She chewed her lip, trying to come up with the correct response. Since it was established this was a casual conversation, she couldn’t go with the usual formal responses she had shut away.
“If … if it wouldn’t be a bother, I would like to spend a bit more time walking with you, Your- Dorian.”
Dahlia really didn’t know why she said that. It wasn’t like she was looking forward to sleeping in someone else’s attic every other night, or that she had anything else to do. She didn’t even know if she wanted this conversation to end or not and see where it would go.
"Oh, with me? No problem, if that is what you wish." he replied, looking back at her with slight surprise in his eyes.
It wasn't bothersome, just unexpected for him - though thinking about it, he should have seen something like this coming. Being the Prince, people might want to be in his presence, or even talk to him and the girls would probably want that more than anyone. Dhalia didn't look like she was crushing on him - honestly, what woman would do that after less than an hour of meeting each other - she was rather more stiff and nervous, probably from another cause. He chucked it up to her just being a little nervous because of him and maybe just wanted some company.
Under the dim light, they strolled leisurely through the garden's alleyway, just enjoying the silence of the place. A few crickets were serenading from the grass and a distant owl's hoots could be heard.
"Just curious, but how do you feel about this entire lindworm story? I mean, i feel like for some that weren't there, this seems like some elaborate tale."
She let out a shaky sigh, “Thank you. As for what I think … I have no evidence to stand up to the story and I don’t necessarily think that some things are impossible, nor can I say anything against you, your words, or your actions.”
Dahlia could feel herself relax just a bit again. Though it was more like she was forcing to herself to not be so panicked. The chances of her running into her ‘family’ were very slim, but finding someone who recognized had higher chances. It was also helpful that the Prince wasn’t a terrible person.
It dawned on her that the Prince might be thinking something else of why she wanted to keep walking together, but she quickly pushed that down. There was no sense in dragging that on. She kept worrying though, despite forcing herself to calm down, and worrying over whether she had forgotten to do something.
He chuckled lightly, looking at his feet and the gravel underneath them.
"Looking back, i feel like all of it was a weird dream and i would think that if i hadn't been alone. I probably imagined the part where it spoke, tho it felt so real."
Unlike all his friends, he was oddly calm about it, as if he hadn't just been one step away from a possible demise. Part of him wanted to forget the encounter and just relax but the other side felt like the lindworm had slithered its way into his mind like a snake. Maybe he was just tired, thats all.
Beautiful evening, isn't it?" he remarked, looking around him in an attempt to steer the subject in another direction
Dahlia took note that the subject was changing. After forcing herself to relax more, she only became more self-conscious about everything she was doing.
“I suppose it is. My mother used to-“ she cleared her throat. “Takes me on walks like this sometimes, when the weather is nice.”
She’d let herself slip up. Not intentionally of course, but it was very pressuring that she had lied and was lying to the Prince. She reminded herself that she had made the conscious decision to stay out here, and that this was better than just heading back to someone’s attic.
The Prince only nodded, not paying too much attention to her slip up. He understood not to pressure her, he just wanted to have a normal relaxed conversation and he did not have the right to just nit pick all of her words.
Together they reached a bench where he first offered her a seat, then he sat down next to her, keeping a bit of distance as to respect her personal space.
"Say, do you ever have the feeling that you are being watched? As in, sometimes while you're busy doing something you just have this weird feeling that someone is watching?" he asked all of a sudden, yet another odd question.
(Terribly sorry about the hold up. My family decided it was an incredible idea to go internet free and locked all our tech up, the internet was also down for the past several days, so I haven’t been able to reply as soon as I had hoped.)
She blinked.
“I guess I do at times. Though since I’m almost always rushing around from place to place or stuck in small spaces, I can’t really think about something like that. I suppose it would be different for you, since you are expected to be somewhat mindful.”
Dahlia looked up to the sky, realizing it would be best to loosen up her own mood. There was no chance her family was watching her right now or even close to her at the moment, and she couldn’t blame the Prince for even starting to imagine that. She was probably safer with the Prince anyway, since they wouldn’t dare make a scene in his presence.
