“What brings you to the city?” he asked.
“Will you tell me your name first?”
“Ah yes, how rude of me. I do apologise. Allow me to introduce myself.” He bowed slightly and opened his arms out. “I
am Lord Cole Reidin, from the northern valleys, somewhere between Lyren and the Obsidian Kingdom.”
Nodding my head in greeting at him, my heart fluttered a little as I caught that same sparkle in his blue eyes as I did before.
He had his dark hair loose today, sitting neatly on his shoulders, and his clothing was a little too casual for a lord.
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Lord Reidin.”
“Please, your highness, call me Cole.”
I was brought up to address people correctly, and only when there was a close bond between you and another, did you call
them by their first names.
“Lord Cole, may I ask what brings you to the city today?”
He laughed a little, realising I was not going to call him anything other than ‘Lord’. His laugh sent a shiver down my spine,
something no one has ever made me feel before. Holding the rose tightly to my chest, Lord Cole held out his hand for me to take
and for some reason, I was reminded of my dream. This time, however, I was not as hesitant to take his hand and he linked my
arm into his.
“I came to see the sights, princess. My father, I believe, was invited to attend your Festival of Light I keep hearing about,
but alas he has been called away with some house business and sent me in his steed. Which, I am grateful for, as it meant
meeting you.”
He was smooth with his words. As we walked together, stopping at the statue of our creator, he looked up at her and then I
could feel his eyes on me.
“You know, you look a lot like her.”
“I will take that as a compliment because she is very beautiful.”
“Yes, indeed she is.”
He continued to stare at me, and I could feel my cheeks heat as a blush appeared. I wanted to stay in his company a little
longer, but I knew Talia and Gelda would eventually be wondering where I was and would send someone to come looking.
Even if Marcus was still here, following and watching closely.
“It’s very nice to see you again, my lord, but I should go and find my sisters. They will be wondering where I have run off
to.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t dream of keeping a princess from her royal duties of dress shopping,” he jested.
“I will have you know, I do a lot more than just dress shopping.”