13: Finding Out Her Age

Prince Keith's POV

I didn't know why I let myself get so riled up. The moment I laid eyes on Molly and Heather together, a surge of irritation coursed through me. I didn't want to see Molly with Heather. I had my reasons for this. I returned back to my room and sat in my wheelchair.

I let out a frustrated sigh. Why did I even bother? I knew Heather wasn't going to listen. She never did. She never listened to anyone, least of all me. And yet, there I was, worrying over her as if it mattered. As if it made any sense for me to care about her at all.

I hated the fact that she was slowly slipping into my mind, that wasn’t the way it was supposed to be, Heather is someone I am not supposed to care about yet I couldn’t stop myself. I should have allowed her with Molly and then she would have found out herself the kind of person she is, even though I knew all this, I still wanted to warn her and tell her to be careful.

I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts away. This was ridiculous. I was supposed to focus on my duties, on my future, not on her.

Then, as if summoned by the very frustration that had been gnawing at me, there came a knock on the door. I rolled back in my chair and wheeled myself over to the door, unsure who it was. When I opened it, I was met with the familiar face of Nyles.

"Keith," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Can I come in?"

I stepped aside, opening the door wider for her. As she walked in, she wrapped her arms around me in a warm, unexpected hug. I froze for a moment, caught off guard by the embrace. I wasn't sure why it unsettled me, but it did.

"What's this for?" I asked, pulling back slightly to look at her.

She only gave me a half-hearted smile, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I missed you," she said simply, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Really?" I asked, my voice flat. "You miss me, Nyles? We saw each other when?”

She hesitated, then nodded, her gaze falling to the floor. "Of course I do," she said letting out a deep sigh.

“So tell me what brought you here, I know it’s not about whether you missed me or not. Something is bothering you,” I said and she stood up. Tilting her head back as if she was trying to let go of the frustration that had consumed her.

"I still can’t believe they made her move next to you Keith, I am trying to wrap my head around it but I can’t. I am scared, I am scared that one day you will wake up and you won’t want me anymore.  She is so annoying, Keith. She doesn't belong in the palace, and she sure as hell doesn't belong with you. She is nothing but trouble. She is not even royalty. She doesn't deserve to be married to you. I feel like Grand Luna only brought her here because of me. I don’t know why your family is so against us. Maybe it’s because I am the only one who truly cares and has your best interest at heart .”

I watched Nyles speak with clenched jaws, I was already tired of her going back and forth about Heather, it just seemed like she had a little faith in me and believed that I was somehow going to end up falling for her, I slowly rubbed my temple, tired and I didn’t want to hear anything about this anymore.

"Nyles, can we drop this for once? I have heard it a thousand times already. What more do you want me to say, how do you want me to promise you that I am not going to have anything to do with her?”

She fell silent for a moment, a soft frown on her face. I could see the frustration in her eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to care, just like she is frustrated, she is equally making me feel more terrible.

"Sorry, Keith," she said, though the apology felt forced. "I just... I don't want you to get hurt. You deserve someone better and that better is me.”

I wasn't sure what to say, so I just kept quiet. She watched me for a while expecting me to say something and I sighed, tired of the conversation. "I have got something to do," I said, wheeling my chair toward the door. "I will talk to you later."

“Are you seriously going to leave only me in your room?” Nyles called after me and I stopped turning to look at her.

“I told you I have something to do,” I replied through gritted teeth.

“Then I will leave,” she muttered angrily and walked out of the room.

I actually had nothing to do but I didn't want to be cooped up in that room any longer with Nyles, whining my ears off. I needed fresh air, something to take my mind off everything. So, I made my way to the garden, I had spent so many days designing and cultivating. The scents of the different flowers hit me immediately, filling the air with the calmness I desperately needed. It was the only place where I could forget about the noise, the pressure, and the endless expectations.

I rolled along the winding path, my thoughts drifting, until I suddenly noticed someone in the distance. I squinted, realizing it was Lucinda, the maid assigned to Heather.

“Lucinda!” I called out to her, and she turned, quickly walking toward me.

"Your Highness," she greeted me, her tone respectful as always.

"Lucinda," I said, my voice much softer than it had been earlier. "Where is Heather?"

She paused for a moment, looking uncertain. "She is still in her room, Your Highness," she replied.

I wanted to ask more about Heather, but I stopped myself as I couldn't quite figure out why. It didn't make sense I am trying to know more about the same person I wish I was never married to.

“Do you need anything Your Highness?” She asked as she noticed I was too quiet for long.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting, what do you know about Heather, since you are her maid, she should have told you some things about her,” I asked before I could stop myself as my curiosity got the better of me.

Lucinda blinked, clearly taken aback by the question, I was as well shocked like her that I just asked that. "I... I don't know much, Your Highness. She hasn't shared much with me, other than that her birthday is coming up in two months."

I leaned forward slightly, my interest piqued. "Her birthday? Did she mention the date to you?” I asked and she nodded negatively.

“Not really, I can’t remember if she did but she just told me her birthday is in two months' time.”

“Okay, I see. How old will she be?"

"Eighteen, Your Highness," Lucinda answered.

Eighteen?

I was shocked. I didn’t expect Heather to be that young, she was too young to have been given out for marriage. I hadn't realized just how young she was until now. Eighteen? That meant she was just a girl, not yet even in the prime of her life. And yet, she was being thrust into this world, my world whether she wanted it or not. Life in the palace was hard and I wondered how she was going to cope with it.

"Thank you, Lucinda," I said, trying to steady my breath. "You may go.”

She nodded, offering me a polite smile before walking away, I watched her leave, my mind was consumed with thoughts. I sat there for a moment, staring at the space where she had stood.

I wondered what I was going to do but I was sure of one thing, I am going to make sure that she celebrates her birthday. I rolled my chair for a while until I noticed someone close by.

I stopped and turned around, “come out, I’m here alone,” I said and he came outside. “What brought you here?” I asked

“My lord, we were able to steal some of the documents you asked us to obtain, we want you to come and see them,and tell us what next we should do.” He says respectfully, gently bowing his head.

“Was anyone caught?”I asked

“No my lord, there is no alarm yet,” he replied

“Then let everyone stay on standby until I give my commands, you can bring the documents to my room later, I will go through them myself.”

“Yes my lord.” And with that he retreated, while I tried to clear my head with the gentle breeze that surrounded me.