Chapter 53: Prince Alexander.
Kein's POV
I was holding Rose's hand. Her body was swaying less than before. The snow crunched in our footsteps leaving prints, we left Mr. Snowman there hoping that he'll get to stay being a snowman and not a puddle once the sun goes up.
"Do you think Natasha is okay?" (Rose) suddenly asks and I tilt my head in thought. Has she been worried about Natasha because of the bar?
pαпᵈα-noνɐ1·сoМ Is Natasha okay?
Natasha... is a strong woman so I know she'll be alright.
"Don't worry I've known Natasha for a while. She's the type of girl who won't break easily." I reassured her and she just pouted. She hits my shoulder gently and complains, "Natasha is also a girl! A girl's heart is always fragile when it comes to love, you know." (Rose) shouts a little angry and I was confused.
I'm a girl too?
"Oh- I honestly don't know what to do about it... I've already rejected her once but she told me that she won't give up that easily." I recalled the moment when she told me in full brimming confidence that she'll wait for me.
She'll wait for a person that loves another?
And that person is a princess that's already clinging into my arms like a little koala, worried about her rival if her heart is breaking into a thousand pieces? Well maybe that's a little over the top description…
"Rose," I called out to her. "Getting hurt is a process of moving on. I like her as a friend but she likes me as something more, and I love you."
"If I don't reject her then she'll only get hurt more than she is now. I know you're worried about her but this is needed." I explained and she didn't look too happy about it but she nodded. Most girls would get jealous or claw their lover away from another potential rival but Rose just- feels bad and I understand why.
Natasha is a kind person.
Even vanilla likes her a lot and she doesn't let anyone just pet her mane like that.
"I know. She just feels so... nice and kind to me. Back in the carriage when I saw the both of you together, I thought finally I can rest easy because you might've found someone who will take care of you since... I'll no longer be by your side." she chuckles, giving me a sad smile. "Natasha seems to be a nice girl. Why not give it a try?"
I frowned and hit her over her head. "Ow! Why did you hit me-" (Rose)
I glare at her, placing my other arm over my waist. "What are you? My mother? Are you seriously telling me that while you're clinging onto my arm and we just got over our feelings days ago?" I remind her and she looks at the ground sadly holding my arms more tightly than before.
"I'm sorry-" she cries out with tears in her eyes. Oh no! Not again! Remind me to never give her alcohol ever! Rose sniffs through her nose and I pat her head softly trying to stop her crying. "I know I don't want you getting near anyone but at the same time I want you near everyone-" (Rose)
"Don't cry, I'm here. Why don't we get back and get you settled in the castle first okay? We need to get you sobered up. You're a good girl so follow Kein's orders okay?" I cup her cheek and kiss her on the forehead, her eyebrows creasing a little but she seems to be satisfied with what I did.
"Mn... I follow." (Rose)
We walked back into the castle trying not to look suspicious, the guards eyeing our every move. "My pass." I gave it to them and they eyed me suspiciously. Now that I think about it, I think these guards just switched their shifts.
The guard from before didn't look too suspicious of us and just let us pass. "You're the puronian knight that guards the princess right?" he asks, giving my pass a once look over.
Rose quietly trails behind me and I nod to the guard. "Yes and I have company with me. We both promised to return by three hours." I made sure to act natural, he chuckled a little giving me a crooked smile before looking back at Rose.
"Are you two free perhaps? I know a good private space we can-"
I raise my hand to stop him. I don't have time for this. "With all respect, sir. No. We don't need to go to whatever private space you're offering."
"Then you are not allowed to get in then. Two women with one man is nothing bad in this kingdom so why not give it a chance?"
He leaned in over and I instinctively made Rose cmove behind my back, protectively. I forget polygamy like harem only for men exists in this country. To think a guard would abuse his position like this is sickening.
"Give what a chance, lowly guard?"
The guard and I turned to his back where the second prince, Prince Alexanderk was holding his sword by the waist. "I dare you to say those words to our guest again and I will cut your tongue." (Prince Alexanderk)
The guard's eyes widened and I looked at him confused.
