This baby is dedicated to kiaorion17. Lots of love for the support!♥️

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Amana's POV

I'd just about finished training when I saw the warrior who was guarding Roland arrive at the training grounds. He told me that I had to go at once.

After saying goodbye to Enzi, who somewhat seemed disappointed of my departure, I ran back home to my mother's hut and had a bath. I greeted my mother in a frenzy as I ran out towards the guests' huts.

When I got to the door, I knocked. I heard a reply from the other side and got in. Roland was sprawled out on the bed that had already been made. He seemed to be deep in thought as he was just looking up, not even bothering to glance my way.

"Roland?"

He turned and looked at me. Bright green eyes stared at me and a small smile that was there had become a full on grin. I wondered what made him feel and look so happy like that.

He should smile like that more often.

"Amana. You're finally here! I was bored to death with that one."

I couldn't help but laugh. That warrior was always a serious one, he rarely smiled at people, especially outsiders.

"I am here now. We have to go for breakfast."

He sat up and stretched himself. I couldn't help but look at him. He was built and looked very fit and healthy. His shirt rose a little, showing a small patch of white skin that was shredded with muscle.

"Amana?"

I quickly looked up and saw him smirking at me. I quickly turned around and went to take a seat on the stool next to the door.

"You can look if you want."

My eyes widened at his statement. I quickly folded my arms on my chest and looked to the side.

"I wasn't looking! What are you talking about?"

This just made him laugh and all I wanted above all else was to shrink and jump into an anthill and disappear. Since this wasn't possible, I decided to leave the hut and go outside. Just as my hand had reached the doorknob, a hand held mine. I looked up and saw Roland in front of me.

"Don't worry yourself too much, okay? I'd look at you any day too."

Before I tried to ask what he meant, in order for me to understand, he held my hand tightly and pulled me out of the hut with him. His hand never left mine until we had reached the eating hut. The contact was quite foreign to me, but it wasn't like I hated it or anything. It was........ oddly fascinating to behold.

When we got in, the chief was already seated, eating his hearty meal.

"Good morning, Chief.", I said, before bowing to him.

"Good morning, Amana. I hope that all is well?"

I nodded in affirmation and made my way to a stool next to the window which showed the forest nearby. A pure sight to behold of birds of different colors swoosh by in the green thick jungle. Some as small as my fist and others as big as claypots.

Just as they had been served, the princess came in. She wore a purple attire and was adorned with gold bracelets on her arms and had some around her neck. Her walk was usually of pure grace and elegance.

Today's walk, however, was different. Her hips were swaying left and right in an exaggerated fashion, a sly smile etched on her face. She took more effort than usual to look good today. When it finally dawned on me her true intentions, I just rolled my eyes and looked outside.

She was the perfect definition of a wolf in sheep's clothing. She looked all pretty and elegant on the outside, but had a dark heart on the inside. She always bullied me as we grew up. I had no idea why though.

She made her way towards Roland, and greeted him.

"Good morning, Roland. Did you have a good night's rest?"

"Why, yes, I did. It was a tidbit boring though. I had no one to accompany me."

She smiled and sat down next to him.

"I can come to see you, if you'd like me to."

He smiled then and shook his head in the negative.

"No, princess Banoa, it's fine. No need to worry yourself over that. Let's eat."

"True. Let's."

They had conversations among themselves on the table while I was sitting alone by the window, enjoying my food in silence.

"Amana, what do you think?"

I looked up to see Roland looking at me, a small smile on his face, while princess Banoa had a small scowl.

"Sorry. I wasn't listening."

"We were talking about the men that were sent to fight with the other tribe against the rebel pirates. What do you think of their victory?"

I couldn't help but smile at that. I wanted to respond but one glance at the scowling princess had me thinking otherwise. The smile just floated away and in it's place a face of pure indifference.

"I do not think I have a say in this. After all, my say is not of relative importance."

Roland's face had a deep frown on it now. It did not look good on him at all.

"Nonsense, Amana. Me asking you this question means that your input is important to me. I'm the one who asked the question after all."

I looked down at my food. I didn't know what to say anymore. I then heard the chief's voice, asking for my answer. I looked at Banoa who was now eating her food, anger being the emotion that showed on her facial apparel.

"I think it's a good thing that they won. It is such a wonderful thing to have happened indeed. We might have lost some men, but their tribe is finally at peace now."

Roland seemed to be pleased with my answer because he smiled the exact same smile he had when I'd gotten into his hut that morning. A small smile crept on my face as well. I continued on with my food.

