Chapter 23 - Goodbye friend

Mother had never pretended to treat me so nicely. She had never bother to ever act like she really liked Mallory to avoid rumours or anything of the like. She would just ignore me, erase me from her view. Until now that is.

Now I sat in her lap. With her hand patting my head as she giggled at just about anything Raphael said.

I expected this. With Raphael in line to be Jiraels right hand man, it was only expected that mother would try to get on his good side although right now, it seemed she wanted something more deeper than his "good side". Her hand kept finding its way to his shoulder and he would uncomfortably place it away with a flinch multiple times.

FOR GODS SAKE WOMAN HE'S STILL A TEENAGER!

I couldn't help but feel scared at having him near mother at all. The fear of the fact she might push for the relationship she tried for in the book wasn't unquestionable. It was less likely though.

"I heard your brother is doing rather well on the battlefield right now. It's expected since he's a Harlow, but it's rather exciting isn't it?" For a moment the hand on my head stayed a second too long and while I was questioning it with a glance towards the woman I found her eyes staring at me in a strange way. As if unseen gears turned in her head. A smile suddenly spread across her lips, sinister in appearance. It made a shiver run down my back.

"I guess so. Brother was definitely made to walk the battlefield." He answered in an almost sulky voice.

"Don't say that, second son of the Harlow family. Your talent lies in another place. And the closer to the palace the better since there is a high chance we might be..." mother suddenly stopped her sentence altogether and looked away as if she said too much.

"Yes?" Raphael wanted to hear the end of it, it seemed like that anyway.

I couldn't help but also be interested by the turn of conversation.

"It's nothing. Much too soon to assume anyway. Maybell go play with your brother!" She ushered "Maybell" out and the door shut on me. "Maybell".

Oh come on woman! You gave birth to me!

Raphael didn't follow me straight away. It was until I was in the playroom, outlining the illustrations on a book did he appear behind me.

He didn't seem at all focused. His mind clearly elsewhere and not in a good place it seemed. His expression just looked rather grave and when I finally caught his eye, he flinched and looked away immediately.

I couldn't help but wander what it was.

And just as the thought entered my mind I saw Raphaels usual nervous posture switch to a more relaxed form. His once hesitant arms were now casual as he pushed his hair out of his to reveal his feminine features. His eyes now catlike caught mine with a grin.

Ah- it's the cheery alter.

"Princess. It's been a while", he leaned towards me and I backed off on reflex.

"Nice to see you too".

"It felt like Raphael is quite comfortable with you. He usually gets tired of people quite fast, but he was fine for a while with you. It seems like something must've really threw him back in his shell, huh?" He had picked me up while he spoke, sitting me on his lap as he leaned against the window. Playing with my hair without any permission at all.

Meh. I'm not surprised anymore.

"Yeah. I think mother must have told him something strange", I answered rather absentmindedly as my mind recalled Ruby and how he should be back soon.

"I haven't felt him so upset in a long while..." he mused for a moment. Just a moment. "Well anyway princess, no need to feel bummed out because of little Raphael! You and I should have some fun together!"

"Fun?" I looked at him with furrowed brows.

__________________

I had actually stopped breathing when I heard footsteps enter the room. A creepy voice began to speak while I balled my small body into the bottom of the fancy chair. The fluffy silk curtain that hid the legs were now surrounding my body as the footsteps sounded out.

"Mallory~~ where are you?"

My heart skipped a few beats.

I know. It was silly. A twenty something year old in a one year olds body playing hide and seek with a teenagers alternate personality. It was a situation I never would've dreamed of and not to mention I was very invested in it.

I held my breath as I heard it again.

"Mallory~" he was closer this time. The tip of his shoes visible from the gap in the curtain. He was right in front of me!

It was pure luck that he left. The footsteps sounded away and the call for me became quieter and quieter. I let out a breath of relief.

Oh good, I'm safe-

"Kyaaaaa!" I screamed when the curtain covering me was suddenly lifted up and Raphael stared right into my bloody soul with a Cheshire grin.

"Found you princess".

How the hell does he do that?!

"This is getting kind of boring", he pouted.

Well what did you expect? You're playing with a one year old...

"Wait!" He suddenly grasped his head as if a headache came over him, "i said I'm bored! Not done!" He yelled to no one in particular.

"Raphael? Are you?"-

"Yes?" Cold sharp eyes pierced into me behind bangs.

Oh... he's switched...

"H-Hello?" I stuttered. Unsure of what to say.

Before he could answer, the door to the playroom opened to reveal Edmund, who yelped at the glare he was on the receiving end of.

Raphael- I mean whoever or whichever personality was present stormed out of the room with such a murderous aura, chills ran down my spine. Edmund had run to shield me from him in case I got attacked which I would have found sweet if I hadn't been so confused.

