I cried and kept wiping the tears away. I wanted to stop crying but the tears wouldn't stop and I grew more and more frustrated.Thankfully, Caelum didn't run after me and bothered me. At least he didn't at first.It was about an hour until he finally knocked on my door, just enough time for me to finally stop crying, too. But I wasn't in any mood to talk."Skye? Please, I'm sorry," he called from the door.I wanted to yell at him to go away. I also wanted to yank him in and hug him. But I have no energy to do any of that. Instead, I played my conversation with Caelum earlier over and over and asked myself if I shouldn't have reacted the way I did.In this entire debacle, I just hated myself.After around 15 minutes of knocking and calling out to me with no answer, Caelum stopped.I don't even know how to face him anymore. Sure, he shouldn't have sounded so angry and pissed. Or maybe assume something worse about someone he didn't know.But was my reaction warranted? Why was I so angry
It's not my first kiss. I have kissed boys before Finn, too. Just two, actually. And then Finn.But all those moments were nothing compared to this. It felt like my atoms have dispersed across the universe and have felt all the pleasures the stars have to offer, and then arranged back to create this version of me.My heart burst in my chest, it's almost painful.Caelum's lips were soft and gentle and warm. He is warm. His hands snaked their way to my back and pulled me into him and I wanted nothing else but to melt into his arms.Now, I know what it is like to be kissed by someone you love and love you. It's so much better than all those kisses made in the darkness of cars, or theaters, or under the bleachers.We pulled apart, and as soon as we did, I wanted more. Craved for his touch."I thought you'd never had someone before?" I asked him, almost breathlessly."Never. Why?"He looked confused. And he looked so beautiful even when his brows were furrowed together, lips slightly parte
Breakfast at the diner was amazing. The pancake was fluffy and the sausage just had the right amount of spice. We also had eggs cooked just how we liked it and a cup of hot, creamy, and rich chocolate.It was so simple, yet so satisfying.All the while, people would come and go, stopping by our table ever so briefly to greet us and tell Caelum how big he has grown.They were also so very sweet to me, and I can sense they were all just genuinely good people."I love it here," I sighed happily as we left the diner."It makes you fall in love with it, doesn't it?""You know what this town reminds me of? Those little villages in snow globes. My mom tried collecting them once, but after Serenity broke one when we were kids and had to have stitches, she gave them away. I missed those snow globes," I said."Funny that you mention that. I'm taking you to the gift shop. They do have small snow globes that I've fancied ever since I was a kid," he said as we walked towards the Rover. He opened t
A day after the pool incident, things were a little awkward with Caelum and I. It's as if every time I looked at him, I'd remember how much I felt wanted and how I wanted him.He tried avoiding me all morning, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth and a pang to my heart."Hey, you okay?" I asked, finally walking up to him on the terrace. He had just finished a game and it was quite obvious that he was frustrated. If it was because he didn't win or something else–like what happened last night–I'm not entirely sure.But he jumped when I walked to him. It's as if he forgot I existed and he was in deep thought."Skye. Of course I am," he replied, albeit a bit awkwardly. He tried to smile, too."No, you're not," I tell him as I plop down the chair beside him. "You've been avoiding me all morning.""I'm not…"I just looked at him to say "you think I believe you?""Look, I know you're avoiding me because of last night," I told him. He blushes. "It's really not your fault. Or mine. It's just
After a week of mostly bliss in the Palazzo, I'm back in a little study hall with Madam Roserta. I guessed the whole vacation also practically threw me in square one because she kept shaking my head every time I stood or walked or sat.At least I still have the cutlery memorized.But that's not even the worst part. Mornings are for Madam Roserta on basic palace and royalty etiquette, and afternoons are for Gonzalo, a famous media reporter who always interviews royal families and nobles of not just Arcadia but the world.He's now sitting in front of me, going through his tablet."Alright, Lady Vivienne, these are possible questions that the media will ask. I want you to take a look at them and really understand each question. Then, I'll ask a few at random. Understood?"I nodded my head. I opened the document he sent me on my tablet and I just stared at the list of questions."They're too many," I whispered, mostly to myself. But Gonzalo heard me."Well, it has been a while since we ha
For the past few days, it was the same routine: Madam Roserta in the mornings, lunch, Gonzalo sessions in the afternoon, dress fittings to finish my dress, and awkward dinners with the royal family.According to both Madam Roserta and Gonzalo, I have improved a lot. Gonzalo even said he can see me in interviews and I felt a sense of pride.In fact, I've started to believe my own lies, which is kind of good, but also not really. I just kept reminding myself that this persona is only for the cameras.It's also been raining a lot, so we don't go out for a walk that much.But I do like hanging out in the seating room near the fireplace and reading. Caelum would sit opposite me and do his own thing, and just like in the Palazzo, we would mostly sit in comfortable silence.The day of the Charity Gala is as hectic as the engagement party. It took hours to get me ready, but I didn't complain.For some reason, I have a nagging feeling that something will go wrong. I have been anxious about the
