SWNOVELS Chapter 4
Marisela
The following morning at breakfast, I sat at the table with Cory and his wife, who I recently found out was Rosa's handmaiden.
Ronaldo and the King were absent this morning, along with Dimitri. I overheard a few of the servants speaking earlier with Rosa, that they had duties to attend to, something to do with a nearby village, before she had to excuse herself from breakfast.
After my late night swim in the ocean last night, I got to my room two hours before sunrise. If I had not remembered to set my alarm the night before, I would've missed breakfast.
I haven't seen Maria the whole morning, so I didn't have anyone to talk to besides Cory, but he was more interested in the woman beside him, his wife. Her name is Layla. They both look way too young to be married, but love has no age... so they kept saying.
They were truly adorable, you could see the love evident in their eyes when they spoke to each other. They did include me in some of the conversations just so I wouldn't feel left out, but it started getting awkward when Layla addressed me as Luna a couple of times before correcting herself. Whatever that was, I just assumed it was part of their lingo. I sat silently eating my breakfast.
After breakfast, I was about to head back to my room, when I saw Rosa approach me.
''Your Majesty.'' I bow in respect.
''Princess .'' she greets, ''please, call me Rosa.'' She smiles. ''Walk with me, will you?'' Surprised by her request, I nod my head and follow.
''I couldn't help but notice that you and Kael disappeared for a while last night,'' she smiles knowingly, making me blush.
''Well.. uh... it wasn't intentional.'' I blush, ''and it wasn't anything like that!''
"Well I'm glad that you are both wanting to spend time together." She says and I try so hard to tell her that our interaction last night was not at all intentional. It was just a.. coincidence?
''I know this must be hard for you.'' She sighs, "But it will get easier dear."
What? being shipped off to an arranged marriage? I thought to myself.
''Well not exactly,'' she laughs.
Did I just say that out loud?
''Yes, you did,'' she laughs again making me blush further, ''but, I don't want you to think of this as an arrangement, do you believe in destiny Princess?''
destiny? I think the look I gave her answered her question.
''I believe in destiny. I knew Ronaldo and I were destined to be together from the day I met him,'' she smiles as if thinking of a past memory. Hoping she would elaborate further I wait for her to continue.
''I guess you can call it love at first sight.'' We stop walking as Rosa takes a seat by a table in the middle of the garden. She points to the chair beside her and I accept. ''Our people believe, that there is someone out there that is meant for us, like...'' she looks at me, ''like a soulmate.'' She blushes causing me to smile.
''Ronaldo is my soulmate.'' The love for her husband is clearly evident in her eyes. I couldn't help but smile at her beautiful confession.
''I believe in true love, but not so much in destiny,'' I tell her as she listens carefully, ''its just that.. how is it possible for there to be only one person made for you?'' I finish, but she didn't say anything. She gives a sad smile and looks away. Did I say something wrong?
''Rosa, I did not mean to offend-''
''Oh no, you didn't dear.'' she gives a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, ''there's just so much you don't know.'' she says quietly to herself but I hear it and frown.
What do I not know?
''I hate to be forward,'' she says, ''but do you mind if I ask you a question?'' she asks. Interested in hearing her question I nod.
''how does Kael make you feel? Like do you get any weird feelings from him?'' surprised by her odd question, I took a deep breath before answering. I turn my gaze away from her, looking at the garden, thinking of how I can answer her question.
How did he make me feel? Last night I had no clue what was wrong with me, every time I looked at him, I got this butterfly feeling in the pit of my stomach, or my heart would start beating fast, much like what its doing now just thinking about him. But I obviously couldn't say that to her.
''honestly,'' I sigh, ''I don't know how he makes me feel.'' really? that's the best you could do Marisela.
''I don't know anything about him.'' I admit. Well, that's somewhat of the truth.
''Oh sweetheart,'' she places her hands on top of mine, I look up at her instinctively and see the warmth in her eyes, ''I know this is all strange to you, but everything will make sense to you in time.''
''I don't quite understand.''
''you will dear, in time, its just not my place to speak, that is Kael's place.'' she says. ''I just hope he does it sooner rather than later.'' she says more to herself. She looks away with a sad smile, but it quickly turns to that of a genuine smile when her gaze turns back to me.
''Well, you better go and freshen up, you have a busy day today Princess.'' Just then two guards appear out of no where, ''I'll see you in a bit.'' she smiles once more before getting up to leave.
I wanted to ask her what she meant, what is it that I don't know?
However, she was right, I had to get ready.
Apparently I have a busy day ahead.
As I jump out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my body and walk into the closet. I hear a frantic knock at the door. I cover myself up with a robe and open the door, surprised to see Maria. I smile and let her in.
''Maria. how are-''
''Marisela,'' she cuts me off as she makes her way into my room, ''what the actual hell! I saw you last night.''
''At the dinner?'' I look at her confused.
''I was walking home with Cory and Layla,'' she speaks walking up and down frantically. ''And.... I saw you.'' She stops to look at me.
''Maria, I'm sorry, I don't quite understand?''
''I saw you...'' she points at me dramatically and stops walking, ''but I don't know what exactly I saw.''
''What-''
''I saw you by the shore,'' she says and I frown.
Oh no.
''Marisela....What are you?''
All the blood drains from my face as I stare at Maria.
This can not be happening.