It was early the next day that they finally made it into the town. Due to the commotion the day before it was only the house rider, Joshua and the prince. It was a silent ride the rest of the way there. They were now pulling into the hotel's parking space for horses and cars.
"You must be joking?" the prince said in a slightly amused but also annoyed tone.
"This is the only hotel they have." The prince shook his head in disbelief.
"Well if this is the best they have, the girl will be easy to impress." The prince walked towards the doors and went in.
The old woman was at the desk again, she smiled at the servant.
"You're back!"
Joshua gave her a quick nod.
"Your finest room will do and something for my boy" the prince said.
The women looked at the prince uninterested but handed a key to him.
"you will stay on the top floor, it's an ensuite"
"en suit?" the prince repeated mockingly.
The woman nodded and looked at Joshua.
"Same room as last time?" the servant gave another quick nod. They made their way to their respective rooms.
That night the servant fell asleep quickly dreaming of clouds and every soft item he could think of. The prince however did not sleep and turned all night.
The next morning having barely coxed himself to sleep the prince was awakened to sunlight streaming into the room. He walked towards the large windows and pulled the gold velvet curtains half closed. The room had been too dark the night before for the prince to fully see it. The room was humbler than he had imagined.
The bed, desk and floor were all made from the same dark wood. The bed had white blankets and matching sheets. Below it was a fur rug, the prince rubbed his fingers over it and was certain it was fake. He walked to the tub on the other side of the room, where an exposed white with gold accent tub was. Prince took in the shower head that hung from the ceiling of the room and the curtains. Scoffed at the idea of bathing in the same place he slept.
Though he still got in the tub. Luckily, there was warm water, he scrubbed at every inch of himself leaving nothing uncleaned. Once he was done, he put on a robe that lay on a stool beside the tub.
Someone knocked on the door and he went to open it. His servant stood at the doorway with a finely tailored dark green suit made from silk. The servant had a wide-eyed expression as he took in the room. "I know it's shabby isn't it?" Joshua gave the prince a tight lip nod. He had learned early to nod in agreement rather than to argue. Joshua helped the prince get dressed and then moved to do his hair. "How would you like it done today?" "Two ladder braids with the chains weaving through it." After the servant was done the prince walked towards the mirror and took in his appearance. With an approving nod, the servant bowed and made his way out of his room.
---
The prince rode a white horse down a slightly unpaved road. It was sunset now and the prince was finally making his way to the foreigner's house. He had wanted to be there by noon and on their way to the castle by nightfall. However Joshua proved useless once again. He had no idea where the girl lived and had to spend most of the morning looking for an address. When he got back from asking the town, the prince had fallen asleep. When the prince woke up from his nap his hair was a disaster and his suit rumpled. He had to redress and have hair done all over again.
The prince pulled on the reins, stopping the horse. He looked at the yellow cottage. The cottage was small but had a large garden that seemed to continue towards the forest. The prince tied his horse to the fence and walked to the door. He knocked and waited for her to open the door. He pulled on his suit and straightened his back. He was admittedly too dressed up to meet a foreigner but Joshua's interest in the girl made the prince curious. He had high expectations of her.
The door opened and the prince was taken back by the girl in front of him. Before him stood a tall, curvy, dark skin foreigner. The sun was lighting her skin in such a way that she seemed to glow. Her hair was in a large cloud shape. Her large dark eyes watched him questionably. She parted her brownish red lips slightly and the prince reached his hand out. She moved her head back and he withdrew his hand. He shook his head as if coming out of trance.
"Hello" the girl gave a quick curtsy.
The prince was shocked by her steady and sultry voice.
"May I ask why and what you're doing here?"
The prince noticed that she did not have an accent like other foreigners. Her words were also well articulate. He stared down at the girl, looking at her from head to toe. Even the way she stood was elegant and graceful. He had never met a foreigner so well trained.
"My prince?"
He looked back into the girl 's eyes, smiling.
"I am the crown prince of Akara, Andre."
The prince held out his hand and the girl placed her hand in his. Then he pulled her hand towards his lips and kissed it gently. He made sure to keep eye contact the whole time. Women usually giggled from this move but the girl just stood there unimpressed. He smiled wider and let go of her hand.
