Chapter 19

Cassia

Cassia twisted her hand around, trying to see what hairstyle suited her best. She stood in front of the mirror in her washroom and her tongue was out as she kept switching between putting her hair up or down.

She couldn't believe she was going on a date with Hunter. It blew her mind to think about, but that didn't stop the smile that rose to her lips. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes struggled to stay on the mirror. It was embarrassing to fall so hard.

"Well, someone looks happy," Astra said.

Cassia glanced behind her and Astra smiled. She strode over to Cassia and peered into the mirror, her green eyes full of delight.

"Should I put my hair up in a ponytail?" Cassia asked.

"No, I like your hair out."

Astra reached over and unbound Cassia's hair so that it cascaded around her shoulders in soft waves. Her hands were gentle as they brushed back Cassia's hair and Cassia smiled.

"Better," Astra said. "Are you excited for your date with Hunter?"

"Yes," Cassia said. But then, she paused. Because something had been bugging her despite everything. "But... don't you think love is scary? There's something terrifying about handing your heart over to someone because you're giving them the power to break it. I shouldn't want this, but... I do."

Astra's eyes softened. She pulled Cassia closer to her and Cassia flushed.

"Love is scary, but it is worth the risk when done right."

Cassia sighed. She really hoped so. Although she was ecstatic that Hunter reciprocated her feelings for him, she never thought she'd be in this position. It was like being thrown onto a battlefield without any armour or weapons and Cassia was left to flail around in hopes that somehow she'd survive. It was absolutely horrifying, but thrilling in a way she couldn't explain.

Someone rapped against their door and Astra frowned. She strode to the door and Cassia continued to gaze into the mirror, but she turned around when feet stomped towards her. And her eyes flew wide when her father appeared.

"Father?"

A gold crown shone on his head and he wore a red shirt and black pants that were ironed to perfection. He glided towards her, his expression serious.

"I came her to talk to you," her father said. "Astra gave you my message and I thought you'd come home to the castle, but she told me you wanted to stay. Why? I thought you didn't want to be here."

Her father was expressionless, but his eyes bore into Cassia.

"Um..." Cassia grasped for something to say - something other than Hunter. "The competition. It'll be done in two months, so I want to finish it. I'm nearly first place."

"But it isn't safe here. My request seemed like an offer, but I must demand you come back. Something isn't right."

"Why? I heard it could be rumours."

Her father faltered - an uneasy expression crossing his face before he concealed it and Cassia frowned.

"I fear those rumours are true," her father said, eyes lowering. "So please Cassia, come home."

Cassia's heart hammered against her chest. Reasonably, she should listen. In fact, she should be ecstatic at the idea of returning home, but she couldn't leave. Not when Hunter and even the camp she'd grown to care for was here.

"Please, Father," Cassia pleaded. "Let me stay for two more months. I can take care of myself and I have Astra here. I'll be fine."

Her father sighed. He shook his head, his dark brown hair dropping across his forehead. The hollow parts of his face stood out - signs of stress wearing him out.

"Fine. Two more months and then you must return home. Understood?"

"For sure. Thank you so much."

Her father's eyebrows shot up. It was rare for her to thank him.

"You can stay for my contest in the afternoon," Cassia added. "I have to go out, but I'll be back in the evening."

Her father frowned. "Where are you going now?"

His eyes searched her face and Cassia hid behind a poker face. Because for a while now, she feared what her father would do when he learned the truth.

"I have to run some errands around town," Cassia said. "But I'll be back soon."

"Alone?"

"With Astra."

Cassia grabbed Astra and pulled her to her, and grinned. Her father blinked.

"We'll be back soon. Wait here!"

Her father sighed as Cassia dragged Astra away. And without another word, she dragged Astra out of the cabin and to Hunter, where she told Astra to hide until they were back.

*****

Cassia was in her town of Oflaria. After two months, she was finally back in her town - surrounded by shops and houses that ran down streets. The streets were bustling with people who ran from shop to shop and from house to house, chatting and laughing with their neighbours. They were people of different colour with hairs ranging from fiery red to a midnight black, and Hunter and Cassia strolled passed them down the stoned road.

The sun was bright on them and the sky was cloudless. Their feet slapped against the ground as they dodged passed commoners and dove deeper into the heart of the town, exploring the area. Although Cassia grew up there, it was uncommon for her to visit. And the same went for Hunter who lived on the outskirts.

"Your citizens are merry," Hunter said, his eyes scanning the scene before him as they turned into an area with just stone. It was a circular ground where houses littered the perimeter and a few people were laughing and dancing with each other - around the grand fountain made out of marble that was placed in the centre. "It's lovely to see."

Hunter shot Cassia a smile and her heart stuttered. She always thought he was beautiful, but now to really see him - all of him in a way she fought back before was breathtaking. His hazel eyes shone under the sun and his tanned skin glowed - emphasizing every sharp line in his profile. He was art she wished to capture forever.

"They are," Cassia said, smiling. "I like them. They may not like me, but I like them."