(its ok its ok, dw! glad to have you back)
Dorian picked up a blade of grass twisting it casually around his fingers.
"I see, maybe you're right" he said, slowly ripping it in half. "I could be just paranoid but, who knows."
He really didnt know who could be watching him or even why, as much as he thought about it he could not find a valid reason for it. Could it be just his imagination? Probably, but the feeling was still very strong and too real to seem like it was just something his mind made up. Why would it do such a thing anyway?
(so, anything u want them to do from now on? They could have more time just living normally or they could have another lindworm encounter :0 maybe even have Dhalia kidnapped by some 3rd party?)
(There isn’t anything in particular I’m thinking of. Though I think throwing the characters into some action would help to move things along somewhat.)
“If I may, I wish to know more about why you like spending time with us down here. I can guess that some of it may be to escape pressure of your responsibilities, but I’m wondering if there is something more … ?”
Dahlia watched the Prince rip apart the blade of grass. The atmosphere was feeling more relaxed, and her heartbeats only sounded louder. She desperately wanted to relax and lay back, but she still felt too on edge. She might not even sleep tonight.
She quickly turned to look back at the sky, hoping the Prince had not noticed her entertainment in watching him play with grass.
(oki, got it)
After ripping the grass blade apart, the Prince threw it away, picking up another one and leaning back on the bench, continuing to twist the grass on his fingers.
"Honestly, yeah, thats one reason for it." he admitted, looking away. "But at the same time i kinda wanna know my people, see what they think and if they are happy. Dad said its a good exercise for when im king, but in general i also just wanna enjoy some freedom while i still have it. Being a king isnt as easy as it sounds, you know?"
There were really tiny bits if melancholy in his voice, very very faint, but still there.
She nodded to herself.
“I understand,” she stated, expecting the answer. “Though, it seems that you have much more time on your hands than there should be … but youth should be spent with enjoyment.”
Dahlia somewhat knew the pressure of being nobility. She hadn’t had many chances, but saw firsthand how difficult things could become. So, none of her experience could even compare to what the Prince would ever face. She was tugged back and forth quite a bit, ‘Hold your head up high, but not as high as us.’, ‘Look down more.’, ‘Always look where you’re going.’, up and down, left and right, and all the time she wanted to leave. Reading books and watching over the children was a much more calming lifestyle.
"Mhm." he hummed, looking up. "There's still plenty of time until then, so i plan on making the best of it while i still can."
He was still pretty young and his father was in great shape, therefore he wasn't too stressed about the crown being passed to him any time soon. Right now he just worried about smaller things in his life, like the small hidden feeling in his heart that kept telling him something was missing in his life but he could never tell what exactly it was.
Dorian looked up at the now darkened sky and concluded it was maybe time to go back home.
Dahlia could feel the conversation trickling down. She already knew it would be getting late at this point too.
She quickly stood, “I fear I’ve taken too much of your time, so I will be taking my leave now. I look forward to finding the end of your stories from the woods.”
She slowed her actions more now. Really waiting to be properly dismissed, and avoid looking like she was running from the Prince. She bowed, following a shiver down her spine. Some of her doubts resurfaced again, this time her thinking about the possibility of them being spied on.
It’s not like the spy would specifically be from him though … and I’m probably safe because of the Prince.
The still silence of the situation was broken when Dhalia spoke, so Dorian turned his gaze towards her.
"Ah, no, don't worry, it is me who continued the discussion with no regards towards time." he smiled, waving his hand. "I too hope i will one day be able to provide an end to that story. But until then, i guess we'll see each other another time…?"
He stood up when she bowed, his hands reached out to help her back to her straight position.
"Please, no bows. Think of me as a friend"
Once she was back upright, he took back his hands and smiled again.
"Thank you for the wonderful company today"
After exchanging their goodbyes, Dorian waved at her again before walking in the direction of the castle
