71_Thanks for making me smile

****************

Alex saw the princess and Zeke coming out of the castle, Xavier brought the horses out of the stables and began brushing the mane.

"Where were you two?" Alex asked.

"In the courtroom," Zeke said.

"I thought no one was allowed in there aside from the Kingdom's higher-ups?" Alex asked again.

"I know right, can you believe these oldies?" Zeke said and went over to the stable to get some hay for the horses.

"That doesn't still answer my question!" Alex yelled behind him as he walked into the stable.

Alex turned his attention to Evie, hoping to get an answer from her, but all she did was smile and follow Zeke into the stable.

Evie fiddled with her fingers, she didn't want to waste any more time, the feelings she tried to hide tended to explode when she was near him.

She was gonna do it, she would tell Ezekiel how she felt, and even if he didn't accept her, at least she got it off her chest.

Evie followed Zeke into the stable, he rolled up his sleeves, gathering the hay with his back turned to her.

"Ezekiel?" She called in a hoarse voice.

"Ah, Princess, you don't have to worry, I'll take care of things here," He said, turning to her and flashing his heartwarming smile.

"No--no, that's not why am here," She said, still fiddling with her fingers and taking spin strides towards him.

"Are you perhaps here to thank me for what I did back in the courtroom, you don't have to, I told you it's the least I could do to thank you for your hospital..." Before he could complete his words, she tip-toed, holding his face in her palms, and planted a soft and tender kiss on his lips. Zeke's eyes widened at the sudden move of the princess, it was highly unexpected.

"...I have fallen in love with you, Ezekiel," She said after pulling away, staring into those deep brown eyes as she said those words. Her heart, pounding against her chest, anticipating his answer.

"I--I don't know how it happened, but from the first time I saw you, I knew you were the one...the one for me," She said again with sincerity gleaming in her eyes.

Zeke was speechless, he didn't know what to say not what to do, his mouth was open agape still recalling the sudden kiss.

"Please say something," She said.

(clears throat)" Uhm, Princess...I'm sorry but..."

"You're in love with someone else. Is it Sarah?" She asked.

"Ho--How did you know?" He asked.

"I'm not dense, and you should do a good job hiding your feelings," She said, looking down in embarrassment.

Ezekiel felt bad, he had never felt so bad about rejecting someone before, so why now?

He attempted to touch her shoulder but his hand stopped in mid-air and then he withdrew.

Evie lifted her face, this was her first time being in love, her first time confessing and also her first time being rejected, it was all her firsts.

She thought if he didn't accept her it wouldn't change a thing, but she was wrong, it hurt, it hurt so bad that she wished the ground could open up and swallow her.

She lifted her head, not realizing the watery gleam in her eyes, she forced a smile, stepping back slowly.

"I promise not to bother you again, and I hope she returns your feelings," Evie said and then turned away.

Zeke let out a depressed sigh, 'All of this is all my fault,' he thought.

'Why did I have to be so handsome?' He said, trying to find a sense of humor so he could get over what just happened.

Evie went outside, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.

"Princess Evelyn," Xavier called but she quickly made her way to the castle's entrance.

Xavier and Alex glanced at each other clueless, in a moment they saw Zeke coming out from the stable.

"What did you do to her?" Alex asked.

"Whom?" Zeke asked.

"Princess Evie,"

"Nothing, what made you think I did something to her,"

"Because she left the stable while sobbing, you dummy!" Alex said.

Zeke became silent, he sighed and dropped the hay he was holding up for the horses.

"I didn't do anything," Zeke said.

'I don't believe him,' Zavian said in Xavier's head.

"We all don't," Xavier replied.

"We all don't what?" Alex asked since he couldn't hear Zavian.

"I wasn't referring to you," Xavier said.

"Who were you referring to then?" He asked again.

"He wasn't referring to you, Zavian must have spoken and he he replied," Zeke said.

Alex had a confused gaze etched on his face "I keep asking, who the hell is Zavian?!"

.

.

.

.

.

Back in Evie's room

Evie sat on the floor, her head laid on her bed, sobbing.

{Knock, knock} Sarah knocked before entering the room, Evie quickly wiped her tears and sat up.

"Hey," Sarah said, sitting next to her.

"Hey," Evie replied with a nervous smile.

"I heard you crying, what's wrong?" She asked.

"It's--it's nothing," Evie said, waving it away.

"If it's something that made you cry, it is something, something big!" Sarah said dramatically, causing Evie to chuckle.

"I grew up as an only child to my Father and the heir to the throne of this kingdom. I'm used to doing whatever he wants me to do and five years ago, I was betrothed to our Kingdom's general, a man old enough to become my Father," Evie said and Sarah gasped, her hands flew to her mouth as her eyes shook with pity.

"Thankfully, The assassin came at the right time and broke those two Barriers, stopping me from doing what I wanted, being free and falling in love," Evie said, smiling to herself.

"But now you've fallen in love, haven't you?" Sarah asked and Evie nodded.

"That's great news. Who is it?" Sarah asked, genuinely happy for Evie.

"Although It shouldn't be Xavier, because Athena would kill for him, and he loves her, very much," Sarah said, causing Evie to chuckle again.

"Not Alex, ''cause...he's taken," Sarah said with a blush.

"It's neither, the person I like is...Ezekiel," Evie said.

"What, that nuisance?!" Sarah asked in shock.

"I didn't think someone was capable of falling in love with that annoying being!!" Sarah said in disgust.

"Unfortunately, I have," Evie said.

"So what is the reason for your tears?" Sarah asked.

"He's in love with someone else," She said looking into her eyes.

"Aww so sorry, He's such a rascal, I wish I could just...Argh!" Sarah said in annoyance, making Evie to laugh hard.

"Thanks Sarah," Evie said, embracing Sarah warmly.

"For what?"

"For making me smile,"

"It's been a while since I laughed this hard," Evie said again and Sarah returned the hug.