"Do they really not like you?"

Cassia shrugged. She wasn't really sure - she'd never spoken to many of them. But if they hated her father, she was sure they hated her as well. Because her father was a reflection of the parts of her she didn't like.

"Can I draw you?"

Cassia stilled. They slowed to a stop and Cassia turned to face Hunter.

"Huh?"

Hunter pulled out a sketchbook and quill pen from his satchel and grinned cheekily, waving towards the fountain. Cassia blinked.

"Sit by the fountain and let me draw you," Hunter said. "Please."

Cassia flushed. She'd never been drawn before. And to have Hunter studying her made her feel undone in ways she feared.

"Won't it be awkward in public like this?" Cassia asked.

"No."

Hunter shot her a pleading look and Cassia sighed. Stupid Hunter. If it was anyone else, she would have told them to go to hell.

Cassia strode towards the fountain and hopped on the edge. It was pouring heaps of water into a pool beneath it and it ran behind Cassia, spraying droplets on her back. Her legs dangled off the edge and around her, a few people were running around and chattering.

Hunter plopped down onto the stone ground and he placed his sketchbook on his lap. His eyes fell upon her as he observed her - taking note of every detail and curve and she shivered. To be stared at like that was to feel like someone was seeing all of you - the good and the bad. It was unnerving, but her eyes held Hunter's the entire time.

Hunter began to sketch then. His eyes fell back to the sketchbook and his hands flew across the page, using the quill pen to stroke black lines across the blank page. Cassia kept her eyes on him as he sketched and sketched - glancing at her occasionally. His eyebrows were furrowed and his muscles tensed under his shirt.

Ands soon, he rose and waved her over and Cassia ran to him. And when she reached him, she froze.

The drawing was of her in front of the fountain as it glistened in the sunlight. She was staring ahead of her with her cheeks tinted and her expression tender. She'd never seen herself look so innocent - as if for the first time in her life, she didn't need to be so guarded.

It was her at her rawest.

"This is beautiful," Cassia whispered. "I didn't know you were so talented."

Hunter shrugged awkwardly. He ran his fingers through his hair, seeming abash.

"I can't believe I'm about to confess this, but you are my muse," Hunter said. "You are the inspiration for many of my drawings."

Cassia's breath hitched as Hunter flipped through the pages of his sketchbook. Many of the pictures were of a princess - either fighting a dragon or looking towards a boy on a horse, and she gaped at the princesses that resembled herself.

"I started sketching you when I met you," Hunter whispered. "You inspired me to draw time and time again."

Cassia's heart slammed against her chest. She couldn't believe it.

"I thought you hated me when you met me - back when you called me out on the first day," Cassia said.

"I mean, you frustrated me. You can be arrogant and quite frankly rude at times, but..." Hunter shrugged. "There are parts of you I like. Like when you fed the fishes at the pond, I saw a tenderness that I'd never expect from you. And with every day we spent together, I found myself falling more and more in love with you."

Cassia's heart stirred at his words - as if he was using a ladle to mix her emotions around. It was bewildering how much Hunter could control her emotions.

"Did you really hate me?" Hunter asked. "I mean, I fear the answer, but I might as well ask."

"I thought I did," Cassia confessed. "But, I was being immature and petty and I don't know. Maybe by hating you I thought I could stop the way I actually felt for you. Because for a while now my heart would feel all fuzzy around you and it disgusted me." Hunter narrowed his eyes and she laughed. "But basically no. I never hated you, but you drove me insane sometimes - and I don't mean that as a compliment."

Hunter laughed and Cassia smiled. This was nice. Really nice and it was both thrilling and terrifying all at once.

"Well, who would have expected this plot twist," Hunter said, grabbing her hand. "You and I together."

Cassia grinned now. Her smile eclipsed her face - setting alight parts of her that hadn't seen light in years.

But then, Cassia glanced down at the notebook and stilled at the sight of a boy behind bars. Outside the cell was a man with a crown. He was glaring at the boy and Cassia's smile fell away.

"Why did you draw this image?" Cassia asked. "Please don't tell me you drew me as a man."

Hunter stilled. "No, that's not you." He laughed, but it didn't come out right. "This was some random picture I drew. Maybe to express how I feel trapped sometimes."

"Trapped how?"

Hunter's eyes drifted away. He was tense and Cassia let go of his hand to touch his face gently - to will him to look at her, but he pulled away. Her heart sunk as his eyes remained diverted.

Cassia opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, but then someone shouted her name.

Cassia whipped her head to see who it was and it was a boy and girl around her age - maybe a year or two younger, and they trotted up to her. They both had blue eyes and blonde hair, and their eyes gleamed under the sunlight as they halted in front of her.

"Princess Cassia!" the girl said, bowing. "How lovely to see you. I've always wanted to meet a princess."

Cassia blinked. She'd never been approached like this before.

"Sorry, ignore Maria," the boy said, rolling his eyes. "But, we came over to say hi to our future queen."

