Not Simple

She wanted to come to the camp with him?

Nicien Vamieres didn't see this coming at all.

"Are you interested in the military, Princess?" He asked, confused and curious at the same time.

"No, but since I was young, I used to go to the camp with my brother," Rizelle honestly responded without much thought. "That's why I love spending time in an army camp." She briefly paused and added, "I've visited many camps and I know that military camps always have the best location for everything."

"So... you want to go there to have fun?" The Prince's voice was pretty blunt this time and Rizelle barely suppressed a chuckle.

"Can't I do that?" She simply asked him back, almost making him sigh.

Prince Nicien seemed to be weighing his options but...

"If you don't want me to come, it's fine. I will just roam around the capital with Fina and Vincent," Princess Rizelle said, alerting the anxiety that was buried deep inside her husband.

Nicien didn't like the idea of her wandering around with just a guard and a maid. That's too dangerous and risky.

"I never say that I don't want you to come," he quickly said and added, "I'll take you there but... are you sure that you've recovered enough to go out of the palace?"

Rizelle nodded right away. "This is not my first time eating some nuts by mistake. So, I know the effect well. I'm already fine even now." As she talked, Rizelle felt like she see a shadow of a smile on the face of her husband but... she didn't know what caused that.

"Fine then," Nicien simply replied. "I won't be responsible even if it takes a toll on you."

"Are you scared that the Supreme Princess will reprimand you for it?" Rizelle asked, feeling somewhat amused.

Prince Nicien met his wife's gaze and when he noticed the amusement in her eyes, a strange feeling struck him. "It's good if you know that," he responded and broke his gaze on her. Then he quietly continued eating with Rizelle doing the same.

Right after they finished dinner, the couple was informed that Crown Prince Alerone came to visit the Princess.

Princess Rizelle glanced at her husband whose expression was now back to that calm and unreadable one. However, as the Crown Prince was waiting, she turned away and told the servant to let the Crown Prince in. Once the servant walked out, Prince Nicien rose from his seat.

"I'll retreat to my chamber now. You can talk with Alerone," he uttered and attempt to turn his back at his wife who was sitting on the couch opposite him, but...

"Stay."

This one word from the Princess made him halt whatever movement he was about to make. Confused and somewhat annoyed, he narrowed his gaze at his wife. "Why is that?" he asked. "Shouldn't you know that I'm not eager to meet the King or the Crown Prince?"

"I know, but I'm not comfortable too," the Princess argued. "If you stay, it will be better."

Prince Nicien didn't say anything for a while but Rizelle noticed the reluctance in his eyes. And just when the Prince was about to speak up, the door was opened and Crown Prince Alerone Caderin walked inside the chamber.

Seeing his cousin, the Crown Prince appeared a bit surprised. "You're here, Nicien? This is great," he commented as he walked towards the couple.

Nicien Vamieres stood still without saying anything and when Alerone was two or three steps away, he eventually sat down again. With a little smile on his face, the Crown Prince approached the couple and sat beside Nicien but maintained a small gap between them. This way, Princess Rizelle was opposite him.

"I've heard what happened and I was worried," Crown Prince Alerone started while fixating his gaze on Rizelle. "But now that I see you, I'm glad. It seems like you're getting better, Princess."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Princess Rizelle responded in a formal yet warm tone. "It's just an allergic reaction and I'm already fine."

"That's good," Alerone remarked and glanced at his cousin who was sitting beside him without saying anything. "I'm so grateful to see Nicien here." His gaze was shifted back to the Princess when he asked, "Is he good to you?"

Rizelle nodded and the Crown Prince appeared a bit surprised though he didn't show it that much.

"His Highness is very kind."

This comment made Alerone dart his eyes back to his cousin. He was happy to hear what the Princess just said but... he was struggling to believe it.

It's been years since he last saw Nicien treating anyone with kindness. This cold man was never good to anyone but his mother.

"Aunty will be very happy to hear this, Nicien," the Crown Prince said to his cousin who didn't even bother to respond to him. Nevertheless, Alerone simply smiled and turned back to Princess Rizelle as if he was used to it. "I hope you get well soon, Princess. I will come and visit you again."

With that said, Alerone Caderin rose from his seat and left the Princess's chamber. His absence in the chamber was instantly followed by a silence that went on for two whole minutes. Then Nicien suddenly rose from his seat and was able to take three steps towards the door when he heard his wife.

"It seems like the Crown Prince truly cares for you, Your Highness," Rizelle muttered. All the while, she narrowed her gaze at the floor and she didn't look up even once.

Once again, Nicien Vamieres halted and stood still in his place but he still maintained his silence.

"If you keep on driving people away and isolate yourself in that small world of yours, it will only make you lonelier," she continued, lifting her gaze only to see his back. "Don't live your life that way."

She never took her gaze off him while he didn't make any attempt to turn around and face her. However, she still waited, hopefully. Then came his response.

"Things aren't as simple as you think, Princess."

This was all he said without even turning around. Then he finally walked out of the chamber in a hurry.....