The Abandoned Princess

10: Heart of Glass

"Protection stone?"

"Yes, princess," she answered as Haisley took the necklace, placing it around my neck. I watched her reflection in the window, a relief smile sat on her lovely face. "The moment you face danger it will protect you. And by the looks of it, the necklace costed quite a fortune. Please make sure to give thanks to Sir Bismarck when you see him, alright?"

"Yes," With a weak voice, I replied.

That night I sleep peacefully without experiencing stomach pain. 

The white-gold chain sat comfortably around my neck. At first, I was afraid that I would feel strangled since I never wore a necklace. This blue gemstone will protect me someday.

I never once took off the necklace since I was too afraid that I might die at any moment. You never know what the future holds especially when my destiny was death at age of eighteen or perhaps earlier than that, because whether I like it or not the story is changing to something unknown.

Obeying Haisley, I wrote a simple thank-you letter to Lucas, not that I was trying to keep myself away from meeting Lucas. Oh no, not because of that.

But still, the Captain of the Imperial Guard swings by the Silver Palace once or twice a month just to voluntarily report about his majesty's doings. And since he came all the way here it would be rude of me to not welcome the captain and the fact that I received a protection stone, I felt obligated to offer him tea and my time.

Months had passed and before I know it it was already winter season.

One thing I liked about Lucas was every time he visits he always brought chocolate from Kook's Chocolat and Tea after knowing that I love their chocolates.

"Princess Elaine, please listen to this poor subject," Lucas started as we leisurely drink the hot chocolate in the sunroom. "There's this woman who caught my eye this morning while buying your chocolates. After I approached her she slapped me telling me to never appear in front of her and walked out. Is there something wrong with my face? Am I missing something for her to like me?"

My eyes gazed at Lucas who sat across from me. Without a doubt, he was the second most handsome man I saw after the king. With his striking red hair and forest-green eyes, strong arms, bold thighs, and firm chest. He could have had almost everyone.

"How did you approach her?" I asked trying not to sound uninterested and popped some chocolate in my mouth.

"By flirting," he said like it should be obvious.

I coughed out the stuck chocolate in my throat and immediately drank the already warm chocolate drink. There's nothing wrong with his face alright but his flirtatious approach towards the woman. But then, even if he flirts like a peacock most of the women will still fall for him, especially with that kind of appearance.   

"Are you alright, princess?"

I nodded and gestured for him to continue.

"Well, there's nothing much to say after she left. It's just that it's not like her husband was outstanding or marvelous like his majesty that she turned me down. Perhaps she should go to the doctor and examine her eyes."

Unbelievable. 

Luck. Luck is what he doesn't have. This guy has the worst luck with women because he kept on falling for the wrong person. He had never been in a serious relationship since everything failed the moment he laid eyes upon them.

A woman who has an illness and died the next day. Then there's this woman who was actually a criminal and he only found out when she got executed after being caught. Now a woman who was married. Thank the moon, the latest woman was faithful enough to not commit infidelity. These miserable love stories just happened in a span of months, what more before I had met him.

"Perhaps..." You should be the one whose eyes need to be examined. I internally sighed.

"Right, princess. I knew it, you understand me very well."

"No, not really," I said dryly. I don't understand why he's attracted to women with complicated backgrounds. Did he get cursed when he was a child?

"There's nothing to be shy about," Lucas laughed. "By the way princess. Do you know you have an older brother?"

People still don't know that Aiden and I had already met.

"Yes, I am aware." With a nod, I raised my mug.

"You see, the crown prince will about to arrive tomorrow. His training camp ended sooner than we expected."

I hid a smile behind the mug.

Aiden's coming back.