"I'm surprised! You did a decent job on the interviews, my lady. I think they liked you. Well, maybe not Harrison but he doesn't like anybody except himself," a scratchy voice from a man said as the press were walking away.I looked behind me and saw an overweight old man clearly in a toupee with an attractive young woman by his side. She was pretty, but she kept bowing her head, as if she's trying so hard to disappear into the shadows.Meanwhile, the man wore a general's uniform with dozens of medals pinned on it.Judging by his arrogant stance and condescending tone, he did not earn those medals.I smiled tightly."Ah, pardon my manners. I'm Duke Anton Fontaine of Michestershire. I thought you would have known me, but clearly you didn't take the time to memorize the faces of your soon-to-be family?" He tsked, but held his hand out to me and looked like I should be grateful to be in his presence.I looked at his outstretched hand. I took it ever so slightly and shook it.Then, I stre
There were several things that happened all at once: royal guards were pulling Duke Fontaine from me, there were loud gasps from the audiences, Caelum running towards me, and flashes of bright lights.The latter was the first one to pull me back into my body.Fucking hell. The media is on a rampage, and I will most likely have my face everywhere from newspapers to magazines to news channels both on TV and online.But before I could react, Caelum was beside me, his back from the audience and blocking me from the cameras."Are you okay?" He worriedly asked."Get off me, you scoundrels! I'm assaulted and you hold me?!" The Duke was screaming. He looked at me with such rage. "You filthy peasant!"He tried to lunge at me but the royal guards held him back. Caelum stepped in front of me, holding me back."Get him out of here," Caelum said, his voice low but full of authority.As the royal guards dragged the Duke away, who was still screaming obscenities and lashing out at the guards, I look
There were several things that happened all at once: royal guards were pulling Duke Fontaine from me, there were loud gasps from the audiences, Caelum running towards me, and flashes of bright lights.The latter was the first one to pull me back into my body.Fucking hell. The media is on a rampage, and I will most likely have my face everywhere from newspapers to magazines to news channels both on TV and online.But before I could react, Caelum was beside me, his back from the audience and blocking me from the cameras."Are you okay?" He worriedly asked."Get off me, you scoundrels! I'm assaulted and you hold me?!" The Duke was screaming. He looked at me with such rage. "You filthy peasant!"He tried to lunge at me but the royal guards held him back. Caelum stepped in front of me, holding me back."Get him out of here," Caelum said, his voice low but full of authority.As the royal guards dragged the Duke away, who was still screaming obscenities and lashing out at the guards, I look
"I'm surprised! You did a decent job on the interviews, my lady. I think they liked you. Well, maybe not Harrison but he doesn't like anybody except himself," a scratchy voice from a man said as the press were walking away.I looked behind me and saw an overweight old man clearly in a toupee with an attractive young woman by his side. She was pretty, but she kept bowing her head, as if she's trying so hard to disappear into the shadows.Meanwhile, the man wore a general's uniform with dozens of medals pinned on it.Judging by his arrogant stance and condescending tone, he did not earn those medals.I smiled tightly."Ah, pardon my manners. I'm Duke Anton Fontaine of Michestershire. I thought you would have known me, but clearly you didn't take the time to memorize the faces of your soon-to-be family?" He tsked, but held his hand out to me and looked like I should be grateful to be in his presence.I looked at his outstretched hand. I took it ever so slightly and shook it.Then, I stre
For the past few days, it was the same routine: Madam Roserta in the mornings, lunch, Gonzalo sessions in the afternoon, dress fittings to finish my dress, and awkward dinners with the royal family.According to both Madam Roserta and Gonzalo, I have improved a lot. Gonzalo even said he can see me in interviews and I felt a sense of pride.In fact, I've started to believe my own lies, which is kind of good, but also not really. I just kept reminding myself that this persona is only for the cameras.It's also been raining a lot, so we don't go out for a walk that much.But I do like hanging out in the seating room near the fireplace and reading. Caelum would sit opposite me and do his own thing, and just like in the Palazzo, we would mostly sit in comfortable silence.The day of the Charity Gala is as hectic as the engagement party. It took hours to get me ready, but I didn't complain.For some reason, I have a nagging feeling that something will go wrong. I have been anxious about the
