Before he'd realized her intentions, she'd spun, and run from the garden, back through the ballroom. She flew, up the stairs and out of his life. The ballroom doors parted as if on command, allowing-non-assisting her escape.
And yet, there he'd stood, dumbstruck, bewildered. His limbs thick, heavy leads of steel, as the throng of dancers cleared the way, mindful of her haste. He jerked to the present, torn from his dream.
He should have them all beheaded.
Prince bounded from the bed and paced his large, opulent chamber. He was a man who had never wanted for anything in all his nineteen years, he reasoned. Of that, his parents had made certain. He was Royalty.
"Royalty, I say!" He yelled to the empty room.
"Sire?" His annoying friend and companion, in truth, his cousin, though he'd deny the fact if asked. Arnald poked his head through the door and Prince frowned.
"Nothing, Arnald. Be off."
It confounded the mind why a young and beautiful princess would run. From him. He could understand her running from Arnald whose manners resembled that of an ox.
Prince stopped before a luxuriously padded-chair and sunk down, chin resting on his fist. But, alas, she was gone. He tried to summon his anger. 'Twas impossible. She was too beautiful for him to be truly angry-too sweet for his outrage.
Lovestruck. That's what he was, he thought glumly. Mayhap, really 'twas all a dream.
Restless, he stood again and gazed out at the night sky. 'Twould be dawn soon. The sun would rise and he with no idea where to find her. He'd not even learned her name.
"Why? Why had she run?"
"Because you are such a child," Arnald said.
"I thought I told you to be gone," Prince snapped.
"Hah! Who else would you have to talk to?"
Prince scowled at the truth of that statement. "I have much to offer. A home, large coffers. Overflowing coffers." Prince resumed his pacing. "Lands, clothes, servants-" He stopped.
"And?" Arnald prompted.
And…Love? He dared not spout that to his cousin. He would ne'er hear the end of such drivel. He cleared his throat, paused, before changing tactic. "Young women were known to fantasize their notions of romantic love, non?" He said slowly, carefully keeping his eyes averted from the teasing light he would surely see in Arnald's.
"I vow that is so."
"I must marry regardless, oui?"
"Oui."
"Then she is whom I must marry. Maman is determined, after all." Justification served to save face, and Prince leaped on the excuse, knowing he lied to Arnald all the while.
"Oui, determined," Arnald repeated, chuckling.