FOURTEEN..

REGAN'S POV.

Shit! I didn't know I was suppose to give her a gift for our wedding. I really don't know anything about weddings and marriage do I?

I will have to ask Max for some tips later.

Edward had not expected her defense and I could see he was still in a state of shock.

Oh well, I may as well not spoil the fun. She just lied on my behalf. I could use a little lie myself.

She turned to look at me and I couldn't help the smirk that appeared on my face.

"Of cause father. I had this designed specially for her. I couldn't think of anything less. "

I could see fathers joy in his eyes. He was amused. This brought a smile to my face and a glare to Edward's. The others looked like they couldn't believe their ears.

For the very first time, I felt my victory over these people in the air.

"And I'm sure she like it. Just look at her Verma. Didn't she pull off that dress amazingly?"

Father smiled.

"She looks absolutely beautiful your majesty. I personally love her hair."

For the first time in along time, queen Verma smiled genuinely at me.

This girl has not been in the palace for 48 hours and she was already working miracles in my life.

" where have you been all my life?"

I said in my head. I hadn't realized I was staring until I felt the hot substance soak my shirt. I jumped up with wide eyes, staring at Paula.

"Oh my God! Should you be this clumsy all the time? Didn't you see me coming?"

She asked in that annoying tone of hers.

Before I could respond Iris was on her feet soaking a towel wet. She pressed the now wet towel against my chest where the red liquid stained. Glaring at Paula,

"Maybe you should have been more careful. You just burned him!"

I watched in awe as she tried to wipe out the big red stain on my white dress shirt to no avail.

She was soaking the towel now and then to bring the burning sensation left by the hot soup down but the truth was, I barely felt it.

"Are you OK Rey?" Father asked.

"I'm fine father. I'll just go and change into something else. Don't expect me back though,I'm not hungry"

I stood from the table.

IRIS'S POV.

The soup was steaming hot and she just dumped it on him! Who would do something like that!. My heart was pounding so hard against my chest as I tried to cool down the burn.

It must have hurt so bad but Regan had a blank face. He had his eyes fixed on me all this time. No one on the table seemed concerned except for the king. In fact, Edward had a smile on his face.

Idiot!

How could one's own family be this cruel to him? All my life, I had been the baby of the family. Always being spoiled by my father and brother. I just can't imagine how life would be like to have my own family hate me. God I felt so terrible for him. How long has he been going through this?

No body deserved to be treated this way, not by their own family.

"Are you OK Rey?"

The king asked after sometime.

"I'm fine father. I'll just go and change into something else. Don't expect me back though,I'm not hungry".

He stood from the table. I watched as he walked out of the room and they continued to eat like nothing had happened.

I couldn't take it. I dropped my napkin on the table and stood.

"I should go make sure he is OK..excuse me".

I heard Edward chuckle and his mother hiss before making it out.

Out of the room, I gathered my dress in my hands and run after him.

My calmness surprised me. How did I make it out of there without having Paula's head?

REGAN'S POV.

Minutes after I got to my apartment, I heard the door open and close. I turned around to find her standing there.

" I could swear on my life that she did that on purpose"

she mouthed.

I stared at her. She was actually....angry? She was fuming with rage.

"What was that about?"she asked.

"What are you doing here? You barely touched your food." I was concerned

"You dont expect me to be out there after everything I saw. They are so cruel to you!"

I chuckled." That was the least they could do. They may have pitied me because of your presence."

I said,taking a step closer.

"Are you OK? That soup was steaming.."

She looked down to my now un bottomed shirt and gasped.

"You're not burnt. How is that possible?"

She half screamed.

Shit!

"I uuu.....the shirt was pretty thick so I didn't feel the effect too much.." I tried to convince her.

"Oh............... OK."

The confusion could be seen on her face. For how long will I be able to keep my true identity from her,why my family hate me.

"You shouldn't let them treat you that way you know."

She said in a low tone.

Smiling, "you shouldn't let them get to you like this you know...you should eat something......

Rose!.."

I called to one of the maids and she run in immediately.

"Please tell them to fix something for the Princess."

After the maid had left I turned to her.

"Come..." Taking her hands , I led her to the couch.

"Are you sure you are OK?" She asked, studying me.

I shrugged.

I watched in silence as she ate her food. She was so adorable. Once in a while she'd glance up at me. When she was done she insisted on carrying the tray back herself. Interesting......

She returned in after a while and took her seat across from where I sat,looking at me expectantly.

"Sooooo.....what do you want to do today?" I asked

"I don't know....."

"We could take a walk around.."

"Really? I'm allowed to go out of the palace?"

I could tell how happy that made her. And I was wondering,was she not allowed out of the palace?

"I wasn't talking about outside the palace..."

Her face fell and I quickly added.

"But of course...yea..if you want to, I can take you out of the palace. Were you never allowed out of the palace?" I asked

"Never! Mother would kill me if I tried. I have never been outside the walls before. It kinda gets boring."

"I understand. Get ready then. We're going to the market place. Not as a Prince and a Princess but as ordinary people. Do you like it?"

"Cool!"

She bounced up and down like a little girl and I couldn't help but laugh. She froze for a moment and I lost my smile. What was wrong?

"I have a feeling you haven't laughed in a very long time..."

I only looked away. How did she know that?

"Well you should do it often because you have a beautiful laugh."

I was lost for words. No one ever told me that. Maybe its because no one ever saw me laugh. Silvia used to say she like the serious me more than any other me. But again, Silvia wasn't like any girl out there.

"You should go get ready. Put on the most simple dress in your closet. I'll also get ready."

She sprinted off

minutes later....

"I don't think there's a normal dress in that closet."

She complained on her way back to the room. I turned around and smiled. She was right.

I didn't think she would find a simple dress when I asked her to put on one. But the one she had on was so pretty I didn't want her to take it off.

"This will do. "

"Look at you. You can easily blend in. You can easily pass for a carpenter or something but I don't think I'd fix in."

She frowned.

"You'll do just fine. Let's go."

She rolled her eyes but followed. The action got my breath to hitch in my throat.

Father will kill me if he finds out I took his precious daughter in law out without any protection but I'll have to take the risk if it'll make Iris happy.

Jees... since when did I do things to make someone else who wasn't my father happy?