enjoyebooks Chapter 25
Chapter 25
KAEL’S POV
The beach trip had been a gamble, a delicate balance of risk and reward. A few months ago, sneaking away the princess—my princess—with a discreet security team along the shore would have been laughable. Unthinkable. She had been a prisoner of her own life, hemmed in by the gold and velvet of the palace. Each meeting, each glance toward the windows, was a silent plea for something beyond those walls. I’d seen it in her eyes—the longing, the yearning for freedom. And yet, she'd never dared ask for it.
So I decided to make it happen for her.
The picnic I’d prepared was a calculated effort. The kind of thoughtful touch she might not expect from me. Fresh baguettes from the bakery she’d mentioned once—light, airy, and warm. A selection of artisanal cheeses, some creamy and tangy, others sharp and bold. Briny olives, rich with history. And those tiny lemon tarts she loved so much, those "pockets of sunshine" she’d called them. All of it packed carefully, with intention. The wildflowers I’d gathered on a whim, plucked from the edge of a meadow as we drove. They weren't perfect, but they were fresh, free, and simple, much like the day I was hoping to give her.
When she stepped out of the car, my heart skipped, and I didn’t bother hiding it. The soft sun filtered through her hair as she made her way toward me, her yellow-and-white sundress fluttering gently in the breeze. There was no heavy crown, no royal trappings, just Celestina. Her hair loose, her expression softer, lighter. She looked... human, for once. It almost hurt to see her like that—so free, so radiant. She wasn’t the princess anymore, not in that moment. She was just a woman. And I wanted her to know it.
“You’ve outdone yourself,” she said with an eyebrow raised, her gaze soft with surprise, and maybe even a little admiration. “A picnic on the beach—are we in a romance?”
I smirked. “Only the finest for you, Your Majesty.”
I extended my hand, helping her onto the blanket, our fingers brushing for the briefest of moments. The simplest touch, yet it felt like the weight of the world.
We sank into the feast, the sounds of the waves in the distance, the warmth of the sun on our skin. I watched her relax, minute by minute. The tension in her shoulders, the stiffness in her neck, began to dissolve. The salty air ruffled her hair, and she absentmindedly tucked a loose strand behind her ear. I couldn’t stop watching her. The way she did the smallest things without realizing their effect on me. The simple things. The ordinary things. They had power over me.
“Did you come here much as a child?” I asked, breaking the silence, leaning back on my palms, trying to keep things casual.
She shook her head, a wistful look crossing her face. “My father was always wrapped up in politics, and my mother... she preferred the palace gardens. This... this feels free.”
I nodded, my own memories surfacing. “I grew up along the coast. Weekends meant the beach for me and my sister—endless sand in every crevice, sunburns, and saltwater.”
She laughed, a soft, throaty sound. “I can’t picture you as a scrappy beach kid.”
I chuckled, leaning back slightly. “I had freckles, tangled hair, looked more like a stray mutt than the composed man you see now.”
Her laughter was easy, light, and it wrapped around me, warm and genuine. “I’d pay to see that picture,” she teased.
“I’ll see what I can unearth,” I said with a wink. “But don’t blame me if it’s embarrassing.”
Her laughter faded, and she leaned back slightly, gazing out at the horizon, a peaceful silence settling between us. Her hand reached instinctively for the basket of tarts, taking another one and nibbling thoughtfully. The faintest hint of melancholy clouded her expression.
“This is nice,” she murmured, eyes soft, lost in the distance. “I don’t remember feeling this calm.”
I studied her, taking in the curve of her cheek, the faint lines by her eyes, the delicate strength in her features when she smiled. My heart clenched, the words escaping before I could stop them.
“You deserve calm, Celestina. You deserve peace.”
She turned to look at me, her gaze shifting. There was something in her eyes that made my chest tighten. A flicker of surprise, of something deeper. She had always been so composed, so locked away behind her duties, but now... now I saw the real Celestina. Vulnerable. Uncertain. But also, in this fleeting moment, willing to believe.
Her smile softened, but it carried a note of sadness. “It’s not always easy to find.”
I found myself reaching out, almost instinctively, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The gesture was so simple, but the weight of it hit me like a hammer. It was far too intimate for what I had always thought was merely duty. But now... it felt like more.
“No,” I agreed quietly. “But maybe we can look for it together.”
There was a pause—a long, lingering silence. The tension in the air shifted, the undercurrent of something raw and real pulsing between us. She looked at me, eyes wide, the heat between us undeniable. The simple brush of my fingers against her skin made my pulse race.
She didn’t pull away. In fact, her gaze softened, and for a heartbeat, it felt like the world had stopped. In that moment, I wasn’t the protector or the royal guard. I wasn’t a man burdened by the weight of duty and obligations. I was just... a man.
And she... she was everything I never allowed myself to want.
I realized, with startling clarity, that I’d crossed a line I couldn’t uncross. The line between duty and desire. And now, there was no going back.
But as I stared into her eyes, I also knew that no matter what happened, I would make sure she knew what freedom felt like, even if I had to fight for it.
And for the first time in years, I realized that I wanted to fight—for her.