We Have To Leave

After their afternoon tea, Nicholas felt a bit guilty for putting Sophie in that awkward position. How painful it must be to recount all of these details to whom she believed to be a complete stranger?

"Um, Sophie… besides you trying to secure your future. Is there anything else that you wish for?" Nicholas asked.

Sophie raised a brow. "Anything else? I don't think I'll be able to think about anything else once I'm working as a tavern owner. It's a very busy job, you know?"

Nicholas looked at the young woman whose mind was solely focused on carving out a livelihood for herself. Sophie didn't even think about anything else? Nicholas wanted to tell her that it was fine to have dreams and other wishes besides making money to live.

"What if you could do anything that you want, Sophie?"

"I'm not exactly sure if I can follow this train of thought, Nicholas."

Sophie was trying to be pragmatic and realistic. Unlike Nicholas who was a noble, she needed to work hard. Twice harder to be able to actually have freedom.

"Just imagine it. A time and place where you don't have to think about the future and what it holds for you… If you could have anything, be anyone or do something that you think is impossible, what would it be?"

Sophie stared at Nicholas for a moment and mulled over the question. She bit on her lip nervously for a moment and that's when Nicholas realized that she actually did have something that she wanted.

"I think you figured it out, Sophie," the man said with a small smile.

A ring or a business capital wasn't enough payment for someone who saved his life.

Sophie really wished that Nicholas didn't ask such a question because now it made her feel a bit silly. However, it was the first time that someone genuinely asked her what she wanted.

A tavern was one thing...

"I want to go out and explore the world," Sophie admitted at last. "When I was young, the entire world to me was Hauntingen and the woods where I lived with my parents. Hastings is also just a small town. I want to see the capital..."

Nicholas blinked and knew he could take Sophie to the capital, but did she say world?

"I want to go to countless places and see what the world has in store for everybody," Sophie smiled and looked down at her empty cup of tea. "People always talked about there being witches in the woods I lived in, but there was none."

Nicholas also knew that as well. Or else he would have a hard time navigating through the woods.

"I wonder what it would actually be like to meet a witch for real?" Sophie grinned. "And why stop at that? If there are witches, ghouls and other creatures… what would it be like to meet a ferocious and majestic dragon? Travel the sea and see everything with my own eyes?"

There was a faraway look on Sophie's face that somewhat made Nicholas long for it as well.

But unlike Sophie, Nicholas was chained to a certain role and position… and he doubted he could actually take her to those places himself.

It was a realization that suddenly made him feel at loss.

What good was it to be the crown prince and future king if this person he admired wanted to be so far away?

Sophie realized Nicholas's silence and quickly calmed herself down. She tried to laugh it off and scratched her cheek. "Well, that's that. I don't think I'd actually be able to do all of those things by myself."

"Well, there's actually the next best thing," Nicholas suddenly said.

"What do you mean?"

Nicholas smiled sheepishly. He actually remembered a certain magical book at the royal library. "You know, there are books with certain stories written so well that you can almost imagine yourself being there?"

Sophie's expression cheered up. "Books. Ahh…. I should have guessed that. They're amazing and it really is the next best thing… After a long day of work at my tavern, I can sit down and relax with a good book."

"When I go to the capital, I'll get you a good book." Nicholas made a promise solemnly.

"A good book?"

"Something really wonderful that'll help capture the image and sense of adventure I'm noticing from you," Nicholas chuckled.

Sophie smiled. "And I'll be doing all of this at the comfort of my fluffy chair. Brilliant."

Nicholas wanted to say that it was a special magic book inscribed with numerous glyphs that made the scenarios actually play out as if you were watching a play. But he wanted to keep it a surprise.

Before Nicholas could say anything else though, two knights suddenly entered the balcony.

"Your High—"

"Ah, what is it?" Nicholas quickly interrupted the younger knight with a raised eyebrow. He didn't want Sophie to hear the knight address him as 'Your Highness'. That would surely blow his cover as the baron's nephew. "Has my grand uncle been expecting me since I skipped my classes? I'll go there if you need me, but I'm still with a guest."

"I don't want to be a bother if I'm interrupting something," Sophie said as she rose to her feet.

Nicholas wanted her to stay a little longer, but it couldn't be helped if his grand uncle needed him for something. Lord Ferdinand never bothered him unless it was actually important.

"Then I'll have my men escort you back," Nicholas said. "But I'll be seeing you tomorrow alright?"

"If you'll attend cow dung that is," Sophie chuckled.

"I'll make sure to attend," Nicholas grinned. "But if I don't, you're free to come here and drag me to go back there."

Sophie rolled her eyes but nodded. "Then I won't take up too much of your time now, Nicholas… or, should I be calling you 'my lord' now? I've been rude, haven't I?"

"It's fine. Call me as you wish," Nicholas chuckled. "I would really like to take you home by myself, but…"

"You don't have to apologize." Sophie smiled. "Thank you for inviting me over for tea, Nicholas."

Once Sophie was escorted out by one of the knights, Nicholas headed to Lord Ferdinand's office… only to see that the man was holding a letter in his hand.

It contained the royal seal.

"We need to leave," the old man said in a grim tone.

.

.

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

From Missrealitybites:

I really, really love the cover of this book, made by my favorite artist. If I could order 100 artworks from her, I would. Unfortunately, she limits only accepting 3 orders per client and her waiting list is really long.

I am really lucky to snatch one commission slot from her and that's how we get to have Sophie, Nicholas, and Leland on the current cover. You can see the artwork in more detail in my comment.