Alina's POV.
"You promised to tell me the dream on our way to the woods," Nissa suddenly piped up, breaking the silence. "Or have you forgotten?"
My stomach tightened. "Yeah, I didn't forget," I murmured, wishing with all my heart we didn't have to talk about it.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Alright then, tell me. My ears are itching."
I hesitated, chewing on my lip before finally admitting, "Okay… yes. I—I saw him in today's dream." The words tumbled out nervously, my voice trembling at the edges.
"And…?" Nissa leaned in, urging me forward like a child in desperate need of a bedtime story.
"He looks strange…and unnatural," I replied, finally spilling the long-awaited news and also driving Nissa into a new puzzle.
"Unnatural? How?" She questioned, tilting her head, trying to solve the puzzle.
But before I could answer, her eyes darted past me and widened. Her breath caught in her throat. She halted mid-step, frozen in place.
I turned to see what had snared her attention, and there he was.
A young man, dressed in fine, wealthy regalia that marked him instantly as someone of noble blood, strode down the cobblestone path toward us. He was slightly older than Nissa, or perhaps the same age, but his presence carried an authority that set him apart.
I didn't need to ask. I already knew. He was the very boy she had been whispering about for weeks.
Edward Criston.
Edward Criston. Nissa's long-awaited crush. The only name she had talked about for months, like an endless tale, is finally here, right in front of her. He was the son of Duke Criston, one of the king's most trusted advisors, and already carried himself with the entitlement of someone who knew the world would bow to him. He is also notorious for his womanizing habits because of his looks and status.
Edward and his men were heading out of the woods when we ran into them. His ego seemed to swell at the sight of a blushing Nissa, who stared at him with so much admiration in her eyes.
"Hey," his voice lacked courtesy—which I clearly wasn't surprised to hear, especially from someone from his class.
His lustful eyes scanned Nissa's body in and out. The arrogance that clung to his tone was barely hidden and enough to twist my stomach with dislike.
I understand the way our world subjects females, especially those from poor homes like ours. We're rarely given the respect we deserve. Yet I also believe that true gentlemen might exist. Gentlemen who did not need to flaunt their bloodline or station to gain admiration. Edward was clearly not one of them. His eyes gleamed not with warmth but with possession, and I could already see the kind of ruin he could bring to someone like Nissa.
She cannot fall into his hands. The thought echoed firmly in my mind like a vow. He will use her, discard her, and no one will dare raise a voice against him, not when he is the Duke's son.
I ignored his greeting entirely, clamping down on my tongue before my disgust spilled out too sharply. Nissa, on the other hand, was caught like a rabbit in his stare. She smiled, soft and nervous, her cheeks tinted cherry red as though his arrogant tone were sweet poetry.
"Why are you both heading to the woods instead of the palace? Or have your minds lost track of today's event?" Edward asked nonchalantly, apparently a few feet away from Nissa.
"We…we…" Nissa flattered, nervousness washing down her features as she lowered her face to avoid Edward's gaze, was obviously thinking of the best way to convey her response to her 'perfect man.
I noticed how reticent she was from her timorous voice and mousy actions, so I decided to step in and bail the cat by lifting the burden from her and picking up from where she stopped. I wouldn't let her sink in his presence; it will only give more room to his pompous acts.
"Well, it's none of your business." I snapped, not giving a damn about his status or class.
Edward's lips curled into a smirk, amused rather than offended.
"Wooow," he dragged the word, mockery dripping from it. "You should be more like your sister here, a gentle young lady. At least she knows her place. Besides…" his chin tilted upward, "…you should know me well enough not to speak to me in that manner."
I bit back the urge to roll my eyes. His pompous tone reminded me of a rooster strutting in an empty yard, convinced of its importance. But for Nissa's sake, I forced myself to rein in my temper.
"We're heading to the woods to get some fruits," I muttered grudgingly.
It burned my pride to play along, but Nissa was at my side, wide-eyed and silently pleading with me to let the matter drop. If it were only me, I would have fought him with every ounce of my defiance. But her timid nudges and glances begged me to surrender, and so I swallowed my anger like bitter medicine.
"We will be out in a few minutes, then go for the ball." Nissa quickly added, trying to smooth the tension.
I took her hand and proceeded to leave, but then Edward stepped forward and caught her wrist.
"I want to have a word with your friend," he demands, in an utterly commanding tone.
My first instinct was to refuse. My mind screamed to pull her back, to warn her that his interest wasn't the kind that ended happily-ever-after. But then Nissa's eyes lifted to mine. She gave a small, reassuring nod, her expression torn between nervous excitement and hope.
I exhaled slowly. This was her long-awaited dream standing right in front of her. Who was I to rob her of it, even if I thought it would only end in heartbreak? If I intervened now, she would hate me for it, and I couldn't bear to lose her trust.
"Okay… you can," I reluctantly replied, releasing her hand.
Edward's smirk widened in triumph. "You can run along. I need some privacy."
"I'll be right behind you in no time," Nissa quickly reassured me to calm the storm brewing inside me.
"Very well, then. Please, stay safe." I pressed her hand briefly, my eyes warning her even if my words did not. She squeezed my fingers in return, her silent way of telling me not to worry.
And with a reluctant nod, I turned and strode down the straight path leading into the woods.