Destined Love by Marline (i can read book club txt) 📕

He said. I curtsied. “Your Highness.”
“I would like you to become one of my personal chamber maids.” He said. I knew this was an honor and I was looking forwards to it. James was interesting, and very good-looking for that matter. And I might get some information from him.
“Yes sir.” I said, with my head down. He walked over to me, put a finger under my chin and lifted my head up so that I had to look him in the eyes. For a second I thought he had recognized me and my heart started beating like a royal drum roll.
“Hmmm.” Was the only thing James said, let me go and left the room. I had no idea why he had done that but his touch had left a tingling feeling. Was I busy getting a crush on one of the people who had sent Durwald and his parents out of the palace? That wasn’t possible. How could I even consider it? Why did he even care that he was good-looking, he had sent Durwald’s family out of their palace and was busy taking over the country. I had to be very, very careful with this young man.

I was sitting on the back porch of the palace when James emerged from inside.
“Hello Patty,” he said.
I smiled at him and nodded, as a way of acknowledgement. James sat next to me on the step and looked out over the garden without saying anything.
“You know,” he suddenly commented, “It is strange how a person can feel lonely amidst a whole group of people.” I knew exactly what he was talking about.
“Yes, it is indeed strange.”
“But what’s worse,” James continued, “is when people who you thought were your friends, turn out not to be.” I was curious as to what he was referring to.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Nathan, Durwald, I mean, used to be one of my good friends. We went to the same school and at one point I got a girlfriend. Nathan was jealous of me and I suspect that he liked the girl too because he ordered me to dump her. I refused and Nathan grew so angry that he put me in jail for a week and in the meantime he got together with my girlfriend. I promised that day that I would never forgive him and that he would pay for it.” James was staring off into the distance. I sat there, completely astonished at this revelation. Was it true? Had Nathan really done something that horrible? Was that the reason why James had attacked the palace? Suddenly James looked in my direction.
“I’m sorry to be bothering you with all my troubles.” He smiled sadly.
“That’s all right, your highness.” I said softly. It was still strange that I was calling him ‘your highness,’ it was usually I who was addressed with that title.

The next few days James and I spent more and more time together. I grew to like him; he was nice, calm and very interesting. He was also charming and charismatic, and, best of all, he told me where my parents were. I had asked him this in one of our conversations, he had laughed and said that ‘those stupid people’ were on the island Yirdo. What was it with me and that island? It was like it kept coming back to haunt me. I had smiled when I heard this because Nathan was an expert at living on small islands, he had proven this when he had found me the day I was sick. I had also asked James if I could go out of the palace to visit my family but he had refused this. It had annoyed me greatly but there was nothing I could do about it. That night, in the stuffy dark room which I shared with multiple other maids, a few of them came over to me and started talking.
“You do know that all he wants is to get you into bed.” One of the maids told me. Apparently she could see that I did not know this and she gently explained it to me.
“He does this to lots of girls, and many of them have actually gone to bed with him. That’s the only reason why he’s interested in you.” I did not know what to say, I had trusted James!
“I don’t believe you.” I said. “James is nice and well mannered and a gentleman.” The rest of the maids started laughing.
“I think we best just let her find it out for herself.” One of the women said to another.
“But by then it might be too late.” The other answered. I had turned around on my bed and stared out the window. I couldn’t keep back tears, James had been my only friend here in the palace apart from the old man. It was at times like these, when I felt like my whole world was collapsing, that I missed my parents most. And somebody else, I suddenly realized; Nathan. Maybe this was the reason why I had gotten crush on James; because I missed Nathan so much and desperately needed somebody to take his place.

