“Of course, there is no fun in the game if the reward is too minimal.”
I think for a moment but ultimately decide to agree. “Fine, you have a deal.”
He claps. “Great!” He sits down taking his signature place leaning against the big tree in the center of the field and thenholds out a hand to invite me to sit next to him. I do, reluctantly. “Now what note were you speaking of?”
I jerk my head to look at him. “Umm the one you wrote me… asking me to meet you here early this morning... alone?”
His brows furrow. “I did not write you any such note.”
My spine straightens. “What do you mean?”
“I did not write anything to you, Dove. I was surprised when I felt your presence in the gardens this morning, so I came to investigate, but this was not something I had planned on earlier.”
“Huh.”
“Huh indeed, but don’t worry I will look into this, do you still have the note?”
“I do.” I pull it from the little hidden pocket in my dress and uncrumple the paper.
“Thank you,” he says, taking the note from me. As he does, his hand brushes mine ever so gently and a shiver runs over my body. He smirks.
“What?” I ask.
“Oh nothing, Alaceandra. I will let you play your games for now.”
“I have no games.”
His brows furrow once again. He is going to wrinkle that handsome face of his if he keeps this up. “Sure, you don’t”
“I do not,” I say firmly.
He chuckles softly but then seems to drop it. “It’s actually not a bad thing I found you here exactly. I did need to ask you something.”
For some reason, elvisera choose that moment to flutter inside my abdomen. “Yes?”
“Please join me for lunch tomorrow.”
“Um, sorry what?”
He chuckles. “Lunch? The midday meal? Please join me for it... tomorrow.” He spells it out for me like I am a moron.Asshole.
“Yes, I understand what lunch is. You are just...”
“Just?”
“Confusing!” I say in a burst. “You go from calling me a pawn to giving me pet names and asking me on dates.”
“Ah, I see, you misunderstand, the lunch is a requirement of the king, we will not be alone.”
“Oh...” My shoulders slump.
He tilts his head at me. “Unless you want--”
“No,” I cut him off, my cheeks burning. “Understood, I will see you then.”
He laughs then stands. “Yes. As lovely as this surprise rendezvous has been, I unfortunately have matters to tend to before this afternoon.”
“Right,” I say and scramble to my feet as to not be sitting alone. “I also should check back in.”
