Chapter 53 - Intrigue and Interruptions

As Prince Ethan sat opposite Lucas, his interest barely piqued by the conversation, he inwardly sighed, impatient to be done with this interaction. "Say," he prompted, his tone tinged with disinterest, already mentally planning his escape once the conversation concluded.

However, Lucas seemed undeterred by Ethan's lack of enthusiasm, launching into his tale with an eagerness that belied the prince's indifference. "Actually," he began, leaning forward slightly, "there was this shop owner, you see, who was quite reluctant to sell his shop. My men were... well, let's just say they were applying a bit of pressure, offering him a good deal and all."

Ethan maintained a passive expression as he listened to Lucas's tale unfold. "Then," Lucas added with a hint of intrigue in his voice, "there was this remarkably beautiful young woman who approached me. She exuded an air of determination and Protectiveness, you know? She took the time to explain to me why the shop owner was hesitant to sell and implored me not to pressure him."

"Go on," Ethan urged Lucas to finish his story quickly, not particularly interested.

Lucas smiled faintly as he delved further into the narrative. "She spoke with such passion, as if the shop were her own father's. When I asked if she was related to the owner, she revealed she was merely a friend of the owner's daughter. Yet, her dedication to protecting the shop was remarkable. One might even say she possessed an admirable determination to safeguard the belongings of her friends."

Ethan's thoughts briefly wandered to Serena, a small, concealed smile gracing his lips at the memory of her. "She can't possibly be more remarkable and beautiful than Serena," he mused silently, a warmth spreading through his chest at the thought of her.

However, Lucas's story soon drew Ethan's attention back to the present. "It's a pity," Lucas lamented with a hint of regret coloring his expression, "that when I returned to speak with the shop owner again to inform him of my decision not to purchase his shop, and when I inquired about her, he informed me that the young woman was no longer around."

"Hmm... What happened to her?" Ethan inquired, his eyes closing lazily as he absorbed Lucas's tale.

With a hopeful gleam in his eyes, Lucas looked towards prince Ethan. "As it turns out," he disclosed, a tinge of excitement coloring his voice, "she was chosen as a member of the palace staff."

A flicker of surprise crossed Ethan's features at the revelation as he opened his eyes. "A member of the palace staff?" he echoed, his mind spinning with possibilities. "Are there any other incredibly beautiful and remarkable women who have joined the palace staff other than Serena?" he pondered silently, his arms resting casually on his head.

Meeting Ethan's gaze, Lucas leaned forward slightly. "Can you try to find her? I'm genuinely curious about her," he implored.

Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "I'll see what I can do. Do you happen to know her name?" he inquired.

A broad smile spread across Lucas's face. "Yes, I remember her name vividly. She told me it's Serena," he revealed.

A sudden pang struck Ethan's heart, momentarily leaving him speechless as he processed the name. Could it be the same Serena? The mere thought seemed improbable, yet Serena wasn't a common name in their kingdom. He regarded Lucas with an unreadable expression, grappling with a flood of conflicting emotions.

Noticing Ethan's intense gaze, Lucas grew concerned. "Why are you staring at me as if you've seen a ghost?" he asked, his voice tinged with unease. Ethan's penetrating gaze sent shivers down his spine, and he hesitated to turn around, unsure of what he might find.

Prince Ethan, with a calculating gaze, once more addressed Lucas, "Did you just say Serena?"

Lucas's face lit up with genuine joy as he confirmed, "Yes, Ethan. 'Serena'—a name as beautiful as the woman herself."

Prince Ethan sneakily glanced at the painting he had concealed under a cloth and thought, Of course, I'm well aware of her beauty. Rising from his seat with a composed demeanor, he remarked, "I'm not familiar with any new staff members by that name, Lucas. It's unlikely I can be of assistance in locating her."

Disappointment filled Lucas's face as he hung his head and muttered softly, "I distinctly remember the shop owner telling me she is in the palace. How can this be possible? I remember her name correctly, I know I do." Confusion clouded his thoughts. He then turned to Prince Ethan and pleaded, "Can you at least check? You can't possibly remember the names of all the staff in this vast palace. I'm sure you'll be able to find her."

