"You seem pretty acquainted with the prince.. Lucky you, young lady.. "
I heard the guard mutter softly as he leads me out of the area. I bit my lips but said nothing.
Why do I get a negative vibe from his statement. I do not like this guy..
"Oh, forgive my manners..."The guard abruptly apologized and continued.
"I am Jordan Fitzherbert, the prince's former aide and one of the high guards of Fairytale. I didn't mean to be rude but, knowing Prince Zenon since the time he was a little kid, I guess, I am happy he is genuinely warming up to another person."
"...What do you mean..? "
"Eh, you didn't no. It was during his childhood I guess, Emperor Charming's concubine and the Second Prince's mother was supposed to be the last remaining survivor of a distinct country that was completely destroyed by some bunch of barbarians. Feeling pity of the abandoned woman, the emperor took her in along with her beautiful little three year old son.
But, I guess the Empress and her son, The First Prince were incredibly annoyed by the gesture and started abusing their step son. It was because of this reason that the prince had become very gloomy and lost trust in people around him.
But.. I have noticed that after his mother died, the young prince's life suddenly changed. As though he was born again. His family started treating him good and he was suddenly loved by everyone around him. I do not know what changed him. But, I believe that's for good. And, I consider you to be lucky because you seem to the only person the prince genuinely trust on, young lady.. "
"...?"
It's just like, I had thought.
There are still many sides, I don't know about Prince Zeno. And, I know it's strange but, I feel like.. I want to know it all.
The different sides of him that no one knows about. How does he really feel behind that refreshing smile of his, how will he look when he actually gets embarrassed.. And something like that.. Hmm.. Seeing a side of Prince Zeno, no-one knows about..
Is it selfish for me to feel this way...?
Wait, these weird thoughts..
I abruptly shook my head side to side and felt my cheeks flushed into a bright red color as my mind voice alerted me,
...somehow seem like how a lover or a beloved would say..
Don't they..!?
Eeekkk! How embarrassing!!
No-no-no-no.!I Do Not Feel Like That Towards, Prince Zenon.
Yeah, sure he's handsome and I would totally fan girl him for his drop dead gorgeous looks. But, that's it.
I mean, I-It's not like, I-I like that, stupid flirty prince anyway..
Yes, yes, I definitely don't ! Not! No! Never! And, I utterly, completely, entirely, deny it!!
But, still..
I put my finger over my chin in serious thinking and rubbed it. My lips played over little smile at the thought. ..That's all very well but..
Just, what did I do, to earn the prince's trust?
With those thoughts, I casually gazed at the guard and abruptly noticed him shivering before me with fear.
Ah..
I immediately altered my facial expression in understanding.
It's true that all my thoughts, regarding the prince are good and genuine but.. My face!
My dumb villainess face that, just can't express my emotions correctly must have subconsciously emitted a scary aura utterly terrifying the poor guard.
"Y-You are a villainess, right!?"
He squeaked looking at my supreme villainess stare and continued shivering.
"Yes.. But.. S-Sorry, sorry, Mr Jordan, I really didn't mean to scare you.. " I apologized and put my palms over my face. "All I need to blame is my stupid villainess face!.."
I mussed to myself and blew of the red bang that covered my eyes.
The guard let out a light chuckle and raised his eyebrows. ".. The real problem lies on your face? Haha.. You are funny. Don't worry about it, now that you have apologized, I think you seem much less of a villainess now."
"Thanks, I guess... "
Wait is that a compliment?
Agh, talk about it.
I let out a sigh and gently touched my chest when my eyes suddenly widened in panic.
"What is it, young lady? "
My fingers twirled over my neck and my eyes quickly scanned the area as my lungs felt more harder and harder to breath at the sudden shock. I huffed and puffed for breath.
"My amulet! The Grim Tales amulet my mother presented me when I was young..I-It's missing..! I-I.. I need to find it!! "
I abruptly run towards the broken fountain near a big shattered restaurant, a.k.a the battlefield and abandoned the completely baffled Jordan.
"Wait, young lady.. ! I am supposed to keep you safe, remember? Prince Zeno will assassinate me if something were to happen to you.."
He is joking right?
Yes. He must be joking! I gulped.
"I will return safe! I promise!!"
I yelled back quickly run towards the danger.
No, it's not here! Not here! Not here! Nononono!
I quickly shift few of the broken walls and dig into the floor desperately searching for the book. The mission seemed impossible.
"How the hell am I supposed to find it from this messy rumble!!? " I almost yelled when I suddenly hear few of the guards talking and walking towards my direction.
"What? The prince is here! Oh Man! That is completely disadvantageous for us! Isn't he supposed to be on Royal palace like the rest of his family!?"
A guard yelled as I silently yet quickly hid behind the broken fountain.
What.. is happening here?...
"Exactly! According to 'The Queen's' instruction we had successfully trapped the rest of the royal family in the palace thanks to your help, Royal Page.."
Royal page?.. Ah..
A conspiracy from the palace's own guards. I bit my lips and leaned closer to the ground. Such a pathetic thing to do.
" But, who would have ever thought the Second Prince wouldn't be with them at the certain time. And, now.. because of him the commotion is slowly becoming controllable. Damn! "
Of course, the prince must have arrived to the dungeon to meet me. Though I utterly 'hate' the reason, I am happy about it now.
But, the 'Queen'.. who? ..
The water from the broken pipe tickling on my face was extremely annoying. But, I was resolved to remain frozen in my current hideout.
At least.. until the traitor and his crew spills all their plans.
And, this was when I suddenly noticed a sparking stone loosely buried near me.
My Grim Tale necklace!
I abruptly hugged it and slowly rubbed it's jewel with my finger prints to check whether it's alright.
And, like all other days, the tentacles decoration of the amulet slowly unlocked itself and abruptly popped out a hand sized book out of it.
I hugged my now transformed amulet -book.
Ah.. It's still safe.
I consider the book, my last remaining remnant gift given by my mother after she found a better step daughter and ignored me as very precious and close to my heart.
And, that's because even though, I know my mother definitely loved her talented adorable, step daughter more than her own, looking at this amulet and the precious memories it held with it, I can always remember that there was a time when my mother truly loved and protected me before our fairytale had officially started.
Ah, that reminds me... my mother..
I wonder how my family is by now.
But, knowing how our family belongs to a noble hierarchy. They must have been probably evacuated into a more protective place.
They must probably be safe..
"So, what is the plan now, boss? Did our guards take the right measures to threaten Lady Tremaine Rottenstein using the hostage Cinderella to make her spill the beans?"
What..? Lady Tremaine Rottenstein?
M-My .. My mother!?
What do they gotta do with my family???
Fu**!!!!!