I'm Forbidden To Love You

Chapter 11

“Can we be friends, Zelda?”

Even though he played it cool, his heart was beating faster. He can admit to at least himself that he was nervous.

But, he didn’t show it outwards, not wanting to be seen as desperate. But in truth, he was desperate for it.  He wanted to be close to her, to get to know her.

Even as a Prince, there had never been anything he had really wished for or wanted something so desperately. He had always suppressed his desires and sacrificed everything for his parent’s happiness, not wanting to upset them even a little.

For the first time in his life, he wanted something without caring about what others would think or say. And that was, being with her, get to know her, and become close to her more than anyone else in her life.

He wanted to be near her all the time.

He wanted to know about her, know about everything in her life.

He needed to know everything about her.

All he knew was her name and that she was drop-dead gorgeous.

That’s not enough anymore.

There was a monster growing inside him that was getting bigger day by day. The bigger it got, the greedier it became. He wanted to own everything she was in the past, present, and future.

What does she like?

What does she dislike?

What does she hate?

What makes her strong?

What is her weakness?

What makes her fear?

What was the first thing she remembers as a child?

What was her happiest memory?

What was her worst nightmare?

What are her dreams?

What makes her happy? What makes her sad?

What makes her cry?

What makes her angry?

Has she ever yelled at anyone?

Does she have a fear of height or anything like that?

What was her first lie?

Has she ever fought someone?

Did she know horse riding?

Was she interested in learning sword fighting or some sort of weapon?

Does she like summer, winter or rainy?

Does she sing, dance, paint, or loved to do something else?

Did she know how to use any of the musical instruments in the world?

Did she have any pets?

Has she ever played with friends on a sunny day?

Has she ever lost in the feeling of nature?

Has she ever wished for something?

Has she ever lost something precious in her life?

What is her favorite, from food to color?

What were her thoughts on politics?

Has she ever looked in the sky and wondered what is happening up there?

What does she want to do in her life?

Does she always want to be a maid, or does she have an ambition that she was passionate about?

Has she ever loved someone?

When was her first crush?

When did her first tooth fell?

What was the most difficult thing she faced?

What was it like a maid?

Has she ever longed for some alone time?

Was she happy with life?

Everything…..

He wanted to know everything about her.

He had spent days and nights thinking about her, wondering what made her the person she was now.

Ryan waited with bated breath for her reply.

He knew even without her saying that she was going to deny him by the looks of it.

He could tell that she was bewildered and thoroughly shocked by his words.

“No, Zelda, I want you to think before denying me.”

Ryan said that before she could speak anything.

“Before you go on thinking about how could a person like you be friends with someone of my status, I want you to think as a human befriending another human.”

“But, how can I, your Majesty? If anyone saw….”

“No one will have to know about it, Zelda.”

“What sort of friendship that would be if it was hidden from the world?”

“Why would we have to show it off the world, Zelda? The world would never accept our friendship with how stupid the people in it are about with their thoughts about status and birth.”

“Then why would we be even friends if the world did not accept it?”

Ryan was surprised at how well she can speak. She seemed like a quiet person, but he guessed that was just to strangers.

He smiled despite her questioning him as he got to know one more thing about her.

“Do we have to do everything with the acceptance of the world, Zelda? Do we stop breathing if it bothered someone else?”

Zelda frowned at his answer and twisted her fingers, looking down.

“I cannot, Your Highness. How can I, a maid can befriend someone like you?”

“I said to forget about our status, Zelda.”

“How can we forget it, Your Highness? I am grateful for what you did that day. But, I am sorry, Your Highness.”

“Zelda, please.”

Her eyes widened again at his plea for her to accept his friendship.

He wasn’t above begging if she accepted his offer.

At her downcast eyes, he knew that she wouldn’t accept it, no matter how much he pleaded.

And he cannot fault her either. She was a commoner, and it was dangerous to befriend him even in secret. If anyone knew about it, this would soon become dangerous for her.

It was not as if he was in her mind and heart like she was in his.

Ryan didn’t want to gather the broken pieces of his heart in front of her. He decided to get up and leave this place before he humiliates himself by begging at her like his heart wanted to.

