As they enter the dining hall, the King and Queen rise to greet them, their faces etched with expectation. "Ah, there you are," The King booms, his eyes twinkling.
"We were beginning to think you might have forgotten about us," The Queen adds, her gaze flicking between Esmeray and Mateo. "How was your... night?" The Queen doesn't skip a beat.
"We didn't sleep together last night your majesty. We have decided to waite according to my costumes. But don't worry we will try our best to have an heir" Mateo tenses beside Esmeray, his jaw clenched tightly. The king and queen exchange a glance, their expressions unreadable.
"I see," the king says slowly. "Well, we respect your traditions. Now lets eat" The night began with delicious food and drinks. Laughter after another,the evening wears on, the conversations flowing freely. Mateo keeps his distance from Esmeray engaging in polite discussions with the king and queen.
As the night draws to a close, the queen turns to Esmeray with a smile."You must be tired, my dear. Why don't you and Mateo retire for the evening? We'll have the servants bring up some refreshments to your chambers." Once there Esmeray allows herself to breathe.
She walks over the balcony admiring the city lights. Unable to believe how much her view has changed. She's always been afraid of change but as the future Queen and mother of two nations she needs to learn. Mateo enters the room silently, closing the door behind him.
He watches her for a moment from across the room, his expression thoughtful. "You seem... different," he observes, moving to stand beside her at the balcony.
"How did you imagine your adulthood would be? I knew I would eventually get married and bare children at a young age. As a child i didn't dare dream of anything else. "
She confess. Mateo leans against the balcony, his eyes fixed on the city lights. "I imagined... freedom," he admits quietly. "Freedom to make my own choices, to forge my own path."
"I envy your response my Prince" she replies looking at him for the first time. His dark eyes although cold seem warm. His facial expression soft yet hold power. His hair flowing with the breeze. He's handsome indeed. Mateo turns his head to look at her, his gaze intense.
"And I envy your acceptance, Princess," he says softly. "You seem to carry the weight of your responsibilities with grace."
"Thank you for the compliment. I see it as a burden. I wish to be free just for a while. If you had the choice what path would you have taken?" A wistful smile crosses Mateo's face as he considers her question.
"I would have traveled the world," he says dreamily. "Explored distant lands, learned about different cultures and traditions."
"Would you have considered my country as part of your exploration?"
Mateo's gaze lingers on Esmeray, a hint of regret in his eyes. "Perhaps," he admits. "But fate had other plans, didn't it?"
"Yes it did. " she replies a little hurt that he wouldn't consider her beautiful country.
The silence stretches, heavy with unspoken thoughts and regrets. Mateo breaks it first, his voice low and introspective. "Do you ever wonder what might have been, Princess?"Mateo turns to face her fully, his expression open and vulnerable. "What if we had met under different circumstances? What if we weren't bound by duty and expectation?"
" In my version, you would come present yourself asking for permission to explore every corner of my kingdom. From the darkest of Forrest to the beautiful seas. In my version we are friends and not lovers. And you?"
Mateo's eyes soften at her words, a wistful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "In my version, I would be welcomed as an equal, not a prince with expectations weighing heavily on my shoulders.He steps closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "And perhaps, in that version, I would have fallen for you not as a princess, but as a woman."
His last words echoed in her ears and heart. Does he see her as a mere Princess?
Just then a knock at the door Mateo steps back, the moment broken by the interruption. He calls out, "Enter," a servant enters with a tray of refreshments. "Ah, perfect timing," he says, his tone light and casual.A servant walks in with some fresh lemonade and dessert.
"Is that tress leches?"
"Yes, Your Highness. The chief prepared it specially, knowing it's one of your favorites."
Mateo watches Esmeray approach the tray, a small smile playing on his lips."Please let the chief know how grateful I am " The Prince smiles at her amusement, just faint enough. He moves to pour her a glass of lemonade, his movements graceful and practiced.
"You seem to have a sweet tooth,"
"I do. Well, not as much, I can go months not eating something sweet, but this right here. Is a must-have. Unfortunately, because of my strict diet, I can only have it once a year. Not to mention, now with the Queen on my tail"
Mateo watches the Princess savor the dessert, a hint of envy in his eyes. "Once a year? That seems... cruel. I will admit my mother can be... persuasive," he admits, taking a sip of his lemonade. "But you're not her puppet"
"You have a mind of your own, and a will to match. Don't let anyone, including my mother or me, dictate what you eat or how you live your life."Mateo's lips curl into a smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Does that mean I can disobey your orders?"
"Disobey? I never gave you any orders, Princess," he says, leaning back in his chair. "I merely offered you my opinion."
"In the future if you make me do something I don't want can I disobey then?"
"Only if it seems reasonable"
"I guess that means, I have to challenge you. But do you want me to challenge you as a princess or as a women?" She asks tilting her head in a provocative way.
Mateo's gaze sharpens at her provocative question, his eyes darkening with unspoken emotions. "As a woman," he says, his voice low and intense. "Always as a woman, Princess."