Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Belinda tried to act okay when she headed back to Megan’s chamber for dinner. She didn’t want her asking her questions.

Megan told her guards to open up the door for Belinda when she got there. Belinda walked in with a smile on her face.

“What took you so long?” Megan asked her.

“I’m sorry, I took a long time in the bathroom. I was enjoying the bath too well.”

“A bath? You prepared it yourself?” Megan asked, and Belinda nodded proudly.

“It wasn’t a milk bath. Just warm water and soap.” Belinda added as she moved closer to where Megan was.

The table was set already, and Megan was seated. “Here… there is enough food to eat. Eat until you can’t eat anymore.” Megan told her, and she bobbed.

She picked a plate and poured some rice on it. She added some beef sauce to the side and picked up a spoon.

“So… I asked my brother about this woman you told me about.” Megan uttered, and Belinda stopped chewing immediately.

“Hmm.” She nodded and gulped the rice that was in her mouth.

“I know her. She offered my mother a necklace on the day of the mate event. She was part of maidens that showed themselves. I may say she is pretty.” She added.

Belinda wasn’t sure how to respond, so she just smiled and nodded. She struggled to chew her food as she listened to Megan.

“He told me he enjoyed his walk with her. Looks like she finally got his attention. Isn’t that good?” She further asked.

Belinda raised her head and looked at her. “Yes, it’s good.” She let out a faint grin.

Megan sighed and dropped her spoon. “Are you fine about it though?” She asked, and Belinda clenched her jaws.

“I… I don’t understand.” She chuckled nervously.

“Belinda, you do understand. You can’t lie to me, Belinda. Your eyes say it all, how you feel for my brother. I can see it in your eyes.”

Belinda scoffed and blinked nervously. “Princess Megan, you are mistaken...”

“Have you seen how you look at him when you are together? How you react when he touches you during your training? How you’re super excited anytime you hear his name. Belinda, you can try to lie to me, but not to yourself.”

Belinda swallowed hard and her breath grew intense. ‘How did she know? Was I too obvious? Does everyone know I like the Prince?’

“Hey… It’s okay.” Megan reached for her hand over the table and gave it a slight squeeze. “Relax… breathe.” She said after noticing how hard she was breathing.

“I…I’m sorry.” Belinda stammered.

“Sorry? You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not a crime that you feel something for my brother…”

“But, he is the Prince. Princess Megan, I am just a slave. No matter how I try to act otherwise, that is who I am. I can’t feel anything for him.”

“But you do, don’t you?” Megan asked, and Belinda she slightly nodded. Megan smiled widely and sprang to her feet.

“So I wasn’t wrong! I knew it! I knew something was going on between you two!” Megan uttered excitedly.

Belinda shook her head in disagreement and hastily stood up.

“No, Prince Megan. Nothing is going on between us. I am the only one who is feeling this way. I don’t even know what this feeling is.”

“You are in love, Belinda! Love is what you feel!” Megan grabbed her arms and giggled.

“Tell me, does he know too? I realized he’s been soft with you recently, and…”

“No, Princess Megan. He doesn’t know anything. And he is still very cold to me. Please don’t tell him, Princess Megan. He has found a woman that he wants. It’s just a stupid feeling. It will fade off. I was stupid to feel something for him to begin with. I knew it would never happen but I still fantasize about it anyway. I’m just a stranger, and one day, I’ll return…”

“Belinda!” Megan called her name, making her stop.

Tears rolled down her cheek, and she was panting hard. “I’m sorry.” Belinda mumbled and covered her mouth with her hand.

Megan moved closer to her and pulled her into a hug. “I understand how you feel, Belinda. Calm down… Relax.”

As she embraced her, she realized she was shivering. She felt bad for her and wanted to keep her in her arms until she could relax.

After a few minutes, Belinda’s breathing normalized and she stopped sobbing.

“Are you okay now?” Megan inquired after noticing how calm she had become.

“Yes.” She answered in a low tone and slowly broke the hug. She looked into Megan’s eyes, and Megan cleaned her teary eyes with her hands.

“C’mon, let’s keep eating. We don’t have to talk about it anymore.” Megan added, and Belinda bobbed.

