Burning Desires

Chapter 20

                After that dance in the room of Princess Evangeline, I tried to ignore Aurum as much as I possible. He did corner me a few times and forced me in some way that I couldn’t decline. But, if I want to survive this, I have to prevent myself from getting closer to him. Of course, there is still a big possibility that I’ll fall in love with him—especially when his mother told me it’ll come eventually. Like her, the king is her mate. She endured the same thing I’m going through right now, and much to her dismay, she fell in love.

                But I promised myself I won’t ever fall in love with Aurum. No matter how kind he had gotten from the past few days since I first met him.

                Unfortunately, I did try and ask what kind of disagreement he had with his father—since I remembered what he said when he came to that room purposely. And trying his best by being honest, he told me it was something about the throne, and that he only had about two and a half months away before the king would retire and pass him the position.

                Regarding that matter, he told me that he never wanted the responsibility in the first place. He wasn’t meant to rule, his sister was. And considering the memories they shared, Aurum clearly loved her.

                After two weeks inside the palace, I’ve gotten myself accustomed to a few workers—mainly the kitchen because as much as I loved dancing, I loved cooking, too. Marie was a good friend to me. Stating the fact I’m wearing the royal jewel around my neck—which was irremovable, by royal decree, I am automatically a princess. This caused a few distress from some workers, but I assured them that I won’t be doing anything inequitable.

                Also, including the few days when I was forced to wear dresses, I eventually got tired of those flaring skirts and tight-fitting corsets that I began wearing my jeans and tops again. Even if they are inappropriate especially for a princess—like Diane, Serene, and Katrina stated. Those three were unbearably strict about the ‘how to be a proper princess’ crap they’re forcing into my head. Whether they like it or not, I’d do things my own way this time. I’m a bit tired being dictated on how to do this and how to do that. Who the heck cares anyway?

                After those contradiction and disagreement we had from each other, I remained stern. I was later on labeled as ‘unbecoming and rebellious, unofficial princess’. Since my position in Arsatia was only by royal order, I won’t be a real royalty if I don’t . . . marry him.

                Jamie, on the other hand, had taught Pistachio a few tricks in a short matter of time. The squirrel already learned how to dance—and I thought it was a bit weird. Bearing in mind that Jamie can now talk to animals, she started becoming closer and closer to them. I would often hear her talking to herself, and the next thing I knew, she was actually talking to an animal.

                One time when he asked me if I know what his name means, I answered it was the Latin term for ‘gold’. I don’t even get the reason why he was named after a piece of metal. But when he asked when I know the meaning of my own name, I told him no. He told me ‘Shirley’ means bright meadow and ‘Astrid’ for fair and beautiful goddess. I never actually expected that, Aurum said it wasn’t different from the person who actually owns the name—and I can’t believe I felt myself blush. He actually knows how to make a girl fluster.

                Those two weeks have been bearable. I got to admit that having a white tiger and Ru by your side is fun. She wasn’t actually the girl I expected her to be. She was a bit reckless and carefree, but she was a kind person. A few times we played some prank on Demetrius, but we decided to call him Demetri for short. Prudence did something that we didn’t manage to get over a few days. We caused a sticky, gooey substance to spill into his face, made him chase a cat, slip on a wet zone and stamp some dirt on the palace floor which caused that maid to give him a real bath time. I can’t even handle the look on his face.