After a week of mostly bliss in the Palazzo, I'm back in a little study hall with Madam Roserta. I guessed the whole vacation also practically threw me in square one because she kept shaking my head every time I stood or walked or sat.At least I still have the cutlery memorized.But that's not even the worst part. Mornings are for Madam Roserta on basic palace and royalty etiquette, and afternoons are for Gonzalo, a famous media reporter who always interviews royal families and nobles of not just Arcadia but the world.He's now sitting in front of me, going through his tablet."Alright, Lady Vivienne, these are possible questions that the media will ask. I want you to take a look at them and really understand each question. Then, I'll ask a few at random. Understood?"I nodded my head. I opened the document he sent me on my tablet and I just stared at the list of questions."They're too many," I whispered, mostly to myself. But Gonzalo heard me."Well, it has been a while since we ha
A day after the pool incident, things were a little awkward with Caelum and I. It's as if every time I looked at him, I'd remember how much I felt wanted and how I wanted him.He tried avoiding me all morning, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth and a pang to my heart."Hey, you okay?" I asked, finally walking up to him on the terrace. He had just finished a game and it was quite obvious that he was frustrated. If it was because he didn't win or something else–like what happened last night–I'm not entirely sure.But he jumped when I walked to him. It's as if he forgot I existed and he was in deep thought."Skye. Of course I am," he replied, albeit a bit awkwardly. He tried to smile, too."No, you're not," I tell him as I plop down the chair beside him. "You've been avoiding me all morning.""I'm not…"I just looked at him to say "you think I believe you?""Look, I know you're avoiding me because of last night," I told him. He blushes. "It's really not your fault. Or mine. It's just
Breakfast at the diner was amazing. The pancake was fluffy and the sausage just had the right amount of spice. We also had eggs cooked just how we liked it and a cup of hot, creamy, and rich chocolate.It was so simple, yet so satisfying.All the while, people would come and go, stopping by our table ever so briefly to greet us and tell Caelum how big he has grown.They were also so very sweet to me, and I can sense they were all just genuinely good people."I love it here," I sighed happily as we left the diner."It makes you fall in love with it, doesn't it?""You know what this town reminds me of? Those little villages in snow globes. My mom tried collecting them once, but after Serenity broke one when we were kids and had to have stitches, she gave them away. I missed those snow globes," I said."Funny that you mention that. I'm taking you to the gift shop. They do have small snow globes that I've fancied ever since I was a kid," he said as we walked towards the Rover. He opened t
It's not my first kiss. I have kissed boys before Finn, too. Just two, actually. And then Finn.But all those moments were nothing compared to this. It felt like my atoms have dispersed across the universe and have felt all the pleasures the stars have to offer, and then arranged back to create this version of me.My heart burst in my chest, it's almost painful.Caelum's lips were soft and gentle and warm. He is warm. His hands snaked their way to my back and pulled me into him and I wanted nothing else but to melt into his arms.Now, I know what it is like to be kissed by someone you love and love you. It's so much better than all those kisses made in the darkness of cars, or theaters, or under the bleachers.We pulled apart, and as soon as we did, I wanted more. Craved for his touch."I thought you'd never had someone before?" I asked him, almost breathlessly."Never. Why?"He looked confused. And he looked so beautiful even when his brows were furrowed together, lips slightly parte
I cried and kept wiping the tears away. I wanted to stop crying but the tears wouldn't stop and I grew more and more frustrated.Thankfully, Caelum didn't run after me and bothered me. At least he didn't at first.It was about an hour until he finally knocked on my door, just enough time for me to finally stop crying, too. But I wasn't in any mood to talk."Skye? Please, I'm sorry," he called from the door.I wanted to yell at him to go away. I also wanted to yank him in and hug him. But I have no energy to do any of that. Instead, I played my conversation with Caelum earlier over and over and asked myself if I shouldn't have reacted the way I did.In this entire debacle, I just hated myself.After around 15 minutes of knocking and calling out to me with no answer, Caelum stopped.I don't even know how to face him anymore. Sure, he shouldn't have sounded so angry and pissed. Or maybe assume something worse about someone he didn't know.But was my reaction warranted? Why was I so angry
The first couple of days in the Palazzo were spent on the terrace. I read a classic book I chose from the library, and even lunches were served there.Caelum mostly spent his time with me, in his own little world with a book, or a laptop, or a small portable gaming device. We would sit in companionable silence until the afternoon, where he would take me out into different spots on the mountain with a little picnic basket Sarah and the chef, his husband Marko, had prepared for us.We would sit in meadows or lookout spots until the sun set and the stars appeared. Then, we'd return to the Palazzo, have homemade pizzas and wine, and we'd watch a movie. Caelum picked a fantasy film the first night, I chose a scary one the next, and he was so terrified that we would both jump and scream.When it's time to go back to our own bedrooms, he would always wait for me to get inside my own room with his dimpled smile, and I would listen by my door so I'd know he'd entered his. Then, I would draw a