A Dodgy Figure Behind Her.

"What possessed me to do that?" Raziah fumbled as she strode further away from the room. Her cheeks were a light shade of pink, and she kept on rubbing her wristband over and over again. She sighed inwardly, wondering exactly where she was heading to in the palace. Maria wasn't anywhere close by, and the title was still stuck with her. She had gone there to confront him but ended up... Coaxing him instead.

That Olive! He had pushed her into going out of her way again.

As luck would have it, she ended up running into Maria again.

But the maid wasn't alone. She seemed on edge, her body was stiff as she was conversing with someone. Raziah stood from a distance and watched Maria nod like an obedient child, replying to the conversation she was having. Looking closer, Raziah recognized the man as the same person she had walked past - the one who resembled Princess Gwenore very much.

Feeling a Keen gaze on his back, Prince Leander glimpsed behind him to find the woman he was talking about staring back at him.

"There she is. No one here is stupid enough to believe that is just a commoner that was brought for the King. Speak now, I have no time to accommodate your lies," Leander barked, looking back at Maria.

The crybaby had already made up her mind not to let anyone know about Raziah, "Your Highness, I just happened to know her in the past. She's only but a mere commoner,"

Leander was getting tired of the questions. He was never the patient type after all, "If that is how you want it, Guards!!" He suddenly yelled out, and Maria's heart leaped in fear.

"You have to believe me, your highness, I don't know anything. Why are you doing this?"

Sighting the guards that ran out towards Maria, Raziah's feet moved faster than she anticipated and she pulled Maria out of the way, taking her place to stand in front of the prince. Maria gasped, finally seeing the princess whose face had turned stone-cold as she coldly held gazes with Prince Leander of Sabaean.

"Maria, What is going on here? Spill out everything," Raziah commanded, her tone dangerously icy. Her hazel globes never left the prince's.

Maria trembled, biting her lips, "It's not..."

"Every single drop!" Raziah exclaimed, her voice louder than before.

"He wants to know who you are," Maria whispered, curling her toes in Anxiety and unease.

"And what did you tell him?"

"I told him who you are,"

Raziah nodded softly. So, the deadline here was that this so-called Prince doesn't believe what Maria said about her and is trying to punish her. The guards approaching them had stopped halfway, staring between the king's guest, and the prince. Gathering her composure and self-control as she should always do, Raziah bowed down at the prince elegantly.

"I deeply apologize for barging into your conversation like that, and I hope you take nothing of it, your highness," She smoothly said, pulling herself back to a full stretch, "Maria here happens to be a very good friend of mine and has been assisting me ever since I arrived here, but that seems to bring up some misunderstanding that keeps directing at her," Raziah had no intentions of beating around the bush. Her eyes narrowed slightly, as she added, "Your Highness, if you have anything to say or ask about me, you should confront me directly. Isn't that how it's supposed to work?"

"Well I'm glad you're actually here," Leander responded curtly, giving her a quick once over again. There was no mistake about it, she was definitely the woman his Majesty of Erandell brought together with him, which had greatly baffled everyone, "I can confront you directly. What is Your name?"

"Raziah, From Naria,"

"Surname?"

"His Majesty of Erandell has strictly asked me not to share that with anyone, your highness. You'll have to forgive me for that as I'm just following his orders."

"I see," he noted with a small nod, "Well then, Shall we go for a small walk?"

"And the maid?"

"She's off the hook of course," Leander smiled, and Raziah almost rolled her Eyes. From the second she saw Maria's eyes dancing with fear from that distance, she had this urge to walk over and give him a befitting slap. Something so sharp that will coat his face with her handprint, but she had to exert self-control.

"You may Leave now," Leander told Maria.

Maria couldn't help but glance at Raziah for a split second, her eyes wavering with warning signs before she bowed, turned around and left. The guards were also dismissed, and Raziah was left wandering around with Leander.

.

.

.

