03. Boldness Of Her Heart

The heat of the sun dashes into my skin as I lay on the mattress, I covered myself with the thick blankets yet I soon got up upon hearing a familiar voice, "Rise and shine, Terra!" I lazily rolled my eyes the moment she yelled at me. Sage took my coverings and attempted to touch my hair yet it eventually alarmed me when I realized that I would be doomed the moment she would find out my hair was chopped.

"What are you doing here, Sage?!" I yelled back at her and took my blankets from her grip, covering myself with them. I saw how her eyes widened in surprise, she frowned upon my abrupt behavior and crossed her arms.

"You need to get up and prepare for your training!" She asserted and recklessly threw the pillow on my face.

"I thought you were commanded to stop me from my training? Why are you encouraging me now? Did the world turn upside down?" I sarcastically retorted and my hands rushed into my hair to tie it into a ponytail.

"Enough, Terra…" I kept silent as I continued to stare at her complexion, trying to figure out if she is being serious. "Just get up and meet the Prince at the field," she added, which caused me to jump off my bed and hastened to stand up.

"What do you mean?" I asked her and threw a glare. This can't be happening! Why am I meeting with the Prince at the field? I do not wish to see his countenance, we will be seeing one another tonight, I cannot attain to meet him today.

"The Prince accompanied his brother at the butts for the training, and he is expecting to see you…" she responded, which made my heart pound even faster than usual.

"I am feeling sick today, Sage. I cannot attend my workouts, tell him that I shall be only meeting him tonight."

"... But it is an order, Terra. You cannot disobey the prince's order for it only causes you to sin against the law." I frowned as my shoulder began to slumber, this is frustrating me! I breathe heavily before facing her once more.

"Fine as it is, I will let you know when I am done, I will have to get dressed so that I will become pleasing before his sight," I muttered and gradually shook my head. Sage let out a smirk before turning her back at me and leading her feet outside my compartment.

"What can I say to a lucky girl like you?" And she finally got out of my room, I once more sigh and wander my sight as I try to comprehend why the Prince would like to see me. Maybe he misses my adoring beauty? That would be shameful of me, yet perhaps he just wants to behold my daring presence.

I hasten to bathe myself, I drift my sight toward the mirror and as I see my reflection, I feel disappointed upon beholding my hair. It is not having the same length at all, it would be pretty obvious for the folks to notice that someone cut it. I cannot lie and pretend that it is some of my grown baby hairs.

Right after I am finished preparing, I dress in a simple sandy dress which adds the glow of my pale skin. I put on my leather boots and wore my hood, my creamy moist platinum blonde was covered as I tend to bring along my hood with me.

I went downstairs and witnessed the presence of Sage in the kitchen, cooking something to eat. "I am impressed by how you take your task seriously," I commented and walked toward her direction.

"Captain Theodore would definitely scold me once I failed to do all his orders," she mumbled and placed the wooden plates on the table, I sat on my favorite spot as I took my spoon and had a taste of the bacon.

"Why is it not even as salty as how it is?" I questioned and threw a glance at her location, she stared at me with a blank expression and crossed her arms.

"Salty is not good for your health, Terra. What do you want me to do? Should I put a sack of salt on your food?" She sarcastically responded which made me roll my eyes at her. I shook my head and took a bite of the dish, she soon after placed another plate of spring rolls and sat opposite of my seat.

"Did I ever mention that I love spring rolls?" I uttered and she innocently threw a stare at me. "Eat up, you must fill yourself as well, Sage, you are much focused on your labor, it won't cause you anything if you will soon die after." I continued, which made her almost choke on her food.

"I take good care of myself, Terra. You do not need to remind me,"

I did not respond at all, instead, I proceeded with my meal and finished it right away. I took two glasses of water and rested my back on the stool near the wall of our home. Sage did the dishwashing and she took good care of the kitchen area.

"Have you known of my father's whereabouts?" Sage momentarily threw a glimpse of my location upon my question, she just shrugged her shoulders and proceeded with her task.

"Are you going to keep silent for the rest of your life, Sage? Because I am telling you, I will surely dart my arrows at your forehead." I threatened her, and I smirked upon seeing how she halted from washing the dishes. A chuckle escaped from my lips the moment I saw her reaction.

"What is it?" Annoyance could be seen on her countenance.

"You are working under the chiefs, am I right?" she lazily nodded her head and did not even bother to utter any phrase, "How much are they paying you?" I asked once more and she threw a concerned face at me.

"They will be giving me thirty-five silvers once a month," she answered and I nod at her as my response.