“Before we eat, please promise me that you won’t tell the prince about this. I promise to let go of whatever I think I feel for him.” She mumbled.

Megan nodded and smiled. “Okay, I promise. Now let’s eat.”

Belinda let out a feeble smile and nodded. They sat at the table again and continued eating in silence.

***

“So that is all about her?” King Talos asked, and Damon nodded.

“Yes, father. That’s all she told me, and I think that is all she knows and all that is there. She knows nothing about the attack. She was in danger too.” Damon further explained.

King Talos nodded and exhaled through his mouth. “She does have a sad story.” He uttered.

“Yes, she does. I guess it’s a good thing she’s here. Where we can protect her.”

“True, but we still need to be careful and vigilant. The guarding of the boundaries continues. We should be ahead of our enemies.”

“Yes, father. I do agree with that.” He answered and stood up. “If that is all, father. I’d love to take my leave.”

“Wait…” King Talos said and let out a smirk. Damon narrowed his gaze at him in confusion.

“Why are you smirking?”

“You weren’t going to tell me about Miss Maisie?” King Talos asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Damon heaved a sigh and raised his chin weakly. “Father, nothing is going on…”

“Yet! I understand, you need time to get to know her personally. I was happy when I saw you two talking a walk together today. That is an improvement.”

‘Who didn’t see us walk? I knew I was going to regret walking with that woman.’

“I just wanted to respect her, as a woman. That’s all. Nothing is going to happen, father.” Damon answered.

“Still… I am very happy. She’ll be visiting often, your mother told me that. Make sure you keep respecting her.” Talos answered with another smirk.

“Bye. Father.” Damon asserted and walked out of his chamber. He got out of the chamber and wiped his face with his hand.

‘Why is everyone telling to piss me off today?’

***

Reggie sat in front of his house, sharpening his sword when Isla approached him with a food tray.

“Reggie.” She called with a smile, and Reggie looked up. He smiled in return and answered.

“Hey you. How are you?” He asked, and she nodded shyly. “I’m very well. I brought you dinner.”

“You brought me dinner? That is… new.” Reggie raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“New, right.” She nervously answered. Reggie dropped his sword and stone and stood up. He collected the tray from her and put it on the bench.

“Thank you. Please sit.” He politely responded, and Isla sat next to him.

“I realized you were busy, so I thought I should get your food for you.” She further stated.

“Thank you so much, Isla. That was very thoughtful of you. I hope you have eaten.”

“Yes, I have. Thanks for asking.” She replied.

Reggie opened the tray and looked at the food. A smile lit his face as he saw rice. “My best dish.” He uttered and picked up his spoon.

Isla couldn’t stop smiling as she watched him eat. “Reggie, I’d love us to have a conversation… a conversation about us.” She uttered, and Reggie looked at her.

“About us?” He inquired.

“I know you know I have liked you for sometime now. I’ve always had my eyes on you, and I have never tried to hide it. You never reciprocated so I thought you needed me to say it to you. I like you Reggie. I’ve always wanted us to be together.”

Reggie gulped and dropped the tray. “Isla, I am sorry. But, I don’t feel the same way about you.”

“Why? Do you have someone else? Or you believe we can’t just work? Am I not good enough?” Isla answered with hurt in her voice.

“No, Isla. You are an amazing woman.”

“Then why? Because of that stranger, right? That’s why you can’t be with me?”

“Isla, this has nothing to do with her…”

“Really? You were all over her today! At the gate, even on the field.”

“You know I have always ignored you even before she showed up so don’t put this on her, okay?”

“You don’t tell me what to do, Reggie! What is wrong with mr?!” Isla yelled in tears and sprang to her feet.

“I am not your mate, Isla. If I was, you wouldn't be the only one in love.”

“So Belinda is your mate?!”

“This isn’t about Belinda. I told you.” Reggie replied, still as calm as possible.

“I won’t take this Reggie! I won’t!” Isla smacked and ran off in tears.

“Isla! Isla!” Reggie called but she ignored his call and kept running. Reggie exhaled loudly and shook his head. He sat on the bench and sighed again.

“Why is she so stubborn?”