Keziah -19 years
(1 year later)
Over the past year, I have methodically demonstrated how advanced my skills are in painting and sculpture. I am now creating art at the same level I achieved in my last life. It feels good to finally start pushing myself to new heights. As I sketch the palace gardens for Queen Lucina's commission, my clingy friend Prince Halcyon drops down beside me, invading my personal space.
"Haven't I told you many times over the past year not to interrupt me when I'm creating? It messes up my flow, making it hard for me to get back into the right headspace to complete my work." I push him away from me with a strained smile and an irritated tone. Over the past year, Halcyon has become a good friend to our family. He has even become best friends with Quinn, which doesn't surprise me. Quinn is exactly the type of bluntly honest friend Halcyon needs but didn't have in my first life. Halcyon just grins at my reprimand, then reclines on my blanket next to me with his eyes closed. Choosing to ignore him for now, I return to my sketching, but my thoughts soon stray to the developments that have occurred over the past year.
Since he started spending time with us, Halcyon has begun requiring the men and women in his circle to rise to the standard of Quinn, which has overall been a positive development. Quinn is pleased to have Halcyon as a best friend, both personally and as the man he will work closely with when Father steps down from being Lord Protector. Amias has taken and passed his palace official exam. He is now a 4th-rank official, essentially a part-time secretary in the Royal Art Department when he isn't in school learning all he needs to know about government and art. Halcyon was of great help when the time came for Amias to prepare for the test and his role as an official.
I glance over at him only to find him looking at me with a strange glint in his eyes. Turning my gaze back to the gardens before me, I add some shading where it is needed on my sketch. To me, he is simply a family friend despite his attempts to assist me in various ways and get closer to me. We were never friends before, so it has been an experience getting to know him as a friend in this life. He constantly wants to get closer than is necessary for a friendship between a woman and a man. I suspect that he may have developed feelings for me, but I haven't a clue why or how. We have enough things in common that we make good friends, but, as I learned too late in my first life, we disagree on too many things to be a couple. He is a better man than he was before, but there are some things he won't compromise on that I can't back down about.
I let out a long, loud sigh as I place my sketchpad and pencil to the side and flop back on the blanket. Covering my eyes with my arm, I try not to think about choking the prince beside me now that my flow is completely disrupted. I will need to calm and clear my mind before I can get back to finishing the sketch.
I sense Halcyon propping himself up to gaze down at me. He keeps staring, and I ignore him, trying to clear my mind of everything else, but I know it's futile as long as he is nearby. He is too magnetic to ignore for long. Even though I know I will never be with him again, I admit to myself that a small corner of my heart will always belong to him as my first love. Over this past year, I have only allowed myself to love him as a friend and nothing more.
Finally giving in to his persistence, I move my arm and open one eye to look at him. His smug smile is almost enough to make me go back to ignoring him, but I know he will not leave me in peace until he is good and ready—another thing I learned about him over the past year. I try to accommodate him since he is honestly only now learning how to be a real friend, but I have to admit my patience is starting to wear thin. I don't understand why he invades my space in a way he doesn't with anybody else. I wish he would be more like Cyrus, who respects my space even when he does come to spend time with me. He will entertain himself until I'm at a point where I can pause what I'm doing to interact with him.
Cyrus has been very helpful in connecting me with a wonderful business manager who has helped me get commissions and exhibit my works in shows and galleries. It is because of Cyrus that I was able to get this commission from the queen. He has honestly become my closest friend outside of Callie.
"Hello, Kezi. Earth to Kezi. Are you in there?" I feel Halcyon tapping on my forehead, bringing me back to the present and out of my thoughts.
"You have my attention, Your Highness. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" I respond dryly as I bat away his tapping finger.
"Well, I wanted to inform you that since my father's deadline for the task he set for me to be named crown prince is coming up, and Cyrus is the last holdout, I should be able to come to your house soon after I settle that matter to propose to you informally so that it can be announced at my crowning ceremony."
He was grinning so brightly with pleasure that I almost didn't want to burst his happy bubble, but some things cannot go unsaid.
Sitting up and putting as much distance between us as I could without getting off the blanket, I said what I needed to say.
"Halcyon, why would you be proposing to me? I have no intention of marrying you. I told you that a year ago, and I thought you understood. I have even purposefully never given you any sign I wanted to be anything other than your friend. I even pointed out to you a number of young ladies I thought would be to your liking at the social gathering we attended just last week."
I saw the expression on his face go from pleased to confused to angry. I pushed on nonetheless.
"I appreciate your feelings and am honored you consider me someone worthy of standing by your side. I'm especially happy you spoke to me about this before you embarrassed us both in front of others. I do have a question, if you don't mind answering it."
I tilted my head to the side in curiosity. Still looking angry, he waved his hand, indicating I could proceed with my question.
"If I were to consider becoming your wife, how was I supposed to balance being a good queen and becoming a Premier Artist? I can't do both, so I don't understand how you would consider me to be your wife when you know I'm working towards such a prestigious rank in not just one field but two."