"What was that?" Edmund stared at the doorway with a frown.

"I'm not sure. He was normal just before you came in" I answered back.

"Well at least he isn't bothering us", Edmund turned to me with an urgent face, "there's some man here who keeps asking your mother to show you to him. He seems to have come to some kind of agreement with your mother regarding you"-.

A loud cry interrupted Edmund. It was mother.

We both rushed out, leaning over the banister to look down into the main hall where a man lay on the floor, his face bruised as he glared at his offender.

"Raphael!?" I spoke more to myself out of shock as the familiar murderous aura rampaged.

"Hit me one more time boy! I dare you! I will strip you of your position!" The bruised man pushed himself up only to get stricken down mercilessly by Raphael's heel. "Stop"-.

Raphael didn't even the let the man finish before he punched him repeatedly. His eyes burning with fury the normal Raphael couldn't possibly be capable of.

"W-what's going on?" My eyes noticed mother who screeched with large terrified eyes, her legs collapsed beneath her as she reached for Raphael.

"S-Stop this second son of"- her arm was slapped away.

"Don't fucking touch me, bitch!" He shouted and moved to attack her.

My legs moved on their own just then. Running to Raphael and jumping as far as my legs could go to grab onto him. Somehow I managed to cling onto him.

His movements froze. I shut my eyes, expecting to get attacked but I didn't. He didn't move.

Mother however, did.

"You! - You're insane! She's my daughter! I birthed her! It's my choice whether she marries an aristocrat decades older then her or is sold off to another country! That's her fate as a princess!" She screamed out.

Oh... this fight. This fight was about me?

Like a lightning bolt had hit me. I realised a flaw in my plan to escape. Even if I kick down all my doom flags, because of the sole fact that I'm a princess, more will rise. This meant by the time the war ends it might already be too late?

So what now? I was so busy saving the male leads that I hadn't even cooked up a worthy plan. Not to forget I have a shadow that won't take it's eyes off me. Wasn't I... basically trapped?

My thoughts were cut off by Raphael.

"Shut up!" He snarled at mother.

I flinched against his leg at the unexpected sound. He leaned down towards me, unlatching me from his leg. His hands wrapped around me and lifted me up in his arms. He didn't look at me once and continued to glare at mother.

"I don't care if you died and came back to give birth to her. If you dare give her away for whatever power you can gain I promise you that I will severe your head from your body and serve it as the main dish on your funeral!"

Mother gasped, her legs wobbling away, trying to regain some control to move away as Raphael approached her collapsed body. He stared down at reproachfully.

"I don't speak lies".

He moved his foot towards as if to attack her. In shock I grabbed his shoulder desperately.

"D-D-Don't hurt her", his head snapped towards my trembling voice. God why can't I speak properly! "It'll be troublesome for you" I tried to explain.

If he got caught attacking the kings concubine he'd be detained. After all, she had a higher a status and she was a woman. A mother of two potential heirs.

He let out a sigh. As if I was an incredible exhausting person.

Excuse me! I'm trying to help you!

"You. You sure are a troublesome one princess", he patted my head with what I could've sworn was a tilted lip but it was gone before I could be sure.

"I'm sorry".

"You should be because now I've made a mess of things. Chances are we won't be seeing each other for a while".

"Why!? Will they detain you!?" Oh hell no! I won't let anyone make Raphael go down his dark path in the novel.

He chuckled lightly at my words, patting my head, "no. But I don't think I'll be able to see your mother's face without vomiting for a long while. Thanks for worrying about me but it's unnecessary". His hand covered my face so I was left temporarily blind while I muffled back.

"Don't be silly. It's not unnecessary because we are...." wait... what even were we?, "friends?" I questioned.

I felt the rumbling before I heard the laugh. My eyes almost popping out of my head at the sight of those dark eyes being riddled with wrinkles and somehow illuminated despite their dark colour.

"Friends? Aren't you a bit too young to be my friend?" He smiled at me teasingly, "well consider it an honour to be my first".

Eh-? His first friend?

I knew Raphael spent his life being ridiculed and bullied, and it made sense he had no friends but to be the first?

"The first of many..." I said back because what else could I say.

He stared back at me in stunned silence.

"I should get going", he quickly placed me down and reached for the unconscious old man's hair which he gripped tightly. "I'll be taking this with me, Lady Jean. That is, if you don't mind?" He smirked at the head that shook furiously.

"Raphael! " I couldn't help but call after him just before he turned to the door. He turned to me with a raised brow. "Let's see each other soon okay?"

Why was I so concerned about him? He was the big villain. The one who ruined Mallory's life. Beat her. Tortured her. Tormented her heart.

He gave me a polite smile, "if you wish".

And then he left.