hidden treasure of the king.

When they reached the entrance of the main hall, princess Lilith closed her eyes for a second or two before opening them and once they entered, the few murmurs that were there reduced and the people in the room turned their gazes towards her that made her clench her fist that was hidden by her gown nervously.

As a princess, she was supposed to be used to many gazes but the attention that she was receiving at the moment was too much which made her movements awkward.

Her mind that was out of space for a fleeting moment came back to present when her eyes landed on him. Her soon- to- be husband was sitting on the left side of the king and when she got closer to him, he finally got up from his seat and made his way towards her while bringing up his hand for her to hold in which she hesitantly did and left her mother's side.

"You look stunning Lilith." The crown prince complimented her as they made their way towards the two seats that were reserved for them to seat throughout the ceremony. "Thank you." She said, holding no enthusiasm in the compliment that she had just received as they came to take the seats meant for them.

Richard had taken a seat at the back of the hall and he was busy humoring a woman who happened to be the duke's daughter when he turned to the train of direction where everyone was facing when his eyes came to land on her.

Looking at her, his thoughts went back to the conversation that he had mistakenly eavesdropped on and he couldn't help but pity her. His eyes now settled on her in which there was a small smile on her face that didn't quite reach her face but that was not it. There was something intriguing about her that he couldn't put a finger on and the more he tried to find it out, the more he drank in her delicate features.

Her chestnut brown hair was tied into a bun with some strands falling on her temple which complimented those large brown eyes that held sadness which most people in the hall failed to notice and unknowingly, his eyes lowered to look at those plump lips that were tinted with pink. He did not know if it was her cream white gown that made her look so innocent or if it was how she was and when his eyes trailed downwards to look at her neck, his vision was obscured by the priest who came to stand before her. "Damn it." He cursed lowly without bringing attention to himself.

Most of the high standing women he had met always carried their titles with pride that they always used as a weapon but she didn't and those brown eyes gave away her personality which made him wonder if her parents had hidden her away from the world's claws while reserving her for such an occasion.

"She belongs to the crown Ricky. You cannot have her." The woman sitting next to him warned him and Richard's lips pulled up into a smile that was in no way innocent before turning to the woman. " And you think that that would ever stop me if I happened to like her?" The devious smile that had adorned his face for a fleeting moment was replaced by his usual poker face and he returned his focus to the couple who were sitting before the priest. His eyes were now back to her as he watched her repeating some words that the priest had said.

Throughout the whole occasion, his eyes dis not leave her even for once and it felt as if he had fallen victim to her charm. When they finally exchanged rings,she finally turned her face to look at the people present and for a second that seemed like hours, their eyes met and he could clearly see what he had failed to see when she was looking somewhere else.

As he continued to scan her face, his eyes came to settle on those pink lips that were slightly parted and the mere sight brought some unwanted thoughts in his head but that did not last because the girl turned to look at the prince and his eyes narrowed.

"King Andrew is pretty good at hiding his daughters." Came his words. He had visited the kingdom of Revinnia several times but even though he had seen most of the king's children and even talked to them, he had never come across this one.

"Maybe he did not want her ending up in the hands of vultures like you." The woman replied indifferently which made Richard to smirk.

"Most women would give out a different comment, or are you saying that you don't miss our times together?" His words brought a blush to the duke's daughter's face but remembering how things ended up between them, she sneered. "I hope you rot in hell."

Her words did not anger him and instead, his smile widened.

"You can count of that." He said before both of them turned quiet.

You did not do a very good job in hiding her because I am right here watching her. Richard stated internally.

There was something cunning yet unsettling in those midnight eyes as they all stood up waiting for the king's speech.

"This is one of the most happiest occasions in my life as a king as well as a father, to see my son taking a bold step towards the future. With the ceremony done,we can now get to the best part of dancing and enjoying the delicacies that have been prepared for us." The king declared happily and the people cheerfully applouded him.