The prince looks behind me and he sees Rose with a flushed red face from the alcohol. "Let the two of them pass before I decide to cut more than your tongue." (Prince Alexanderk)
"Y-Yes your highness!"
The guard lets us through, clearly afraid of the sudden power figure appearing. My gaze wandered through the prince, wondering why he helped us?
Did he notice the girl behind me was Rose?
Prince Alexanderk's glare really made the guard quiver in his boots. "Follow me both of you. We're behind schedule." he says and we followed him for now.
Behind schedule, what a horrible excuse but the guard seems to be believing it. "Yes, your highness." I said following him, giving the guard a once over look of hate.
Rose clings into my hand for a bit before worriedly asking in a whisper, "Do you think he knows?"
I looked through the prince's back, he had his hands over the side of his waist holding the handle of his sword. From how he saved us, he definitely knows. "He does. While I'm grateful for it... I still don't trust him at all."
Rose looked alert, finally sobering up a little. I didn't let my guard down either. I would be prepared for anything he throws at us. However, what I need is to protect the princess. Then again he doesn't seem to be the type to hurt his fiancé.
He stops into a room opening the doors to reveal a study room full of shelves of books. He goes inside sitting down on a leather chair with a fireplace in the back. "[Release]." he chanted, a dark magic circle appearing.
My eyes widened in surprise as well as Rose. Prince Alexanderk makes himself comfortable at his seat, "Why don't the two of you sit down and let's talk. Don't worry I made sure the study room is soundproof in the outside no one would hear our conversation." he raises his hands and snaps his two fingers, suddenly two chairs from the side moves in front of us.
"We have a lot to discuss, missing relative of mine." (Prince Alexanderk) mutters the chair moving in closer and I couldn't help but think this whole situation was rather funny.
I scoffed, I wish I wasn't going to be found out like this but looks like I have no choice but to play along into his grasp. I grabbed a hold of his chair and I made sure to glare at his direction menacingly, "How long have you known?" I ask him.
"It doesn't take long for another skilled Dark magic user to recognize another but to think you'll be here surprises me. I've known the moment you've walked in with her highness over here." he looks over towards Rose who shyly removes the red shawl over her head. She reveals her royal signature of silver hair and frowns sadly, most likely from being found out.
"Does that mean your brother and the king knows of me?"
I know my mastery of magic is not that advanced but to think that he spotted and found me already. If the prince knows then I assume the other royal family members have known too.
He could only nod looking like he's enjoying the expression I have on my face, "Of course my father and older brother are far more experienced. They've known all this time especially on the dinner." (Prince Alexanderk)
"My mother is not a dark magic user however so she doesn't know what was happening." he continues.
The farther we conversed the more I got confused.
"Prince Alexanderk? What is happening? Are you some sort of distant relative?" (Rose)
My gaze turned to my side and almost forgot Rose had been standing there listening to everything. Natasha's words dawned on me as I realized I haven't told her about this part of Kein's history. I held down Rose's shoulders and gave her an apologetic gaze. "Yes well- I couldn't tell you because-"
It's the real Kein's distant family, not mine.
I wanted nothing to do with them, my name is not Kein.
"I wanted nothing to do with them nor want anyone to get roped up in my family business, especially you Rose. If you knew then I was afraid of what you'll think of me, my whole being of someone that has dark magic-" I looked through her eyes hoping that this won't rift us further. "I had to hide myself- I'm sorry if I didn't tell you because-"
Rose stops me there and holds my hand. "You don't need to apologize. I understand, everyone has their own secrets. Did you think I would be mad?"
I nod hesitantly. I did think that she would be because I kept a secret from her after I promised myself to not keep anymore secrets. "Kein, I didn't tell you I was a princess for the same reasons. I was afraid we're both the same so you really don't have to feel bad for not telling me. I can just wait until you are ready to tell me yourself." (Rose)
I love this woman.
She understands and she was willing to wait for me to sort out my feelings and secrets.
