My Royal Assassin

Chapter 7: Throwback memories

Chapter Seven

Sahara's POV

"Take care of my niece." Aunt Tillie warns. "If I saw any scratch on her, I would have your head." I gasp.

"Aunt Tillie!" I yell, looking embarrassed and horrified. I look apologetically at Lucas but he smiles and nodded his head.

"With my life, Lady Teressa." he bowed, and my aunt Tillie smiles at him, pleased with his answer. I, however, is looking so terrified by their conversation.

"Guys!" I shout. They both look at me. "Why are you both talking like we are going miles away or like getting married!" Lucas smirk and cleared his throat.

"I don't know about the first part but the last one. . . if you want, we can talk about it." I glared at him.

"I'm only sixteen and a half, Lucas," I say bluntly. Aunt Tillie and Lucas' eyes widen, and soon my eyes also widen in another wave of embarrassment.

"So you agree to marry me if you were at the right age?" I just cough with my face going red.

"Er, erm, uh" I stuttered and look at my aunt for help but she just crossed her arms with a raised eyebrow, also waiting for my answer.

I sighed

"Well, it depends." I finally answered. They both look at me in confusion.

"Depends on what?" Lucas asked.

"If you're going to propose or not"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Finally!" I watched him walked towards me. "Did you know how long I waited here, just for you?"

"Don't know, and don't care" he answered emotionlessly, shrugging his shoulder. I pressed my lips in a thin line and sighed, looking at the sky, like asking what I am going to do with him or more like his personality.

"Okay, Caelan?" I asked.

"What?"

"I freaking hate you and I'm so close to snapping your neck!" I yelled. Gosh! My patience is losing when I'm with him.

"I'd like to see you try." I glare at him.

"You really want me to try?" I asked, sassily. He looks at me in the eyes then sighed, looking away and putting both of his hands in his pocket.

"Let's just go."

"Let's just go." I mimick him but he just walked away ignoring me.

What am I going to do with this man!

I sighed and follow him.

We walked towards the gazebo that Prince Gabriel and I usually hang out on. I pulled the chair grumpily, with narrowed eyes. I sit down and cross my arms, looking at him childishly.

From the corner of my eye, I saw something move. I snap my eyes to my right side but to my confusion, I saw nothing. Hmm?

I smile and look at Caelan. His eyebrow raised in question, eyes also flashing. I stand up and quietly tiptoed towards the big opened door; with a lot of pots with flowers displayed on the side of it.

I can feel Caelan's stare burning in the back of my head, but I ignore it. Ahuh! There you are! I finally saw what I'm looking for and hide behind the door. Three. Two. One!

"Booh!" I shout. James' eyes widen and he squeals in a girly squeal. I laugh, pointing my forefinger at him in amusement. It's so good to laugh even if it is so often to happen.

"You should see your face! It's so hilarious!" he pouts, narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms.

"Not funny." The kid deadpan. His features resembling his older brother Gabriel, when he's angry.

I breathe and calm myself down.

"It definitely does." I sing sang.

"You're so childish for an adult," he said.

"Well, your too serious for a seven-year-old kid."

"It's eight, not seven." he corrected.

I just shrug my shoulder.

"You're still a kid."

"Well. . . " he stops and sighed, waving his hands. "Whatever."

I suddenly still, remembering something.

"What are you doing here, by the way?"

"I'm bored, so I decided to take a walk and I saw you here looking so grumpy. Anything wrong?" he asked.

I froze, remembering the man sitting at the table. I look at my left to see Caelan already looking at me, the spark in his eyes like yesterday, returning, but his face remains still, not smiling, not smirking but also not scowling.

I stepped closer to James and lean my head closer, my knees slightly bending because of his small figure. I put my hands on my mouth to whisper in his ear.

"Him" I murmured.

He looked at me with a raises eyebrow.

"Your upset because of him?" I nodded my head, looking back at Caelan; who is now looking at us with a questioning look. "To your crush?" I choke in my own spit and straightening up my bend knees.

