Beauty and the Damned

28 | Even Beast

The gardens were so much better than getting stuck inside the chamber and the library. Ariadne couldn’t help but think about what happened thirty minutes ago. Leo tried to seduce her. Perhaps they already had this image of her in their minds and he was just trying to confirm it.

“A slut, huh.” She looked at the sky. It’s been only two days since she arrived and she couldn’t help but miss home.

“Here you are,” a voice said behind her. She whirled to see Rowan standing behind her. He was wearing his Prince suit. He walked towards her.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked. She sighed and looked at the flowers in the garden.

She decided not to tell him about what happened in the library. “I saw the garden so here I am,” she said and watched the birds on the birdbath. She felt Rowan sit beside her.

“Are you certain you are alright?” he asked, looking at her with doubts in his eyes.

She gave him a puzzled look. “Why would I be not?”

Rowan looked at her as if he wants to say something. He opened his mouth and closed it. Then opened it again but no words came out of his mouth. In the end, he just sighed.

He stood and offered his hand. Ariadne looked at it, wondering. “I told you we’re going to the seer today, didn’t I?” he said as if answering the question on her face.

She completely forgot about it. She was too occupied with what happened earlier. How the maid protected Leo’s plan. How the maid ended up having a relationship with Leo, and what Leo did to her earlier. She totally forgot about Rowan’s promise of taking her to the seer today to find out about the Dragon’s heart.

“Of course,” she said and smiled at Rowan. The man smiled back and took her hand. Her hand is warm and she couldn’t help but wish the time would last longer so he could hold her hand more. She would walk slower as they trudged the garden and into the pathway that leads to the gate. She doesn’t understand how Rowan could make her feel as if she could lean onto him. She felt like she could trust him with anything including her life.

When they were near the gate, she couldn’t see any wagon but two horses. She raised her brow at him. Rowan chuckled and faced her. He subtly looked around before he leaned and whispered, “This would look like a romantic date in the eyes of my brothers. We will go by horse to the city and then to the forest to find the seer.”

They didn't need to pretend to be in love as she recalled. His brothers couldn't care less but she knew Rowan meant it as a joke. So she leaned closer and placed her hand on his shoulder before she said, “Good. Because I don’t want to test that theory we came up with.” She then leaned back, only to find Rowan grinning from ear to ear.

“Why not? Remember how we came up to that theory?”

She rolled her eyes and walked towards the horse. That leaning forward should be enough. From afar, they would have looked like they were kissing each other. It was just that.

Rowan followed her introduced her to the horse. He also helped her ride on top of it before he strode atop the other horse. She looked at him.

“You said we’re going to the city. What if the people recognize you?”

Rowan just smirked in her direction. “That’s why I am going to the city. To erase the rumor of my death once and for all. After all, it is my job to assure my people. I will roam the city and let them see that I am much alive and they don’t need to worry who will become the next king.”

She narrowed her eyes towards him. “You always find the most convenient thing to do two or more things at once.”

He chuckled before he said, “I am sure you already know about how good I am at multitasking.” Then he winked at her before he tapped the side of the horse with the heel of his feet. She was left dumbfounded as she watched Rowan confidently riding the horse. Heat crept into her cheeks and she did not bother hiding it. Her horse started to run and before she knew it, she was already riding beside Rowan.

“Are you sure your brothers won’t have someone follow us?” she asked Rowan as they were going downhill.

“They will but let’s not give them something to talk about,” he said and they reached the city. It was bustling and everyone was busy minding their own business. She couldn’t help but notice how merchants are doing well while selling and how people in the city are busy buying things they want to buy. It wasn’t something she could see in her kingdom. The Kingdom of Vale was erased from the map. Not a lot of people know about it as if it was erased from their minds too.

The horse was steadily walking. Its steps echoing against the cobblestone pathway. And the moment people hear it, they would shy away from the road and gasp as they saw the Prince. The Prince they thought was dead.

Her face remained passive even as she started to hear whispers from the merchants and customers as they beheld the very much alive Crown Prince. When Rowan slowed down, she did too and she could hear some of the whispers.

“Who is that woman with him?” asked one woman. She did not hear what the other woman answered as an old man stood in the middle of the road, blocking their way.

“Your Highness,” he said and bowed before he looked at Rowan again. “Is that really you?”

The old man looked like he’s soon to wither away. Although his clothes are made of expensive silk, they were dirty. As if he had picked it somewhere and wore it. Rowan was silent for a moment. The people around them are silent too. Much to her surprise, Rowan got down from the horse and walked towards the old man. The old man coiled when Rowan was getting closer.

When Rowan placed his hand on the old man’s shoulder, she couldn’t help but notice how the old man flinched. “Yes, this is me,” Rowan answered before he looked around. The people started to whisper. Some were surprised to see him alive. Some said they didn’t believe the rumor in the first place. Some were more curious about who she is and why she’s with their Prince. She paid no mind. Her eyes were just on Rowan, looking at his people.

“But the late king—“

“Is at peace,” Rowan said and looked at the people who have stopped talking. “My father died and he left this kingdom to me.” He eyed his people. “I am the Crown Prince and by tradition, I take the throne and I become king.”

The people were silent. Ariadne isn’t sure if that was a good thing or not but Rowan continued, “My father has been a good king to you, his people. He has done wonderful things in this kingdom. I plan to continue what he had done and do something he hasn’t done yet. I will become your Kind and we will build a strong nation.”

She looked around. The people were looking at each other as if they were still trying to process that their Crown Prince is very much alive. But then the old man raised his arm, though it was trembling.

