Miss Beaumont

‘Kael’s Point Of View.’

“This is what I could find,” Zekiel said, handing me a piece of paper.

I read the details of the paper.

-Full name: Evadne Beaumont.

-Age: Twenty-four.

-Village of birth: Crimson Vale.

-Occupation: Formally trained as a healer in a dance school, treating injured and sick dancers. Transferred from Crimson Vale to Dawn’s Rest.

-Family: Twin younger sisters, named Eva and Eira, both of age sixteen. Mother and Father are alive and well.

“Beaumont, huh,” I muttered to myself.

“If I may ask K…why are you so interested in her?”

I looked up. “Because she’s unreal zeke.”

Zekiel studied me. “That’s not an answer.”

I exhaled. “Because she didn’t fear me and had the audacity to mock me. I find that intriguing. Plus I’ve never seen such… beauty.”

He sighed. “Come on Kael, there’s so many ‘intriguing’ and beautiful women you can have brought to you. I’m sure you’re overreacting.”

“Maybe if you stopped sleeping with everything in a skirt, you’d understand.”

“Your loss, man.”

I went through the paper one last time.

I think it’s time to pay Miss Beaumont a visit.

******

‘Evadne’s Point of view’

It’s been two weeks since I last saw Kael, two weeks since I gave him those leaves. Maybe he was truly never coming here again. 

At least I got away with it.

Or so I thought.

I was sorting some herbs, when I heard a bang on the door.

I was about to open the door, when three royal soldiers barged in.

I recognized them immediately.

“You’re under arrest for the poisoning of the prince!” one of the soldiers barked, grabbing my arm violently.

Poison was a bit overdramatic, now wasn’t it?

I yanked my arm from his grip.

“Poison? I didn’t poison anyone!” I barked back.

“You can explain at the palace court,” he said, grabbing my arm again and nudging me towards the door.

“You’re hurting me!” 

I lied so he’d leave me. But he didn’t.

That’s when it dawned on me. 

They’d take me to the palace court, maybe even the dungeons. Who knew what was going to happen to me. What if they cut my head off?!

I was so bold, too bold, handing false medicinal leaves to the prince. The prince! 

Now I had to face the consequences.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared at all.

“You’re so stupid, Evadne,” I muttered under my breath.

Just as we were about to leave, a figure stepped into the entrance.

Kael.

Wearing the widest smirk ever.

He looked so much better than when I last saw him.

He was wearing a black tunic, slightly opened at the collar, fitted enough just to show his build.

I hadn’t been paying attention then, but I was doing so now.

That man was muscular.

A cloak was draped loosely over his shoulders, embroidered with subtle royal detail. It was quiet, expensive, and intentional.

His hair was tied back, though a few strands had fallen, brushing his grey eyes as they locked onto mine.

He looked at me Intently. Like I was the only thing in the room worth looking at.

And suddenly I couldn’t look away first.

He was… ridiculously striking.

“Seems like you’re truly the reckless one Miss Beaumont,” he said, stepping into the clinic.

He sat cross-legged on the chair, settling fully into it like he owned the room.

My jaw dropped.

He found out my full name? 

I’m sure he found out many other things as well. He was the prince after all.

He leaned forward. “Cat got your tongue Evadne?”

“Look, Pr-“

He cut me off instantly.

“I admit what I did wasn’t funny… to you. But I apologized, yet you still set me up.”

He leaned back slightly, smirk widening. 

“I’ll consider this whole thing… if you just apologize as well.” 

He was enjoying this far too much.

A part of me didn’t want to, a part of me wanted to scream no. But being stubborn at this point was pointless. 

“I’m sorry,” I said, barely above a whisper.

“Well then, let’s head to court,” he said, rising.

“I’m sorry!” I snapped quickly.

He settled back down immediately, satisfied like a child who just won something.

“See, that wasn’t so hard.”

His expression suddenly grew serious.

“Let go of her! I never told you to grab her like that in the first place.”

The soldier let go of me instantly.

“Sorry sir!” they chorused, bowing their heads.

“You all can leave, I’ll meet you at the camp.”

They bowed and left.

I shut the door.

“In the first place?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes at him.

“What do you mean by that?” 

Kael tilted his head slightly.

“Well, no one was arresting you Evadne, you just needed to be taught a lesson.”

You have to be kidding.

“A lesson?!” 

My mood snapped.

“What sort of lesson is that?!” 

He tilted his head to the side.

“Yelling at the prince now?”

He rose and walked over to me, staring me down.

 “You should be careful, Evadne. Your smart mouth will get you in trouble one day."

I held his gaze, even though my heart was beating faster than it wanted to.

“Or what?” I shot back. “You’ll actually have me arrested this time?”

Something flickered in his eyes.

Amusement, maybe?

I turned away first. Not because I wanted to… but because I had to.

I continued sorting out the herbs from earlier.

“Will that be all, Prince Kael?” I asked, my voice steady.

To my surprise, he let out a soft laugh.

“For a healer, you’re quite stubborn.”

I didn’t face him.

“I’m not stubborn.”

“You’re right, it’s all a tough act.”

I turned around this time.

“Tough act?” I repeated. 

“Yes, you keep acting like none of this bothers you,” he continued, “but I can see it all over your face. It does.”

I didn’t say anything.

He studied me for a moment longer then turned towards the door.

“I suppose it’s time I leave. Take care of yourself, Evadne.”

“Wait!” I called out.

He halted and turned.

“…How’s your wound?” I asked, my voice quieter now.

“Better,” he said. “Thanks to you.”

I glanced up and he was smiling softly this time.

And for some reason, that made it worse.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “For the leaves. For everything”

I hesitated.

“I mean it this time.”

He was about to speak when a woman’s cry suddenly came from outside.

“Please help me!” She screamed.

I froze.