I was assigned to guard the palace hall together with Jegosh and Frith for three days now. Frith was near the door while Jegosh and I were near the walls that were on either side of the throne.I wondered why Frith was with us when he was not a rookie like us. It was a not-exciting job. I’d rather be outside of the palace grounds or the palace gates where it would be busier than to watch the King’s empty throne, especially at this time which was early morning. Our schedule was graveyard. It was too quiet and I was already bored to death.At around this time, I would have been done with my running around the Aiglean Forest, already took some bark juice for my sister… I suddenly shook my head mentally. The thought of her made my heart feel heavy and wary. I wondered what she was doing right now, if she was safe, and if she was doing house chores like any ordinary days. I also wondered if she just stayed at home or visited some friends and neighbors just like she does somet

Rugien chuckled and slowly let go of my hands though he didn’t seem to want to. He put them inside his pockets to keep them from touching me again. I slightly bit my lower lip and smiled at him as he gave me a glance after he called out Frith and Jegosh to come back to their respective posts. After a moment or two, the two warriors were back and stood alert, as the prince gave them an approving look.Rugien took a couple of steps and stopped to look at both warriors. “Listen carefully both of you. And if possible, you tell the others that none of you can touch Xerra in any manner, whether or not it is necessary, whether or not I’m around, and whether it is accidental or not. I will not tolerate that any of you touch what’s mine. Understood?”“Yes, Grand Prince,” the two answered without hesitation. Their backs were stiff as a stick.I rolled my eyes and chuckled but didn’t say a word. Rugien gave me a smile and a wink before he left without another word, but it sti

I was so worried. My sister was all alone. And… and the King might take the chance to… I refused to think about it. I mentally shook my head. Then I looked at Rugien, scowling.“It didn’t occur to me to tell you about it. Besides, you didn’t ask the King’s whereabouts. You didn’t wonder why he wasn’t sitting in his throne for the past few days? You’ve been assigned there for more than three days now.”Yes, it just occurred to me when he said all this. The days that I was assigned to the palace hall where the throne was placed was empty. I didn’t even have any idea why he wasn’t there. Right. I was too busy thinking about Rugien and the preparations for the selection of the Grand Crown Princess. I was too blind to see why the King wasn’t present there at all. Really! I acted so stupid and illogical lately.I slapped my forehead, feeling dumb. “Can I go out of the palace?”Rugien looked at me. “You can’t. It’s against the law. If you’re not ordered to do

Right, Shahrae didn’t know the story yet. So, I explained it to her. She was speechless with amazement. I laughed at her then.“I didn’t know this would happen. But you know what? I do really love him. And… and I know that he feels the same… although it’s too fast, isn’t it?”But my sister just slowly grinned with a dreamy look on her face. Right, she was a hopeless romantic. I should’ve remembered that.I cleared my throat. “But I have no doubts about it. And… he’s done everything for me… to keep me safe… to help and support me even though I don’t ask for it… He’s just amazing, Shahrae.” I told her everything what I felt for Rugien—that this wasn’t superficial or anything that was fake or impossible or even infatuation. This was real. Everything was real between the two of us. Fast-paced it may be but I had no complaints about it. I was feeling lucky with him and to have him. I wouldn’t feel like this if I weren’t. I just knew it for myself. Deep inside in my hear

I blinked as if it would undo what Rugien has just said. I gulped down another lump of saliva.“W-what did you say?” I asked again dumbly.“I don’t think I can go through that ceremony when my heart wants you, Xerra.” His eyes were like beseeching mine.I looked at him with a weak smile on my lips. “You have to. You yourself said you need to buy time… for whatever it is. Do you think your father will just listen to what you have to say? He’s going to do everything, using his power, so that you’re not going to be with me who’s only a half-breed… who’s without real roots in this world. And because you’re from the royal family, it is important who and where your bride-to-be is from. Besides, you know that I want your father’s head for killing my mother. And he knows it!”Rugien blinked. His brows were knitted tightly together. “You still think that he’s behind your mother’s death?”I let out a deep breath and looked away from him. My eyes settled on the el