Chapter 4 Soulmates

Annalise

The following morning at breakfast, we all sat around the table. The Queen sat alone at the head of the table reading the local newspaper. The King and Prince were absent this morning, along with Dimitri, they had duties to attend to, something to do with a nearby village.

After my late night swim in the ocean last night, I got to my room two hours before sunrise. If I had not remembered to set my alarm the night before, I would've missed breakfast.

I haven't seen Maria the whole morning, so I didn't have anyone to talk to besides Cory, but he was talking to the woman beside him, her name is Layla. Layla is his wife. They both looked way too young to be married, but I didn't judge them, Love has no age.

They were truly adorable, you could see the love evident in their eyes when they spoke to each other. They did include me in some of the conversations just so I wouldn't feel left out, but it started getting awkward when Layla addressed me as Luna. Whatever that was, I just assumed it was part of their lingo. Cory whispered something in her ear and she looked shocked, she then smiled at me and continued talking to Cory. Strange right? That was the end of our conversation. So I sat silently eating my breakfast.

After breakfast, I was about to head back to my room, when I saw Queen Rosa walk towards me.

''Your Majesty.'' I bow in respect.

''Annalise.'' she nods, ''please, call me Rosa.'' she smiles and I smile back in return. ''Walk with me, will you?'' shocked by her request, I nod my head and followed. We walked around the quart yard to the garden.

''I couldn't help but notice that you and Kota disappeared for a while last night,'' she grins knowingly, making me blush.

''Well.. uh... it wasn't intentional.'' I say, ''and it wasn't anything like that!'' I blush at her insinuation.

''I know this must be hard for you.'' I hear her sigh beside me after some time.

What? being shipped off to an arranged marriage? I thought to myself.

''Well not exactly,'' she laughs and I freeze. Did I just say that out loud?

''Yes, you did,'' she laughs again and I blush further, ''but, I don't want you to think of this as an arrangement, do you believe in destiny Anna?''

Destiny? I think the look I gave her made her explain further, which I was grateful for.

''I believe in destiny. I knew Ronaldo and I were destined to be together from the day I met him,'' she smiles as if thinking of a past memory, hoping she would elaborate further I waited for her to continue, and she did.

''I guess you can call it love at first sight.'' We stop walking as Queen Rosa takes a seat by a table in the middle of the garden. She points to the chair beside her and I sit. ''Our people believe, that there is someone out there that is meant for us, like...'' she turns to me, ''like a soulmate.'' She smiles causing me to smile as well.

''Ronaldo is my soulmate.'' The love for her husband evident in her eyes. I couldn't help but smile at her beautiful confession.

''I believe in true love, but not so much in destiny,'' I say as she listens carefully, ''its just that.. how is it possible for there to be only one person made for you?'' I finish, but she didn't say anything. She gave a sad smile and looked away making me feel guilty.

''Rosa, I did not mean to offend-''

''Oh no, you didn't dear.'' she smiles but it didn't quite reach her eyes, ''there's just so much you don't know.'' she says quietly to herself but I heard it and frowned.

What do I not know?

''I hate to be forward,'' she says, ''but do you mind if I ask you a question?'' she asks, interested in hearing her question I nod.

''How does Kota make you feel?'' surprised by her question, I took a deep breath before answering. I turned my gaze away from her, looking at the garden, thinking of how I can answer her question.

How did he make me feel? Last night I had no clue what was wrong with me, every time I looked at him, I got this butterfly feeling in the pit of my stomach, or my heart would start beating fast, much like what its doing now just thinking about him. But I obviously couldn't say that to her.

''Honestly,'' I sigh, ''I don't know how he makes me feel.'' really? that's the best you could do Anna.

''I don't know anything about him.'' I finish.

''Look,'' she places her hands on mine, I looked up at her instinctively and saw the warmth in her eyes, ''I know this is all strange to you, but everything will make sense to you in time.'' I was a bit confused by this.

''I don't quite understand.''

''You will dear, in time, its just not my place to speak, that is Kota's place.'' she says. ''I just hope he does it sooner rather than later.'' she says more to herself. She looks away with a sad smile, but it quickly turns to that of a genuine smile when her gaze turns back to me.

''Well, you better go and freshen up, you have a busy day today Princess.'' Just then two guards appear out of no where, ''I'll see you in a bit.'' she smiles once more before getting up to leave.

Well that was interesting.

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As I jump out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my body and walk into the closet. I hear a frantic knock at the door. I cover myself up with a robe and open the door, surprised to see Maria. I smile and let her in.

''Maria. how are-''

''Anna,'' she cut me off, ''I saw you last night.'' I look at her confused.

''At the dinner?'' I laugh

''I was walking home with Cory and Layla,'' she speaks walking up and down frantically. ''And.... I saw you.''

''Maria, I'm sorry, I don't quite understand?'' I say confused.

''I saw you...'' she points at me and stops walking, ''but I don't know what exactly I saw.''

''What-''

''I saw you by the rocks,'' she says and I frown, ''by the ocean.''

''Anna....What are you?''

All the blood drained from my face as I stared at Maria.