“I.. I understand, Miss. I won’t disturb you with this again.”

He felt broken.

Just as he moved a few steps from her, he heard her words,

“I… I am sorry, Your Highness.”

He gave a small smile that he managed by forcing his lips and decided to go and sulk in his bed for a week or two. He didn’t want to meet anyone with how depressed he felt.

“No problem, Miss. I was out of the line anyway. Have a nice day.”

He turned away from her, moving towards the path that would lead him to the castle.

Even though he wanted to stay in his bed, it would be impossible because his parents will never leave him alone, neither his relatives. He wished he could venture out of the castle to find some peace.

But, no….

He was not allowed outside of the castle after the stunt he pulled by disappearing that day.

All of a sudden, Ryan was stunned speechless, again, as she caught his hand.

He turned around, and his eyes widened at seeing that it really was happening.

Zelda stopped him by holding his hand in hers.

He looked down at their joined hands and looked up at her.

Because it was crazy to think that the girl who was worrying over status and things just minutes before voluntarily touched him, forgetting all those things.

She quickly retreated her hand, looking at his widened eyes.

“I.. I…. Your Highness..”

“What is it, Miss?”

“I… I… Can we be friends, Your Highness?”

Ryan felt like he would faint any moment.

Did… Did he just heart it right?

She said, can we be friends, right?

Or was he hallucinating?

Or was he dreaming?

Is this real?

Really?

Looking at her reddened cheeks, downcast eyes, and her fidgeting…

It had to be real.

He cannot conjure an image of such beauty like this in his mind.

He suppressed his grin and fake frowned at her.

“What will the world say? How can I, a lowly human can befriend someone like you, Miss?”

Her eyes found him, and looking at his teasing face, she pouted a little and turned her face away from him.

God!

How cute!

He felt like he wanted to eat her puffed-up cheeks.

“Fine then, Your Highness. I will take my leave.”

What?

No way can he let her go now. Not that he planned to let her go even if she rejected his friendship.

He caught her hand that made her to look at him.

She looked at him with an innocent expression. But, he could see the teasing glint in her eyes.

So, she was playing with him.

He pulled her close and caught her waist, drawing her closer.

Man, he loved those eyes, especially when they widened because of him.

“Playing with me, Zelda..”

“I.. I.. I was…”

“What is it, Zelda?”

“Your Highness.”

Looking at her getting uncomfortable about their closeness all of a sudden, he let her go from his hold gently but not before his playful fingers caressed her waist before letting her go

“Fine, Zelda. I will accept your request of becoming friends on only one condition.”

Her mouth opened in shock at his atrocity but, he didn’t care.

He felt free.

Free like he was never before.

This feeling..

It’s so strange.

It was strange, but it took his breath away with its intensity.

Ryan spoke without care; he spoke however he felt and whatever he thought. He loved this teasing, pulling each other’s legs and how free it felt.

He felt lighter.

Even with Nora, he had to mind his tongue, and they had an age gap that sometimes filed to connect them together. But, with her, it didn’t feel awkward or anything.

“What is your condition, your Highness?”

“Well, my condition is that I want you to call me by my name.”

He seemed to shock her too many times that he was going to end up making her eyes permanently widen.

He laughed aloud at her astonished look, loving every minute of it.

“Your Majesty..”

“No, Zelda. You wanted to be friends with me, right? So you have to do this.”

“I…”

Ryan sighed, knowing that it was time to use his greatest weapon that always made his mother, Joy even Nora to let him off. Ryan doesn’t use it often, not wanting to lose its effectiveness. His sister had learned from him, and he regretted teaching her that sometimes as she used it against Ryan himself.

He gave her the ultimate weapon of puppy eyes, pouting all the while,

“Please, Zelda.”

Her cheeks reddened in a second. She looked away from him, muttering something to herself.

He tilted his head, made himself what he hoped was a cute pose.

“Please, Zelda.”

“I…”

“Zelda…”

“Prince Burton.”

Ryan made an exaggerated move of looking around, catching her attention, making her look around.

