Seraphina was angry as she sat between a place where the crates were laid, under the shadow where no one could disturb her. She gritted her teeth but a layer of sadness gripped her. He thought she was cheating on him. She would never think that.
She was uneasy when Casian crossed the distance but he didn't make a move. If he had, she would have punched him in the gut. She leaned further to the darkness hiding from watchful eyes and soon tears poured out of her eyes as she recalled Demian's accusing words.
Sera in her life never had cried or never had been hurt this much but Demian's behaviour hurt her and she was furious about why she was affected by him. He was no one but a dragon prince whom she had to protect, that's all but it hurt to even think that way. She wanted more but what exactly did she want?
*****
Alonzo huffed as he was sad to see Prince Demian and Princess Seraphina fighting against each other. He went out to look for her after she dashed out of the compartment.
"What should I do with these children!" He said to himself almost feeling drained after he tried to make both of them get into a conversation. But both of them had anger dancing on their noses. How come this happened in his presence? Or more precisely, how come he let it happen!
He cursed under his breath and looked out on the deck if she had come here but there was no sign of her. Prince Demian might be rude and unforgiving but he cared deeply for Princess Seraphina as after he went out, he ordered Alonzo to go after her.
"Honestly, why don't you show her that you care for her!" He growled at himself asking Demian who wasn't present there. Of course, he would never raise his voice toward the young Prince.
He thought Master Valentine was perfect for them at handling. He always used their anger to manipulate them so they would eventually talk to each other-well, the conversation might not be a decent one but at least, they sort it out themselves.
As he was crossing a set of compartment doors, he saw a sailor come out of Prince Casian's door. His build was strong, however a bit lean and tall but it somehow seemed familiar. But what a sailor was doing in his chamber?
He took shelter as he hid himself in the shadows of the ship and tried to look out. As the sailor moved around his head to his surroundings, Alonzo's eyes widened.
That damn Casian! He cursed in his head and now all the dots connected in Alonzo's head. He waited until the sailor went out of the compartments and went to his room.
Alonzo didn't take long as his old feet took a speed. He needed to say everything to his Highness!
*****
Demian rested on the bed of the compartment, still furious at what he saw. He became so angry when he witnessed Casian get near her, it was an unforgettable sight! He gritted his teeth.
'I'll just stay away from you if that's what you want!' Sera's voice still lingered in his mind as his heart sank. He could feel the sadness in her voice but maybe that would be better.
The more he would stay away from her, the more her life would be safe. Wasn't that what he wanted? But again the flashes of memories came before his eyes where Casian was near her. Too near...
He sat up immediately. Damn it! He may want to save her but he never wants Casian to put his hands on her. She was his!
"Your Highness!" Alonzo called out from behind the door as Demian said, "Come in."
Alonzo came in a hurry and said between his breaths, almost crying, "Your Highness! P-Princess!"
Damian stood up immediately, his face decked with worry, "What is it, Alonzo? What happened to Seraphina?"
His heart banged loudly against his chest and his mind formed some notions about what could happen to Sera this time.
"You were right, Your Highness!" Alonzo said with an angry voice, "It was all that basta-pardon my rude comments, Prince Casian's plans."
Demian's eyes narrowed down to the slits as he tried to understand what the old seward wanted to say.
"I saw a sailor coming out of his chamber not just a moment ago," Alonzo said, "and it was his attendant, Allison."
Demian's palms fisted as he asked, "Did you find where Seraphina is?"
Alonzo bowed down, "No, Your Highness. I failed to find her. I searched everywhere but I couldn't find her."
Demian tried to think where she would go and his eyes widened at thinking, what if Casian had done something to her. He dashed out of the room and went to the deck. His eyes moved around everywhere, his heart thumping louder than the waves.
"Where could you go?" He whispered.
He remembered what he had said to her. He accused her and he felt guilty for it. His chest tightened as he knew what Casian was like yet he got angry when Seraphina sided with him.
He tried looking for her everywhere but couldn't and he felt like Seraphina had vanished into thin air. He felt lonely and without her chatty self, it was as if a part of his heart had gone missing.
Then he found a glimpse of a light as a light reflected on a metal. He turned his eyes to the source and found it was Seraphina's sword. And she was sitting in the darkness provided by the large crates. He released a sigh.
He stepped forward and stood behind her, "There you are."
She flinched at his voice but didn't look at him, her head hung low and she turned back.
"Let's go back." He said.
"I don't want to," her voice came hoarse and he could feel the moisture in her eyes. She had been crying.
Demian felt uneasy as he had never seen her crying before and he thought he should try not to say rude comments to her. From his childhood, he had to learn how to make people hurt who had hurt him and he had long forgotten how to say pleasing words to anyone.
"Seraphina... I..." Demian hitched as he never apologized for anything he had done to anyone. Whether it was wrong or right.
"Let's go back to the room. It's cold here." He said in which Sera didn't answer.
He got into where Sera hid herself and tried to see her face but Sera turned her back toward him.
