The Hidden Garden

After the Prince called for me, I hurriedly used my locket to summon my wand. It glowed as I spoke.

“I summon the door to the art of dressmaking!”

I’m just making up stuff as I go along. I hope it’ll work.

A room appeared, holding hundreds of bolts of fabric, almost like a store. However, the turquoise walls were decorated with frames of rose gold.

Looking at all the prints and solid organza, chiffon, cotton, satin, and silk, I stood in silence for a while.

How can I possibly choose?!

A purple silk rolled out as I summoned scissors that cut the pattern. I went on to use a shimmery blue organza on top while pixies of light appeared, stitching them into place. Soon, it formed a flowy dress with sleeves and delicate lace over the waistband.

“Perfect!” I said.

The pixies weren’t here before, right?

“Thank you, pixies.”

They mumbled, “May your power grow stronger,” and disappeared into the door as it closed.

I jumped into the dress and it fit me like a glove.

Hastily grabbing the folded handkerchief and the letter, I went into the hallway where Prince Cassius stood.

He wore a black frilled shirt, blue trousers, and a blue jabot.

As soon as he saw me, his eyes widened, and soon, he smiled, as his eyes narrowed.

“Janessa,” he said.

“Prince Cassius!” I said, grinning.

“Let us go into the garden. This place is rather stuffy.”

“I agree.”

We went in a direction that strayed from the first time I went. This followed a path to the right of the castle.

Guards stared at us as we walked there.

This is a completely different place. I wonder if I’m supposed to think he’s being suspicious?

I swallowed, looked at him, and then at the ground.

“This, my dear, is the second garden among four. As you can see, the walls are quite high, and the trees quite ancient.”

Ah, at least he was telling the truth.

We stepped foot inside, through the guards.

“This garden is big enough to be a park!” I exclaimed.

“Is that so? I have never been to a community park.”

The trees were taller than the castle, with thin, dark leaves and frail branches. Birds sang atop them, and a crown-shaped fountain was in the middle of it. A few of the birds drank from them.

“They say if you drop a coin, your wish will come true,” said Cassius.

“Really? Oh, I haven’t got any. I don’t even have any money in this world…”

“It is probably an old wives tale… Oh? I could give you an allowance. Although there may be public outrage if I use the state’s money…”

“No need, Prince. I’m not greedy. If I need money, I would want to work for it.”

We walked along the path.

“That is wonderful, Janessa. I admire your ethics.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes. What is that envelope that you clutch onto? A love letter?” he asked, blushing and avoiding eye contact.

“Oh? This. I apologize. No. Edith gave this to me…”

He snatched the letter from my hands at once and opened it.

“Apologies, but I must look forward to your safety…” he said.

My heartbeat increased as my face heated up, and I smiled. Cool winds blew through my hair.

At least he cares for my safety.

His eyes followed each and every word as his thin eyebrows furrowed.

“My goodness. This must be a trap,” he said.

“I thought so too.”

He proceeded to tear the envelope and letter into pieces and threw them into a trash can.

“If she asks, tell her that it was me who destroyed the letter.”

“Alright, dear Prince!” I said, giggling.

He placed his arm around me.

“You do not mind this, right?”

“No, not at all,” I said.

“You look quite red, darling.”

I looked into his grey eyes, which followed mine. We walked to and fro, often stopping to make eye contact.

He smelled sweet, just like the first time I met him.

“Janessa, would you like to study costume design, though? I can get you the opportunity for a scholarship if you wish. You would have to prove yourself. I am certain that you will not fail the interview.”

“My goodness, my really?” I said, letting go of his grasp.

I spun around in circles as the skirt of my dress twirled with me.

“I always wanted to. I studied economics in my previous life. All I got was this part-time internship…”

“Previous life? Oh, dear Janessa…”

“Y-yes?”

“What do you mean by previous life?”

“Well, you see… I had another life before I died for the first time.”

“Fascinating.”

“It wasn’t fascinating, that’s for sure! I suffered during my death. Oh, the betrayal! That traitor.”

Cassius ran his fingers across my face and wiped away a tear that formed. As he hugged me tightly, I felt the urge to break down into tears.

We breathed at the same pace.

“You will be alright. I am here by your side.”

“Thank you,” I said, wrapping my arms around me.

He let go, and I wiped my tears away.

“Oh, this is your handkerchief. I embroidered it for you… But I used it now, hehe.”

“Really? For me? May I see?”

My hand trembled slightly as I handed it over.

“So, this is your work. It is exquisite. Of course, you need it more than I do.”

“No…”

I stopped crying and held on to the back of his shirt.

“No?”

“It’s better if you keep it, so that you can wipe my tears away.”

“If that is what your logic is,” he said, smirking.

He stuffed it in his pocket.

We stopped walking and sat on the edge of the fountain.

“I must thank that fortune-telling witch. She led me to you. Say, Janessa, we should visit the fortune teller together!”

“Sure, that would be great. You’d better elaborate on the fortune teller on the way there.”

“Of course.”

I grinned as we watched the sky turn from blue to pitch black.

“Janessa, it is too late. Let us return to the castle.”

“Yes, definitely.”

My mind was bustling with questions that I wished to ask him.

Will you ever get your soul back? Will I ever have anything to do with it? Will you ever learn to love me?

There was the most important question.

Will I ever learn to love you, Prince Cassius?

However, all we did on our way back was whisper about how we hoped no one would catch us.