Aunty Alderra held me in her arms as she looked behind me.
"Who was that you were talking to, Princess?" she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ears.
"Just a rude boy, nothing more," I pouted.
She smiled. "Rude boy?"
I nodded. "He kept saying I was fat!"
She chuckled softly. "Don't laugh at me, Auntie!" I stomped my feet.
"But you aren't fat, are you?" she smiled.
"I kept telling him that, but he didn't listen to me!" I pouted, arms crossed.
"It's fine now, let's go in for breakfast. I know you're hungry."
My face lit up with a smile. "Yes, I am! I want bun bun for breakfast!"
"Of course. Little princess Evvy always gets her favorite bun bun for breakfast."
We both walked into the palace, hand in hand.
******
Over the next few days, I kept seeing Rowen around with his grandpa, who worked on the farm in our palace.
He was usually alone, so I took the chance to get to know him more.
Most times, I met him under the tree by the river. He always pushed me away, muttering, 'I hate princesses.'
But I didn't mind. It made me want to be around him even more.
He was cold and distant at first, but I kept talking and talking about things to him. I guess that's because I didn't have any friends in the palace, and he was the only boy my age around. So yes—I felt comfortable around him.
One day, I forced him to be my friend. Even though he fought it at first, in the end, he didn't have a choice.
I laughed when he had the face of 'defeat' that day.
I decided to let him into my private 'garden of flowers' because he was alone that day.
"My princess, you're bringing him in?" the guards asked, confused.
I looked up at them as I held Rowen's hand.
"Yes, so what? He's my friend, right?" I looked at Rowen. He nodded.
"Yes."
I smiled. "See? It's my garden anyway!" I said proudly, pulling Rowen through the gate.
He looked around, stunned by the variety of flowers.
"I planted them all with my mom!" I beamed.
We walked through the garden together as I named the flowers and explained them.
"This one looks pretty," he said, pointing to a flower.
"Oh! Those are peonies. It's a perennial flowering plant, mostly found in Asia, Europe, and North America. They can smell sweet or rose-like, depending on the variety. Also, Peonies grow best in well-drained, fertile soil with slightly acidic to neutral pH."
"It also symbolizes romance, prosperity, honor, and good fortune," he added.
I blinked. "You know about flowers, too?"
"My grandpa said he once sold many flowers."
"Really? Your grandpa did?"
He smiled. "Yes. He taught me just a little."
"Then tell me what you know!" I laughed, pulling him into my little resting house.
it was surprising how Rowen slowly became part of my life, and I became part of his.
He once told me he lived with his grandpa in a shabby house and that he was told his parents were dead after giving birth to him.
So I introduced him to my parents, and they let him stay in the castle so he could be protected.
His grandpa, who worked hard on the farm, was told to stop and rest—he had worked enough.
My parents even let them live in the palace, so they could stay close.
Rowen and I did everything together—We played together, gathered flowers, and even went to school together.
Sometimes, we'd sit by the river to catch fishes.
My parents felt so relieved that I finally had someone to talk to and play with at night.
They were comfortable with Rowen staying close.