Sweet encounter

"Daniella, if Vider wasn't a commoner," Flora says after a long silence, "I would have rooted for you." I look up at her briefly, then shift my gaze outside the carriage, watching the forest blur by.

"What if I let him deflower me?" I say, almost to myself. "Then would Miss Motan let me marry him?"

Flora's eyes widen, and she gasps, half in shock and half in amusement. "Daniella! You can't be serious!"

I meet her gaze, my expression a mix of defiance and curiosity. "Why not? Wouldn't that force everyone's hand? They couldn't deny me if I were no longer pure by their standards."

Flora shakes her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "You're outrageous, you know that? And you call me the outrageous one," she says, her tone affectionate despite the scandalous topic. "But even so, it wouldn't be that simple. Miss Motan and the court would be furious. They might try to annul it, or worse."

I sigh, leaning back in my seat, the frustration and helplessness of my situation washing over me. "It was a joke," I say, "but Prince Malo, your fiancé's twin, asked me for my hand in marriage."

"Are you serious?" she says, her eyes wide. "When was this?"

"At your engagement ball," I say, remembering our conversation at the ball. "I declined him, but he said he will wait."

"Why would you do that?" she asks, incredulous.

"He wants a leader, I can't even lead a batallion," I say, the weight of my decision heavy on my shoulders.

"Are you stupid?" she yells, exasperated. "A man begged you for your hand, and you refused?"

I look at her, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. "Flora, it's not that simple. You know how I feel about marriage and being tied down. And besides, Malo deserves someone who can give him what he wants—what he deserves."

Flora sighs, her expression softening. "I know, Daniella. I just worry about you. I want you to be happy, too."

"Flora," I yell back, "Malo is a great man and he will make a greater king in the future, but I can't see myself in his future with him."

"Miss Motan is going to be pissed at you when she finds out," Flora says.

"You think I don't know? that's why I haven't told anyone," I reply, frustration creeping into my voice. We lapse into silence, each lost in our thoughts. Flora returns to knitting something she's been working on for days, her fingers deftly weaving the yarn.

The sun has now reached its peak, casting a warm glow over the landscape. We stop at a nearby lake to rest the horses before continuing our journey. The water sparkles under the midday sun, and the gentle breeze carries the soothing sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds.

I step out of the carriage and walk towards the lake, the cool breeze a welcome relief from the heat. I crouch by the water's edge, watching the ripples dance across the surface as I dip my fingers into the cool water.

"Your Highness," calls out Sinbad. He's wearing all white today, with no jewels in sight except for his necklace and ring.

"Your Majesty," I say, taking a bow.

"Drop the formalities," he says.

"You started it," I say with a hint of a smile.

Sinbad chuckles, the sound light and genuine. "Fair enough," he replies, stepping closer to the water's edge. "This place is beautiful, isn't it?"

I nod, the tranquility of the lake soothing my earlier frustration. "Yes, it is. It's nice to have a moment of peace."

Sinbad looks out over the lake, his expression contemplative. "You know, Daniella, it's rare to find someone who isn't easily intimidated. Your courage is... refreshing."

I glance at him, trying to gauge the sincerity of his words. "Is that a compliment?"

"Take it as you will," he says with a slight smirk. "But I meant what I said. It's a rare quality, one that shouldn't be taken lightly."

I appreciate his words, though they add another layer to my already tangled thoughts. "Thank you, Sinbad," I say, genuinely. "I guess we all have our ways of dealing with life."

"True," he agrees, his gaze shifting back to the water. "And speaking of challenges, I wanted to ask you something. Your hesitation around Vider earlier... is everything alright?"

I feel a rush of conflicting emotions at the mention of Vider. "It's complicated," I say after a moment. " Just asking him questions he refuses to answer."

Sinbad nods, as if understanding more than he's letting on. "And what may that be.'' I look up at him and back in the water and simply say ''nothing.''

Sinbad chuckles, his expression playful. "I have my ways of reading people," he replies cryptically. "And besides, it's not hard to notice when someone's keeping their distance."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued by his response. "Is that a challenge?" I ask, a hint of amusement in my tone.

Sinbad's smile widens, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Perhaps," he says. "But let's just say I have a talent for observing the subtleties of human behavior."

I nod, conceding his point. "Fair enough," I say. "But don't think you have me all figured out just yet."

Sinbad's laughter rings out, echoing across the tranquil landscape. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," he says with a wink. "But it's certainly fun trying,'' he finishes his sentence as he plays with one of my locks,'' I hope we get to see each other again after this trip.''

I look at him, his ember eyes soft but seem dangerous as if hiding something,'' I hope,'' I say almost in a whisper. For a moment we both get lost in each other's gaze.

''Time to go,'' yells Miss Nabila we get scared and end up losing balance on the rock we stand. We fall into the creek. I try to shield us with magic but it ends up like a gazer bringing more water up. ''Well that backfired,'' says Sinbad and I in unison. 

Sinbad's laughter echoes around us as we sit in the cool, refreshing water, the situation too ridiculous to be anything but amusing. "Well, that's one way to make a splash," he jokes, flicking water playfully in my direction.

I can't help but laugh, the tension from earlier melting away. "I guess we're both getting a little more than we bargained for on this trip," I reply, shaking the water from my hair.

As we sit there, the sun shining down and the water lapping gently around us, it feels like a moment suspended in time—one of those rare, perfect moments where everything seems to fall into place. Sinbad's easy laughter and the coolness of the creek offer a reprieve from the weight of our respective responsibilities.

"We should probably get out before Miss Nabila scolds us again," Sinbad says, standing up and offering me his hand.

I take it, and together we clamber out of the creek, dripping wet and laughing. Miss Nabila approaches her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "What are you two doing? We need to be on our way."

"Just cooling off," Sinbad says with a grin, squeezing water out of his clothes. "Ready to go?"

I nod, feeling more refreshed and lighthearted than I have in days. "Ready," I say, following him back to the camp.

As we walk towards the carriages, I notice Miss Motan in the distance. I quickly change my direction, hoping to avoid a confrontation, but it's too late—she's already seen me. Her sharp eyes narrow as she strides purposefully towards us, her expression a mix of disapproval and concern.

"Princess Daniella," she calls out, her tone firm. "What on earth happened to you? You're soaking wet!"

I plaster on a smile, trying to defuse the situation. "Just a little accident by the creek, Miss Motan. Nothing to worry about."

Her gaze flickers to Sinbad, who is standing beside me, equally drenched. "And what about you, Emperor Sinbad? Were you involved in this... accident as well?"

Sinbad chuckles, his charm unshaken. "Indeed, Miss Motan. We both took an unexpected dip."

Miss Motan sighs, clearly exasperated. "This is highly irregular. Princess, you need to change into dry clothes immediately. We can't have you catching a cold."

"I understand, Miss Motan," I say, nodding. "I'll change right away."