"What!?" I shout, looking at him with a horrified look on my face. "Me? Why would you think that?" I pretend to look at him in disbelief.

"Your eyes spark and you suddenly froze in your spot when you look at him." he pointed.

"So?" he boredly looks into my eyes, like saying 'you really wouldn't admit it?' look. I just look away and find a way to change the subject. "Anyway, do you want to join us?" I asked.

He shrugs his shoulders

"Sure, I don't have anything to do anyway."

We walk towards Caelan, who is now sitting impatiently in his seat. James sits beside him on the right side and I sit down across from them.

"Caelan," I called out softly. "This is my cousin Prince James, he is also Prince Gabriel's younger brother, and James this is Caelan our guest and he is also a famous adventurer." I introduced them both to each other.

"Cousin?" Caelan asked looking surprised. I nodded at him.

"Yeah."

"So that means, prince Gabriel is only your cousin, right?" I nodded again, confirming his question.

He breathes out and for a moment I thought I saw a flash of guilt and relief crossed his eyes. I blinked my eyes a few times and then shakes my head.

I cleared my throat.

"Okay, let's start with getting to know each other so we can at least have some civilize conversation and also understands each other." I started, looking at Caelan with a pointed look and to my surprise, he just shrugs his shoulders.

"Fine," he says. My eyes widen and I smile. From the corner of my eyes, I saw James giving me his 'I told you so' look but I ignore it.

"Okay," I look at James. "You go ask first." I motion for him. He sighed and mumbled an okay.

"Caelan, It's a question for you." he started. I sighed in relief, just now realizing that James is not a typical kid who asked typical questions because his questions are more personal or something like deep questions. "You're adventurer, right?" he asked and Caelan nodded.

"Yes," he stated simply.

"So, are you married?" Both Caelan and I froze at the same time, but James just sits, waiting for his answer. Caelan glance at me but I did not look at him. I don't know but I feel like, his answer is so important to me. To his answer also will depend my emotions and feelings.

"No" I visibly relaxed.

"Your turn," James says to him.

"What is your most prized possession, Princess Arie?" My eyes widen and I froze again, looking at his blue eyes. "Can I call you Arie?" he asked with not a single hint of question in his voice.

Arie

I watch as the fire dance, the cricking of its sound is surprisingly calming me.

We are currently in the woods, camping, just him and me.

"Here." I look in front of me to see a stick with some already burned marshmallows in it, I took it and slightly blow; didn't want to lose my breath.

"Let's play." I suddenly suggest. He smiles and nods his head.

"Okay. What game?"

"Hmm?" I put my forefinger in my chin, thinking. "How about, 20 questions."

"Alright. You asked first," he said.

"What is your most favorite talent or skills?" I asked.

"Fighting," he said almost immediately. I laugh at him because I know that it was his going to say. "My turn. What is your most prized possession, Arie." I raised my eyebrows at him. "Can I call you Arie?"

"Of course. You can give me all the nicknames you want." I smile but suddenly remember his question. "My most prized possession? Hm?" I think thoughtfully.

He waited for my answer patiently. My face brightens and I look at him intently.

"Memories. My memories." I answered.

"Why?" he asked again, curiously.

"Because memories are the only thing that didn't change. And also, memories are the only thing I know that can't be taken away from me."

But now that I think about it, I'm clearly wrong about the last part.

"Sahara!" I jump in surprise and turn to look at James.

"What?" he crosses his arms and points at Caelan, who is waiting impatiently.

"You still didn't answer him." Ohh. I cleared my throat.

"Okay. My most prized possession?" I think back at the . . . what is it? Is it a memory or just my imagination? I shake my head and think of the answer of the girl.

"Memories." Caelan's eyebrows rose up in surprise and a flash of recognition flashed in his eyes but like how fast I saw it, it also quickly disappeared.

"Why?" he asked and my chest tightens like someone is squishing my heart. It feels like deja vu.

"I thought it can't be taken away from you but I'm wrong because it certainly can. But despite that, it also is the only thing that doesn't change, especially when you feel everything does."