“Did you see Prince Ivor here anywhere?”

She shook her head, looking confused.

“Call me Ryan.”

She gaped at him, reaching the quota of being shocked for a day.

“How can I?”

“I am calling you Zelda, right?”

“But, you…”

“Zelda.”

He looked into her eyes directly as if searching for her soul through the way of her eyes.

“Say it, Zelda.  Say my name.”

“Prince…. Prince Ryan.”

Ryan felt goosebumps all over his body.

He took steps towards her,

“Say it again.”

She took steps backward with every step he took towards her. Just as there was nowhere to go, her back bumped against the tree’s trunk.

He caught her waist before she fell,

“Say it again.”

His eyes were focused intensely on her lips, unlike usual, where his attention was always captured by those otherworldly breathtaking turquoise eyes.

His eyes traced the way she gulped and how her breath quickened with his proximity.

“Say it, Zelda.”

“Prince Ryan.”

He felt like he wanted to stay in this moment forever. This would be one of his happiest memories.

The shape of her lips, the way it moved when she said his name, would be forever engraved in his mind.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, for it felt like forever spent gazing at each other.

The moment was broken when she gasped all of a sudden, trying to get away from his hold. So, he let her go reluctantly.

“I.. I have to go, Your Majesty.”

He pretended to cough aloud.

“Prince Ryan, I have to go. My Princess had asked me to come within two hours. I am already late.”

Ryan frowned, not getting the chance to speak about her being a slave to someone else. But, there would be time for that. He didn’t want to offend her.

He could understand that she had her duties as a maid but, that doesn’t mean he was pleased with her leaving him.

“Do you have to, Zelda?”

The way he spoke must have shown how desperate he was to spend time with her.

“I… Prince Ryan. I have to go. I am sorry.”

“Fine then.”

“Don’t worry; we will meet each other like this next time Prince Ryan.”

“No, Zelda, I was lucky to meet you today, and I don’t want to believe in luck and wait. So, I will wait for you here at the same time next week.”

“I can’t, Prince Ryan.”

“No, you have to Zelda, or else I won’t let you leave now.”

“But, I..”

“Please.”

“Fine. Don’t look sad, Prince Ryan.”

He smiled at her, and to that, she had reciprocated with her own smile, which didn’t fail to stun him just like it did last time.

She looked above at the sun,

“It’s late already, Prince Ryan. I will take my leave.”

He grabbed her hand,

“Are we friends now, Zelda?”

“Of course, Prince Ryan. Now, leave me. I have to go before someone comes in search of me.”

“Do you have to leave me, Zelda?”

Ryan knew he was way too clingy with her. It was not normal, but it felt like he was freed from all the restrictions and to be his original self.

“Prince Ryan, Please. I will meet you here next week. Don’t worry.”

“Okay. You take care of yourself, Zelda.”

“I will, Prince Ryan. You too, take care of yourself. I will see you again.”