"Just look at me, already!" He growled, irritated that he had to give extra effort to convince her. He went in front of her as he tried to turn around again but he captured her shoulders in tight grips. She tilted her head low so he couldn't see her face.
"I am sorry," he mumbled and felt his cheeks warming up. Damn! It was far awkward for him to apologise.
"I didn't hear it," Seraphina said as Demian gritted his teeth. This woman! She must be enjoying.
"I have already said it once!"
"I didn't hear it!" She said stubbornly.
Demian huffed as she was too stubborn at times, more than him. "Fine!" He hissed, "I. Am. Sorry."
Sera shook in her place as she looked up with angry gazes, her eyes puffed with crying and there were dry tears that made roots on her cheeks. She said angrily, "That's not how you apologize!"
"Be thankful that I even asked for your apology." He glared and Sera's face twisted in anger. "I don't apologize!"
"You- Bratty Egoistic Prince!"
Demian's brows twitched, "What did you say?"
"You heard me!"
"Oh, you do have a death wish, don't you?"
"Ahem." Alonzo appeared out of nowhere and said, "Your Highnesses, it would be better if you continue your love quarrel into your chamber as you can see..." They turned to him and saw other sailors were there, stars shining in their eyes, "Everyone is present here."
Both of them turned red as Demian ordered Seraphina maintaining his straight face, "Let's go to the compartment, Seraphina."
Sera nodded as she stood up behind Demian. Both of their faces became grave while inside they were flustered.
Demian and Seraphina entered the room and Alonzo had already prepared their dinner. "Your Highnesses, now that I've asked them to cook it again..." He pressed his words and they knew he was annoyed, "Would you mind having them while they are still hot before continuing your quarrel?"
Alonzo's moustache shook vigorously as he waited patiently for their answers and both of them nodded.
As they started to devour their food, Seraphina stared at Demian who put a cloth on his chest and took his fork and knife.
"What is it?" He asked.
"N-nothing." She mumbled and started to eat as Demian raised a brow.
"Well, now that you are here," Demian said, "Don't go near Casian."
Sera looked at him and he could see she was getting angry again, "Let me finish first, Seraphina."
"Sometimes you should listen to me for your safety. I don't mind if some other man touches you while saving you but it's Casian," Demian's voice became serious, "Casian doesn't do a thing without any ulterior motives behind it. He doesn't care even if it is his close ones, he'll do what it takes to get what he wants."
"You are just saying that because you can't see his good side," Sera said.
"Please, your Highness, what Prince Demian says is true." Alonzo said and added, "I saw it from my own eyes." And he said everything he saw to Sera which made Sera grow more angry.
Sera looked at Demian with an apologetic face but Demian said, "You don't know him but I've known him for years. I know how a man can come up with evil plans."
"How?" She asked.
"Because, I myself, did that many times."
Sera looked at him with wide eyes as she asked, "I don't understand what's the purpose of this?"
Demian poured a piece of meat and as he finished chewing it he said, "It could be he wants to create a distance between us."
Alonzo gasped, his moustache angrily fluttering, "I shall keep a close eye on him and his attendant before they could do any more of this!"
Demian nodded, "Yes, that would be great but I'd be needing you in the gathering of commoners. I'll order one of the guards to do that."
"Still I don't see any purpose behind it. What would he gain if he manages to break us apart." Sera said her face bore a worried expression.
Demian's eyes lingered on Seraphina. Her wild red curls tied behind her head in braids where some of the strands swung beside her round face. Her jade green eyes gave a dangerous vibes of confidence yet innocent when they fell on Demian. The plump lips which had a frown yet it could make anyone feel the desire to taste it one last time. She was a gem. She wasn't very beautiful but she had something that allured men and Demian could not deny he didn't feel that when he was with her. He knew what a man could want with her.
"What?" Sera asked as his dear husband was staring at her for a while.
"Nothing." Demian said as he averted his eyes and concentrated on his meals. "And Princess Seraphina, from next time, try to listen to you husband."
Sera's cheeks got colours as she said with a breathy voice, "I- I always listen!" she drifted her eyes away from him and Demian could not resist the smirk that slowly crawled on his lips.
"Ho! You do, don't you?" He teased and at that Sera got even more red.
"I- why do I have to always listen to you?!" She asked, somehow managed to look at him, the innocent eyes had anger but Demian found it adorable.
"Because I am your husband," Demian gave a smirk and added with a sigh, "But you preferred to believe in other men."
"I didn't!" Sera mumbled weakly while Alonzo's moustache danced merrily as he watched the young Prince teasing his wife. He had grown up...
"And you even made me apologize for nothing," Demian said, resisting his laughter as Sera's head hung low.
"I-I am sorry," Sera mumbled weakly as Demian grinned.
"What? I didn't hear you."
Sera looked at him with anger dancing on her nose, "I said it once already!"
Demian laughed, making Sera growl and he said, "Well, you're forgiven."
Sera was about to say something but Demian added, making her stop, his eyes giving a dangerous glow, "But next time, I'll be sure to take care of you, if you defy me."