Emmaline excused herself from the breakfast table, eager to get back to the village. She had climbed the stairs quickly to her room, closing the door quickly behind her.

She took her basket out from under her bed and stuffed Anna's dress in it, the rest of her things already in it. She kept the dress in a separate box, knowing that she would get in trouble if her parents knew she had a "peasant" dress.

Emmaline moved her book to cover it and strode back the door, swinging it open and walking out. She made it about ten feet before she heard a familiar voice calling her.

"Princess Emmaline!" Emil calls and Emmaline takes a deep breath, suppressing an eye roll before turning around to face him.

"Hello," she greets politely, fidgeting a bit.

"Good morning," he grins. He never seems to stop smiling.

"You don't have to call me by my full title," Emmaline shakes her head and continues walking. "I'm not my parents, I don't care."

"Alright, Emmaline then." He corrects and jogs a bit to catch up with her. "Where are you going?"

"The gardens." Emmaline answers shortly, wishing the prince would just leave her alone. He seemed nice, but she really was feeling suffocated. "I need study."

"May I accompany you?"

"No."

There was a short silence, Emil's ever present smile fading a bit. Emmaline immediately felt bad, she didn't mean to be rude, she was just a bit annoyed.

"I'm sorry, I just study better on my own." She says. "People distract me."

"Oh," he nods, looking away again. "May I accompany you for lunch?"

Emmaline closes her eyes for a second, collecting herself so she won't snap again. Maybe if she ate with him he'd leave her alone.

"Alright, I usually take my lunch after my family eats. I eat outside to keep my focus on my work." She lies. It's true that she doesn't eat lunch with her family, but it's not because of her focus.

"Wonderful. I'll bring your meal out and we can eat together." He says, his grin back. Jesus Christ, is his face permanently stuck like that? Is it a condition?

"Can't wait," Emmaline replies, hoping she kept the sarcasm out of her voice.

They reach the doors and Emil opens it for her, Emmaline nodding in thanks before continuing out to the gardens. She comes to the familiar wall and sets her basket down, looking around to make sure Emil went back inside.

Once the coast was clear, she changes her shoes and grabs the basket, beginning the familiar climb up the wall. She swings her legs over and hops down to the other side, pulling out her dress to change.

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Emmaline and Anna were sitting at the bank of a small pond near the edge of the forest, trees surrounding the small clearing. The girls were talking quietly, scared their voices might somehow carry towards the castle.

"A visitor?" Anna questions and Emmaline nods.

"Yes, my father said he's here for some business. He's a prince of some other rich country, seems nice." Emmaline answers with a shrug.

"A prince?" Anna repeats, frowing slightly.

"Yeah, his name is Emil. He's a bit annoying though, won't stop following me." Emmaline adds and Anna scrunches her eyebrows a bit, looking out at the pond. "He invited me to eat lunch with him today, that's why I can't stay too long."

"Oh," she nods, kicking off her shoes to sink her feet into the water. "Have fun, I guess."

"I thought it might get him off my back for a bit, I suspect father wanted him to talk to me or something." She explains. "He's been quite insistent."

Anna hums in response, still not looking back at Emmaline. Emmaline gets a bit worried, Anna's been acting out of character.

"What's wrong?" Emmaline questions and Anna turns to her, smiling again.

"Nothing, I'm fine." She shakes her head and looks back at the pond. Emmaline looks at her for a bit, admiring how pretty she looked with the water reflecting in her eyes. A poem pops into Emmaline's head, and she perks up a bit.

"Annabel Lee." She blurts out, causing Anna to turn and look at her curiously.

"What?" She laughs slightly.

"Annabel Lee, the Edgar Allan Poe poem." she explains.

"What does that have to do with anything?" She questions and Emmaline looks back at the pond with pink tinted cheeks.

"You remind me of her and her name sounds like yours." She says, and decides to leave out exactly why Anna reminds her of the poem. "And we're sitting by water, and she lived in a kingdom by the sea."

"I've never read it." Anna admits. "But it sounds nice."

"It is," Emmaline nods and turns to Anna, excitement sparking on her face. "That could be your nickname!"

"I love it." Anna grins, and Emmaline finds that she likes making Anna smile. She has a pretty smile.

"I have to go," Emmaline says regrettably, standing up and grabbing her basket. If she waited much longer she'd risk Emil getting to the gardens before her.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Anna questions, still sitting with her feet in the water.

"Of course," Emmaline grins and Anna smiles back at her before standing up and pulling her into a hug. Emmaline feels butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she wraps her arms around the girl, suddenly never wanting to let go.

"See you tomorrow," Anna says quietly and pulls away, allowing Emmaline to give one more smile before going back go the castle.

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Hello! I know Emil is a bit... interesting right now, but I actually really like his character and can't wait to flesh him out a bit :)

Love you all lots!