Prince Ethan, consumed by his own desires, hesitated to disclose Serena's identity to Lucas. He yearned to keep her captivating beauty all to himself, knowing full well that Lucas, much like him, appreciated and valued such aesthetic allure. Yet, there was a subtle shift in his perception this time; he acknowledged that Lucas might be drawn not just to Serena's exterior charm but also to her protectiveness. This realization added a layer of complexity to Ethan's dilemma, compelling him to guard Serena's identity more fiercely, as if safeguarding a rare gem from the covetous gaze of another.

In his mind, Prince Ethan reiterated, "I will certainly not disclose to him that Serena is the chef recently recruited, I won't.....I won't." He repeated this affirmation numerous times without realizing that he had begun to involuntarily shake his head in tandem with his thoughts.

Lucas inquired, "Why are you shaking your head like that? Are you reluctant to help me find her?"

In Prince Ethan's throat, words were caught, choking him as he gazed at Lucas. Prince Ethan's intense gaze made Lucas gulp nervously. "Please, don't stare at me like that. If you don't want to help, it's fine, but please, stop looking at me like that," Lucas pleaded as he hastily stood up and fled from Prince Ethan's chamber, fear etched across his face.

Prince Ethan watched his fleeing friend, Lucas, and let out a deep sigh. "Ah, it's for the best that he left. I didn't want to have to tell him about Serena."

Outside Prince Ethan's chamber, Lucas stood, stealing a quick glance towards the closed door beside him, and let out a deep sigh. "What was he doing, looking at me like that? Gave me goosebumps," he muttered to himself.

Lucas pondered as he made his way towards the palace gate where his carriage awaited. "If you won't help me find her, do you think I won't be able to? I'll definitely find her. Seems like you don't know my power and influence in the kingdom. There's nothing that I can't do," he declared, pumping his fist with confidence. "Well, except... Facing ghosts," he admitted sheepishly, a nervous laugh escaping him as he glanced around.

Meanwhile, as Serena entered her room, she called out loudly, "Aviva, Aviva!" Aviva looked up from cleaning a nearby table as Serena rushed over to her, her face beaming with joy and excitement. Placing her hands on Aviva's shoulders, Serena exclaimed, "You know, Aviva, today I met my childhood friend, the one I grew up with! It's been almost a year since we last met."

Aviva's own happiness mirrored Serena's contagious joy as she sat beside her. Serena settled onto the bed, her head resting against the pillows while her legs dangled over the edge, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "Oh, Aviva, I can't even begin to express how happy I am right now. He's like family to me," Serena confessed warmly.

Listening intently, Aviva waited for Serena to continue.

"I always knew he was striving for a place in the Royal Guards, but I never imagined he'd achieve it so quickly," Serena continued, her voice filled with admiration. "And to run into him like this, after joining the kitchen staff... I've often wondered what it would be like if Kai were here. I always hoped we'd meet again, but I never expected it to happen so soon. I'm just so incredibly happy," she concluded, her eyes shining with emotion.

"I'm happy for you, Serena, that now you have a family-like friend here in the palace whom you can rely on," Aviva said with a warm smile.

Serena nodded in agreement, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Yes, that's what I'm thinking. He's someone I can rely on with my eyes closed. This is truly a blessing for me."

In her mind, Serena reflected on her current situation. "Especially now, when I don't even know where my uncle and brother Aaron are, when I'll be able to meet them or contact them. They left me only with a promise to meet again," she thought, her heart heavy with uncertainty. "At least I have Kai now, someone I can share anything with," she acknowledged silently, though she chose not to vocalize these concerns to Aviva.

In the another part of the palace, Prince Ethan, eagerly clutching the painting in his hand, was on the verge of stepping out the door to show it to Serena when fate intervened in the form of a bowing guard. "Prince Ethan, the king demands your presence immediately," the guard announced urgently.

Prince Ethan's frustration reached new heights as he longed for wings or an invisibility cloak to escape his predicament. "First Lucas, now Father! What fortune befalls me," he lamented inwardly, casting a glance towards the heavens. "Oh, are you up there having a laugh at my expense, God?" he said in his mind, before composing himself. "I shall attend presently," he assured the guard with forced cheer, then hurried back into his chamber. With exaggerated care, he placed the painting on the table, muttering a silent apology to Serena, before begrudgingly following the king's messenger, trailed by his guard Simon.