Chapter 23: Chapter 23

~The Next Day~

Belinda woke up on the perfect side of the bed. She was happy and joyful for the first time in her life. The prince confessed his love for her last night.

At the party, they kept stealing glances of each other, and Belinda tried as much as possible to stay away from Reggie so as not to piss him off.

She hummed throughout her bathing session and danced, making little swirls as she dressed up. ‘It’s going to be a great day. I can feel it.’

She looked at herself in the mirror and beamed. She brushed her hair and let it fall loosely on her shoulders.

‘I should care about how I look now. He seemed to like how I looked yesterday. It’s a pity I don’t have any of those makeup items, and asking Princess Megan for it will be so shears. I should just leave my face this way.’

She let out another grin, showing her white, straight teeth before heading to her door. She opened her door and was about to step out when Megan, out of nowhere, stopped her.

“Princess Megan!” Belinda called in shock.

“Hi! Good morning. You’re going to the training hall, right?” Megan asked, and Belinda nervously nodded.

“Well, before you go, let’s talk… shall we?” Megan let out a smile and walked into her chamber. Belinda furrowed her brows and also walked in and shut the door.

“What are we going to talk about?” Belinda became anxious.

“We are going to talk about what my brother came to do in your room last night.” Megan answered with a straight face, and immediately, Belinda’s eyes widened and almost popped out in shock.

“Why do you seem so surprised?”

“Sorry, My Princess, but how did you know the prince was here?”

“Answer my question first, and then I’ll answer yours. What did he come here to do, and don’t you dare lie to me. Did you two finally talk?!” Megan asked in excitement, making Belinda even more confused.

‘She seemed angry earlier, why does she seem happy now?’

“Yes, we talked.” Belinda answered in a low tone, and lowered her head.

“Finally! Did you tell him how you feel? And don’t tell me you have gotten rid of the feelings you have for him, because that is a big lie.”

Megan pulled her by the hand and made her sit next to her on the bed. “Tell me everything now before curiosity kills me.”

“Okay… So, the Prince got so jealous when he saw me with Reggie. Looks like he has always been jealous and angry anytime he sees me with Reggie.”

“Yes! Yes!” Megan uttered happily and began to clap. “Tell me more! I can’t contain my joy.”

Belinda smiled shyly and bounced her head.

“I ran out of the hall angrily when I saw him with Miss Maisie too, she kissed his cheek and I couldn’t take it, so I ran out. Then surprisingly, he followed me and pulled me here. He said he needed me. We got inside here and he began to yell at me that why would I let Reggie touch me on the dance floor. I got scared, and before I knew it, he started weeping…”

“What? Damon cried? That is impossible.”

“I know, Princess Megan. It’s too hard to believe. He cried so hard that he couldn’t breathe well. I laid on the floor, hoping I’d wake up from such a sweet dream, but it wasn’t a dream. He told me it wasn’t a dream and hugged me. I…”

“Holy moon! This sounds like a fairy tale. I can’t take it anymore.” Megan mumbled and cleaned the tears in her eyes.

“So both of you are in love?”

“Yes, we are.” Belinda’s cheeks flushed, and she hid her face shyly.

“This is amazing! I’m so happy for you… but, you need to be careful, both of you. Isla was the one that saw him coming out of your chamber yesterday.”

“What? Isla? Isla hates me.”

“Yes, she does. But don’t worry, okay? I told her I sent him here, you have nothing to worry about. I covered up for you. But people can’t know about this. You know why…”

“Yes, I do. The Prince and I already talked about it. It has to be a secret.”

“Amazing! I can’t wait to tease my brother about you! He kept lying to himself, but his eyes and body language every time he looked at you always gave him out.”

Megan stood up and pulled Belinda’s hand with her. She embraced her and chuckled. “I’m happy for you and Damon, Belinda.”

“Thank you.” Belinda uttered and hugged her back.

“You should go and train now. I need to tease Damon. See you soon, okay? And try to stay away from Reggie. Even though I don’t know this part of Damon well, I know very well his anger is very bad.”

Belinda nodded and smiled. “I’ll try. But I can’t put him away because he is also my friend. I’ll have to be smart about it.”

“Alright. The ball is in your court now, Belinda. I’m off to tease Damon. Let’s walk out together.” Megan said to her, and they both walked out.

***

Belinda took a break from her sword training and moved to the field to shoot some arrows.

There was no sight of anyone on the field because they all were yet to recover from the drinking and merriment of the king's birthday feast.

