Chapter 16 I Love You, Athena

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" Athena, we need to talk, "Xavier said, she slowly turned her gaze to him, and he stood there majestically with his hands behind him looking down at her with creased brows, she hesitantly stood up and trailed behind him as he walked to the castle bridge, he abruptly stopped without telling her and she bumped into him, hitting her head on his back. he turned to face her and ran his finger through his hair, he wanted to say something but stopped, his mouth opening and closing like a fish's own.

"Your Highness?"She called.

"Am leaving."Xavier suddenly broke out the news without beating around the bush.

Athena's Pov

The shock ran through me like an electrical wave "Leaving?" I asked and he nodded.

"Hmmm, journey safely," I said and turned to leave, the curiosity was killing me, I wanted to know where he was going, and I wanted to know when he will leave, I wanted to ask him all sorts of questions and most of all I wanted him to hold my hand.

Xavier grabbed my hand and turned my attention back to him, tears flowed down my eyes which I tried to hide from him but it was no use.

"Don't you get it, you are the only one I care about in this whole goddamn kingdom, and I can't leave without you. I want you to come with me" Xavier said holding both my hands and staring down at me intently, we were only inches apart and I was sure he could see the tears rolling down my cheek even if it was dimly lit.

"You know that's impossible, I am a maid dedicated to serving in this palace," I said.

"I can't just leave you here, knowing that Alex guy is here," Xavier said, I recognized that look, it was a look he'd make when he was jealous.

"Hahaha, are you jealous your highness?"I asked with a smile and shockingly he did not deny it. He always denies it when he was jealous but now he was doing the complete opposite.

"Ever since he came, you seem to have forgotten all about me, how wouldn't I be?"Xavier said and I thought he looked cute with a pout on his face. I was still hurt and somewhat jealous that he slept with me...I shooked the thought out of my head, who was I to interfere in his desires and most of all, I couldn't resist that cute face. I placed my hand on his face and tapped his cheek lightly.

'' You are both my friends and I will treat you both equally "

"Well, that's the problem Athena, I.. have fallen in love with you. I love you Athena" Xavier said and it was as if time froze, my heartbeat raced in my chest and I could hear it thump, the cold wind blew and I got goosebumps instantly and a "Hiccup" just came out of nowhere.

"Your Highness" I called still awestruck at his words.

"I have always loved you from the first time I laid my eyes on you six years ago, since then a part of me couldn't do without you, I drew portraits of you and hid them in my box, I did not know how to tell but now I finally dare to do so."He said staring at me lovingly, he looked so handsome in the dark his beauty had completely left me smitten. "Why are you silent Athena, say something your silence is killing me "

"There is nothing better than hearing you say that, "I said with a smile "But you always referred to me as 'just a maid' and it's true as a prince you are meant to marry a princess, not a slave"

"I am meant to marry a Princess but that doesn't mean I can't fall in love with anyone else."

"Athena, do you love me too?"He asked and it took a while before I nodded. A cute smile broke out on his lips and I embraced him. We both spent the rest of the evening together holding hands and walking around the palace, other maids noticed this and words spread like wildfire.

"Are you hungry?"Xavier asked and I nodded with a smile.

"Wait here, I have a surprise for you," He said and brought out a blue piece of fabric. he tied it around my face, covering my eyes, and leading me somewhere I couldn't quite fathom.

"Where are you taking me?"I asked when my curiosity was killing me inside I couldn't wait to take this off.

"You'll see," Xavier said, then took away the piece of fabric he tied around my face when we arrived. It was a picnic set right near the lake, the moon was shimmering against the lake giving it a beautiful contrast and little sparkles in the water. the cold wind blew calmly making the water do a calm dance. and also making the setting look so romantic.

"Hell...how, when did you have time to set up these?" I asked completely awestruck by the decorations.

"A prince never reveals his secret," he said with a smile.

" Am impressed. "I said ruffling his long hair. Xavier opened the bowl and lifted the tray, the sweet scent of baked bread wafted passed my nostrils, meats were placed at the center and fruits at the side.

"Wow that smells so good, it looks mouth-watering," I said, my eyes gleaming like stars.

"Here," Xavier said feeding me a cinnamon pie, I opened my mouth and collected it chewing it while Xavier watched. I took a grape and placed it in my mouth, unexpectedly, Xavier leaned in and slammed his lips against mine, he inserted his tongue in my mouth as it tangled around mine, and my eyes were as wide as saucers I could hear my own heart thumping in my chest and I was completely frozen. he finally found the grape and took it in his mouth, he pulled away chewing the grape with a smile on his face while mine was as red as ripe tomatoes. it was my first kiss and it had to be like this? Oh, Heavens.

Xavier's Pov

I walked Athena back to the maid's quarters and when we arrived I had to ask "Did...did I do something wrong?" I asked and she shook her head. I thought otherwise because ever since I stole a kiss from her Athena didn't say a word.

"Look, if...if you did not like the thing I did back then I am sorry, I should not ha..."I was silenced by Athena's lips she suddenly tip-toed and kissed me it was more like a peck on the lips since she was new to all these. She blushed after kissing me and placed her hands on her cheek to cool it down then hastily walked to the room.

"This must be how she felt back there," I thought I had done something wrong that was why she was silent not knowing she was planning her revenge.

'Hell, she's so fucking cute' Xavier thought inwardly, and when he turned around he was startled to see Alex standing behind him like a ghost with his hands in his pocket.

"She's a sweet girl isn't she?"Alex said and Xavier nodded walking closer.

"She is a sweet girl, and she's taken," Xavier said and a smirk broke out on his lips. Alex also smirked but it was not a teasing smirk it was more like a warning one.

"And if you ever find a reason to break her, I swear it, your Highness I will be the one to kill you with my bare hands," Alex said his voice sounding very low and vibrative.

Xavier didn't say a word and just walk past Alex, he went into the castle and straight to his chamber, he undressed and took a nice long bath he came out with a towel tied around his waist and used a shorter one to dry his hair. he opened his closet and took out his night garment and when he searched thoroughly he found a short purple one armed dress with stripes and designs, he looked down and saw a black heels and right next to the dress was a small box that contained his mother golden butterfly shaped necklace.he had bought this accessories for Athena except the necklace that belonged to his mother but he planned on giving it to her.He wanted to go out with her since he had never seen her in another clothes apart from her uniform and he knew how much she wanted to see the outside world.He took it and arranged it with a smile on his face.