After we bought the dresses, I immediately headed to Poehina's father. I wasn't close to Poehina's family and this was the first time I went to find him myself. I wasn't even sure when was the last time I saw him and completely forgot about his existence. I wasn't even sure I would have recognized him if he wasn't sitting behind his study desk. He was equally surprised to see me and jumped up looking behind me to see if I was alone.
"Poehina?
-Am I disturbing you? I could come back later.
-No, no. Please, sit down."
There was a green couch and I sat down a bit uncomfortable. It was weird being with my "father" because I didn't know him at all.
"I won't waste your time. I will break off the engagement."
My father opened wide eyes:
"I beg your pardon?
-I will break off the engagement with the crown prince.
-Don't you want to be an empress?
-No. I am not qualified for that. And I dislike Alastair very much. I won't spend my life with him."
My father wanted to ask more but he suddenly pinched his lips and looked away:
"Very well."
I tilted my head. Was this going to be that easy? I thought that my father would flip out and yell at me for letting pass such an opportunity. I stared at him for a bit more, waiting for him to say that it was a joke. But he didn't say anything while still not looking at me.
"Don't send the letter straight away.
-Okay.
-I'll tell you when to send it.
-Very well."
I left the study completely lost. Why was my father being all weird about it? He was being so weird that I needed some more time to think it through. Was I not seeing something? Was it better for me to stay as his fiancé? I could sleep on it some more. I suddenly stopped walking. No. I didn't need time to think about it. I should always follow my intuition. I turned right back and ran back to the study before pushing the door open. My father jumped and looked at me his eyebrows:
"Send the letter now.
-Okay."
He was still being very weird and after an awkward silence I just left. Orange was waiting for me in our room and when I walked in she looked at me with worried eyes. But she didn't dare say anything as usual. I thought the way she was looking up at me while holding a pillow was adorable. I really wanted to tease her but it was still a bit awkward after the time she cried. Therefore I just went to take a shower and wash my hair. I was too lazy to dry it and came out with water still dripping. Orange immediately got up and grabbed a towel before sitting down behind me on the bed. I was used to her drying my hair and I closed my eyes feeling perfectly relaxed. I was so relaxed that I slowly started laying back and found myself resting against Orange.
The latter focused on drying my hair worried that I would catch a cold. She loved hugging me and I knew she liked me laying on her but she still froze and after a few seconds she pushed me away:
"Sit straight. I have to dry your hair."
I signed:
"But I am tired.
-You will catch a cold if you sleep like this."
I signed again:
"You are so mean."
I immediately laughed to show Orange that I was of course joking. But I was scared that she would misunderstand and specified:
"I am kidding of course. Thank you so much for dying my hair.
-I like doing it.
-By the way, I broke off the engagement."
Orange opened wide eyes and I started laughing:
"I did it as soon as we came home. I realized that I didn't have to wait to turn 18 to do so. But dad accepted it way too easily than I thought. He must have sent the letter by now."
Orange stared at me for a few seconds:
"Were you going to run away at 18?
-Yes. Because I didn't realize that I could break it off that easily. I thought that running away would be better but I was wrong. Today I realized that I could do anything I wanted and I was ready to do anything to break it off. It is my life and I do whatever I want. But I didn't think that it would be that easy. Isn't it weird?
-Do you think it is?
-Yes. I don't know. I don't know my father enough to know if this is weird. But we live in a world where rich people get engaged at birth and he is the crown prince. Everyone would want their daughter to marry the crown prince right? Isn't my father like that?
-He always let you do whatever you wanted.
-Fair enough. I was never prevented from doing anything. That's why I forgot how messed up this place was for a long time.
-You don't like this city?
-I don't like this country. I don't like their laws.
-We could leave together.
-That would be a good option. But wouldn't I be a coward if I ran away so easily?
-You don't have to fight for people who aren't worth it.
-Fair enough."
I signed:
"I am just in a good mood today. Let's think about it another time. I know that it's very easy to fall into comfort but I talked up every time something happened that I didn't like so it isn't that bad yet. Let's just enjoy today. I broke off the engagement and that's one big step."
Seeing me all tired, Orange laid me down on the stomach before continuing to dry my hair sitting next to my head.
"Did you break off the engagement because you don't like him?
-I don't like him but it wasn't for that. It was because I am the only person who can decide when to get married.
-So you want to get married someday?
-I think so. I don't understand the idea of marriage. Why should two people need to sign a paper to show that they love each other? So no I don't want to be married but that doesn't mean I don't want to fall in love. And weddings are cool. It's a huge party. What about you?
-I would love to get married to the one I love.
-How do you imagine your dream wedding?
-It's not really the wedding that is important. I just want it to be perfect for the one I love."
I frowned:
"You should think about yourself more, Orange. How do you imagine your wedding?"
She didn't hesitate a second. As if she knew exactly what she wanted:
"It would be during the end of spring where it is hot enough already but not too hot. Maybe somewhere around may. The celebration would start during the day in a gorgeous ballroom and with tons of food. Before sunset we would all go to the beach and watch the sun go down while cutting the chocolate cake. After sunset we would stay on the beach to continue the celebration because it would still be hot enough. There would be thousands of scented candles and lanterns everywhere to illuminate the night. I would catch billions of fireflies and let them all go at once while dancing to our favorite song. People would leave during the dance and it would be only us two left. All the candles and lanterns would be blown out and without any light pollution we would look at the stars and sleep there on a huge hammock."
I opened round eyes and looked up to Orange:
"That sounds amazing! I love it! It sounds exactly like my ideal wedding! You should absolutely invite me. I'll kill you if you don't."
Orange smirked:
"You'll have the central role in my wedding, I promise.
-Deal. You have to swear."
Still laying down, I extended Orange my pinky finger and she wrapped hers and mine with a smile:
"I swear."
I smiled:
"Me too. You will have the VIP seat at my wedding. I swear."
I started feeling cold and crawled up to lay my head on Orange's lap. This was way better and I smiled as I rubbed my head against her legs. Orange froze again but she went back to drying my hair without saying anything. I felt really cozy and started humming the first song that came to my mind. Orange froze again for some reason and she completely forgot to continue drying my hair.
I stopped humming. Why did Orange stop drying my hair?
"Orange?"
I couldn't see her face but felt her hand gently pat my head:
"Could you continue singing, please?"
I smiled and went back to humming. Slowly the humming turned into singing but it was hard singing on my belly so I turned around my head still on Orange's lap. I was still with my eyes closed and Orange was still caressing my face as I was singing happily. I didn't know how long I sang but I fell asleep in that position. What I remembered next was Orange gently caressing my face to wake me up in the morning. I grunted and turned around to disappear behind the covers but Orange surrounded my hips with her arms and pulled me closer to her. I grunted again and tried my best to run away but for some reason Orange was way stronger than I thought.