Page 31 of Quest

My anxiety made it impossible to enjoy the fresh water from the nearby stream or the shade cast by the canopy of trees that protected us from the sun’s harsh rays. For as concerned as he’d been about my well-being before our rest, he made no effort to check on me now, as if afraid of drawing too close after my inappropriate conduct…which made me feel he was drifting farther from me.

“He is definitely ignoring you.” Lumis stated in a far too cheerful tone. “Things are quite awkward.”

I released a defeated groan, too disheartened to even continue my previous narrative of indifference that had occupied my thoughts for so long.I’ve ruined everything.

“Perhaps, but if nothing else, at least this situation has caused you to stop lying to yourself: you are growing to care for the prince and want to draw closer to him.”

I stared longingly towards where Prince Darcel sat conversing with his other companions some distance away, his body angled so that his back faced me, as if he’d deliberately used his body to erect a wall between us. I imagined all sorts of reasons that might be occupying his thoughts, each worse than the last.

Can you peer inside his heart to see what he thinks of me?I pleaded to my lantern. Although I was terrified of the potential answer, thenot knowingwas far more torturous.

With an impatient sigh Lumis obediently extended its golden light towards where the prince sat, enveloping him in a halo that illuminated not just his expression but the shady area around him. “Hmm, interesting.”

What do you see?

But my lantern remained stubbornly silent, without even a hint of what the prince could possibly be thinking, which only extended my agony.

As if sensing the invisible light cast upon him, Prince Darcel suddenly cast a sideways glance in my direction. Our eyes met briefly before he hastily yanked his gaze away again.

I sighed. Perhaps I had brought this upon myself. From the moment we’d met I’d insistently created distance between us, but it was quite different being on the receiving end. Though initially caution had held me back, I’d still been within control, as if I stood on one end of a bridge with him on the other side, within reach the moment I gained enough bravery to cross over to him.

However, now my falter in judgment seemed to have shattered that bridge, leaving an ever-widening chasm between us that felt impossible to breach…which only made me realize how desperate I was to do so. Rather than being a protection, this separation only confirmed how much I wanted to get close to him.

I sensed Lumis’s amusement as he observed these revelations. “At least you’ve finally stopped lying to yourself; that had long grown tiresome. Perhaps this shift will compel you to take action; from what I perceived in His Highness’s heart, the situation isn’t as dire as you fear.”

Warmth encased my heart at these words. I stole another tentative peek at the same moment Prince Darcel cast me another uncertain glance, catching my expression before I could fully mask my pout. Remorse fleetingly flickered and he excused himself from Sir Jiang and Kael to approach.

Despite this being the outcome I’d yearned for, my heart flared in panic.He’s coming this way!

“I can see that,” was my lantern’s wry response.

I instinctively brushed my dampened hair from where it stuck at awkward angles against my sweaty brow, smoothing it out before hastily checking the feminine gesture and resting my shaking hands in my lap.

Prince Darcel paused several meters away, a gap that was somehow much too close, still shirtless with the full range of his muscles on display. I instinctively swiveled around, doing my best to keep my gaze averted. I wanted to plead with him to put on a shirt, but was terrified of reminding him of the last time his chiseled chest had been my focus.

Even without witnessing his expression I sensed his confusion. “Are you determined to keep me at a distance again?” The frustration filling his voice caused my rebellious heart to lift, giving me hope that he welcomed my company…a contradiction to my current desperation to avoid his while he was in such a state of undress.

With a wavering breath I turned with a forced smile that seemed to do little to appease him. “For once I am not the one currently creating distance, Your Highness.”

His awkward silence only confirmed he understood my unspoken implication. Uncertain of where to look, I settled for the ground, considering the sky would force my gaze to pass his chest, a scenario that felt far too dangerous.

Midst the suffocating tension, my mind whirled for something to say. When I continuously came up blank, Lumis offered his unsolicited advice. “You should apologize for earlier.”

My pride stung at the thought, but it was a far preferable emotion to the agony I’d created by inadvertently pushing him away. I took a wavering breath. “I didn’t mean…that is, earlier when I—” I directed my fumbled words to the ground where I still determinedly stared, my heart beating uncomfortably.

Prince Darcel didn’t immediately respond, waiting for me to continue, but I didn’t have the strength to address my mortification in further detail. The rustle of fabric eventually broke the unbearable silence. I lifted my gaze just enough to see him pulling his shirt back on, finally covering the chest that had been the source of our current awkwardness.

“You seem to be a modest lad. I didn’t mean to create an awkward situation for you, nor to make you feel bad about your shyness by ignoring you. My apologies.”

“I hadn’t noticed you’d deprived me of your prestigious company, Your Highness.” My nerves made my voice airy and too high-pitched for my disguise. “But considering you had, I regret my contribution to the cause.”

He chuckled. “I suppose that’s all I will get for an apology, but considering our previous contention before our truce it’s a start.” He sounded much more cheerful, providing relief that perhaps he was no longer upset.

His tone beckoned my still hesitant gaze, captured by the friendliness reflected in his eyes. “So you forgive me?”

He nodded. “It was rather awkward…but I don’t think you meant any harm. You’re a scrawny lad so I can see why you’re impressed…” He cleared his throat and didn’t say anything more, as if determined to put the matter firmly behind us, grace that left me deeply grateful.

I bowed my head. “I appreciate your consideration, Your Highness.”

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