Brown

*ADRIAN**

While the Princess was sleeping, I stood outside her door. I knew something was wrong with that maid, when she started fidgeting and insisting that the Princess drank that tea.

I was still lost in my thought when the Prince walked up the stairs. I looked at him and he bore a smile on his face. Something told me it wasn't a friendly one.

"Adrian, right? " He started.

"Yes. Yes, My Lord." I answered.

He hummed and then walked past me. Stopping a few steps away from me, he looked over his shoulder at me and then said,

"To protect her, you're going to have to do a whole lot more than that. "

I was left standing, wondering what he had meant. I didn't understand why the Princess wasn't suspicious of him. It was obvious he was up to no good.

A while later, a maid came up to me and told me that my room was ready. I asked her to show me and when we got there, I didn't mind the arrangement. I just didn't like the fact that it was too far away from the Princess.

I knew I couldn't do anything about it. My belongings were already in the room, so I put them where they were supposed to be.

By the time I walked back to the Princess' room, I met a maid knocking on the door.

"What's wrong?" I asked her

She turned to face me and as soon as her eyes met mine, she kept looking at me wide eyed and her mouth open. She looked like she was struggling to get words out.

I waved my hand in front of her face and that seemed to snap her out of her day dream.

"Oh.... sorry" She started with an awkward laugh,

"I came to tell the Princess that dinner is ready and she has been requested to come down."

"She'll be with you shortly. "

She gave me a smile and a once over and then left.

I knocked gently on the door, fearing that she'd still be asleep.

Entering the room, I saw her already seated on the bed.

"My Princess, when did you wake up?"

She let out a loud sigh and answered,

"Someone was knocking too loudly..... woke me up."

"Yeah, a maid came to tell you that dinner is ready. I didn't let her in because we hadn't disposed of the tea."

That made us both look at the cup of tea, that was obviously now cold, resting on top the center table.

"Where would we throw it away? We have to do it where no one would know." She looked at me, concerned.

"Don't worry, go. I'll think of something." I assured her.

She looked unsure, but then I nodded my head and told her to go.

She fixed herself in the mirror and walked out of the door, giving me one last look.

I let out a sigh, when I was sure she had gone. I honestly didn't know how to dispose of this tea. I suddenly remember I had seen an empty bottle in my room.

I rushed back and grabbed it, all the while thinking of the next step, which was where to throw the bottle away. I walked out of the Princess' room with the bottle holding the tea, and walked outside to the courtyard, looking for a safe place.

I saw a small opening close to some shrubs and I looked around making sure no one was watching me. I stood up and turned around, trying to get back to the Princess as quickly as possible.

I entered the royal dining room, and bowed my head as the King, the Prince and Princess Adelia.

I looked at Adelia who of course wanted to know if I had successfully done it. I have her a nod and she physically relaxed. She continued eating her food, while I just looked at the Prince. I still retained my stand that there was something up, with him.

The King cleared his throat and spoke up,

"Son, don't you think it'd be a good idea for you take the Princess out tomorrow, to see the Kingdom? Since she'll be the Queen very soon, she should get to know the people and what the kingdom looks like. It'd also be a good idea for you to spend together."

The Princess tensed but the Prince seemed to like the idea since he smiled at his father and looked at the Princess and said,

"What do you think, My Princess? Let's go say hi to our people so they can get to know they're incoming Queen. "

The Princess let out a smile, although I could see that she was as uncomfortable as ever, but was trying to hide it.

"Of course. It'd be nice to step out for a bit." She offered him a smile back.

Dinner was over and I walked her back to her room, giving her some space as my mind was filled with thoughts of why on Earth she agreed to go out with him. I was also very worried about her.

I hadn't even realized I had followed her into her bedroom, but it seemed like she has noticed because by the time I snapped out of my daydream, she was already looking at me waiting for me to say something.

I bowed my head and walked out the room, not wanting to say anything to her concerning the issue. I was here to protect her and not to tell her what to do with her life. It's not like she'd listen to me, either way.

I walked into my bedroom and let out a loud sigh. I had a raging headache, and all I wanted to do was sleep and forget about everything.

But no matter how long I lay down for, my mind kept drifting back to the Princess. I don't know why her decision to go out with him tomorrow annoyed me, but I think it's because I don't trust the Prince.

Yeah... that's why.

No matter how many times I repeated it, even up till the early morning when I fell asleep, something nudged at my heart, telling me that was a blatant lie.