“Long live the king!” he screamed and bowed his head to the ground. Much to her surprise, the other people also raised their fists and screamed, “Long live the king,” before they bend their knee and bowed to show respect. The market was loud with yells, cheering Rowan on as he crouched down and helped the old man up. He looked at his people before he rode atop his horse. He bowed before he waved his hand and they made their way across the city with people cheering for him taking the throne. The yells were so loud she was certain it could be heard in the castle. She couldn’t help but wonder what could be Rowan’s brother’s reaction when they heard how the people in the city go nuts to see their new King very much alive.

***

The forest was far than she expected. She was astride the horse but then she was exhausted too. Thankfully, Rowan suggested they rest. And by the time they arrived at the mouth of the forest, it was already past noon. The sun was scorching hot and she rested under the huge tree while Rowan was tying the horse on one of the trees. Apparently, the horses couldn’t get in the forest so they’d have to walk on foot.

While she was looking at Rowan, she realized a small bag beside the horse. “What’s that?” she asked. Rowan looked at her and saw what she was looking at. Rowan got the bag and brought it with him.

“Well, I figured that we couldn’t travel back since it would be sundown by then so I bought us a small tent where we could sleep for tonight.”

She grimaced. “Sleep? In the forest?”

“Would you rather walk back in your beast form?”

He got a point so she shut her mouth. She looked around. The forest doesn’t look creepy. And she couldn’t understand why would she be even scared of anything when she’s the scariest one there is when night comes. She did not protest and just sighed before she closed her eyes and felt the breeze touching her face. Ariadne heard Rowan’s footsteps coming close to her. She did not dare open her eyes. After what happened to them earlier this morning, they haven’t really talked about it. There’s a lot of things going on in her mind that she doesn’t even know which one to accommodate first.

Ariadne felt Rowan sit beside her. “Are you mad at me?” he asked. She did not open her eyes.

“What makes you say that?”

“Well—“

“Is it because I refused you, earlier?” She opened her eyes and looked at him. She wanted to stop talking but somehow something deep inside her wants to keep talking. “I can’t always say yes to you, can I?”

“That’s not what I meant—“ Rowan stopped and sighed. “I supposed I was just overthinking. You just seemed…disturbed by something.”

She closed her eyes again and leaned back on the tree. The cool wind somehow helped her think.

“Do you think the theory is possible?” she asked Rowan. She knows she didn’t need to elaborate on what she meant because she knew Rowan already know what she means.

“The theory about love being the solution to lift your curse?”

He didn’t answer. Rowan was silent for a moment before she heard him sigh. “We won’t know unless we try,” he said. She opened her eyes and looked at him.

“You are willing to try it? With me?”

Rowan looked at her. “Why would you think I wouldn’t?”

Ariadne swallowed hard. She let out a low chuckle before she said, “I don’t know. I don’t know if I am capable of love.” She has been thinking about it. Love. What does it feel like? She has read some books, searching for the cure to lift her curse, and finding love in the process. But the more she thinks about it, the more superficial it seems. She never once felt something like she read in the books. She’s blind and it’s scaring her.

“You can’t say that,” Rowan said, causing her to look at him. “Everybody is capable of love, Ariadne.”

She looked at the sky peeking through the leaves of the trees. “Even beasts?” she asked.

In her periphery, Rowan looked at her and said, “Even beasts.”

The wind blew harder as if to agree to Rowan’s statement. She couldn’t help but smile at the glimmer of hope that peeked through her heart. Even beasts are capable of love.

“How would I know if I was already in love?” she asked as she fumbled on the hem of her dress. She heard Rowan sigh and looked at the sky above.

“When you are willing to give your life to them. When you do everything to make them happy,” Rowan said. “When you see the imperfections and love them despite it. It isn’t perfect. It isn’t a step-by-step process. It just comes and before you know it, you’re falling hard. It isn’t always rainbows and flowers. It’s also about storms and thunders. It’s complicated and you won’t know it’s coming unless it’s already there, ensnaring you. That’s when you know.”

She looked at Rowan at how well he piece those words together. The way he said it and how he looked at the far distance as if recalling a distant memory, she knew instantly he isn’t just talking. He’s talking about it because he has already felt it. Love. Rowan’s been in love.

Before she could even ask him about it, Rowan stood up and offered his hand for her to take. She took it and straightened her dress.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you that the dress is beautiful but that isn’t something you would wear. Where did you get that?” he asked.

She sighed. “Your brother, Leo, sent it to my room this morning and asked me to come to the library.”

Rowan went utterly still as he said in a low voice, “For what.”

She played her tongue inside her mouth before she said, “You’re right. Your brothers are really coming for me. Leo made his move today. He was proving himself about what he thinks about me.”

“What did he do?”

She waved a dismissive hand. “Nothing I couldn’t handle,” she said and was about to walk past him when Rowan grabbed her arm.

“What did Leo do,” he repeated only this time, he sounded like he won’t take no for an answer. So she sighed and faced him.

“Leo thinks I am a slut though I couldn’t blame him. I am used to that nickname even before I was cursed. He wants to prove himself right so he seduced me or I seduced him as what he likes to believe.”

She felt Rowan’s hand tighten around her wrist before he let go. He looked at her. Gone was the rage on his face. He did not avert his gaze on her before he said, “About time they learn that you are to be my wife and they should keep their hands to themselves or they would find themselves with no hands the next time Leo or the others come at you.”

Before she could say anything, Rowan walked ahead and the way he clenched his fist did not escape her eyes.

* * *