"I know who you are but why are you here?"
He was taken aback by her forwardness but decided to let it go. He was not actually considering her for the throne but he did note she shared similarities with his own mother.
"I'm here to marry you," he said, cupping her face and looking deep into her dark stormy eyes.
Gently she removed the prince's hands and giggled a little and then a lot.
"MARRY?"
"YOU WANT TO MARRY ME?"
The prince nodded, not understanding what was funny, she looked at him with her head cocked to one side.
"Why?"
"Well, I sent my servant to find the most beautiful, graceful and unique woman he could find. He traveled for months doing god knows what and found you."
She looked unmoved by his words so he continued.
"Out of thousands of women from foreign lands and even the women in this village he chose you and I must say he chose well."
Still, she was unmoved by his words. It was his turn to cock his head to one side.
"I do not want to be married"
He blinked at her as though her words did not register with him. She sighed.
"I am faltered, truly I am your highness, but I am not the marrying type."
"Well, what makes you not the marrying type? Have you been promised to someone else?"
she shook her head.
"Then are you widowed with five children?"
"I have none and I have not been married."
"Well then are you a common whore who roams the streets?"
Her nose flared a little but she quickly replaced it with a smile.
"When a man roams it's natural but when a woman does, she is a whore?"
The prince blanked at her words again and she shook her head.
"I am not a whore"
"Then is this about you being a foreigner? I can assure as prince no one would say anythi-"
Soleil held her hand up, stopping him. The prince's face heated up a little in irritation. She had disrespected him twice and in a manner that reminded him of his mother. He stared at her in discontent and Soleil lowered her hand. He nodded, approving of her action.
"As I said it is flattering but I have no interested"
"Not interested?"
"Yes, not interested." The prince shook his head in disbelief.
"Still marrying a prince is different from marrying a common man. You would become Queen!"
The prince grabbed onto both of her shoulders. He was lying but had to sell her the full fantasy.
"you could have whatever you liked, jewels, dresses, parties in your honor."
The prince leaned in, taking in her sweet scent. Her breath hitched and she found herself nervous. He noticed and smiled charmingly, certain he had won her over. The two of them looked deeply into each other's eyes. Both holding their breath, both waiting for the other to speak first.
"It's all very nice but I like my life as it is now" the girl said after regaining her composure.
The prince could not believe his ears. Yes, she did live on a large plot of land, but her house was nothing to marvel at. She was dressed very nicely, but the dress was made from a strange and stiff patterned fabric he had never seen before plus the dress was ill fitting. He could not figure out what game she was playing.
For a split second he thought perhaps he was the problem, but the thought faded just as quickly as it appeared. The prince was a tall and fit man with long dark hair, tanned skin, and soft kissable lips. He was dressed in a 3-piece dark green silk suit that matched his eyes. There was no way she found him ugly, he was perfect!
"I'm sorry your highness but I do have work to get back too" the prince beyond confused did not fight and watched as she shut the door in his face. He mounted his horse and took one more look at the cottage. He rode off in a daze.
---
Back at the inn the prince sat in the bay window replaying the interaction in his head. He had never been turned down in anything let alone by a women. He looked out the window wondering what he would do now. He had planned for them to spend the night here and then take off in the morning the castle was already preparing the service. Head in hands the price thought of how he would tell the castle and his guest that the wedding was off.
After a few hours, the servant finally made his way to the prince. "Sir why are you slouched over, is it not good news?" the prince tight lipped looked at his servant. "It was awful I have never been humiliated in that way, she said no" the prince mumbled the last part, but the servant heard. "SHE SAID NO?" "Would you quiet down the whole town does not need to know" The servant repeated the question again this time in a whisper. The prince retold the servant what happen. The servant listened well and nodded when appropriate.
"Do not be angry but perhaps you did not consider her feelings." The prince frown grew with his servant words. The servant put a hand on his shoulder "what I mean is she is still a women, she would want to be properly courted and shown affection." The prince nodded realizing how foolish he had been to show up to her house empty handed. "Servants go into town tomorrow and buy roses, a pink dress and suit in the same fabric for me, as well earrings for the lady."
The prince slept horribly once again but he thought of only the next day.
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