Belinda placed her arrow against the bow and shot it at the target. It hit it right in the chest, and she let out a boastful smile.

“Aren’t you going to try something new? You have been doing the same thing for a month now.” Damon said as he approached her, and she looked up and saw him.

“Prince Damon.” She called with a smile. Before she knew it, her face grew red again.

Damon smiled in return and stood next to her. “Did you sleep well last night?” He asked, and she nodded shyly.

“I slept like a baby.”

Damon lifted his brows and took the bow from her. “Really? And I couldn’t even close my eyes because everytime I did, I kept seeing your beautiful face.”

“Prince Damon.” Belinda called and beamed widely, she lowered her head and began to fiddle her fingers. Her cheeks flushed so hard showing how much his words affected her.

She looked up at him and saw him smiling at her. “Will you want to try some new skill?” He asked, raising the bow and Belinda nodded.

“I’ll teach you how to shoot two arrows at the same time. You want to know how to?” Damon asked, and Belinda bobbed.

“As long as you’re my teacher and won’t leave me hanging half way. I’ll learn anything.” Belinda answered, and Damon lifted his brows, showing how impressed he was.

“Come closer.” He said in almost a whisper.

*

‘Who the f**k is this girl? How does she make him smile like that when I try so hard and he never bugs?’ Maisie thought angrily as she stared at Damon and Belinda from inside the training hall.

She got there a few minutes before Damon started teaching Belinda how to shoot multiple arrows, and within those few minutes, she could guess something was going on.

“Who is she?” Maisie thought aloud.

“Her name is Belinda Bartling. A lady that is living such a comfortable life under the favor of the princess.” Isla answered and stood next to her.

‘Oh… so, she is the Belinda Princess Megan was talking about.’

Maise looked at Isla, and Isla looked at her too. They both diverted their gazes to Damon and Belinda again.

“They come here to train often, right? I saw her shooting arrows the first day I took a walk with the Prince.” Maisie said.

“Yes. The king told his children to train her.” Isla answered, and Maisie slowly nodded. Isla stared at her and examined how she looked at them.

“I can say you don’t like them too close.” Isla added, and Maisie looked at her.

“Of course not. Prince Damon is my lover, I’d be lying if I said I like seeing them together.” Maisie answered.

“Well, I don’t blame the prince. Belinda is always trying to be the center of attention, and it is pretty annoying. She loves to steal the spotlight, and then she acts all innocent.”

Maisie nodded slowly and looked at them again. “You don’t like her, do you?”

“No, I don’t. Why would I like a stranger that is most definitely, a witch.”

“A stranger? I don’t understand.” Maisie answered in confusion.

“Well, that’s all we heard. She was brought home by the Prince and Princess, and since then, she’s had them wrapped around her fingers.” Isla explained in disgust.

Maisie clenched her jaws and looked at Damon. “I won’t let her bewitch him too.” She muttered.

Isla scoffed and smirked. “Finally… someone that sees beyond her innocent face. I can help you. You just come up with a plan.” Isla uttered.

“Come up with a plan?”

“C’mon. Miss Maisie, I know you want to get rid of her as much as I want too. Let’s work together. She’s trying to bewitch my man too. I can’t let that happen.”

Maisie nodded slowly and shot Belinda a deadly look. “I’ll come up with a plan.”

“Perfect! I’m Isla.” Isla said, and stretched her hand to her. Maisie shook her and smiled.

“You know my name already.” She answered, and Isla smirked.

“Go and get your man before she succeeds in making him her puppet as she did with Princess Megan.” Isla responded and walked out of the training hall.

Maisie looked at Damon again and walked into the field. “Prince Damon.” She called with a large fake smile. Damon and Belinda looked up and saw her approaching.

Belinda swallowed and slowly stepped away from Damon. “Good morning, Miss Maisie.” Belinda greeted, but Maisie totally ignored her.

“My Prince, you promised me you’d have breakfast with me this morning. Did you forget?” She asked as she caressed Damon’s face with her hand.

“I didn’t.” Damon answered, clenching his jaws. ‘Why does she have to show up now of all times?!’

Belinda looked away and pretended to focus on her arrow shooting.

“Let’s go now.” She said to him, and took his hand. She began to pull him with her, and he followed her. He looked back at Belinda and saw her staring at him.

“I love you.” She lip-read his statement and smiled. “I love you too.” She answered inaudibly too.