He let her hand go at her pleading look and watched her leave with a heavy heart. Her leaving him felt like a sunset, taking away the light and plunging his world into darkness.

~~~~~

Norman looked at the sky from where he stood. He had run for cover towards a small roof that was used to store arrows and bows.

Norman didn’t want to be caught in the rain and catch a cold. He didn’t want to take leave from his duty, leaving His Prince alone with some other guards.

The beautiful bluish shade of the sky had morphed into a dark grey. The slow drizzling has intensified into pouring, darkening the surroundings with how the rainy clouds were hiding the sun.

Norman doesn’t like the rainy season at all. He didn’t like getting wet by the rain, nor did he like to spend hours resting on the bed if he caught a cold.

He, in fact, hated rain. It felt like there was no light anymore, and the whole world was being drenched by the rain in a depressing way. It felt like the clouds were crying over the land.

Norman didn’t like walking in the mud either. His clothes would get muddy, and he hated that feeling even more than being drenched by the rain.

The steady patter of the rain against the small roof he was standing under irritated him.

It was all because of His Prince.

He had asked Norman to practice archery with him today. Prince Ryan had asked him this yesterday night to ready the bow and arrows tomorrow, after noon.

Norman and Prince Ryan had created their own field to practice archery near the end of the southern tower, taking a turn that would lead you to the forest area full of tall trees. If they wanted to train by themselves, away from everyone’s eyes and just want to spend some time having fun, they would come here.

And today too, he had come here to arrange things before Prince Ryan came here. This place had to be maintained personally as they didn’t want anyone to know, so Norman cut down the weeds and cleared the area before Prince Ryan’s arrival.

Just as he was putting the cleaning tools away in the box, the rain started, making him curse.

The sky seemed not to stop its crying any soon.

Maybe, he shouldn’t be this depressed, seeing how the tree branches danced to the tune of wind and the rain making music for it.

Okay, he definitely had gone insane. Him thinking like a poet was way out of normal.

Norman’s irritation slowly morphed into utter shock.

His Prince, who was also similar to Norman doesn’t like getting muddy, was standing in the field he had cleared without running for a shade to get cover from the rain.

Norman knew that he couldn’t have come here without being drenched by the rain. Norman didn’t know why his Prince walked all the way here in the rain.

Just as he opened his mouth to shout for His Prince, Norman was shocked to find his Prince Ryan closing eyes, arching his back, raising his hand towards the raining sky as if welcoming it, and smiled.

What?

What in the world was happening?

Norman held his breath, stunned speechless, when Prince Ryan started to dance in the rain.

Okay..

Norman knows that he had gone crazy or was dreaming something so strange; he probably slipped in the rain and was hallucinating while being unconscious now.

But he wants to wake up now.

No, it seemed that this was real as Norman felt the raindrop on his skin that had been leaked from the roof.

Prince Ryan’s elbows gracefully tore through the rain and air, in perfect rhythm with the music nature was making.

It wasn’t some sort of meaningful dance moves or something like that.

Prince Ryan’s dance was like letting everything out through his dance as if pouring his heart into it.

What happened to his Prince?

And the laughter and smile on his face made Norman smile without him knowing despite his irritation with the weather. 

Norman had never seen His Prince this happy ever.

Never in his life had he seen Prince Ryan so happy, so full of laughter, so free.

Maybe this wasn’t true. It was some weird dream of his after he had lost sanity.

While Norman was wondering about his sanity, Ryan felt like he could not hold his happiness.

Zelda….

Zelda…

Zelda…

Zelda….

The pitter-patter of the rainfall felt like it was singing a song with her name alone as words. It was strange how she has occupied everything, even the sound of rain.

He felt like he would burst out of happiness if he held on like this. After meeting with her today, he had come straight here, not wanting his happiness to be ruined by any of his relatives or his parents.

He wanted to hold on to this feeling, not knowing when he would feel like this or if he would ever have a chance to feel like this again.

That’s why he welcomed the rain and started dancing, not able to handle being this happy.

There is nothing that could take the happiness of this noon’s memory, ever.

Ryan’s feet traced patterns as he danced in the rain, exploring the muddy ground underneath, not caring about getting dirt on his clothes.

He gyrates in circles, expanding his hands out, looking at the sky, loving the feel of rain against his face; he laughed aloud, cannot able to contain his happiness.

Can we be friends, your Highness?

Don’t worry; we will meet each other like this next time, Prince Ryan.

Prince Ryan, Please. I will meet you here next week. Don’t worry.

You too, take care of yourself. I will see you again.

Prince Ryan.

Prince Ryan….

God! Her words were still ringing in his mind.

In the small corner of his heart, he was afraid as he didn’t want anyone to take this happiness away.

But, ignoring that, he himself was wondering how anyone can be this happy.

Foot forward and backward…

He waved his hands around without any sense of proper steps. He danced the way he felt like.

His arms were flailing in the sky above, moving his body the way he felt right, smiling. He twirled around in the mud.

Of course, he fell as the ground was slippery.

He should have known that dancing like this and that too in the rain would make him slip, but he didn’t care.

Nothing hurt anyway.

He laughed aloud as he laid on the ground, facing the sky, enthralled by the rain while Nora ran towards him, fussing over his condition.

Ryan sighed in happiness, wishing that he would always be this happy.