Neither Simina nor anyone was allowed into the Dark Castle for a long time. News spread in Lazera that the Prince was injured and the town soon became the center for gossip.
Another two months passed, and Simina hadn't heard a thing from him. She was worried about Nar. The only thing she had that let her know how he was doing was the rose. It wasn't wilting anymore, so it let Simina know that at least Nar was alive and doing better. In some way, the petal that had fallen had grown back.
Simina, Gloria, and Olivia were relieved of their duties as maids. They no longer had to work. The girls were made to go back to Etiquette School. Simina hated it there. All the girls ever did was gossip about the Prince. Simina thought of him often, wanting to see him and know how he was doing. It had been two months since she found him lying in the snow, bloodied and bleeding.
The next day, Simina got what she wished for. Aunt Lyda heard a carriage pull up outside her house. Someone ratted on her door. Aunt Lyda went to the door and opened it. A soldier stood outside on her doorstep. He saluted Aunt Lyda.
"Good evening, madam," he greeted them.
"Good evening," Aunt Lyda greeted him back, nodding her head. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Does Simina Gorchev live here?" the soldier asked. Aunt Lyda widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows.
"Yes? Why?"
"The Prince has requested her presence at the castle," he told her. Aunt Lyda nearly flipped her lid. She wanted to know what the Prince wanted with Simina, but she didn't ask because she decided it wasn't her business. Was she in trouble?
"Oh. Wait here, please. I'll go get her," Aunt Lyda told the soldier. She went up the stairs and got Simina.
"A soldier is here for you," she whispered. At that, Simina jumped and ran down the stairs to meet the soldier. Panting, she stopped in front of the soldier.
"Yes?" she said, breathless. The soldier bowed.
"The Prince has requested your presence. Won't you please come with me?" the soldier asked politely. Simina nodded. The soldier led her out and into a carriage. Simina wanted to go. She wanted to see him.
She arrived within a few minutes. The soldier took her to the throne room, or the Great Hall, and there Nar sat, waiting on his throne. Nar stood when he saw her and immediately approached. He ushered the soldier away, eyes on Simina. He looked okay. He was dressed normally. Nar bowed to her.
"My lady," he greeted her. Simina resisted the urge to lunge at him and hug him. Instead, she just smiled.
"I've missed you, Nar. I'm so glad you're okay," Simina said. They started walking side by side down the stairs.
"Why didn't you respond to my last letter?" Nar asked, a little disappointed. Simina gulped. Her heart leaped up into her throat.
"I didn't know what to say," she responded in a shaky voice. Nar nodded.
"Ah. I see." Deep melancholy filled his voice. Simina stopped and turned to him. The look of rejection was plastered all over his face. She nearly drowned in a flood of guilt.
"Nar...did you mean what you wrote in that letter?" she asked him, swallowing down the throb in her throat. He turned back to her, extreme hunger burning in his eyes.
"Yes, of course I did. Why would I lie?" Nar's voice was thick with passion. Nar took a step closer to Simina. He threaded his fingers through her hair and stroked a thumb across her cheek.
"I am truly in love with you," Nar confessed zealously. Simina's face reddened with a deep blush, and her stomach tingled with an indescribable sensation. Simina dropped her gaze from his handsome face, bashfully smiling. She let her hair fall to hide her face. Nar cupped her cheek.
"No. Look at me," Nar murmured, lifting her face so she could look at him. He brushed her hair out of her face. Simina stared back into his lovely features, absorbed in his magical purple eyes, falling deeply in love. She was in love with him; she just didn't know how to say it. She didn't want to speak it aloud; she was too embarrassed to tell him.
"Tell me, Simina. Do you love me?" Nar asked. Simina didn't know how to answer. She tried to look away from him, but he wouldn't let her.
"I...I won't say," Simina whispered.
"Why?" Nar swept her hair behind her ear.
Simina took a shuddered breath.
"I don't know how," her voice cracked. Tears swelled in her eyes. "And I'm scared." Her lip quivered.
Nar wiped her tears away. "No, no. Don't cry."
Simina sniffled and dried it up.
"Just take your time," he murmured, smiling. "I have something for you.
You're really going to like it."
Simina smiled, curiously.
"What is it?"
Nar took her hand.
"It's a surprise. Come. I'll show you." Nar led her out of the castle and into the snow. He leaned in close to her ear.
"Close your eyes."
"Okay." Simina giggled and closed her eyes. He guided her around to the stables, taking both of her hands in his. Once he put her in the right spot, in front of the two horses, he told her to open them.
"Okay. You can open them." Nar walked over and brought the horse to her. Simina fluttered her eyes open. She opened her mouth in amazement and gasped with surprise. She saw a beautiful, milky white horse with a luscious white mane. The horse wiggled its head, flicked its mane, and neighed.
"Oh, my Zormon..." Simina gawked. She approached the horse slowly and laid a gentle hand on its neck. Nar smiled.
"Do you like it?" he asked. Simina petted the horse's fur and stroked its mane.
"Yes. I love it. It's so beautiful," Simina gushed. Nar was happy that he was able to please Simina. She hugged the horse around its neck and stroked it, snuggling up to it. She scratched under its chin. The horse nuzzled up to Simina, huffing air out through its nostrils.
"Thank you so much, Nar." He's so sweet. She turned to Nar, went to him, and enveloped him in a tight hug.
"Thank you," she whispered. Nar hugged her tighter, closed his eyes, and let a soft little sigh break from between his lips. Simina kissed his cheek and quickly pulled away. Nar smirked.
"You want to ride it?" Nar walked over to his horse, Night Rider. Simina nodded.
