The Royal Maid And The Lost Kingdom

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Edward’s POV

As the days passed, I couldn’t shake off the thought of Alice. She was like a flame that had ignited a spark within me. I was constantly drawn to her, and seeing her with my older brother, Prince Andrews, only added fuel to the fire. I had to do something, I had to show her that I was interested in her. So, I already decided to be nicer to her, to make an effort to win her heart.

As a prince, I was used to getting what I wanted. But when it came to Alice, I just couldn’t seem to get her to notice me. She was always so distant and uninterested in me, but I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her. It didn’t help that my older brother, Prince Andrew, had taken a liking to her. I couldn’t deny that seeing them together made me feel a little jealous. I liked Alice, but I wouldn’t admit it.

She was unlike any other woman I had met. She had a fire in her that challenged me and made me want to know more about her. But, I couldn’t be with her. The rules of the palace were strict and I had to marry someone of equal standing. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted her for myself.

I started to try and win her attention, being nicer to her and smiling more. But instead of making her feel more attracted to me, it just seemed to surprise her and make her think I was up to something. I didn’t know how to get through to her, and I started to feel hopeless about the situation. But I couldn’t give up just yet, I had to try and make her see me in a different light. I wasn’t sure how to do it, but I was determined to do it.

I found myself struggling to understand my emotions. Here I was, even though I was not the Crown Prince of the kingdom, I still had the world at my feet, but I was yearning for something I couldn’t have. Alice, the beautiful and fiery maid who had stolen from me, was all I could think about. I didn’t know what it was about her that had captured my attention, but I was determined to have her.

It was hard to watch her get closer to my brother, Prince Andrews. I could see the way she smiled at him, the way she looked at him with admiration in her eyes. It was enough to drive me mad. I knew I had to act fast, so I decided to be nice to her, to try and win her over.

One day, I summoned her to my chambers. I tried to be friendly and lighthearted, but my nerves got the best of me.

“Good morning, Alice,” I said with a smile. “How are you today?”

She looked at me, surprised by my sudden change in demeanor. “Good morning, Your Highness,” she replied cautiously. “I’m well, thank you.”

“I wanted to apologize for my behavior in the past,” I said. “I can be quite harsh sometimes, and I don’t want you to think badly of me.”

She looked at me skeptically. “Apology accepted, Your Highness,” she said.

I tried to continue the conversation, but I could tell she was still guarded. I didn’t know how to break through to her, to make her see that I was more than just a prince. I knew I had to do something to get her attention, to show her that I was interested in her.

Days passed and I found myself struggling to find the right words to say to her. I would often catch her looking at me with a confused expression like she couldn’t understand why I was being so nice to her. It was frustrating, but I refused to give up. One day, I decided to surprise her for a walk in the palace gardens. I hoped that being in a more relaxed setting would help her open up to me.

“Alice, you look lovely today,” I said, hoping to start the conversation on a good note. She turned to face me, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Your Highness, what brings you here?” she asked, her voice polite but guarded.

“Just wanted to say hello and see how you’re doing,” I said, trying to sound casual.

“I’m doing well, thank you,” she said, returning to her task of picking flowers.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” I said as we walked.

“Yes, Your Highness,” she replied.

“Please, call me Edward,” I said. “I want us to be friends, Alice.” She looked at me, her eyes softening.

“Okay, Edward,” She said looking for any sign of trickery and she said it so low afraid I would implicate her again with something insignificant.

My body shivered with the way my name passed through her lip, the same lips that I had kissed that night and which I wanted to kiss again. I already am craving her like a drug

We walked in silence for a while, taking in the beauty of the garden. I could sense her starting to relax, and I took advantage of the moment.

“Alice, there’s something I need to tell you,” I said. “I know I’ve been hard on you in the past, but I want you to know that I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately.” She looked at me, her eyes wide.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

I could tell she was uncomfortable, and I knew I had to try harder to win her over. “You know, Alice, I’ve been thinking,” I started, “I know I haven’t been the nicest to you, and I want to apologize for that. I want to start over and get to know the real you.” I said, she looked at me skeptically, her hands stilling in her lap.

“Why now, Your grace? What’s changed?” She asked, her voice hard yet lovely to hear. I couldn’t tell her the truth, that I was falling for her, so I decided to play it off as trying to be a better person.

“I just realized that life is too short to hold grudges and be mean to those around us. I want to make amends and be a better person, starting with you.” I said, I felt sad the moment I said those but I knew it was not the time yet to tell her how I felt. She looked at me for a moment, considering my words.

“I appreciate the effort, Your Highness, but it’s not that simple. Trust has to be earned, not just given.” She pointed out with her voice as bullet. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

“Alice,” I said. “I know this might be surprising, but I can’t help how sorry I am and I apologize here to you for making you feel those hurt.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

She looked at me, stunned. “Edward, I don’t know what to say,” she said.

“Just be honest with me,” I said. “Do you have any bad feelings for me?” I asked reeking of curiosity. She looked away, and I could sense her hesitation.

“I don’t know, Edward,” she said. “I have feelings just not what I could put into words, but I don’t know if it’s what you want to hear.” My heart peeked at her words, but I refused to let it show on my face, but as I looked at her I saw that she was lost in thought. I wanted to deny it but my heart fell as quickly as it had risen.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“I don’t understand.” She said staring straight into my eye

“Is it Stuart or my brother? Do you like my brother?” I choked out looking at her. She opened up her mouth to speak.

