Chapter Four: Palace

Once we reached the palace, which was exactly how I expected it to be, big, graceful, and royal, we got down at the front doors, where there was a beautiful maiden, a vampire, who I guessed was the princess, waiting for us...I think..?

'Vamp! Where were you?' My sister asks me.

'Where do you think?' I asked her a mock question.

My sister, quite obviously, did not get that it was a mock question and began thinking. 

'Let me see...you could have been visiting that princess from the other kingdom.' She said bluntly.

'Ugh. No, why would I? You know I don't like her all that much. She is far too clingy.' I spat back. I unconsciously glanced over at Liam. I guess I was just curious as to what his reaction would be. I was disappointed as his face didn't even flinch in the slightest.

My sister just shrugged and dropped the matter just as quickly as she had brought it up. Her face suddenly became curious and her eyes fixated on something, or rather, someone. She pointed towards Liam and asked the existential question.

'Who is he?'

The princess had asked who I was...the princess noticed a simple wolf, such as I.

Wow.

'My new maid.'The prince had answered. A little too much pride in his voice as if he were showing off some great toy when in fact, it was just me.

Wait-

Was he showing me off?

No ....can't be.

'I see. Aww...no fair!' The princess whined.

'Whatever do you mean?' I ask and immediately shut up as I realize I have spoken out of turn. Both the prince and princess look at me with an expression that can only be described as shock.

I bowed my head.

'I'm sorry!' I spoke out of turn. My deepest apologies for that.'

I look at Liam in shock. Why did he have to apologize? Is it because he asked a question? I felt obliged to ask him...maybe later.

'It's quite alright, dear.' My sister reassured him.

Wait-

Did she just say 'dear'?

What in bloody hell? She just met him, and she's already calling him dear?

I've known him longer. I should also be allowed to call him that. Do I need his permission? Hmm..perhaps. I shall ask him if I can call him 'dear' later on.

The princess had reassured me! Wow...the royal family really is nice. The prince seems to be in deep thought, though. I do wonder what he's thinking of. Perhaps he didn't like me speaking out of turn.

I must apologize later on.

After that little conversation, the prince led me to a grand bed chamber.

'This is your new room, which you'll be sharing with me.' The prince said nonchalantly.

'Your Highness, may I ask you something?'I said.

'Go on.'

'Umm...am I not supposed to be elsewhere? I believe I do not deserve to be sleeping in the same place as you, let alone the same chamber.'

I cocked an eyebrow at his statement. First, he apologizes for asking a doubt, and now he's saying that he doesn't deserve to be in the same room as me.

Truly strange.

Actually, I wonder if I scared him. I should apologize.

'I'm sorry...'

'Why is my lord saying sorry?' I ask out of confusion.

'I scared you, didn't I?'The prince said.

'No...'I told him while giving a faint smile. As soon as I said that, the prince's face immediately brightened.

'I'm glad.' I tell him. Since he's not scared of me, I should be able to call him dear or something, right?

'Hey...uh, since you're not scared of me and since I've known you for far longer than my sister, can I call you dear or something?' I ask.

He looked a bit shocked. I hope he doesn't decline. 

'If Your Highness wishes to call me something, you needn't ask...but please don't call me dear. It'll paint the wrong picture about us.'

I am so happy!!! :)

'Your name is Liam right?'

'Yes.'

'Then I shall call you Li. No one else must be allowed to call you that other than me.'

I nod at the prince's odd request.

'You should be allowed to call me something as well. Something only you can call.'

What in the-

Before, it was just a suspicion, but now I'm sure. 

The prince has gone nuts!

'My lord, isn't that disrespectful? I possibly couldn't address you as anything other than 'My lord' or 'Your Highness,' I tell him.

I listened intently to what he had to say. And that's when it finally occurred to me. He was merely a low-ranking wolf. No wonder he acted weird. I chuckled at my own foolishness. I didn't know what it was, but I still wanted Liam-no, Li-to call me by something only he could. 

Now the question was what?

'Well, in that case, call me Lord Ilize or something. That wouldn't be disrespectful in the least. Though I'd rather you call me without the Lord part.'

I told him, mumbling the last part.

'My lord, not to offend you...But I believe that Elize would be better.'In my opinion, Ilize sounded a bit weird. Elize sounded more natural. Thankfully, the prince didn't seem offended and just smiled brightly.

'Yeah! I think so too.' I told him.

For some inexplicable reason, I felt happy that he was making an effort in this. Truly unusual. But whatever, as long as I'm happy, that's what Dad says, right?

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