Emira woke up early in the morning and quickly finished the chores that had been ’assigned’ to her.
It wasn’t as if Prince Kael had really given her any chores, but somehow, after living here, tending the garden had quietly become her responsibility. And every time she cut the flowers, she couldn’t help but wonder why a man as cold and distant as Prince Kael had planted such evergreen, delicate things in the first place.
Now, as she placed the flowers into the basket to be sent to the main house, a quiet thought crept into her mind. What if those flowers were for Ramona Vye? According to Ryn, the garden had been planted around four years ago. Wasn’t that about the time Ramona Vye had probably been discovered as their mate...So, had he planted them for his mate?
She felt a soft pang at the thought that felt like jealousy and quickly shook her head. A man like Prince Kael, doing something so gentle and almost frivolous for love was up to him... She had no right to yearn for this. Emira... you are not to expect love from Prince Kael! Don’t be a fool... But her heart seemed to not realise that it had no right to be jealous.
Even as she said this, she told herself ,"No, it could be a coincidence". The planting of the flowers might mean nothing. He wasn’t the kind of man who would be such a romantic.
And yet, her thoughts betrayed her. She remembered the way he had pushed her against the tree, his breath warm as he asked in his low voice if she would go to meet Alpha Cassian today. And then the many times he had taken care of her...
He might not be a romantic, but he was something else entirely- a strange mix of gentleness and ferocity, and that combination was what made him dangerous. It was also what made her heart ache with confusion and other feelings that she had no business feeling. She tried to tell herself that it was because she felt pity for him and that is what confused her but she had a sinking feeling that it might be something else entirely.
With Prince Zen, it was easy to dissect her feelings now and even hide things from him. She knew he cared only for his mate and anything he did for her was a part of a transaction for him... So, with him, she could protect her heart. But Prince Kael was making things difficult for her heart...
With him, she found it difficult to keep her distance. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to tell him everything, even when she knew she shouldn’t.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear the door open until the faint sound of footsteps reached her. When she turned, Prince Kael was already standing behind her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
She blinked, startled, then hurried after him. "Your Highness—breakfast is ready."
Her voice came out softer than she intended, and she gulped.
She watched him stop and turn to look at her. And suddenly she felt a strange mix of apprehension inside her. There was something different in his expression today- a mix of anger and something else she couldn’t place, something unreadable that made her stomach tighten.]
Did something happen? Had she done something wrong? Or had he discovered her intention to go and meet the Redwood Alpha?
Before she could ask, the man shook his head once and walked out without saying a word.
Emira stood there for a moment, her hand still slightly raised as if to stop him, then let it fall. She had wanted him to taste the breakfast she had made. Usually, he was the one who left breakfast for her—simple things like eggs and toast, always still warm when she found them.
She looked down at the breakfast and sighed. She’d never really seen the man eat breakfast himself. So why did she think that he would be with her. But today, he hadn’t thought to make anything for her either, had he?
Curious she looked towards the door. Where was he going in such a hurry? She’d thought that he would try to keep her busy the whole day so that she would not be able to go and meet the Alpha Cassian but he had told her nothing to do. So, did she have nothing to do today?
Hurriedly, she followed the man to the door. She needed to confirm if she really did have the day to herself. But as she hurried to the outside, she came to a stop...
Prince Kael was carefully cutting off tiny flowers from the garden. She watched in awe. Those little pink flowers looked out of place in his hand but somehow, they also looked forward. She raised her eyebrows. It seemed she could have asked for something else this morning and it would have been granted. She smiled. So, the big bad wolf really had planted the flowers for himself?
But, then, he did something even more curious. After picking up a few flowers, he cut off a twine and tied them together, making a cute little bouquet. Emira felt her heart flutter at that. He was making a little bouquet of flowers... What was he going to do with them? There was a thought in her head but she refused to think it.
However, just then, the man turned around and walked back towards the house. Emira hurriedly moved away from the window, returning to her original position, her heart jumping with excitement. Was he bringing the flowers for her?
She smiled when he walked back inside and had to forcefully hold back her hands to not rush and take the bouquet from his hands and bury her face in it... But instead of holding them out to her, he asked," Why are you still standing there?"
Emira blinked at the words and shook her head," Breakfast? I made you breakfast..."