The boy bowed towards her and Cassia smile awkwardly. She wasn't used to attention like this. Usually when she visited town, people would either ignore her or shoot her glares.

"Nice to meet you two," Cassia said. "Uh... have a wonderful day."

They both smiled and waved before running off and Cassia stared after them. A warm feeling was blossoming within her heart and her hand fell on top of it.

"Wow," she said. "No one has ever approached me like that. That was sweet."

"Well, you can't stop smiling. You look a lot more approachable than when I met you."

Cassia's eyes widened. She hadn't noticed how much she smiled nowadays.

"Do you think that's why people usually avoid me?" Cassia asked. "Because I rarely smiled before?"

"Partially. When you look like you hate the world, people sense that and try to avoid the negativity."

Cassia had never thought that and she was stunned to hear that.

"Come on," Hunter said, grabbing her hand again. "Let's go explore some more."

Cassia beamed and together they continued to wander around the busy town, viewing the millions of shops and events in the kingdom of Oflaria.

*****

They all stood on a field in front of two targets. Once again, the contest was an archery contest and they were lined up in front of the targets as they took turns shooting at it. The sun was setting and a purple haze surrounded them, but Cassia's eyes were focused on the target she kept her eyes glued to.

Her father stood off to the side with Dawson and he observed Cassia. His arms were crossed over his chest and he wore a serious expression - no hint of joy showing, and Cassia focused on the task at hand. Despite everything, she still wanted to make her father proud.

"Looks like we're tied," Hunter said, nudging her.

Cassia shot him a look as he beamed at her. For once, he stood with her and in the other line was Chase. He had chosen her over him and the thought made her heart summersault.

"Not for long," Cassia said, smirking.

Most people had left the lines and there were about ten people left. And as time continued to pass, more and more people were pulled out until eventually, it was just Hunter and her.

Now, they stood side by side. Cassia stood in front of one target and Hunter stood in front of another one. He was still smiling at her - his eyes tender and Cassia scowled at him. He was too obvious with his feelings - with the change that happened between them and Cassia shot him a look.

"Still as cute as ever holding the bow," he whispered.

She rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the target, but her cheeks grew warm. She set the bow and arrow in place, pulling the bowstring back until it was taut, her eyes glancing at her father. But, she froze at the sight of him. Because now he was wearing a confused expression - as if he witnessed something he didn't like and Cassia hesitated before looking away.

And as fear jolted through her, she shot the arrow forward and it pierced through the sky and slammed into the target - hitting right in the centre and Cassia smiled. But, her heart continued to race.

Hunter launched his arrow next and it flew through the air and pierced through the centre as well. Cassia groaned. She hoped that somehow Hunter would lose, but he didn't. He never lost.

"Well, looks like Cassia and Hunter have tied!" Dawson exclaimed. "Congrats."

Everyone cheered for them and Cassia sighed. But, Cassia was surprised to see a few campers smiling at her - as if they were actually happy she'd won as well.

"Can you stop being so perfect," Cassia said, shooting Hunter a look. "My father is going to be disappointed in me."

Hunter frowned. "Really? I'd expect your father to be proud that you're even participating."

Cassia narrowed her eyes at him. For the first time in a while, she was actually annoyed.

"Well clearly you don't know my father at all."

Hunter's eyes widened and Cassia turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, and she nearly crashed into his chest. She threw her hands up and they landed on his chest - to stop her from slamming into him and she gazed up.

"Don't walk away angry," Hunter said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I won't risk losing you."

Her eyes flew wide. No one in her life had ever been scared to lose her and she was stunned into silence.

"I'll see you later," Hunter said, smiling now. "I had a wonderful first date and I'm excited for our future dates."

Cassia blushed as Hunter let go of her. He turned around to put his bow and arrow away and Cassia stumbled towards her father in a daze. The way she felt for Hunter was both enthralling and horrifying all at once.

"Well, I kind of got first place," Cassia said, stopping in front of her father. "It may be a tie, but I was close."

Her father's eyebrows were furrowed. He glanced between Cassia and Hunter, his face hardening.

"What is going on between you and that boy?" her father asked. "He was holding you as if- as if you were more than just fellow campers."

"I started dating him," Cassia confessed. She couldn't help it. Without a mother, her father was the only loved one she could tell the good news to. "And I'm very, very happy."

"But he is poor. He's not a prince, Cassia. Why would you want to be with him?"

"Because he's good to me."

Her father shook his head. It was as if Cassia was disappointing him - proving to him she was the disappointment she was. And despite everything, it hurt.

"Love is not enough. It is a drug you cannot escape from and you will be thrown into rehabilitation soon," her father said. "I am warning you, daughter. Before you get hurt."

Cassia's hands curled into fists, but she said nothing. Because at the end of the day this was her father. The man she desperately wished to please.

"I'll see you another day." Her father turned around, his head shaking. "And by then, I hope you end things with him."

Her father walked off and Cassia stared after him. With a heavy heart, she could do nothing but watch her father walk away - disgusted by his own daughter.