Noon arrived earlier than expected, and the field was now occupied by commoners that had come to watch the show. It looked like a huge field with spectators hailing and cheering, some seated while some stood by the side. The Royal family had their own special seat, and everyone had arrived except two people.

Three to be exact.

The Contestants had already stood in their marks, and Gwenore who was representing Sabaean was amongst them, staring directly at her target. Occasionally, she would turn back and sight the special seat beside her father, sitting empty.

Where was Aragon?

.

.

.

If there was one thing Raziah was an expert at, it was getting lost. Leander had tried to make small talk with her, but the uninterested woman had simply given him a one-word answer as she usually did. Their walk continued outside the palace, down the market and town square. Even though he seemed shady like the others, she didn't expect the prince to be such talkative. He mostly laughed at his words and tried to make her laugh, but she yawned instead.

Boring.

"We should head back, your highness," Raziah said, noticing the sun was at its peak, "The Games should be commencing anytime from now." She added, before noticing how pale his skin had gotten. It was a little bright before she left the palace, and even his lips were dried out... And his voice sounded rougher to her ears.

Or was it all just her imagination?

"Raziah," He called out to her as he walked in front of her.

She watched him distance himself away before he lifted his legs and swiftly climbed atop the branch of a tree, sitting under the shade the leaves provided.

"Your highness?" She replied questioningly, a Little more aware now. His breathing had turned erratic, and he palmed the stem of the tree in an attempt to control himself, " Are you alright? I'll call for help."

Leander turned away from her. He knew he should have turned back and head to the palace! What had come over him? He squeezed his eyes shut as the wind carried her scent over to his nostrils again, flaring him up and he banged his fists this time against the tree, shaking it up.

Raziah almost jumped. How was he so strong?

She turned around to check if there was anyone close that could help. Ten seconds hadn't even passed before she felt something unnatural and Fear-inspiring standing right behind her, its breathing fanning against her ears, giving her a cold chill that froze her system completely. If her legs wouldn't obey and run, then her curiosity would definitely push her neck to turn around and see what sort of monster was standing behind her.

Feeling something sharp running down the smooth planes of her ears down to her neck, her body itched to see what it was. Raziah knew she should be running by now, but she has always been a curious person by nature.

And stubborn.

Traits she couldn't get rid of.

Something, or rather someone dodgy was behind her, slightly pushing her hair out of the way. There was hardly anyone around, and Raziah had already planned everything in her head in less than a second. She would grab her kitchen knife at the same time as she would turn around. If the creature behind her was dangerous, then she would strike.

"Hazel!!" A familiar crusty deep rang through her surrounding, and there was her husband running over where she stood. He was incredibly fast, but she couldn't see his legs as his long attires were hiding them. In less than five blinks, Aragon was in front of her.

Raziah's lips parted in awe. His sudden presence had her heart thudding again, and she subconsciously reached out to touch her wristband again.

"Where is Leander?" He demanded, staring at her.

"He's up that tree... " Raziah's voice died off as she turned around, pointing in the direction but couldn't find the prince anymore, "Huh? Where did he go? I didn't even hear his footsteps," She murmured to herself, also wondering where the strange Creature had escaped to.

"Did something happen?" Aragon asked and she looked back at him again. Why did he sound so worried? "And why the hell did you leave the palace? Why are you always leaving without my permission, huh?!"

"You should have stated the rule where I'm not allowed to go out, your Majesty!" She retorted rather rudely, "And why do you look concerned about what I do? I'm only but a whore right?" She glared at him, the corners of her lips tipping lightly again with the clear frustration and anger in her eyes, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a game to go and watch!" She gritted out with a scoff, striding past him as she made her way back to the palace.

Once again, she reminded herself that His Majesty was dangerous for her. Why the hell is she getting so worked up about this? The Raziah that had this type of Personality, the Raziah that was hyperactive and all smiles and laughter, Raziah Zephyrus of Kaneria was long dead and gone.

The Raziah alive right now was none other than Raziah Octavius of Naria - the uncaring Princess.