Lucien spat, tasting blood.
Well….this was a highlight to this incredibly dull hunting.
She was standing over him, heaving, as angry as a ruffled pigeon, clutching hard the branch in hand.
In retrospect, this painted a comical image, but her actions were tantamount to treason.
"Who the hell do you think you are, grabbing me by the throat? Huh?"
Her chest heaved, and Lucien considered himself too much of a gentleman to point out that her dress was semi-transparent, even less so in the sunlight.
" Hey! I'm talking to you!"
Her golden eyes shone fiercely as she raised the branch over her head again, as if getting ready to strike.
Lucien raised his hands in mock surrender, a deep chuckle escaping him. His bow was lying down by his side, his back to the dirt.
"As you can see, I have surrendered."
A movement far away caught his eye, and he frowned.
He thought he'd managed to shake off his secret guards. They trailed him everywhere, and on a day like this, he'd love to be free of them for even a few minutes.
He touched his forehead and examined his fingers and chuckled. She actually put him hard enough to draw blood.
" Something funny, you smug bastard? How about I hit you again–"
In a split second, Prince Lucien was on his feet, pinning back both her arms, one hand clasped over her mouth.
"Be silent. My guards are here."
Her confused question came out in a muffled panic.
"Hold on tight...."
He suspected another few minutes of dodging his guards to be with this woman would pay off.
Lucien grabbed her by the waist and leaped into the air; up they flew.
"How are we flying?! What the F-?"
"Language. I'm from the Royal bloodline. I am strong."
Below them was lush greenery as they approached the top of the castle and landed on the first floor.
He let go of her slowly.
"I'm Lucien. Lucien Alaric Vaelthorne…"
"Wait…you're the Crown Prince of Elyria…?"
He watched her eyes widen in realization, feeling amusement. He'd thought no one in the kingdom would recognize him.
"It appears so, Madam Adeline Corvus."
Her bravado erupted in a mist.
"I'm–I'm so sorry for hitting you."
"You do not need to apologize, my lady. Let's consider this even."
There was something about this lady that was… alluring.
He looked down into the courtyard below and gathered were vassals of various houses, some still unready to head into the woods.
He turned back to the frightened woman, activating his eye of truth.
"Your father mentioned you were dead. Please explain."
Her gaze was fixed on the ground.
"I reckon it was a mistake…."
" Why would he then announce and even plan your funeral?"
The air was thick with tension as Lucien took a few steps towards her.
"He took a lot of contributions from Nobles, you know? Crying about how his beloved daughter passed away from a wolf attack in these very forests we are hunting…what are you going to do about that? If other families find out–"
"If I may!" She interrupted. She looked angry. As expected.
"My father has a lot of debts to settle. I reckon this was the only way….I'm sure he will find a way to pay back."
A hearty laughter escaped Lucien without warning. She was telling the truth. Which meant she was as naive as he suspected.
"As I was saying…Prince Lucien." She emphasized the 'Prince' with sarcasm.
"Can I count on your silence for now?"
"For now?" He was so close to her that he could catch the floral scent coming from her skin. Tugging loosely at her golden curls, he put them back in place, tucking them behind her ear.
Startled at the contact, she slapped away his hand.
"Your father owes me a lot of money….Miss Adeline and I would like to collect it…"
Unfazed, His hand travelled back to her soft, curly hair.
"One way or the other…."
"Prince Lucien. May I remind you shot at you? Then felt me up. How would that play over with the public? Considering you compete for the throne with your uncle?"
"What did you just say?" His voice hardened immediately.
This was meant to be a secret among the courts for now.
"There are…whispers and–and speculations about your succession."
Her eyes darted around. She was lying, still clutching her gown in indignation.
Lucien stepped forward and seized her by the collar of her gown.
"You will not speak to me in that manner, you are but a–"
" Oh my, is the prince sensitive?"
Beneath her collarbone, her heart raced, but her words were punctuated with disdain.
