Sid had been away from Wysteria on work for quite some time. He had traveled to a distant country to gather information in return for a great sum of money. Heâs used to this, of course. He had done it plenty of times, but this time was different. As each day went by, Sid grew more and more agitated. It had been so long since heâd seen her, and he missed her dearly. He would think of her smile, the way her cheeks would flush when he teased her. He missed her so much he could hardly stand it. Sid wasnât one to rush his work, although he desperately wanted to. But when he was finally done, he immediately set off for Wysteria.Â
By the time he arrived, it was already growing late. Reluctantly, Sid headed off to his usual bar instead of possibly interrupting the Princess of Wysteriaâs sleep. Taking his seat in the back of the bar, Sid slumped down and let out a sigh.
âSid!â Someone rushes over to his table. âI got somethinâ for ya.â
âHavenât even had a drink yet and youâre already tryinâ sell me information.â Sid grumbles.
âNot sellin ya anything.â The man sits across from him. âYa know my girl is a maid at the palace. Well, she told me the princess collapsed during a lesson, and that Duke Howard carried her away.âÂ
Sidâs heart nearly stopped at the mention of the princess, and heâs on his feet the second the man is done speaking. He mumbles his thanks, and rushes out the door.
âThanks, Leo- and sorry again. I promise next time Iâll be better focused.âÂ
âDonât work yourself too hard, princessâ Leo pinches my cheek as I leave the room. For some reason, I could hardly focus on my lesson with Leo.Â
Trying to shake off my clouded thoughts, I head off to my next lesson. I really need to focus- no more blanking out.Â
I push the door to the ballroom open and see that Louis is already there.Â
âGood morning, Louis.â I give him a smile, but his eyes narrow.
âAre you feeling alright?â Louis steps closer and peers into my face.
âYes, Iâm fine.â I say and smile once more. Louis nods, and our lesson begins.Â
Not long after the lesson begins, I begin to stumble on my steps. I push through, determined on doing my best. Iâve already messed up with Leo, I canât mess up with Louis, too.Â
As the dance continues, I feel myself growing weaker. Louis turns me in a spin, and Iâm all set to come back into his arms, but instead my legs give out from under me. Louis manages to catch me by the waist.
âIâm so sorry!â I say, my voice wavering.
âPrincess, youâre burning up.â Louis places a hand on my cheek.Â
âIâm fine.â I shake my head and try to pull out of his grasp.
Louis sighs and lifts me up and heads for the door.
âLouis! Wha-â
âOur lesson is over. Youâre ill. Iâll take you to your room.â Louisâ voice is matter of fact.Â
The princess had been carried to bed by Duke Howard. The doctor had come to see her, and ordered bed rest for the remainder of the day, and the following day.Â
Now, she lays in bed with a book open in her lap. She canât focus on any of the words as her eyes begin to feel heavy. Soon enough, she falls into a deep sleep, exhausted by the dayâs events.
Sid opens the door to the princessâs bedroom as quietly as he can. The candle on the nightstand is still lit. His eyes move to the bed, and there she is. The person heâs been longing to see for weeks. His heart starts to pound at the mere sight of her.Â
âHeya, princess.â Sid whispers as he reaches her bedside. He reaches out and strokes her shoulder. His fingertips move up to her cheek, then to her soft hair. He gently lifts her hand and kisses her knuckles. This isnât at all how he imagined their reunion. He chuckles to himself and brushes the hair out of her face.Â
âMmm..Sid?â The princessâ sleepy voice rings out.
âHey.â Sid canât hide his smile.
Sid? I blink a couple of times to make sure Iâm not dreaming.
âHey.â His deep voices brings me to my senses.
I hastily sit up, dazed at the sight of him.Â
âWhat- when did you get back?âÂ
âNot too long ago.â He reaches out and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. This tiny gesture sets my heart racing, and I canât hold back any longer. I throw my arms around his neck to bring his lips down to mine. The kiss lasts for a second before I pull away just as quickly.
âIâm sorry! Iâm sick, I shouldnât.â I feel a blush creeping up on my cheeks, and Iâm suddenly grateful for the dimness of my room.
âThat doesnât matter.â He says and kisses me himself this time. As selfish as it may be, I let myself melt into his kisses.Â
I recall the nights I spent alone, craving his touch, wishing he was there. I want to completely lose myself in him, but the fear of getting him sick outweighs my desire.Â
As if reading my thoughts, Sid pulls away.Â
âYou should get some rest.â Sid settles himself in bed right next to me.Â
âIâve slept all day.â I protest âI could stay up all night.â I snuggle into his side, my heart still pounding from the kiss. âWill you tell me about the place you visited?â
âYou woulda loved it. Lively town, peaceful beaches.â He strokes my hair. âYou were all I could think about while I was there.â His voice is nearly a whisper.
âSid-â
âIâd see something as simple as a hair clip at the marketplace, and Iâd think of how well it would suit ya. Or how youâd smile if I gave it to you.âÂ
âSid, I missed you so much.â I lift my hand, my fingertips stroking his cheek, tracing every curve on his face. My thumb brushes over the swell of his bottom lip.Â
âI couldnât wait to come home to see you.â He smiles faintly. âI couldnât wait to kiss you again, to-â
âIf you keep talking like this we wonât be getting any rest tonight.â I whisper.
âMaybe that ainât such a bad thing.â Sid kisses me once more, pressing me back into the mattress.
