JUST LIKE THAT

I ran.

And I ran.

I couldn't tell where I was going. My vision was blurry with tears.

But I still kept on running.

I ran till my feet left the hard stone floors of the palace and the walkways outside. I ran till my feet hit soft, damp ground and crunchy leaves. My legs were aching and a sharp stitch was forming on my side. I wasn't used to running anymore.

I finally stopped when I reached the tree house, confident that no one would find me now. Unintentionally, it was my destination all along.

I leaned on the thick trunk of the oak tree to catch my breath for a minute before I headed up the semi-spiral staircase. The top of my head brushed the ceiling of the tiny tree house as I clambered inside. It was smaller than I remembered. It had a simple interior, designed for a child. I had it built when I was ten. The furnishings consist of a feather mattress covered with a quilt, a chest containing long-forgotten toys, and a makeshift table with two log chairs. A layer of dust covered everything. I haven't been here in a long time.

I collapsed in a pitiful heap on the floor, wrapping my arms around my legs and burying my face in my knees as I cried.

Everything was painful. My body, my legs, my feet, my chest. A fluctuating piercing sensation within my chest that came in waves, each one stronger than the last.

I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. I tried to block out the painful images, but they just wouldn't disappear. The more I tried to push them away, the clearer they formed in my head.

He betrayed me.

How could Philippe do this to me? Do I really not mean that much to him? He said he loved me.

Or was it my fault? Was it because I refused him last night?

No!

Stop.

None of it is your fault, Lena. You shouldn't think like that. You're worth more than that.

How could I be so gullible to fall for his stupid charms and promises? They were all lies. Have I been so pathetic, so blinded by my stupid infatuation for that stupid prince, that I even stooped so low, wanting to forgive him, foolishly denying the fact that what he did to me last night was inexcusable?

And now he had replaced me with a mere palace maid, inside my own palace, in my own kingdom. How horrendous could he be?

That stupid prince broke me. I couldn't even bear to think of his name. His smiling face fleeted in my mind and I wanted to punch that stupid smile off his face. My infatuation had turned to revulsion and loathing. The face that used to bring me happiness only brings me pain, anger, and sadness now.

I hardened what was left of my broken heart. I vowed never to fall for anyone ever again. Or entertain suitors. I would tell my father that he could choose anyone for me, and I would cooperate. Love isn't real anyway. It's just a fantasy. Ideal, but not real. Tradition was right all along. Who needs love in marriage when it could stab you in the back at any time?

I didn't know how long I sat there. At some point, my tear ducts exhausted themselves out because the tears finally stopped.

Dusk fell.

I heard footsteps coming up. I didn't need to look. I knew who it was.

"Leave me alone, Luca," I muttered.

The floorboards creaked as I felt his presence entering the tiny tree house. He squatted down beside me but didn't say anything.

More time passed. It was quiet except for my sniffles.

Then I wasn't sniffling anymore. The silence grew louder between us, and with it came the heightening awareness of his presence. It wasn't fair of me to sulk in front of him. He had nothing to do with my miserable mood.

I sighed. I wiped my face with the sleeve of my dress and finally looked up.

Luca was sitting cross-legged on the floor beside me, his arms folded on his chest with his head leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Something about how peaceful he looked stirred me. I still couldn't believe he was finally back. I was too distracted with silly boy problems when I should've been focusing on the one who mattered. The one who would never hurt me, who would never leave me again.

I knew in my heart that Luca would never betray me.

I studied his face. I noticed there was a faint scar on his right temple and another one peeking through the hair that fell on his forehead. I wondered how he got those.

He opened one eye and saw me staring at him. I quickly looked away.

"You look terrible," he commented.

"I know," I grumbled.

He chuckled softly. "Apparently, some things never change."

"Why?"

"Two years later, and my first task back was to find the missing princess."

My cheeks warmed up. "No! I've been good, really!" I said defensively. "I–I've been staying out of trouble like I promised. This is the first time! I–I just went out for a breath of fresh air," I finished lamely.

He smiled. "Then, was it wrong of me to assume that your disappearance had something to do with a certain blonde prince who was demanding to see you, or he wouldn't get in his carriage?"

My anger came back. "Demanding?"

"Yes. He caused quite a scene in the courtyard."

The nerve of that…" I scowled. "But did he leave?"

"Eventually, yes," Luca replied. "I would've given him a piece of my mind, respectfully, if it weren't for the other dark-haired prince who got to him first."

