other in fields filled with flowers.
Chapter 69
Memory
ORNELLA & NICHOLAS
“You know, if you keep frowning like that, your face will stay that way.”
Nicholas scowled at me as I desperately tried to draw a portrait of him. It was terrible and he was going to hate
it when he saw it—laugh at me most likely—and tell me how dreadful of an artist I was. He wouldn’t be wrong, of
course, but then I wanted to at least try and make some attempt.
“This is just my face, Annwyl.”
“Well can you at least try to smile, the sun is out. It's finally not raining! And we’ve got a few hours alone before my
parents come home for the spring.”
“I can’t believe they allow you to stay in this castle by yourself.”
“I’m not by myself. I have you, Kathlyn, and of course Hector and Marcus are here to keep me company.”
He rolled his eyes at me and looked away as his eyes went back to reading the book in his hands. An adventurous tale of
a knight who chased after princesses and slayed dragons.
“I won’t always be here, Annwyl. I could be called back home at any point.”
“Oh, hush. You are stuck with me for the rest of your life, whether you agree or not.”
Poking my tongue at him, the corner of his lips curved into a smile. I felt my heart skip a beat. As our friendship grew,
so did my feelings for the sweet stableboy. The boy who was slowly growing into a man and would one day in fact leave me
to go back home. To become the head of his household, marry a sweet farm girl, and have many beautiful babies with her.
I wanted that for him. I wanted happiness, a life filled with laughter and joy, the sound of baby feet and gentle kisses
from a wife who loved him dearly.
He deserved it all, for he was my all.
“Are you finished yet?” he asked me, seeing I’d stopped.
“Eh…yes—no—almost.”
I quickly finished the sketch as best as I could and handed it over to him, waiting patiently for his inspection. As he
stared at the piece of paper, he began to chuckle. His chuck grew into a laugh, and he laughed quite loudly.
“Is this meant to be me?” he asked between laughs.
“It’s not that bad! Don’t be so mean!” I shouted back, my cheeks clouding with red from embarrassment.
“My nose is not THAT big!”
