Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 242: First Life, Alice. (9)

Chapter 242: First Life, Alice. (9)

’I promise’ her last words to her mother kept echoing in the heavy silence as her feet moved with practiced ease through the corners of the palace she had lived in all her life.

The walk back to Alice’s chamber was shorter than she would have thought since her father, the king, chose to be quiet the whole while. His curiosity is well masked behind his calm and cold demeanor.

Alice saw her dad as a cold and calculated man even to his family because he shows nothing but strength yet sometimes she often wondered if his cold countenance was just a mask or if it was his true nature. She always dismissed such thoughts and it seldom came up. This was one of the few times.

"We are here" Albert announced to an absent minded Alice whose thoughts still lingered with her mother who was at death’s door and the promise she had to make to her, a promise she was yet to understand.

Why did her mother ask such a thing of her? What did she know that she was not telling?"

"Thank you, father" Alice replied, too lazy to care about the consequences of using such familiar titles with the king of Springton with two of her guards present "Have a good night," she wished him.

"And you too Alice" Albert did not seem to be offended at all. If anything, the king appeared to be very emotional as he took in his daughter’s hand and kissed it. The contact was strange but welcome by both father and child.

The guards looked on, not daring to even breathe out their shock at such display from a king who was known to be a ruthless conqueror. They prayed to remain unnoticed as they dutifully guarded the door to Alice’s quarters.

The kiss was brief and so was the warm light in the king’s eyes. He heaved a sigh and was back to his cold self. He nodded once at the guards and they saluted him before he made his way to leave Alice there.

Alice, who seldom took interest in the men that watched over her, simply walked into her room wishing her maid was still there so they could talk. Harley had retreated earlier that evening to her own sleeping quarters she shared with other maids in the palace.

Alice went straight for her bed, suddenly feeling too exhausted to be pissed Harley had left her. She lay on silky sheets and willed sleep to come but it didn’t leave her to toss and turn in bed for what seemed like hours.

When she got enough, Alice leapt off her bed deciding to take a walk through the palace to get the cool air on her skin for a change. She was up and away in a few minutes, exiting through another door that was unguarded so no one would know she was gone.

She roamed freely through the night as she kept on thinking about the events of the day. To think that she was allowed out of the castle, visited the village in disguise, encountered a handsome boy who could have been the prince and promised her mother to follow her heart all in the same day.

Indeed, Alice just had one of the longest days of her life as princess of Springton. It was all too much to take in but with the help breeze blowing through her skin, she was managing just fine.

Her mind relaxed and she began to think of what her tomorrow should be like, she would wake up by Harley’s nagging voice, dress up, have breakfast, meet her governess, read and... the prince.

To confirm his identity. She would sneak out with or without Harley and find the handsome boy or Theodore. If he is the warrior prince she would ask him away from her kingdom, once and for all.

She had a plan and she wasn’t intending to fail, she went back into her room and sleep could finally come.

*

* *

*

Afternoon.

Everfall, Woods.

Springton.

***********

Alice left the castle dressed in the simplest of clothings with the market team and like the first day she escaped into the woods, she had questions for the boy she met yesterday, and she would go back to where they met first, somehow she believed he too would be there. She reached the place and he wasn’t there. It was just her and the sound of the water, the stones, the wind, the trees, and the animals. She played with water and jumped on the upper part of the waterfall until she got tired.

She sat down and she was drifting off to sleep when a shuffle shook her out of consciousness, "Were you hoping I would magically know you were waiting for me?" a low husky voice asked in a whisper above her head.

She let out a low sigh of relief, she was already doubting and berating herself for coming here thinking he was here so she was grateful that he was finally here.

She stood up, dusting off her dress, she merely reached his neck, "I was merely enjoying the view, I know nothing about waiting for you" she claimed.

He stared at her with a smile that showed how lost in her he was, "I shall be honest and tell you that I came here to wait for you, to see if you would be curious," he confessed.

She blushed profusely before clearing her throat, "What is your name?" going straight to the point.

He took a step forward, his eyes narrowed, "Are you looking for a reason to fear me?"

She crossed her arms over her belly, akimbo, "Why do you think your name would make me fear you?"

"You are a sheltered princess of Springton, a lot would fear you" he pointed out softly and it didn’t sound as condescending as the words may imply and it made her frown, looking at her feet, "I do not wish to fear a lot if I am to be queen someday" she let out.

Theodore lifted her chin and said to her, "Everyone has fears"

She narrowed her eyes, "Are you trying to downplay the jab you threw at me just now?" her midnight locks gleamed under the sky drew his attention.

"Comfort can be displaced after all," he teased.

She rolled her eyes, took a step back making his hand fall away before she stared ahead.

The forest was alive with the sounds of spring, and the air was filled with the earthy scent of new growth. Alice and Theodore, having found a momentary refuge near the upper lands of a cascading waterfall, sat quietly on a moss-covered log. The rush of the water was a soothing backdrop to their shared silence.

"So why were you waiting for me?" he brought back.