If we were all alone I would've hugged her and cried but a small laughter at the front made me remember that we weren't alone. "The two of you don't tell me- let me guess. You're both together? Was that the reason why you were so overprotective of your princess?" (Prince Alexanderk)
Rose lets go of my hand quickly before shaking her head to the prince in hesitation. She looks at me and then at him. My brows furrowed, my hands clenching into a fist. Right, she still needs to marry this prince if she's going to need money and a cure for Cecilia.
The prince awaits for my answer, seeing that the question was pointed towards me I forced myself to calm down. "We are not. I am just good childhood friends with her highness, I am merely her knight who cares very much for her highness."
Prince Alexanderk chuckles, resting his elbows onto the table looking at me amusingly. "It doesn't feel like it, how nice it is to call her by a special name. What was it again?"
He hums for a moment before answering. "Oh right, Rose. Her highness has such a cute nickname I envy you both such good friends indeed." (Prince Alexanderk)
I looked down at the ground finding a reason to not tell him that we're more than friends.
I tried my best to not lose my composure. I need to think of this rationally, I know I promised Rose that I'll find a cure for Cecilia but if I mess up and say that Rose is my lover he'll never let me out of this kingdom and might even execute me for a plan with his fiancé.
"Shut up! You know what- I've had enough of you." (Rose) suddenly shouts and we both turn to her pointing a finger at the prince. "You belittle women, you insulted the love of my life, and you knew of our relationship but here you are telling us we're such good friends! We both know I'm only agreeing with the marriage for the sake of my sister."
"And I'm tired trying to pretend I want this. I never wanted any of this." (Rose) stares at me where I felt stunned by her next words. "This woman beside me is what I want and I'm not ashamed of admitting that I love her more than I'll ever love someone of a jerk like you."
My heart skipped a beat, my face heated up and my legs wanted to jump for joy at her words.
I didn't know what to say so I held her hand for support facing the prince with confidence to strive. We looked at each other fondly before the second prince clapped his hands together slowly.
"How funny, my feelings are mutual with you." he says standing up and walks towards us with a piece of paper in hand.
"I came to find and warn you, your highness. My father and brother, this marriage is just a play of distraction before they decide to take your throne and the kingdom for themselves." He hands the paper to Rose and her face looks pale right after she reads the contents of it.
"T-They plan to take over the kingdom and leave my family for dead." (Rose)
Her hand shivered while she held the paper with a fearful look in her face.
"Really?!" I take the paper away from her hands and read it myself. It was a signed contract of all the royals of the winshern kingdom, that once all Rose's family is dead and buried with no one else left to inherit the kingdom.
They will take over and take the kingdom for themselves.
I finished reading all of the contents in mere minutes and I turned towards the prince. What is your goal? "Why are you telling this to us? Aren't you family with them? What if this is some big hoax just to humiliate us? I don't trust any of this."
He laughs softly, "We may be family tied by blood but those monsters have been nothing but strangers to me."
Rose takes a step forward pinning a finger at his chest. "None of this still earns our trust. After what you did before- even if you saved us from those guards. Do you expect us to believe you just like that?"
The prince thinks for a moment then agrees with Rose. "I suppose you're right. In order to trust one another, we'll need to form some sort of bond." he begins to take his jacket off and I pull Rose away from him, taking out my holy sword and pointing it at him.
"If you dare flash anything to her highness I will end you right here on the- spot?"
No way...
I was shocked to see the prince… is not what he seemed.
With his jacket removed, shirt, and corset. All that was left was a chest that was similar to a figure of a woman, the prince had a nice hourglass curve, and while having many scars. "I have to apologize for my rudeness for the first time we met. It certainly made a horrible impression but I had no choice. Many eyes are watching my every move."
Rose was shocked with me. "You're... a woman?"
"A woman who was forced her whole life to play a prince's part. For a woman born in a royal family is a shame." she says holding her bandaged wrapped chest.
"I do not wish to marry someone who I do not love as well. I will explain everything you'll need before you leave the kingdom."
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