Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 112866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
NATALIA
I propped one eye open and scanned the room. Somehow I can always feel him when he’s around, but this time I didn’t sense him next to me where he’s been these last few days. I sat up slowly and looked around, and before I could even take a breath Millicent was there at my side. My watchman.
Even Bellaque was nowhere to be seen and I started getting ideas. I put my hand to my forehead and the poor girl reacted like I’d been stabbed in the groin. “Princess, what is it? Should we call the doctor? Should I…” I stopped her before her panic alerted the others he had planted around the place like sentinels.
“No-no, I’m fine I just sat up too fast I think. I’m still a bit tired, I think I’ll go to bed and finish the rest of my nap. Where is Lucien?” I looked around skeptically, not believing my luck. “The crown prince has stepped out for a while, was there something you needed princess?”
“No-no I’ll just go lay down for a little while more.” I was all but jumping with glee. Even the elements were on my side. As soon as I walked into the palatial master suite that was surrounded by glass walls most of which lead to the garden path and grand gardens beyond, the birds started to twitter. It’s like they were calling me to come and play.
“You don’t need to stay, I’ll be fine here.” She didn’t look too sure but she can’t disobey a direct order so in the end had no choice but to step outside the room. “If you’re sure your highness, I won’t be far, just ring if you need me.” She pointed to the band of gold hanging from the top of the bed. I nodded with a smile and pretended to lay back across the bed.
I waited until Millicent left closing the door behind her and slid off the bed, listening for any sound coming from beyond the door. When there was nothing heard I relaxed my shoulders and looked down at the pale yellow silk robe I wore over the even paler yellow wrap around dress beneath.
Everything he’d chosen for me to wear is so ladylike, so whimsical even, but this one and the others like it in varying colors of pastel hugged my body perfectly and showed off my growing curves, unlike the others that flowed and swirled around me. He’d done well separating the fairy from the nymph.
It won’t be long before everyone notices that I’m hiding a baby under here, but for now the robes did a good job of camouflaging it. He’d even had the foresight to have robes made for when I could no longer fit these much thinner ones. Even my jewelry, again chosen by him, was separated for the two personalities, like he knows me that well.
I tiptoed towards the door with my neck craned towards the door making sure I didn’t make a sound. I heard the echo of giggle, like a sound on the wind as soon as my hand reached for the knob and almost fell on my butt.
“Is that you? Shh…” I patted my tummy before making my escape. The sun felt amazing on my face when I stepped out into it for the first time. The air here is like a fresh New England spring day after an early morning rain, very pleasant indeed.
I had no idea where I was going but ‘out’ sounded about right to me. I held my breath until I was clear of the gardens and well on my way out of the courtyard, I even giggled to myself as I headed away from the places I’d already visited. Where should I go first I wonder?
From what Lucien has said there’s so much to see and do here that I didn’t know where to start. In the distance I saw what looked like peacocks wandering around and headed in their direction; it’s been a while since I’ve seen a real one and none as big and as fine as these. They were humongous.
They sensed my presence and turned as one, before each one of them bowed its head. The kid did some kind of roll bump in my stomach before settling down again and the birds came closer. There was no aggression in their stance but it was still a bit intimidating nonetheless. Especially since it seemed they were… talking to him? Whatever was going on he was giving me happy vibes so I’d take it.
I walked deeper into the foliage which turned out to be more than just a garden. There was an observatory deck, and a large open-air gazebo made in the Asian style that led down to a stream that looked like a sheet of glass.