She scoffed, "I said I was not waiting for you" her reply was instant.

"Ok, I believe you, what shall─" she cut him off with her fingers showing the universal silence gesture.

"Wait!-" she whisper-yelled grabbing his arm in an unconscious grip to draw his attention towards what has grabbed her own mind.

She stuttered out her eyes hopeful, "Is that─that is a kingfisher" but he was only watching her so he became confused and asked again, "A king what?"

"Shh..., Theodore," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle roar of the falls. "Stay silent and watch."

Alice’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she spotted a flash of vibrant blue and orange amidst the greenery.

Theodore followed her gaze and saw the bird she was pointing at. Perched on a branch that overhung the clear, bubbling pool was a kingfisher. Its plumage was a striking combination of iridescent blue and rusty orange, feathers shimmering in the sunlight. Theodore had seen birds like it before but had never paid much attention.

She was an avid reader and despite Theodore having been in the outside world all his life was impressed that Alice knew this bird at first sight.

"That is a kingfisher," Alice continued in a hushed, reverent tone. "They are amazing birds. Watch closely."

Theodore nodded, a small smile gracing his lips.

The kingfisher sat perfectly still, its keen eyes fixed on the water below. The tension in its tiny frame was palpable, a coiled spring of potential energy. Theodore found himself captivated by the bird’s intense focus, his heart mirroring the anticipation he sensed in Alice.

"They have incredible vision," Alice explained softly. "They can see into the water and spot the tiniest of fish. And their beaks—they’re perfectly designed for diving and catching their prey."

As if on cue, the kingfisher plunged into the water, a blur of motion that ended with it reemerging, a small, wriggling fish clutched in its beak. The bird flew back to its perch, the fish’s silver scales flashing in the sunlight. Theodore watched, entranced, as the kingfisher deftly maneuvered the fish before swallowing it whole.

"Did you see that?" Alice’s eyes were wide with wonder. "They’re such skilled hunters. And so beautiful. Their colors are like gems." her lips stretched wide.

Theodore smiled, his attention equally divided between the bird and Alice’s animated expression. "I never realized how fascinating they are," he admitted. "You make them sound so magical." His eyes shone with admiration for her unique character.

"They are," Alice replied, her voice filled with genuine affection unaware of the prince’s adoration. "Kingfishers live by rivers and lakes, always close to the water. They build their nests in burrows along the banks. It’s amazing how such small creatures can survive and thrive in the wild." she continued, both her palms still wrapped around his left arm as she whispered.

Theodore leaned closer to her, his heart swelling with love and admiration. "I love seeing the world through your eyes, Alice. Everything seems more vibrant, more alive." he was simply falling.

Alice blushed, pleased by his words. "Nature is full of wonders, Theo. Sometimes we just need to slow down and observe."

Theo, his heart melted, she’s given him a nickname.

The kingfisher took flight again, a vivid streak against the green backdrop, and disappeared into the forest. Theodore watched it go, a newfound appreciation in his heart. He turned back to Alice, who was still gazing at the spot where the bird had vanished.

She loved the world.

"Thank you for sharing this with me," Theodore said softly while she awkwardly untangled her palm from his arm. "I never used to care about things like this, but now... now I want to learn everything that fascinates you," he confessed.

Alice smiled, her eyes meeting his with a depth of emotion that spoke of their shared journey and the bond that had grown between them. "There’s so much more to discover," she whispered. "And I have yet to discover anything." her voice took a sad turn making him frown.

"Does the princess of Springton wish to be an adventurer?" he wondered out loud, solemnly.

"This princess can only be a boring royalty" she replied dejectedly,

As they stood by the waterfall, the world seemed to pause, the moment suspended in the delicate balance of love and nature. The kingfisher’s brief appearance had not only brought them closer to the wild beauty of the world around them but also to each other.

The view was beautiful and even more spectacular as two of them kept themselves company in silence., and the stones before the edge of the waterfall were quite a number, some were wide enough that one could lie on the, and some looked slippery and round.

"My lady?!" a voice pierced through the serene atmosphere, shattering the wind that had built around them.

Alice glanced at Theodore with a nervous wonder, What were they doing? She turned to where the sound was coming from.

"Alice!" Harley dared to call out as then the princess would be sure she was the one she was calling out to in case she thought otherwise. Harley appeared behind the trees with a frown.

Alice turned desperate, "Wait, I have yet to─" she glanced behind for Theodore but like the first day, he was no longer there, her heart stuttered along with her words, "He... he is- he was right here─" she couldn’t understand how he could’ve left so fast.

"We are leaving, the carriage is here" Harley alerted, scared and cautious.

Alice pouted. "Why did they come back so early?"

"We spent more than three hours my lady, that is enough time to ask all the questions you have to" Harley replied quickly, her eyes scanning the area.

Alice’s eyes widened, how did they spend so much time? "Yet I forgot to ask the right questions" she chided herself out loud.

Wondering what had escaped her hearings, "Pardon?"

"No, let us go," Alice replied, heading out of the woods with even more questions.

Who was Theodore?

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