“Alice, you are needed here.” I heard and saw Meredith beckoning to her. She turned and looked at me before she curtsied and left. I stood there lost and I have no idea how to get her, I know that if I do not have her then I would regret it for as long as I live. I couldn’t deny that she was right, and I knew I had a long way to go to earn her trust. But I was determined to try, and I was willing to do whatever it takes.

The next day I saw her in the palace and I walked over to her.

“Good morning, Alice,” I said with a smile on my face.

“Good morning, your highness,” she replied, looking a little surprised even after our talk in the garden she still was surprised. How on earth did I mess up this badly?

“How have you been?” I asked.

“I’ve been good, your highness,” she said, her voice still a little cautious. I felt sad because she had gone back to calling me by my title and I do not like it.

“That’s good to hear,” I said, trying to keep the conversation going. “So, what have you been up to lately?”

“I’ve just been doing my duties around the palace, your highness,” she said.

“Right, right,” I said, nodding my head. “Well, I hope you have a good day.”

“Thank you, your highness,” she said, before turning and walking away.

I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that the conversation had ended so quickly. I had hoped that I would be able to spend a little more time talking to her and getting to know her better. But I knew that I had to be patient, I couldn’t expect her to warm up to me overnight.

I continued to try to be nicer to Alice. I would start conversations with her when I saw her and I would try to make her laugh but she always tries to run away from me anytime she could. I could see that she was starting to become a little more comfortable around me, but she still seemed to be a little wary of me. I would be wary of me too after the long strings of trouble I had sent her way. I could not tell her that I was jealous of her with Stuart, he didn’t even try anything and she likes and spends time with him, maybe that was why I had him sent away, but she just had to go right ahead and make me jealous of my brother.

One day, I asked her to have dinner with me. I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better and to have a more in-depth conversation.

“I apologize your grace but I cannot.” She replied as soon as I asked her.

“Why not. Don’t you want to go out with me?” I asked.

“First I do not want to be exiled. And second I am going to be busy for the next few days, Madam Teresa is back and my workloads have increased.” She told me, and I grimaced.

I had heard of what happened from the maids in the castle and knew that Madam Teresa went just long enough to get the unpleasant rumors to die down even though they were the truth. And now she must be back with a vengeful heart, I know that even if I go to meet her she would not relent and would try to get Alice out of the castle so my hands are tied for now. My thoughts sent a light through my body because this was the first time I saw a little helpless situation and it was because of this red-haired lady right in front of me.

“Your grace.” She curtsied and left, I noticed she had been avoiding staying in a closed area with me.

I felt a smirk on my face because I knew that she must have been thinking of the kiss, I could still taste her whenever I close my eyes. Maybe that’s one of the reasons that are fueling my jealousy anytime I see her and Andrew together.

Today, I brought her a bouquet of wildflowers that I picked myself. She was surprised and pleased, and I could tell that I was finally getting through to her.

“These are beautiful, Prince Edward,” she said, admiring the flowers.

“I’m glad you like them, Alice,” I replied, feeling a surge of happiness. “I wanted to do something special for you.”

I continued to try to win her over, always finding new ways to show her that I cared. And slowly but surely, she began to see me in a different light.

Then the next day I finally worked up the courage to ask her about her feelings. We were sitting in the garden, enjoying the sunshine, when I mustered up the courage to ask her the question that had been weighing on my mind.

“Alice,” I said, turning to her. “I have to know. Who do you have feelings for?” She looked at me with a mixture of surprise and hesitation.

“I… I’m not sure,” She said, looking away. Just as she was about to say more, the head maid Meredith interrupted us, calling her away for some work in the palace. I was disappointed, but I knew that I had to be patient.

A few days later, I tried again, but this time, it was Prince Andrew who saved her from having to answer my question. He came into the room, his presence immediately filling the room, and took her away with him.

I was frustrated, but I knew that I had to keep trying. I couldn’t give up on her, not when I felt so strongly about her. I was determined to win her heart, no matter what it took. I was sitting in my room when the maids cleaning up started talking and I briefly heard Crown Prince and Alice.

“What did you just say?” I asked one of them who trembled, even though I am calm now but only to Alice.

“……. Pardon?…” One of the asked confused

“I said repeat what you just said.” I said to her already feeling annoyed, what was going on.

“With whom?” Another asked, I growled deeply feeling irritated.

“About the crown prince and Alice, who else were you speaking about you idiots.” I spoke loudly, I saw them trembled more but I do not have the time for that. I knew I was quiet and they must have forgotten that I was in the room before they started talking. They both knelt down instantly.

“We are so sorry your grace.”

“Please pardon us.” They all begged, I rubbed my temple and closed my eye. I took a deep breath then I looked at them again.

“Just repeat what you said and you will be pardon.” I said trying another tactic, they looked at each other probably considering their options.

“We heard that the crown prince had invited Alice to dine with him tonight.” One of them said, I felt the blood drain from my face. My brother may not be a play boy like me but he has his own, and he was also much more handsome than I am. I know that ladies do find cold and calm men hot, I stood there in shock as I was processing what they just said.

“Y…. your grace?” I looked and saw them still on their knees but more confused as to my attitude. I schooled my features because I do not want another rumor.

“How long had she been there.” I asked them.

“Almost three hours now.” One of them responded.

“Go get her for me and the rest of you are dismissed for the night.” I commanded and sat down fuming, I stayed for five minutes before I got up pacing trying to calm my nerve and telling myself that I was imagining rubbish. My anger getting the most of me as my imagination ran wild, I heard the door open and I turned to see a particular red hired girl raising her eyebrow at me.