Lucien let go of her. She was like an aggressive rabbit, this one.
"I shall forgive your family's debt and make this…. talk of your death go away but I cannot guarantee the generosity of other houses."
Adeline shrugged, adjusting the collar of her gown with a harrumph.
"Thank you, my Prince."
She curtsied, hiding how she clicked her teeth rudely.
" This will not be our last meeting, I promise you."
Below were the last of the hunting families leaving for the forest, but the guards who escorted him were back again.
"Ah. I see they have come for me…you can go downstairs to meet your family."
" Yes, my Prince.
Lucien peered below to spot sharp-eyed Matthew looked up and spotted the prince, who waved with a smile, knowing it would only make his personal guard furious.
"My lady–wait."
Adeline grabbed the rusty handle of the roof door leading downstairs and turned.
"This has been a most unfortunate meeting, and I have acted as a buffoon not befitting my title. I must insist on a private dinner with you at a time of my choosing. Farewell."
With that, Prince Lucien waved and jumped down the tower, eliciting a gasp from Adeline, who scurried to the edge to see where the mad prince had jumped, but he was safely on the ground.
"This crazy man…. I can't believe…."
He looked up and blew a kiss before conversing with what she assumed were his guards, one of whom looked justifiably angry.
She couldn't help but burst into a chuckle before the reality of her situation hit her. Behind her was the door leading to her home. Her family.
"Shit…" she muttered.
*************************************************************
The damp stone walls seemed to close around her as she walked down the spiral stairs; each thunk of her boots echoed loudly through this place. It didn't seem to get much use.
She pondered over the prince's words. She was going to face a family who essentially thought she was dead. Or planned her death, more like.
Her nose itched as she sneezed loudly. Was she a hated character in this family? Because that would explain a lot.
" This will make things much more difficult…" Jia muttered to herself, rubbing her cold arms.
This place was getting colder, but she could see a light leading to a hallway. There were people's voices.
And they sounded Angry.
The hallway was large, and doors faced it on either side, and large stained windows opened to let in a view of the vast courtyard below. It was surrounded by bronze statues and a tastefully decorated garden, which seemed to be falling apart now.
" We will be out of funds soon!"
"That plan was never going to work! Who's next, father? Me??"
The fifth door on her right was open, and that was where the arguing voices came from.
She took off her shoes and tiptoed to listen in.
Inside were four people. All men, their backs were to her as they faced whom she assumed was their father.
He was seated slumped in his seat, hands on his head. He painted the very picture of defeat. Something akin to familiar irritation began to bubble in Jia's gut along with a stinging flash of headache.
Was she–Adeline's body reacting to this man?
"You don't understand! They're demanding an open casket funeral."
"Sons. I understand your anxiety, but I pray thee to–"
"Adeline?? Do I dream or is that you?"
The voice came from behind her.
Jia jumped, unaware of when the woman now standing, teary-eyed, snuck behind her.
"Oh, by Saintess Dureva, I knew we hadn't been abandoned! My daughter!"
She had hair as golden as hers but graying and limp, and when her arms encircled Jia. Sobbing and clutching tightly around her, she felt weak and warm.
For a moment, nothing else existed except the sobbing woman in her arms.
"Tell me….is it truly you, my Adeline?"
" Y-yes, mother. It is I."
Jia stammered, feeling a rush of guilt overwhelm her.
She pulled back, wiping her tears with a handkerchief she produced from her gown
"You were gone for two weeks! We were getting ready for your funeral even though I told your father to hold off!"
Yeah…this was going to be difficult to explain without them suspecting her.
"Adeline?"
Right behind her was a boy who looked not much older than her; his hair was dark, but the same golden eyes as hers, looking at her in shock.
Not just him. Her remaining two brothers stood behind him, staring at her in fright and trepidation.
And behind them was he.
Jia was going to do the best acting she could pull off.
"Good to see you, Father."