The next day, after completing her book sorting job, Simina finished up her workday by mopping with Gloria and Olivia. She didn't like working with Gloria. Gloria would purposely make more messes just so Simina had to clean them. Earlier, when they'd been mopping up the kitchen, Gloria purposely spilled the flour and made it look like Simina did it, and Matilda made Simina clean it up.
This made Simina angry, so she glared at Gloria as she sauntered by Simina, sneering at her. Simina huffed, blowing a strand of hair out of her face and slaved away to clean it up. Now, Simina was in the foyer, trying her best to avoid Gloria while mopping. She hummed happily to herself, thoughts of Nar looping through her mind. She'd actually taken quite a liking to Nar, considering he liked to read.
He actually liked to read Shakespeare and he liked Edgar Allan Poe. Simina also swooned over the fact that he liked to read romance novels. She found herself drawn to him and wanting to know him more.
She heard quiet footsteps slowly tapping down the staircase. Simina stopped mopping for a second and turned around. Her ponytail swished around behind her head. She saw Nar coming down the stairs, but he stopped midway with one hand resting on the banister, other hand resting on his hip.
Simina let her eyes feast upon him since she enjoyed the sight of him. Nar stood gracefully upon the stairs, not stiff nor relaxed, but stood with a posture of flowing, graceful movements. His shoulders were broad and he was tall with a perfect masculine physique from what Simina could tell, even under his clothes.
Gloria looked up to see Nar next and immediately tried to make herself look good. Olivia to her left began to hyperventilate. Simina succumbed to a dazed daydream as she stared at him. Nar let his eyes fall upon each girl, first glancing at Gloria, only allowing his gaze to rest upon her for a mere second before glancing to Olivia, who he didn't remain on for any much longer than Gloria.
Then, lastly, his eyes fell upon Simina, for whom he gazed upon the longest. The slightest smirk tilted up to curve his lips as he found her already gazing upon him with hungry eyes. Nar thought he saw the slight flicker of admiration in her eyes, but he couldn't be sure. Nar did not want to get ahead of himself.
Gloria, the everlasting jealous hussy standing behind Simina, caught this slight little exchange. A fire brimmed hotter than the hinges of hell within that spitfire and she clenched her fists at her sides. She hated the fact that Simina attracted Nar's attention, seething.
“Stop staring at him!” Gloria shouted, startling Simina out of her daydream. Simina broke eye contact with Nar and turned to look at Gloria, whose eyes burned with fiery jealousy.
“Hmm? Stop staring at who?” Simina acted oblivious. Gloria stomped her foot and huffed, fuming. Nar smiled, perhaps a little bashfully, a pink blush rising in his cheeks and turned away also.
Simina ignored Gloria and turned back to face Nar, but did not directly look at him. From under the hood of her thick lashes, she kept stealing quick glances at him. Nar cleared his throat and faced forward again.
“Your work is finished for today. You may go home,” Nar informed them. Matilda scurried about, giving each girl her pay. All three of them put up their mops and turned towards the door to leave. Simina walked towards the door, smiling to herself at the fact that she was able to make Gloria so jealous. Before Simina could leave, Nar stopped her.
“Simina,” he called to her softly. Simina stopped. Chills shivered down her spine. Gloria passed Simina another hateful glare before stomping out the door in a huff. Simina turned, feeling hot.
“Yes?” Simina answered him, voice quiet and feminine. Nar grinned. He liked the sound of her pretty feminine voice.
“You stay,” he told her. Simina did as he said. She stayed while her two cousins left. Nothing more was said until the other girls had left. She approached the stairs where he stood.
“Why have you asked me to stay?” She stopped at the foot of the stairs, staring up at him. Curiosity grew within her.
“I have something to show you. Please follow me.” Nar's voice sounded just like a melody to Simina. Slow, soft and sweet. He turned and started walking back up the stairs. She quickly ascended them to catch up to him, ponytail bouncing behind her.
She followed Nar and neither of them said anything as they walked. Simina recognized the path he was taking. They'd walked up two sets of stairs and then turned right down a corridor, until coming down upon another grand set of stairs. They were going to The Great Hall, or The Throne Room. Halfway up the stairs, Nar said to her,
“My father would like to meet you.” His voice was a soft, quiet little murmur. Simina felt a nervous flutter flit around inside of her. She looked at Nar.
“The King?” Her voice shuddered. Why did the King want to see her? Simina suddenly felt nervous.
“Yes, the King,” Nar replied. Simina somehow had forgotten that Nar was the Prince, until she looked at him. He was a very handsome Prince, young, tall and attractive with striking features and beguiling eyes. She wondered his age. He did not seem that much older than her.
Now feeling aware of herself, tried to fix her hair and straighten her dress. She wished she'd worn some better clothes if she had known she would be meeting the King. Simina stopped on the stairs and turned to Nar. He stopped too, just before they entered the Throne Room. Nar noticed she seemed troubled.
