" How's it?" Nerida asked as soon as she returned to her room. She'd tasked her maid earlier to follow Kieran when she noticed the interaction between him and Chusi, and how Kieran had followed Chusi out a few minutes after she left. There seems to be something going on between the two of them and Nerida had to find out what exactly it is.
If that dead girl was seeing another prince, she had to find out so she could let warn her brother about it. And that'll make it more easier for Levi to get rid of her and the stupid engagement.
" I'm sorry, my Lady. I followed him out but lost sight of him at the apple orchid." Lyra, her personal handmaiden replied. " It's like they just disappeared there even though I can smell both there scents. I could not see them."
Nerida gritted her teeth. That damn princess! she could even dared to take another man to their apple orchard, in her brothers palace of all places! The guts of her!
Nerida clenched her hands in anger. Whatever it is that Princess was doing with Kieran, Nerida was sure it can't be anything a cultured maiden should be doing and she was going to find out exactly what it is. She can't let such a slut be engaged to her brother! Never! Not on her watch.
" Okay. I understand. Keep a close eye on them and let me know when you see them together again. That bitch is not going to escape the next time I catch her."
" As you wish, princess" Lyra replied
Nerida dismissed her with a wave of her hand. " You can leave." Lyra bowed and retreated from the room.
Nerida paced about the room with her hands on her hips, thinking.
She was still with her foster mother at her kingdom when she received the news of Levi's impending engagement. She'd rushed all the way here under the guise of coming to attend the auction and banquet which is why she hadn't fly all the way over so she wouldn't appear to be in too much hurry when infact, she was in a hurry.
She'd known Levi for so many years after she was adopted by his mother and he had always treated her well. Like the sister he never had.
Ever since she was old enough, she'd decided if she didn't find her mate, she'll be Levi's Queen. Only her was qualified enough to be his queen anyway because she's the only girl that knows him well, the only one he had ever treated nicely.
For years, she's been helping him get rid of the ladies, which is a more than satisfying job for her to do since she doesn't want other women to be with him anyway, and Levi was always so grateful for her help. Buying her expensive things, giving in to her whims, spoiling her silly, not knowing she wasn't only doing it for him but for herself aswell. She doesn't care what the people would say. It's their life and they'll live it as they please.
Although, Levi had never really looked at her to be anything other than his younger sister, but she doesn't mind. It was only a matter of time, before he realized she was the only girl qualified enough to be with him and she was willing to wait for as long as it will take for him to see her differently.
Which is why she wasn't going to allow some stupid bitch to ruin her plans. That Chusi will never get engaged to her Levi. Never!
Nerida stopped pacing for a minute and smiled. Oh! she knows exactly what she was going to do now.
***********
When Levi finally got back to the familiar confines of his Chambers, he breathed a sigh of relief. He could finally breath. He was finally free from the suffocating smell of that irritable princess.
He should really find a way to get himself out of this stupid impending engagement his father has gotten him into before he lost his cool and do what he didn't like. The sight of that princess is enough to make him puke. He doesn't really think he'll be able to remain calm again in her presence.
He took off his cloak and tunic and walked to the table to poured himself a glass of wine. Earlier at the banquet, it had been really difficult to swallow anything with all that feeling of frustration and disappointment in his heart. Topped on that was the presence of the disgusting princess who had done nothing but oggled at him as if he was some kind of dessert throughout his stay at the banquet. That alone, had been enough to make him loose his appetite.
Levi picked up his glass and walked to the balcony overlooking the bloomshaven garden below. He closed his eye and lifted his face to inhale the fresh evening air mixed with the sweet scent of roses.
He wondered what she'll smell like, his mate.
He's heard from those mated that he'll be able to recognize her just by her scent alone because it will be the most sweetest and most intoxicating scent he'd ever smell and he wouldn't be able to resist.
He opened his eyes at that thought.
What exactly has gone wrong tonight, though? he wondered and took a sip of his drink.
At least if he wasn't able to find his mate yet, he was supposed to at least find the Magic Stone at the auction tonight. Miron had said the magic stone will be there but it wasn't. It didn't appear. Could Miron be wrong? But that's also impossible. Miron had never been wrong and he knows better than to lie about something as important as that to him.
Or maybe the stone didn't appear because his mate also didn't appear? Levi shook his head. He doesn't know what to make of it and he isn't going to doubt Miron either. Even though he's a little bit disappointed, they'll just have to wait and see what happens next, and remain vigilant Incase the stone appears and someone else got to it first. He couldn't let that happen.
Levi gulped down his wine and his thoughts wandered to that slave at the auction again.
When those nobles had requested to see her tears, he'd felt a little bit of discomfort in his chest. Why was that, though? And why had he even bought her in the first place? It's not as if he needed slaves. They don't keep slaves in the Azuran palace only servants. But those eyes, he was pretty sure he had seen them somewhere before, but where was it? Why couldn't he remember anything? What exactly is going on?
He gulped his wine in frustration but realized the glass was empty.
He turned back to pour more but at that moment there was a knock at the door. Levi frowned in displeasure. He really doesn't want to be bothered at this time of the night but then, he remembered his father promised to send his dinner upstairs to his room.
Now that he remember that, he really was hungry.
" Come in " he finally said after hearing the servants announced they had brought him dinner.
******************
Princess Rhea of Naga Kingdom has been observing Levi ever since she laid her eyes on him the first time at the auction. Then when she saw his magnificent display of power, she'd been entralled.
When her father got the invitation to bring his daughter along to the auction, they'd been wondering why King Levi's father would make such a request, since the ladies have never really joined the auction before. But then later, her mother had enlightened them that there may be a possibility that Rex was trying to choose a mate for his son.
Rhea hadn't really been exactly trilled to hear that. She'd heard the rumors about that King. Some said he was an ugly old man with white hair, while others said he doesn't like women.
Either way she doesn't want to go and get choosen by an ugly old man, but her father, King Brande, had corrected her that Levi wasn't an old man since he has seen him a number of times before and besides that, they should just focus on attending the banquet as invited first. Since Rex doesn't mention anything about choosing a mate for his son, King Brande doesn't want to jump to conclusions yet.
So she'd come along with her father in resignation for the sake of just honouring the invite and to see what the great Azure kingdom is like. At least if she couldn't enjoy the banquet, she's sure she'll enjoy the kingdom from all the tales she's heard about it before.
But then, when they arrived, and she saw Levi in person the first time, she immediately knew she was wrong, all the rumors were wrong, absolutely wrong about him. He isn't anything like she imagined at all. Instead he was everything a man could be and more. How could a man be so beautiful? sinfully so in a way that it's just so impossible to resist?