I will forget that I am your creator. There shouldn't be a scene like this. You should be doing this to Crown Princess Paislee and not to me. I beg of you!

"Csille Lauretré! I need an answer," he whispered.

I gaze at him, trying to comprehend his question. What is he asking about? The bouquet? "It's from one of our seniors. The son of the Royal Physician," I respond absentmindedly, feeling as though his presence is casting a spell over me.

I now understand the reason why Helen of Troy is considered a beauty that could destroy a city. I think Prince Fraser is the male version of her. Dayum! He is just fourteen years old but his beauty is too much for me. I could feel myself suffocating. You better collect yourself, Ysavel! That's child abuse.

"Why did he give you a flower? Is he trying to court you?" His voice raised slightly, as if he's trying to control his anger or something.

Don't be angry, Prince. I am only yours. My clouded mind says silently. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. This was really bad. I needed to get out of this situation immediately. It wasn't safe for my heart.

"No, he just gave it to me as a sign of our friendship."

Prince Fraser looked at the bouquet and took it from my hand. He then looked at me, frowning. "No man would give a lady a flower just for friendship, especially if you haven't talked to him or met him before. Tell me honestly, did he try to court you?"

I avoided his gaze. Out of sight, out of mind. Look away, Ysavel! Yes, I just have to keep my eyes off of him. But Prince Fraser sighed and gently lifted my chin, making me meet his eyes. They held a fierce intensity, unlike anything I'd seen before, though they were the same blue eyes I knew so well.

"He really did try to court you! I couldn't believe him!" He turned away from me, audibly exhaling as he tried to regain control of his emotions. He often do this when he felt emotionally unsettled.

I considered taking advantage of the moment to open the door and escape, but then I remembered he had taken the key from me. I had no choice but to take it from him.

He turned his head towards me once more. "Promise me you won't talk to him again. Alright?"

I looked at him, puzzled. "Why should I agree to that? He seems like a decent person, and as our senior, I should show him respect."

Prince Fraser put his hand on the door. It was so sudden and loud that I got startled. Why is he so mad about? It's just a flower. Easy!

"Just don't talk to him. I don't like him." he says, his gaze fixed on me as if contemplating something but ultimately staying silent.

"Hey! That's out of line! I would befriend people I like to be friends with. I don't think you can have a say on that!" I shouted back at him. I kinda don't like how he bossed me around right now. What's wrong with having friends?

He closes the distance between us, his face inches from mine. "I'm your fiancé. I have a say in who you associate with. Remember that," he asserts firmly, placing my keys in my hand.

He strides towards the exit as if nothing happened. I watch him go, feeling a pang of sadness.

Yes, I might be your fiancée now, but things will definitely change in the future.

I sigh and open my door, walking towards my bed where I lay on it. "Prince Fraser, what am I going to do with you?"

I recalled the first scene I wrote when they are fourteen. The scene started before the Crown Prince will start his second training in the western region.

Second training? I quickly rise from my bed. This is the time when Prince Fraser would be in danger.