“What's wrong?” His brow rose. Simina looked down at herself.
“How do I look? Do I look okay?” Simina felt butterflies. Nar took in her appearance. Her dress was creased and wrinkled, and her hair was slightly frizzed, some strands falling out of her ponytail. But Nar didn't care about any of that. He thought she looked breathtaking. Her pink, pouty little lips quivered, and her plump cheeks were all rosy. Nar thought that maybe she should take her hair down.
“Take out your hair,” Nar told her. Simina reached back and pulled out her ponytail, pulling out the hair tie holding her hair back. Her brown hair fell down around her face as she shook it out. It swirled around her face, all pretty and curly, falling down around her shoulders. It looked soft and Nar yearned to reach out and stroke his fingers through it. Again, Simina asked,
“Okay, how do I look now?” Nar took a breath, admiring her.
“You're beautiful,” he gushed. Simina blushed and looked away from him, saying nothing. She also thought that Nar was beautiful, and she wanted to compliment him, but she said nothing. He certainly was lovely and very handsome. Nar smiled at her shyness.
“Are you ready now?” he asked her. Simina nodded. They continued up the stairs to the Throne Room, until arriving in that same vast room she'd been in before. She saw two thrones, but this time she saw someone sitting in the big throne. As Simina got closer, she saw it was an old man with a straggly gray beard with many wrinkles and creases in his face. He wore fine robes made of clean linen. He looked like a nice old man, kind and fair. His eyes too were purple, but slightly duller than Nar's.
The old man king smiled at Simina as she stopped to stand before him. Nar stood next to her and immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head to the King.
“My father, this is she, the one I told you of,” Nar said, introducing Simina. She became astonished at how humble Nar was.
“Rise, my son,” the King boomed. Nar rose. The King waved a hand at him.
“Leave us,” he ordered. Nar bowed his head.
“As you wish.” And with a click of his heels, he quickly turned. With swift movements, Nar quickly strode out of the room and left. But unbeknownst to the King and Simina, Nar was listening, just out of sight of them. He leaned stealthily against the walls, standing on the stairs, hiding among the shadows. Nar knew it wasn't right to eavesdrop on other people's conversations, but he wanted to know what was going to be said, or if anything that was going to be said regarding him.
Simina, feeling unworthy to stand before the King, dropped to her knees and bowed before him.
“Your majesty,” Simina said politely. The King scoffed.
“Oh, my goodness, there's no need for that. Rise, sweet girl,” the King said with laughter. She immediately stood up. The King beckoned to her.
“Come closer, child, I want to see you.” The King ushered Simina to come forward, and so she did. He observed her. She was very beautiful indeed but did not seem to notice it herself.
“What's your name, dear?” he asked her. Simina looked about her, twiddling her thumbs, nervous, wishing that it was just her and Nar.
“Umm...Simina,” she answered. He laughed joyfully and when he smiled, Simina noticed his cheeks got all rosy.
“What a lovely name, my dear. My son has taken quite an interest in you, you know,” he told Simina. She felt her stomach churning. Had he really? Well, Simina thought that he might have, considering how he acts towards her.
“Oh? Has he?” The question was rhetorical. The King nodded.
“Yes. Have you taken any interest with him?” Simina began to feel a lot of strange feelings dwell within her. She started fidgeting. Simina didn't want to lie; she had taken interest in him.
“Yeah, I've taken some interest in him,” she muttered, embarrassed. The King smiled knowingly.
“Well...Nar is young...suitable...” the King said casually, hinting at something. Simina didn't catch the hint.
“I know that.” Simina wanted to know why that mattered.
“You see my dear, I am getting old. I am sick. I am going to die soon. Nar has rights to the throne. Soon, he will be King. He is of age to marry and he needs to take a queen. Soon,” the King explained to Simina in a serious tone. Simina wondered why this was important to her. What did this matter to her? Then she realized that the King was implying that she marry Nar. She nearly fainted at the idea.
“I see,” Simina mumbled.
“You'd make a perfect bride for him, my dear,” he stated. Simina's heart lurched. Her face turned pink. Her hands flew to her face. The King chuckled.
“Oh, don't be embarrassed my dear, it's only a suggestion,” the King chortled. Simina shook her head and shied away from the King.
“I don't want to marry anyone. Not yet,” Simina said squeamishly. The thought of marrying Nar filled her with such a strange feeling that she didn't know what to do with herself.
“I understand. But if you ever want to marry him...you have my blessing. Nar is capable enough to provide for you and your...needs.” He hesitated at the last part. Simina said nothing.
“You are the first young maiden he's ever taken an interest in,” he told her. Simina's eyes widened.
“Really?” She found that surprising. She wondered why he hadn't taken an interest in Gloria or Olivia, two girls who were both very beautiful. The King didn't respond to her.
