Prince Lysar - I

We rushed back to the palace within moments. This was frightening for all of us. We rushed through the halls of the palace and I'm sure that Merilyn could hear my heart beating. With how scared I felt, my heart was ready to jump out of my chest.

"Wait!" We all turned to Estelle who looked guilty all of a sudden, "You are suffering from the sickness. How can you meet him?!"

Hope flooded my heart maybe, I won't.

"We did tell him that but his Highness said that we could put a curtain in between them and he could talk to her in a room like that. The king didn't oppose." Merilyn answered her and crushed the hope in my heart making me want to pluck hers out.

"Have you arranged it?" I asked.

She nodded to me.

We reached my room and I dipped myself into the water after which I changed into a dressing gown. It stuck to my skin and it was visible that I was still sweating. The heaving from running so much would make it seem like I was having difficulty in breathing. 

He was waiting outside the room and I was sitting on the chair with cushions laid out for my comfort. They had hung up a lot of curtains there. Maybe it was Marilyn trying to make sure that the prince could not get a glimpse of me.

"He's coming, your Highness," Merilyn informed me and then dutifully stood by me.

I nodded to her and took my position as a sick person who was sweating profusely. My body leaned half across the seat as if I wanted to lie down. 

The door opened and I could see the physique of a well-built warrior enter.

"Your Highness," he drawled out, it seemed more like mockery to me. "I apologize for asking to have a meet with you in such a state."

I could not see his face due to the curtains. 

I gulped, nervousness taking over my heart. "It must be very important. You could not even wait for me to get better and even risked yourself to this sickness."

He nodded. "It was." He agreed. "I have always wanted to meet you."

That took me a surprise. I was expecting a treaty or him warning us of the war but then again why would he chose me for it.

But this also did not fit my reasoning.

"Why so?" I asked instead. "And why now? I believe the second prince and head of the army had no restrictions on his path to meet me."

He laughed at that and that attracted me. He was the first prince that I was meeting with and not exchanging letters.

I shook my head and lightly pinched my arm. Shame on me for thinking that way.

"That is true. Nothing could stop me." That words made Merylin's eyes flicker to my own. The words held a meaning. "But I was waiting for something else. Something more meaningful."

The cold wind blew and made me shiver. My wet skin was in no hurry of drying and the nightgown clung to my skin like it was second.

"Why does it have to be meaningful?" The words left my mouth as I wondered out, "You weren't there when my marriage was announced to the prince of—"

"Prince of Astria." He spoke with me. "Yes, yes, I understand princess. Why would you think that I would ever come to an event like that?"

His words left a certain effect on me. I knew what he was talking about but I had no intentions of acknowledging it. Lord knew why he was saying it all.

"Why are you here, Your Highness? You have traveled a great distance and denied any rest and food. It must be important enough to put your health at risk by meeting with me."

"It is." He muttered and he moved. My eyes watched his movements because if he came near me, he would know that I was not suffering from anything.

But he didn't. I watched him step towards the window and stare at the full moon. "Do you hear howls at night?"

The second prince of Lethoris had once again taken me off guard.

"Howls, yes." I was not sure how serious he looked. 

"Of wolves?"

Wolves? I frowned at that. "Wolves have never been in Melenmore, your Highness. So no, I haven't heard them."

He exhaled lazily at that. "Well, you will soon. Because they will be coming your way."

My way? What was he talking about? My heart thundered against my skin as I heard the man talk. Wolves were creatures that I would never wish anyone coming upon. The person would be torn to pieces before they could think of what to do.

"Why would they come my way?" Unlike earlier where I had played the role of the perfect princess who was feminine and docile, my voice has changed into a harsher and more commanding tone. "Do you even know what you are talking of?"

He huffed looking my way and the curtain blew away from the wind blowing giving me a peek of his chest making me look away immediately. The man was surely aware of the effect he caused.

"Princess Genevieve, are you aware of the recent growth in your country's population?"

My eyes, which had previously looked away from shame snap back to his who was staring into my own. The moment our eyes met, he knew that I knew what he was talking about.

"Population increasing is a good omen. I believe that it would bring more prosperity to us." He was not getting what he wanted. I was not giving in. 

"Hah, so true." He shook his head laughing at my words. "See Princess, I am not joking here," his sharp eyes glared into mine and that made my skin prickle. "Bad things are coming, both in my path and now to yours."