Chapter 2: The Prince

While Adiel and Aaron went with guards to pick Charis up, Charis was out in front of her 1 story cottage home that had flowers planted along the front of it, facing her door. Charis thought to herself, 'When will it come, God? When will I see Your plan? When will I see? When can I see?' The Voice said, "You will see soon. It's coming." Charis said, "But soon always seems so far away. I wish I knew when it was coming." 

Neeeeeeeigh 

Charis quickly turned around to see a silver and white carriage that had two brown horses pulling it and a carriage driver that directed the horses. She took a step back as the door to the carriage swung open, and 2 guards, Aaron and Adiel, came out of the carriage. Adiel said, "Hello, Miss Charis." She said, "Hello Adiel and Aaron. What is all this?" Adiel said, "We've come to take you to your new life, Charis." She looked at them with widened eyes and said, "Are you two crazy? You honestly think I'm going to hop in a random carriage with four men that I don't even know? I mean, you may be rich in all, but I certainly am not going anywhere with you four. How did you even find me here in the first place, and why would either of you think that I would want to go with you guys and, 'start a new life?' That's just crazy to me." Aaron said, "What Adiel is trying to say is he is The Gentleman Of The Bedchambers and I'm Head Royal Advisor. We've been sent here on a direct order from his Highness, Prince Donato, to bring you to the castle. He requests to meet you at once." Charis said, "Meet me? Why would he want to meet me? I haven't done anything for him to want to request me." Aaron said, "We've spoken to him about your beauty and kindness, and he thought you were extraordinary and wanted to personally meet and potentially marry you." She placed one of her hands on her chest, pulled her hair with her other hand, and said, "He wants to meet and marry me? I... I don't know what to say...." Adiel said, "His Highness is waiting for you, Miss Charis, if you would please come with us." She looked at them and said, "I... I don't believe you, I don't believe this. This can't be actually happening." Aaron said, "Believe it, Miss Charis. It is true that the prince requests to see you." She said, "But the prince has isolated himself for 2 years now. He doesn't like visitors. He made the decree that he no longer wanted to see any eligible maidens. Why.... Why would he want to see me? Why would he break this rule for someone like me. It doesn't make sense. This has to be a joke or something." Adiel said, "It's not a joke or made up, Miss Charis. I mean, we even came with palace guards and an official palace carriage, so it would be pretty hard to make something like this up. He really does want to see you." She looked at them and said, "I... I don't know what to say." One of the guards said, "Lady Charis, this is a royal order. We don't want to have to force you to come with us." She looked down on the ground and said, "Take me, take me to see him..." Aaron and Adiel helped her into the carriage, and then they and the guards got in, and the carriage took off to the castle. 

An hour passed, and they finally arrived at the castle. Charis got out of the carriage to see the 30-story high castle. Adiel stood next to her, put his arm out, and said, "Come, Miss Charis, I will take you to him." She looked at him and nodded softly. Adiel escorted Charis to the King's Office while Aaron followed. They walked until they came up to a dark brown door. Aaron said, "Alright, Miss Charis, a few rules before you meet the prince. Don't speak unless he gives you permission not even to introduce yourself, don't ask about his mask, don't look directly at his face, don't make eye contact with him, don't interrupt him, don't speak above a soft toned voice, do whatever he asks, and most importantly don't leave the room unless he dismisses you. Understand?" She looked at him and said, "I understand." They entered the room to see Donato still sitting on his chair reading a book. She looked down and curtsied as Aaron and Adiel bowed. Aaron said, "Your Highness, this is Charis, the woman we were telling you about." Aaron brought her forward towards Donato as he looked up at her and said, "You told me that I was going to see a rare rose. Something I've never seen before. How pitiful she looks." Aaron said, "Your Highness look upon her face you will see..." Donato interrupted, saying, "I'll see what I always see. A disgusted look who can't stand to see the face of a monster. Look at her cower to me." Adiel said, "But your Highness..." Charis interrupted, saying, "Your Highness, I'm not afraid of you. I'm honored that you have called me here to see you..." Donato stood up, walked over to her, and grabbed her arm with a tight grip jerking it forward. She looked up at him to see his dark blue eyes piercing through his mask. He slowly loosened his grip, staring back into her lavender eyes, and he said, "You look at me, and all you see is a monster. You can't see past the mask. You think I'm evil. I can show you evil and bitterness." She said, "I look at you, and I see blue eyes, not a monster." His heart jumped as he let go of her arm. He walked back to his seat and said, "Adiel and Aaron get her out of my sight." Aaron said, "But your Highness..." Donato interrupted, saying, "Her room is on the 4th floor. Take her there." Adiel and Aaron bowed while saying, "Yes, Your Highness," while Charis curtsied and they left. Aaron and Adiel escorted her to her room. As they walked, Adiel said, "You are very lucky, Miss Charis. No one has ever spoken to him that way, especially not a potential bride." Charis said, "He seems so sad..." Aaron said, "Seems? He is, and I'm quite surprised he still accepted you into his castle after breaking his rules." Charis said, "I'm sorry, I just... He was just... There's something about him that makes my heart skip a beat. He's cruel and sad now, but I see something so much deeper in him. Behind that hurt, there's something." They stood in front of a white door, and Adiel said, "This will be your room. Please don't hesitate to call anyone," and Adiel and Aaron left.