Imaginary Quest

The mere utterance awoke Jovana from her slumber, her gaze immediately drawn to a tall and strikingly handsome man standing in the shadows.

"A question arises within me, Lady Stafford. Are you displaying confidence or impudence?" Caspian inquired with a hearty chuckle.

'Has he come here just to provoke me?' Jovana pondered as she summoned all her composure and presented it to the Duke with a self-assured smile, retorting, "Let those girls run wild, Duke Clifford. They are toiling in vain."

"The reason being marriage, I presume. That is why they are pursuing it." The Duke responded.

"I understand, but…. Men are not birds. Some may be, but who fancies birds?"

"People with empty minds and dull personalities?" Caspian remarked, a slight smirk on his lips as Jovana beamed in response.

"Indeed. I prefer apples." She stated.

"I see, so you decided to lay beneath a tree, waiting for a man to fall onto your lap?" Caspian quipped and Jovana squinted her eyes against the sun, flashing the Duke a smile.

"Well….. At least one did. Am I mistaken, My Lord?" Jovana remarked, amusement evident in her tone as the Duke was taken aback, speechless upon realizing he was the "apple", prompting Jovana to grin widely.

As the Duke gazed at her, his surprise transformed into a satisfied grin as he praised, "Well done, Lady Stafford…. well done indeed. I knew you were different from the moment I first saw you…I was right."

Jovana chuckled and retorted, "To be frank, Lord Clifford…. Given the competition, I do not believe the comparison is just."

"Oh….. so you possess some pride beneath that flawless facade." Caspian observed, a twinkle in his eye as he conversed with Jovana.

"Of course, My Lord. Did you not know? Pride is what keeps one beautiful and youthful." Jovana remarked, prompting Caspian to shake his head in amusement.

"Until we meet again, Lady Jovana," Caspian uttered as he strolled away, discreetly maneuvering around the edges of the tree to conceal his presence. However, he couldn't resist stealing one last glance at Jovana.

He observed her basking in the warmth of the sun, effortlessly straightening her attire. 'Such natural beauty...she doesn't even have to try to capture attention. But it must be more than that. There must be something exceptional about Jovana Stafford, for I have never before given a woman a second glance. And yet, here I am, unable to take my eyes off her,' Caspian ruminates inwardly.

Upon Caspian's departure, Elijah approached Jovana under the tree. She yawned and stretched, trying to shake off the drowsiness. Slowly, her senses came to life, accompanied by a tingling sensation at the nape of her neck. 'Brrr, it feels like someone is watching me,' Jovana thought to herself as she surveyed her surroundings. But the only other person in sight was Elijah, who handed her a glass of water.

"Thank you," Jovana graciously accepted the water and drank it all, relishing the refreshing surge coursing through her body. 'Ah, wonderful. This is just what I needed for–' Jovana halted her thought as she noticed Elijah's somber expression, despite his thoughtfulness towards her.

"Eli, is everything alright?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

"You should tell me. Everyone was asking me about my charming little sister--and then I found her asleep under a tree while we were both guests of the King! That is extremely disrespectful," Elijah admonished her.

"Oh, come on, Eli. It was just a brief nap during a picnic," Jovana countered, defending herself.

"This is not just any picnic. It is hosted by the King. It is an official event, not a casual outing," Elijah said, exasperated.

"Fine," Jovana grumbled, and Elijah took deep breaths, attempting to calm himself down.

He placed a hand on her shoulder, flashing a smile as he spoke, "As you well know, I care little for etiquette, especially when we are among our peers. But, as the only member of our family present, it falls upon us to bear this burden. Besides, can you imagine the embarrassment if someone else were to find you instead of me?"

At Elijah's last words, Jovana's gaze wandered to the Duke, recalling his voice that had jolted her awake, and she felt her ears flush with heat, like burning coals. 'Well, the Duke doesn't seem to mind it, he doesn't strike me as a stickler for etiquette.' Jovana thought to herself before responding to her brother, "I don't know, Eli. Not everyone here is as fixated on etiquette and protocol as you are."

"Perhaps they should be." Elijah interjected.

"But that's not the kind of man I want to marry. Regardless, I promise to behave because I love you." Jovana ended with a cheeky grin.

Elijah smiled and patted her head. Just then, Xena appeared with one of her servants trailing behind her, carrying a violin.

"There you are! I've been searching for you everywhere." Xena exclaimed, addressing Jovana.

As soon as Elijah laid his eyes on the violin in Xena's possession, his strict adherence to etiquette fell away, and he knelt down next to Jovana on the grass, whispering in her ear as if on his deathbed. "Rather than listening to Xena's poor rendition, I'd sooner pack for the war front right now."

Xena couldn't make out Elijah's words and glanced at the siblings with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "What's wrong with your brother, Jovana?" She asked, her interest piqued.

"Nothing at all... He's simply reenacting the death of one of his notorious adversaries in a duel. That's all." Jovana replied with an awkward laugh.

"Oooh, how dramatic." Xena chuckled.

"Without a doubt." Jovana agreed.

"And what goes hand in hand with drama? Music! You simply must hear the new melody I've composed." Xena declared.

Elijah looked at Jovana with pleading eyes, hoping to help him escape Xena's grasp. Jovana, seeing her brother's distress, laughed and interjected, "Sorry, Xena, but I can't withstand this scorching sun."

Turning to Elijah, she requested, "Eli, please come to my aid and fetch my hat."

"Where can I find it?" Elijah innocently inquired.

"I have no idea, my dear. It may take some time to locate, but I desperately require it," Jovana replied, motioning to Elijah who still struggled to comprehend her words.

"But I don't remember you having a—" Elijah's sentence was cut short as Jovana expertly kicked him in the shin. With a sweet smile and a flutter of her eyelashes, she cooed, "Now, Eli, please."

"Ah, of course," Elijah quickly caught on. "I will begin my search for your hat immediately."

With that, he promptly departed on his imaginary quest, grateful for the chance to escape Xena's music.