Chapter 23: Efforts

"Ayla?!! Ayla?!!" The crown prince called as he searched for her on the surface but couldn't find her head.

"AYLA?!!" He shouted again, but there was no sign of her. He dives into the water and finds her.

As he went deeper, he saw her trying to remove her clothes. He immediately approached her and gave her a hand. He wanted to pull her to the surface, but eventually, she was wearing a weighty dress when soaked with water. He then brought out his knife and cut her corset open; he removed her heavy petticoat, leaving her in her linen smock, and immediately pulled her to the surface.

"I thought you could swim?" He said as he was catching his breath, but Alexander also did not notice that he was holding on tightly to her waist.

"I do know how to swim, but my outfit is cumbersome. The ladies from Egothedia gave it to me," She said as she held on to his neck.

They were smiling at each other, looking at each other's eyes. Ayla admired his blue eyes and newly wet hair, while Alexander still found her beautiful.

As soon as they realized their position, she quickly let go of him and swam on her own.

"I am sorry for that," She replied

They swim until they reach the land.

"Here!" Alexander said as he immediately gave her his leather jacket.

She looked at her body and traced her undergarments on her smock.

"Thank you," She said as she immediately wore his jacket. She realized that she had also lost her shoe.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he looked at her.

"Yes! I'm just cold," She said, quickly hiding her feet in her linen smock.

"Let's go before you miss your get-together with the King of Losman," He teased as he looked for the right path to the castle.

"How did you know that?" She asked as she followed him carefully.

"I overly heard that he was looking for a girl that fits your image." He said as he was stuck between going right or going left.

"Ouch!" She screamed as a piece of stone pierced her soles.

He immediately ran to her to assist her.

"Are you okay?" He asked again and let her sit down on the tree's bark.

"Yeah... I didn't see the rocks because of the leaves," She said as she looked at her foot.

"Let me do it," He said as he looked at it. He immediately cut a piece of cloth off his shirt and tangled it up to Ayla's foot.

"It's proven. You really are stupid, not to mention Clumsy," Alexander said as he tied the cloth.

"Blah! Blah! Blah! All you did for today was argue with me and call me names. You never even did something good," She said as she rolled her eyes.

"I see that you already forgot that I was the one who released you from the trap. I also helped you escape from death from those men in the forest, and lastly, I am doing something that I have never done before, like kneeling before you and offering you an excellent service," He said as he looked at her foot.

"Okay! I will repay you, and I hope that I will never see or even cross our paths together," She said, and it took a little silence.

"Thank you, by the way," She said as she looked somewhere far away.

"You're welcome," He said as she looked at her eyes, but she avoided direct contact.

What confused her was when he sat down in front of her.

"I know I am royal, but let me carry you," He insisted, but she looked at his back.

"You are royal, and I never dare to be carried by you. I am not worthy," Ayla said as she crossed her hands.

Alexander looked at her, and she didn't warn her of his next move. He immediately took her legs, and it caused her to grab onto his shoulders.

"Believe me. You are worthy," Alexander said as he walked to the left pathway.

"Let me down," She demanded as she moved, but he tightly held her thighs.

"Just keep still, will you?" He said in a serious tone, and Ayla obeyed him immediately because his tone was terrifying.

Alexander smiled and continuously led the way. Although he was unsure of where he was going, Alexander was happy that now he had someone to accompany him.

"At this rate. Your future husband will be in perish when you can't go to his sunset date," He teased with a fake smile.

"I marry for love, not for a comfortable life," Ayla murmured as she could feel that she was sleepy.

Alexander noticed it and just kept quiet until he felt Ayla's head well-rested on his shoulder.

"Sleep tight," He said as he reached a road where people could see them. He looked at the skies, and it was nearly sunset.

Elijah found them with royal guards with him this time.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

"We just encountered something along the way, but it's okay now," He said as he signaled his guard to help him with Ayla.

"Is she hurt? And why is she on her linen smock?" Elijah questioned as he tried so hard not to think anything was wrong.

"Yes, she's hurt, and unfortunately, I needed to remove her clothes, well, except for her smock, because it was keeping her from going on to the surface as we both decided to jump off the cliff," He said as he slowly put Ayla on the guard's back.

"Why did you jump off the cliff?" Elijah asked him again.

"We were chased," He said as he assisted the guard very slowly, but since the guard was clumsy. He awakened Ayla from her humble sleep.

"You're awake," Elijah said as he was delighted to see her eyes.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep," She said as she slowly stepped onto the ground.

"Let's go back to the castle because Lady Ayla has a business to attend to," Alexander said.

"Let me," They told her as they put their hands before her.

Alexander and Elijah look at each other as if this is a contest where only one person can win.

Ayla looked confused at whose hand she must take.

Elijah was riding his horse, and she was impressed by the crown prince's effort to carry her on his back for a long time, BUT she must be careful with a man like him who already had a fiancée.