"Good riddance," I said under my breath. At least he was out of the kingdom. And out of my life. I don't want to ever see his face again. I closed my eyes, deeply embarrassed as I imagined the confrontation between Philippe and Alexandre. What's worse, Luca had seen it as well.

"It seems you may have a bit of a love triangle issue," Luca continued, his voice shaking from trying not to laugh.

"No, I don't!"

I didn't explain further. I didn't want him to know about what that stupid prince did to me. Knowing how protective Luca was of me, if he found out, he'd probably go nuts, chase down that stupid prince's carriage, and kick his butt. I have to admit, it was a satisfying image.

"You're right. The princess is all grown up," he said, fully laughing now. "Two princes, fighting for her love."

I started batting his arm in annoyance. When it didn't seem to have an effect on his fits of laughter, I tried to pinch him, but I couldn't get a proper grip on his hard muscles. Still, it did have some effect.

"Ow! Your nails are too long."

"Then stop teasing me!"

"Okay, okay!" His mouth twitched upward into a half smile as he mussed up my hair. "I just miss you, Little Lena."

"Didn't you say I'm all grown up? I'm not little anymore," I muttered, frowning. Still, his words pleased me, and I bit back a smile. "I miss you too, Luca," I said in a quiet, a little embarrassed voice. "You're not leaving again, are you?"

"No."

I let my smile show.

After just a few minutes of talking with Luca, I was already in a better mood. He could easily make me forget about my worries. Just as it was before, and just as it is now.

"Okay," I said. "Spill. I need to know about everything that happened during the two years you were away."

He shrugged and shifted into another position, stretching his long legs on the dusty floor. "It's really not that interesting," he answered.

"I'm interested. You left me in the dark for two years. I deserve to know," I said stubbornly. "Tell me about Argente Capital. Tell me about your training. Tell me about your travels."

He sighed. "Okay."

Luca wasn't a very good storyteller. I had to coax the information out of him until he eventually fell into a comfortable pace.

He told me about his journey — it was the longest and farthest place he'd traveled to. The capital was located on a cliff overlooking the sea, and the air always smelled of seawater. He slept in a little cabin that was his home for two years. He told me about his daily routine. He'd get up at dawn for physical training for an hour, before heading to a large tented area where he'd have breakfast with his fellow comrades-in-arms who were also part of the same training. Then it was followed by weapons training for the rest of the morning. The afternoon was dedicated to sit-down lessons, very much like my own in the palace, although Luca's tackled subjects different from mine. And then onto another hour of physical training before the day ends. Then, as his training advanced, he began spending more time on the road. He was often tasked to lead a group of men to serve as escorts for traveling local lords and ladies.

"A war?" I suddenly blurted out. Luca had only mentioned it in passing without dwelling on the subject, but it caught my attention.

"Just a minor skirmish," he said quickly. "I'm fine, Lena," he added when he noticed the worried expression on my face.

My eyes traveled to the scars on his face again. They may have healed now, but they were open wounds at some point. And what about the rest of his body? His arms and legs were fully covered, but who knows how many other scars he was concealing beneath his clothes? He had been hurt. I didn't like that. Anger spiked inside me.

"Are you okay?" I whispered.

"Of course, I am," he said with a reassuring smile. "I'm here, aren't I?"

I bit my lip. I wasn't entirely convinced, but he wasn't making a big deal out of it, so I didn't. "Just keep your promise and stay."

Stay here, by my side, where I can make sure you won't get hurt again, I thought.

"Yes, Your Highness."

I raised my eyebrows at him, and he laughed.

"Lena," he corrected himself.

"Luca, aren't you forgetting something?" I asked.

"Huh?"

I pretended to look offended. "Where are my presents? Didn't you say you'd bring me presents? Don't tell me you came back empty-handed?"

"Oh." Luca met my eyes in surprise, and he averted them as he nervously felt for his pockets, looking for something that likely wasn't there.

It was so hard not to laugh. I was only teasing him. I had only just remembered about his silly promise, but I never expected him to actually bring me gifts. I get them all the time. But it was amusing to see him squirm for once.

"I'm sorry, Lena," he said, scratching his head. "In my rush to come back, I completely forgot. I'm so sorry."

He looked so guilty! I couldn't hold it in anymore. I burst out into laughter.

"Why, you little…" He narrowed his eyes at me once he realized I wasn't serious. Then he laughed along.

And just like that, all my pain and heartache disappeared.