"Lord Roland, i-"

He held out a hand, which automatically made princess Banoa stop talking.

"Please, don't call me that. Just call me Roland, princess Banoa. I don't want to carry that title around me here too."

She smiled at him.

"Nonsense! That's your heritage. You're going to have to take it up someday."

Roland sighed, and for the first time in my life, I'd seen resignation on his face. Did he not want to be Viscount?

"I'm afraid it is, but the adventurer inside of me keeps on calling unto me. Staying in one place can be such a bore sometimes."

The princess nodded her head in understanding and took a sip of her beverage.

"Roland, there's a place I want you to see."

He paid attention to the princess now.

"Amana has already shown me most of the tribe."

Banoa smirked.

"You haven't seen our flower garden yet. Only royalty is allowed to be there. I can show it to you."

Roland seemed to think for a second, and then nodded in agreement. He, however, wanted me to go with them. I vehemently refused the offer, because I'd seen the look Banoa was giving Roland, and I was positive that she wanted to be alone with him.

Something within me, however, wanted to go as well. I had to make sure that they were safe there, and I'd never been to this garden before. I then nodded.

"It is decided then. Amana will go with us."

Banoa nodded without enthusiasm.

********

Roland and the princess were walking in front of me, while I followed behind. I felt like I was intruding in their private time, so I tried to be as far away from them as possible.

The sight was also making my eyes want to bleed.

Occasionally, Roland would call out for me to be closer to them, so that I could also be involved in the conversations. I talked here and there, most of the time I just nodded.

When we got to the garden, my eyes weren't ready for the sight that beheld me. Flowers of different shapes, colours and sizes were scattered all over the place. Red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, white, you name it. The scents from this piece of land made my head fuzzy, but in a good way.

The princess was ahead with Roland showing him different flowers. I just looked around in fascination. I smiled as these different plants made me feel happy at the same time. One flower stood out for me.

I crouched down and looked down at it. I plucked out one of the flowers and looked at its design. Two colours on one flower!

Remarkable!

"That's a tulip! Do you like it?"

I looked up and saw Roland looking at me, a small smile on his face. The princess was next to a different type of flower. It had thorns on its stem, red in colour. She plucked it up and looked at it.

"Look Roland, a rose. Isn't this what your people call 'the flower of love'?"

I'd looked back at my flower now!

A tulip.

That's what it's called? It's beautiful! Roland replied to the princess' statement.

"Roses are beautiful, but.......I like the tulip better."

He made his way forward towards the other flowers. Banoa looked at me with pure hatred in her eyes. I just stood there in silence, looking at his tall strong frame as it made its way through the flowers.

The princess ran after him while I returned my gaze towards the flowers.

He liked the tulip as well. A small smile crept on my face, only to quickly dismiss it.

Are you losing your wits, Amana??

So what if he liked it? It didn't concern me, but the notion of him liking it too just made me feel all giddy inside.

I looked up only to be shocked when I see the princess holding his hand while they were running into the deeper parts of the forest.

What if something happened to them while they were under my protection? I had to make sure that they were fine.

I sprinted after them, making sure that I avoided the twigs from tearing my clothes. Just as I'd seen their silhouette, I stopped.

Roland was holding onto the princess, his arm wrapped around her. Her hand was rested on his chest and they were looking at each other in the eyes.

I quickly turned around and made my way to a nearby tree. I climbed the tree until I'd gotten to the top and sat on a thick branch. The wind was getting cooler.

The image of them holding onto each other kept on showing itself in my mind, and I wanted nothing more than to erase it.

The image made me feel uneasy. Very uneasy. I never wanted to see such a display again.

But why?

It wasn't my life. It was theirs. What they did had nothing to do with me. I had no right to be angry whatsoever.

But I knew, that deep inside, I never wanted to see them together like that ever again. It...........hurt me, in a way that I, myself, was not familiar with.

This was a new feeling I'd never felt before! I didn't want anyone to be that close to him, being held so...... so....... intimately.

I'd almost forgotten that I wasn't alone here when I suddenly saw them walking together towards the garden.

I made my way down the tree, with a new resolve.

Don't have such feelings for him, you're not meant to be together. Different tribes, different customs, different social statuses, different ways of life. It was all in the open!!

I jumped out of the tree behind them, and they were both shocked to see just an abrupt entrance. Roland began to walk in my direction.

"Where were you?"

I began to walk and avoided him, going in front of them.

"That doesn't matter, Lord Roland. We should head back before lunch."