Long Drive

"No, Prince, drop me off to the place where you saw me." She had the time to retaliate. If Prince wouldn't allow her to pay his help, Aria wanted to separate ways at this rate. She doesn't want to see the person she owed to have his life continue without her repaying.

It's a token of gratitude, but Prince must not be an appreciative one, as she expected in the first place.

As Prince continued to swerve corners, driving away from the hotel plaza where he met Aria, aware that she doesn't recognize the city at all. Prince didn't answer for a while, but he knew if he opened his mouth, it would be the same response.

"Prince, can you please…"

"I'll send you home. Gather your things and I'll hire a private doctor for you." He expected it. Repeating words was a habit, and old habits die hard. Prince had a knack to help someone but his opposite side can kill.

Prince tagged himself as a murderer after he blown off the head of Aria's twin sister.

Avery was still livid in his nightmares, and it has been a week after she died.

She still showed up faintly, but if he didn't convince himself it was an illusion, Avery would take over.

Living in nightmares scared him the most.

Now, he's living the horror tale. Meeting Aria on a deserted pavement at 6 in the morning while she's bleeding meant Avery wanted to live on to her face, and that Prince was taking her home. Things he doesn't want to do with his deceased girlfriend.

Avery must have known Prince and Bryce targeted both of them, and she had given an alert.

Only then, Bryce is weak.

Prince wouldn't get tired of blaming Bryce for ruining their plan.

He wouldn't be here, convincing Aria where was her address, and dropping her off, so that Prince would know where to find her.

"Just give me your address and I'll let you pay me what you owe," Prince offered. He turned to her slightly, and looked back ahead. Aria stared at him for a long time. How long does his remark last? Why did he have to change his mind that quickly? Is he torn about what to do with her?

"Why are you changing your mind that quickly? I thought you don't want me to pay."

He has gone curious. Why did he have to insist on coming at her address when he should have followed her order to drop her off at the place where he saved him? Prince had to grab this opportunity.

"I'm worried. You have signs of miscarriage, and we escaped a hospital on fire. You can get cold just by staying there, Aria. You're pregnant. Cherish that child inside your womb," Prince reminded. Aria doesn't know why, but whenever he said those sweet words, she melted right in her place.

It was an effect no one can do to her but him.

Is he protecting her? If he is, then, Aria was going to thank the heavens for saving them from ruthless Bryce and leading him to a good willed Prince. Aria smiled, mumbling, "You live up to your name."

Prince perked up.

"Prince. You're like a prince, whose not letting his people starve, and you're worried about each one of them. You are a generous ruler, the one who truly cared, and someone who should inherit the throne when the King stepped down."

Aria was fond of analogies, but she never thought that she could make one out of Prince. This man saved her. He changed every concept she had on a man. Aria must be wrong to generalize all of them as Bryce.

Prince pretended to smile, but he's sick to the bone. What is Aria saying?

In his thoughts, Prince was just waiting for the right time to stab her on the back.

"Thank you for that remark, Aria."

Aria didn't answer, and just turned to the window, observing the street down.

…

Aria dropped off to the nearest gasoline station to take a pee.

He grabbed the chance to phone Bryce. He waited for several rings, but eventually, Bryce responded.

He must have gone annoyed with the noise of his phone ringtone.

Prince looked at the convenience store, observing the doors if Aria went out, and she's still inside.

"What? I saw the news. You move recklessly, Prince," Bryce scolded.

Prince scoffed. "It's not. The police had been killed, the doctors are killed. Several people had to be sacrificed in order to hide Aria and take her down quietly. No one should know about her identity, and it's good the fire is on time."

Bryce shuffled his papers back on his desk, throwing it, and was anxious about Aria's condition.

Prince heard his ragged breathing, asking, "You're anxious about Aria, right?"

"How can I not be? I was sickly longing for her. I want to hold her womb and check if the baby's doing well. I want to do all of that, Prince, but that meant I'm going against you. I just have to stay out of the shadow, and follow your orders."

Bryce has known his place. He knew where to wait, and he let the things flow out even if he could stop it from happening. Prince had made him do it, and he's influenced by his behavior. It's better to keep two and two intact, than just the other one moving to make the pedal work.

"I'm doing you a favor, Bryce. I'm helping you to hide her, and I wanted you to know that I need a pay for this. If someone finds out the two of us has been sparing her life, both of us will be killed. Always remind yourself that."

Bryce sighed. Prince stayed silent for a while.

"Aria is wrapped around my finger now. Like you said, she's too soft. She could get swayed easily by feelings. I only said a few things and she trust me right away. We're going to her house right now," Prince revealed. Bryce didn't know how he should intrude to the plan, but when it's the execution time, he'll know what to do.

Prince turned to the store, seeing Aria coming out, wiping her palms with a tissue.

"Aria's coming. Let's talk later when she's in a deep sleep."

Prince stuffed in his phone and waited until Aria reached the passenger seat.

"Are you done?"

"Yeah, let's go," she smiled. Aria went inside the car and Prince fastened himself to the side, too.

…

It's a long drive to Varean. Prince allowed Aria to roll down the window and breathe in the fresh air.

The radio played Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift's collaborated song, and they all hummed along with 'The Joker and the Queen.'

"You know this song, too?"

"It's one of my favorites." Aria grinned, and Prince smiled… for the first time in a week.