"Yeah." It was already equipped with a saddle and reins. Simina watched Nar swing himself up smoothly and efficiently onto his horse with ease. He sat grandly upon his steed, agile and light in posture. Nar looked very appealing to Simina's eye. He smirked when he saw how she admired him.
Simina mounted her horse, gripping the reins. "Where do you want to ride to?" Simina asked him and flicked her hair.
"Into the woods, as far as you want." Nar took his reins and trotted his horse forward. "You ready?"
He quirked an eyebrow up at her, a cocky smirk playing on his lips. Simina smiled and nodded.
"Yes," she said. Simina tossed her hair. Nar flicked his reins.
"Ha!" Nar shouted and his horse took off at full speed with a gallop. Simina snapped her reins.
"Ya!" she screeched and took off after Nar. Her horse galloped at full speed behind him, catching up. The wind breezed through Simina's hair, flying behind her. Strength rippled through the horse's muscles as it carried her over the ground, bouncing and jouncing her. They entered the Snowy Woods and Simina caught up to Nar, keeping pace next to him. Simina pushed her horse to go faster.
"Hi-ya!" Simina took off and breezed by Nar. She glanced at him as she passed, laughing, hair billowing in front of her face. Nar smirked, and a cocky grin spread across his lips. He kicked his horse forward to go faster.
Simina's horse jumped over a fallen snowy log, and they kept running, Nar catching up. He glanced over at her through the rushing trees and winked at her. Simina smiled as she rode, whipping through all the trees and branches. Nature caressed her in all its beauty, exhilarating her. This is what it meant to be alive.
She truly missed the feeling of riding. Simina loved this. Happiness returned to her once again, for the first time since she'd been here. She was so glad to have a horse again, so pleased to feel free finally. The cool, brisk air whipped through her clothes, biting her skin. The woods looked like a beautiful winter wonderland of snow, except the snow was an icy, frosty, cool blue.
Nar liked watching her ride. It made her look alive and gave her a wondrous glow around her person. Her lovely hair flowed behind her, bouncing and floating in the air. Simina looked positively radiant. Genuine, sweet, joyful laughter bubbled up from Simina. She enjoyed the way he made her feel free. Simina liked being with him.
They ran and ran until the sun started to set, and then they turned and rode back. Panting, Simina laughed, trotting along on her new horse. She and Nar rode side by side on their horses, breathless and winded.
"That was fun," Simina said. Nar smiled.
"It was," he agreed. Simina looked at him, beaming.
"Thank you again for this beautiful horse." Simina stroked its neck. Nar nodded.
"It's a gift, Simina, for all of your hard work and my love for you," Nar said in a soft voice. Simina blushed at the word love and looked away from him. She gazed at her horse as she petted him.
"I wanna name it. Is it a girl or a boy?" she asked, trying to avoid the topic of love.
"It's a girl," he answered. Simina smiled.
"Then I'll name her...Wind Rider," Simina decided, just like Nar's horse, Night Rider. Nar, changing the subject, said,
"My uncle is coming to town."
Simina stared at Nar.
"Your uncle?" She wondered why he was mentioning this to her.
"Yes. He's coming to town to visit. He heard of my accident," Nar said with tight lips. Simina wondered why he disliked that his uncle was coming to town.
"Oh. When will he be here?" Simina wanted to be prepared when he arrived if she ever met him.
"A few days. Maybe three. I have no idea why he suddenly wants to come here. I hadn't heard from him in a while, and he suddenly wants to visit. I think he wants something," Nar told Simina, troubled by this matter. Simina cocked her head to the side.
"What do you think he wants?" she asked. Nar frowned.
"My throne," he said with distaste, a bitter look staining his young features. Nar sighed and looked at the sky, the wind bristling his hair.
"But you shouldn't worry about that. I don't want to worry you with my troubles," Nar sighed. "On another note...you and Olivia don't have to work in the castle anymore."
"What about Gloria?" Nar hadn't mentioned her.
"She still has to work," Nar responded curtly. Simina sighed and stared with loving eyes at Nar.
"When can I see you again?" Hearing the desperation in her voice, Nar turned to her. Nar saw the wanting look in her eyes, and he knew she loved him. However, Nar did not know how to answer her question. He tried to think of something, but he didn't have an answer.
"I don't know. I don't know." He seemed to struggle with his words. Since neither of them knew what to say, they fell silent. They kept walking until they came to the edge of the woods and could see the castle again. Nar and Simina stopped at the sight of a carriage pulling up in front of the castle. Simina looked at Nar. A confused look fell upon his face. He wasn't expecting anyone today.
A Royal Guard opened the carriage door. Simina saw a vast, black, muddy boot step out into the slushy snow. A second muddy black boot stepped out. A chunky hand then grabbed the side of the carriage. A large, gruff-looking man fully stepped out of the carriage with a thick neck, arms, torso, and gigantic feet. His eyes, a dull, sad lavender, were the only indication of any resemblance to royalty. His thinning, brown hair hung limply, stringy and ugly.
Wrinkles creased his skin, drawing attention to the sunkenness of his eyes. He appeared to be tired, but anxiety filled his expression. Despite not being very tall, his stubby and short limbs rippled with muscle. He adorned himself in fine silk clothes, with a fur cape draped around his shoulders.
The sight of the man startled Simina and gave her the chills. He did not look nice, and frankly, he looked scary. Simina noticed a long, sharp sword strapped to his waist. She gulped, having the urge to hide. Simina glanced over at Nar. He looked just as confused as she did, but for a different reason.
"Uncle?" Nar exclaimed, surprised.