“If you want to love him, just love him, you don't have to be afraid. Don't be afraid to love him, my dear, if you want to,” he assured Simina. Simina felt her heart racing. Why was he telling this to her? Simina didn't know what to think or to feel.
Simina knew deep inside that she had feelings for Nar, but she wasn't sure if she loved him. Now that these thoughts had been voiced aloud by someone other than herself, those buried feelings she'd been holding back dug themselves up from the dirt. Simina, trying not to feel these feelings, ran out of the Throne Room without even saying goodbye to the King.
Simina hurried down the stairs and found Nar there on the steps. She saw his purple eyes glowing in the dimness. Nar had heard everything that was said and couldn't help but smile when he saw Simina. She stopped in her tracks at the sight of him. Nar smirked.
“Hello,” he chimed to her in greeting. Simina cautiously approached.
“Hello,” she greeted back as she stood before him. Simina realized that he probably heard her and the King's conversation.
“How long have you been standing here?” Simina grew angry. Nar shrugged.
“Not long,” he lied. Simina just took that to mean he'd heard everything. She sighed.
“You heard everything, didn't you?” Simina breathed out hopelessly. Nar looked away, but smiled and nodded.
“Yes.” That was all he said. Simina felt overwhelming emotion. The things the King said to her kept spiraling around inside of her head. She took another step closer to him.
“How's your age?” What she meant to say was, How old are you? but it came out wrong. Nar looked back at her, wanting to laugh at how she posed the question. But he knew what she meant.
“I am eighteen years of age,” Nar answered. The King was right. Simina felt absolutely flabbergasted at how close in age he was to her. She was sixteen, he was eighteen. It was perfect since Simina wasn't married yet, and Nar needed a Queen. Simina felt winded and became out of breath. All of her emotions came to the forefront, the emotions that she'd buried.
She remembered that if it hadn't been for him, she'd be dead right now. He saved her. He saved her life. Simina realized that she'd never thanked him. She felt bad, she felt that she owed him her life.
“I never thanked you,” Simina whispered, voice growing soft. Nar cocked his head to the side, confused.
“For what?” Nar didn't know what she was thanking him for.
“For saving my life,” Simina murmured. She reached out tentatively and took his hand. Nar was taken aback. His skin felt cool and smooth as she threaded her fingers through his. Nar took a breath. He squeezed her hand in return as she brushed her thumb across the back of his hand.
“Thank you,” she whispered, getting really close to Nar, gripping his hand tighter. She was so close to him that Nar could feel her breath on his cheek. Nar felt his passion building. He stroked his fingers through her hair and felt how soft it was, cupping her face with his hand.
“I'd do anything for you,” Nar pledged. Though he really hadn't known Simina that long, he knew in his heart that it was true. Simina felt her heart swell at his words. She felt extremely shy, her heart nearly melted at the words. He's so sweet, Simina thought, internally sighing. Nar stared at her lips. He wanted to kiss her, but thought it too soon, so he instead settled for kissing her forehead. Nar pressed a soft kiss to her temple with his lips. Simina closed her eyes, gripping his hand tighter. Nar pulled away, stroking a thumb across her cheek. Simina's eyes opened.
“I have to take you home now,” Nar whispered. Simina nodded, licking her lips.
“Okay. I'm ready,” she said. Simina held tight to Nar, slipping her arms around his waist. Smoke swirled around them and carried them off to her house in a matter of seconds. Even though Simina felt that her feet were on solid ground again, she still didn't let go of Nar. Her hand still clasped his. Nar placed a gentle hand on her head.
“Simina, we're here,” Nar murmured. Simina opened her eyes. He stroked her hair like she was a cat. She suddenly realized what she was doing, and her eyes roved all around her, observing Nar's shirt, the buttons on his coat, the way he smelled and was almost tempted to suck in his scent through her nostrils. He smelled sweet, distinctly like the color purple, like a lavender scented cologne. She nearly closed her eyes again.
Simina became aware of her hand clasped in his hand, her arm around his waist, his hand running through her hair, stroking each strand, the heat of his body on hers, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. Simina's brain went on overload and a warning filled her mind. What am I doing? she thought incredulously. Immediately, Simina ripped herself away from Nar and tore her hand from his. She took a few steps back, gathering herself, dropping her gaze away from him. She scuffed the ground with her shoe.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” she asked a little shyly. Nar smirked, perhaps a little cocky. He'd won her affection.
“If you wish to see me,” Nar responded coyly.
“Yes.” Simina twirled her dress.
“Then you will see me.” Nar bowed to her and took Simina's hand. “Until tomorrow.” He kissed her hand, never taking his eyes from her. Simina's face flushed and a bashful smile curled her lips. Her heart beat a mile a minute, her spine tingling. Afterwords, Nar pulled away and disappeared from sight, leaving Simina tongue-tied and speechless.
Little did Simina know, Gloria had seen it all from her window and the flame of jealousy burned hotter and brighter than ever. So, Gloria began forming a diabolical plan...