"... That is surely a huge amount, good for you, Sage."

"Being a laborer at a young age is tough, Terra. That is why you need perseverance and willingness," I raised my brows as I gaze at her, she is finally done with the plates. Sage walked ahead and took her satchel, she sighs before glancing at me. "Come on, let us head our way to the field, the Prince must have waited for you already."

I did not get the chance to ask about her past, and I noticed that she never wanted to discuss it. Yet as how I often observe her, she never have anyone to be considered as a family, I never seen her mother and not even her father or brothers and sisters. We walked our way and as we reached the entrance of the butts, I saw the other trainees, and Prince Gohan waved his hand at me.

"Go ahead and enjoy your moment with the Prince, Terra," Sage uttered and headed her way to the gates. I glance once more at their location and I witness how the other ladies watch them as if they were those lions prepared to devour their prey.

I roughly step on the ground and let my feet reach them, as I arrived at the area, Prince Timothy smiled at me. "Good to see you once again, mademoiselle," he asserted.

I smiled back and responded, "Do good in your training, your highness."

"I am not fond of bow and arrows yet this appears to be interesting," Prince Gohan commented and glanced at the weapons that we will be using for our workouts.

"Why don't you have your seat, your majesty? Feel comfortable as you watch the entire practice," I suggested yet he held my hand and walked ahead.

"I would love to sit next to you, milady." I saw how he flashes his charming smile, I suddenly felt uneasy around him. I really don't like to be with him!

"So, about tonight's event, why are you forcing me to come with you?" I asked as I attempted to change our topic, he firmly stared at me and proceeded to step ahead.

"I want you to witness how beautiful the lanterns could be,"

"Really? Is that even a valid reason for me to believe your words, your majesty?" I teasingly replied.

"Don't you trust your husband?" He responded between his chuckle and I froze on my feet upon his reply. What is he even saying?

"Stop it, we are not even married yet."

"That means, you agreed to be my wife?" He assumed and stare deeply at my irises, "How beautiful you are, Terra… you are like a diamond that is quite difficult to find, you shine differently, I already tasted golds and silver yet a diamond-like you—it is so rare that I could not even assure how near you are because it always feels so afar," He whispered and his fingers drifts to touch my hair.

"Thank you for the compliment, your majesty…" I simply replied and stepped aback to avoid his next move.

"Pardon me with the formality, Terra. I would like it better if you are comfortable to call me by my name," he asserted.

"Why?"

"My name would definitely sound sexy when you are the one saying it," and he let out a grin. Okay, it would sound foolish but his daring smile causes me to hold my breathing.

Do not let this man fool you, Terra!

"...Gohan Ambers," I began to call him by his name and his stares were so focused on me, I chuckled at his reaction yet I did my best to stop myself from laughing. "I do not find your name sexy," I jokingly retorted and I saw how his face scowled.

"I am kidding, Gohan…"

"How I like your humor," he muttered and drew nearer to my direction. We finally reached the prime bottom of the tower and I could glimpse of the trainees beneath.

"How I wish to behold you every morning, it made sense how you tend to make me smile. I assume that I would definitely have a happy life with you." I almost choked in my own saliva upon hearing his thoughts, I could not imagine how awkward he could be.

"Do not wish for it, Gohan… the opposite thing would happen, I am not as sweet and funny as you think I am."

He shrugged his shoulders before he could even sit on his restricted seat and behold the entire field, he watched the learners as they hastened to practice their skills. How I miss holding my beloved bow.

"How many days did you learn archery?" The Prince asked.

I momentarily glanced at him, "It took me months, due to my dedication and desperation to frequently see my father, I desired to be one of his trainees yet he never considered it. He will not let me," I responded.

"Have you tried to tell that to him?"

"Tell what?" Our eyes met and I was astounded by his alluring irises.

"Tell him the truth, the thing you constantly feel."

"... no, I cannot do it. How I aspire to have such courage to confront him about it, yet he is too involved with the keeps' drills and coaching." I sigh and shift my gaze from him, why am I even telling this to him?

"I can see that you are indeed in love with your pastime," he commented.

I let out a smile, "It is not just a simple pastime,"

"I do believe that you have a deeper reason why you chose that sport, what is it?" He curiously asked which gave me the hope to open up about it.

"I yearn to be a warrior that defends the palace and protects the townsmen, primarily the rulers," I replied, which caused him to be stunned.

"That is what I anyhow seek in a woman, their dedication and boldness. You are more than what a warrior can do, Terra." My lips parted as I gaze at his countenance, this is the first time that he made me feel remarkable.