I was cleaning up his table when he came in.
“Ah, Patty.” He said smiling.
“Hello.” I said, and again I could not believe what the girls had told me. James had told me not to curtsy anymore when he came in the room and to treat him like a normal person. But something seemed different about him today. He took a few steps towards me. The look in his eyes frightened me and I took a step backwards.
“It’s ok Patty, I’m not going to hurt you.” He said softly. I stood still and let him approach me. “I just want to have some fun.”
When he was close enough, he leaned forwards. I knew he was going to kiss me but at the same time I felt his hand touch my chest. In a sudden impulse I slapped him hard in the face. I saw my handprint appear on his cheek.
“Don’t you dare

.” My eyes were blazing with anger and I was furious. He was stunned and this gave me a moment to run past him, out of the room. But before I reached the door he grabbed my hand. I tried pulling it loose but he had a tight grip on it. He forced me to turn around and I noticed that he was smiling wickedly at me.
“I dare.” He said and pulled me towards him. I didn’t know what to do, all I knew was that I did not want him to touch me and that I longed to wipe that smile off his face. And with this knowledge I kicked him in a very inappropriate place. But it had the desired effect, he doubled over, spitting out swear words at me. I stood a few seconds, enjoying his agony, before I ran out of the room. I ran blindly and didn’t know where I was going. I dove into the room which I knew led to the cellar and sat there, breathing fast, extremely scared. I heard footsteps pass the door and a cursing voice. I hoped and prayed that he would not open the cellar door because if he did I knew I would not survive long.

I sat there for a few minutes calming myself, finding weapons I could use if he decided to look in the cellar. I prayed silently, asking God if he would give me a way out. Suddenly I saw a window. I observed it for a few seconds and realized I would be able to fit through it. I sent a quick thank you to God. But then I thought that even if I did fit through the window, I would never be able to get past the guards. Unless.. No, that was impossible, I couldn’t do that. My flirting skills weren’t that great and I wasn’t that pretty either. Pondering over what I was going to do next, I decided that seducing the guards would be the only way out. And I was pretty, I told myself. All the guys had not fought over me for no reason. I took a deep breath, opened the little window and poked my head out. I quickly pulled it back in when I saw a guard marching past. A few seconds later I looked out again. The guard was gone and I knew I had to be quick, I had to get out of the room before the guard came back. I pushed myself up, using my hands and bumped my head in the process. Even though it hurt, I told myself that I had bigger things to worry about and did not stop to rub my sore head. I put one leg over the edge and then the other. Finally I was out of the palace. But I was not out of the gates yet and I knew this would be harder than getting out of the palace. Suddenly I remembered the guard who had walked past a few seconds ago and ran to the shadows. I calmed myself down and observed my surroundings. There the guard was again, coming around the corner. I pulled deeper into the corner and prayed that the guard would not see me. I was almost too scared to look. The footsteps suddenly slowed down and I held my breath so that I would not make a noise. I saw the guard peer in my direction. Noooooo! I screamed silently.
“Hey, Brad, over here!” I heard unexpectedly. The guard looked up and marched toward his friend who was invisible for me because he was around the corner. I let out my breath slowly and thanked God for saving me once again.

When I had gathered enough courage, I took a step out of the shadows and walked towards the gate. On my way I wondered how far I would go. Would I let him kiss me? Was my freedom worth my first kiss? I decided it was, but I would not let the guard go further than a kiss. When I arrived at the guard I reminded myself of all the times I had seen girls try to get a guys’ attention and I had rolled my eyes at them.
“Hey.” I said to the guard, in my most feminine and charming tone of voice. I stood very close to him and could smell the newness of his costume. It was covered in gold and silver medals. Personally I just thought he was showing off and did not like it but I decided to comment on it anyways: “I really love your costume! Have you really won that many medals? You must be very strong and brave.” I knew I sounded stupid but the other girls I had seen doing this always blabbered a bunch of nonsense as well so I guess it didn’t really matter.
“Yes, I have, I won them in the war. My friend and I were crossing over into enemy territory and everyone around me was being shot down but I did not stop, I just kept on going until I got there. And boy, did I teach them a lesson! I was the most important person in the July explosion.” He said proudly.
“Wow. You’re brave! I like brave men.” I said softly as I walked my fingers up and down his arm. “You know what I also like?” I asked, as I leaned even closer to him. “I like to go out riding.” I could see that he was getting persuaded and I was surprised