Trading Secrets with the Crown Prince

TEMARI hated that she always gets tongue-tied when she is in front of the crown prince. It is not just because he was so big and intimidating. There is something more and she didn't know how to explain it.

"Royal secret…" she repeated.

"Yes. Royal secrets are only passed down from generation to generation through words of mouth. It is forbidden to put it in writing. Whoever try to document a royal secret will face a punishment."

"W-what punishment?"

The crown prince's eyes shone dangerously. "Death."

Temari felt like that word was a threat directed at her. She swallowed and slowly took a step back. She needed to put a distance between them so she could breathe properly. She cleared her throat. "Then why was it part of the examination? Why did the royal advisor say that it is according to history books?"

The crown prince stood straighter. "A trick question. They don't expect anyone to answer it correctly. In fact, if someone knows the answer, that means that person is a threat to the royal family."

Temari frowned. "Why?"

"Someone who knows too much means she has a different motive for participating in the event happening inside the castle. She should be eliminated."

"I thought you want a smart queen. That was why there was an examination earlier, right?"

"Smart yes. Cunning, no."

It made sense. They want someone who will be a good leader alongside the king, but not someone who is too ambitious that she might do something against the royal family.

[Being a queen must be hard. I feel sorry for whoever this crown prince will choose to marry. Well, it will not be me so it is not my problem.]

It is then that Temari remembered that she needed to know that royal secret. She looked at the crown prince, wondering how she could make him tell her what she wanted to know. She cleared her throat. "So…I really can't know the answer to the trick question from the examination?"

The crown prince arched his brows. "Why do you want to know?"

Temari shrugged. "I'm curious. I don't really like history, you see. But for some reason I have always been fascinated with everything that has got to do with Queen Selena. Probably because there is not much information about her and I don't have to memorize dates and notable names. The fact that she left something to her children when her husband died is a new information to me. That's why I want to know."

The crown prince intensely stared at her. She did her best to meet his eyes because she didn't want to look like she was hiding something. Temari was surprised when he spoke, "I can tell you what it was she left behind when her husband died."

She blinked and her mouth fell open. "But you said it is a royal secret."

"It is. I will not give it to you for free."

He took a step toward her and Temari tensed. She didn't like the dark intent in his forest green eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked.

He stopped an inch in front of her. The swell of her breasts lightly brushed against his chest. Temari clenched her fists to prevent herself from moving away. She has a strong feeling that he likes invading her personal space to intimidate her.

She lifted her chin because she will not allow anyone to scare her, even if that person is the crown prince. The corners of his lips curled up in a humorless smile. "I can trade a royal secret to another secret."

"Secret? What secret?"

"Yours."

Temari's heart skipped a beat. She blinked. "Mine?"

"Yes. If you tell me a secret, I will tell you what you want to know."

She frowned in confusion. "Why do you want my secret? It's nothing compared to a royal secret."

"It is up to me to decide whether your story is worthy to be traded for a royal secret or not, my lady."

She froze. "Wait. Then, there is a possibility that I tell you a secret and you will still not tell me what I want to know."

The crown prince smiled ruthlessly. "I will give you chances."

Temari pressed her lips together. "Are you saying that there is a possibility that I spill every secret I have and you still don't find anything worthy to trade your royal secret?"

He didn't answer but she could see in his eyes that her assumption is correct.

[Oh well, what is there to lose? I really need to know what the royal heirloom is so I can steal it and get out of the castle.]

Temari sighed. "Fine. I will trade my secret."

"Good. Start with why you looked like you saw a ghost before we went here. Why you were looking at me with fear and horror when I asked you if you haven't been that close to a man before."

Her whole body froze and tensed. Her hands went cold and she had an intense urge to run away. She couldn't breathe as she tries her best to stop the memories to rise to the surface.

"No," Temari said in a shaky voice. She shook her head and took a step back. "I will tell you another secret."

[Not that one. The only people who knew about that are Zak and me…and that man.]

The crown prince never left his gaze on her face. She knew he could see her rising panic. "I will tell you a different secret."

"No," the crown prince answered with finality. Temari felt like her heart stopped beating. "That is what I want to know in exchange of the royal secret."

Temari blinked rapidly, trying her best not to get hysterical. "But why?"

Crown Prince Rhys smiled and it was the most ruthless smile she had ever seen. "Because you look so afraid right now, my lady. It must be a secret you don't want to tell anyone. Just a right trade for the information you want to know."

As she stared at Rhys, Temari felt dismayed. This is not that boy she once met when she was ten. He was gone. The person in front of him is a stranger and he is a cruel one.