Page 43 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

I ruined everything!!!! Again!!!

Mariyah

Woah woah woah what happened???

Mariyah

Im sure nothing is ruined baby!!

Mariyah

Just tell me everything from the beginning

Chapter Fourteen

ESMERALDA

“Hello.”

I shrieked, almost tripping over my own feet as I spun around to face whoever had found me, clutching the book in my hands close to my chest. I saw the quickest glimpse of bright hazel eyes before their owner doubled over with a loud laugh.

“Prince Arsh,” I gasped. “You scared the life out of me.”

Kai’s uncle stood tall, his lean chest shaking with soft chuckles. “I can see that,” he said. “But didn’t you hear me approaching? I wasn’t exactly sneaking up on you.”

“No,” I mumbled. “I was reading.”

“Ah, you were lost in your own little world. If I’m honest, I almost missed you standing here. Why are you hiding in the corner?”

My cheeks flamed. “I—I’m not hiding.” Why not just tell him you’re lying, right?

“Oh, now I’m curious.” He leaned against the bookcase, ankles and arms crossed over, and raised his brows. “Why are you hiding? And who from?”

So, I was hiding on the second floor of the library by a tall bookcase. But I didn’t think I could be blamed for that after my awful, blurted confession to Kai less than twenty-four hours ago.

Other than one awkward moment in the large entrance hall of Chakham Palace after the morning conference, I had successfully avoided him all day. And I planned to continue to avoid him until the thought of facing him didn’t make me break out in hives.

“Does the reason your hiding,” Prince Arsh said in my silence, “have anything to do with why you didn’t take the empty seat next to Kai at breakfast? I thought you would have jumped at the chance to sit next to him.”

I held still as an answering blush rolled through my face.

“Ah.” Prince Arsh shifted to stand straight. “So, you’re hiding from Kai.”

I gulped nervously.

“What happened, Esmeralda?” he asked softly.

Just like that, my face twisted up and a pained sob poured from me. “The worst possible thing, Prince Arsh,” I cried, scrunching in on myself. “Last night, I blurted out my feelings to him randomly and then panicked and ran away. Literally! Just ran from the library without any explanation.” He pursed his curling lips together. “Don’t laugh. It’s not funny.”

He shook his head, rubbing his mouth. “I’m not. I’m not laughing.” But he sounded like he was.

“Prince Arsh,” I whined and dropped my forehead against the side of the bookcase. “I’m not even sure what’s worse. The fact that I blurted out my feelings or that I ran after.”

“I don’t think it’s as bad as you think it is.”

“I’m so embarrassed I think I might die if I’m anywhere near him.”

“Okay, it’s really not anything to die over.” I lifted my head. “So you told him how you felt about him and ran away, so what?” My face fell. His grin widened. “I know you feel embarrassed now, but I promise you, it probably worked in your favour.”

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