Elaine Vernimiere was dumbfounded!
Of course, who wouldn't be? The Eslore Crown Prince was holding her and even asked her who she was!
Had he lost his mind?!
"I don't understand, Your Highness." Confusion was written all over her face yet her gaze was still observing. Maybe because she was concerned.
What had gotten into him?
Her response and the look on her face snapped Crown Prince Helias out of his thoughts. Realizing what he did, he quickly withdrew his hands from her and narrowed his eyes while taking a step back.
"Your Highness -"
"I'm sorry. That was a mistake," Helias Casteveron interjected and turned around.
What was he thinking?! He felt a strong urge to slap himself in the face so that he might get to his sense!
"Are you alright, Your Highness?" the Captain asked; her confused gaze was never away from the back of the Crown Prince.
He resembled a mad man just a while ago. Besides, she was sure that she noticed the torment and desperation in his eyes that were always filled with mirth whenever she saw them.
Something was surely wrong.
Helias Casteveron stood still, attempting to calm down himself. He only turned around once again when he believed that he had succeeded in doing so. "I'm fine," he replied. "Why are you here?"
Elaine Verniemiere realized that she almost forgot her reason for going there in the very first place. "Due to yesterday's incident, I was told to follow you in your activities from now on. Vice-Captain Lucian used to do this but I will take his place and lead the guards to protect you during your stay here."
It just occurred to the Crown Prince that this was the new arrangement King Arias's talked about but... considering how he was affected by this Captain standing before him, he wasn't sure if this was a good idea.
"Is that appropriate?" he asked. "You're the Captain. Your place is beside the King."
"I come here because I'm the Captain, Your Highness," Elaine promptly replied. "I'm supposed to obey the King's order rather than what is appropriate or inappropriate."
Judging from the Crown Prince's sudden change in behavior yesterday, she was afraid that he will be stubborn in accepting this arrangement. So, she had to make herself clear and close any room for argument.
Her honest yet selfless response reminded the Crown Prince of someone he knew. Somehow, he hated it.
He was born a royal, an heir to the throne on top of that. He doubted that he will ever understand someone like the female Captain standing before him.
"It seems like I don't have a choice," he muttered with his gaze never leaving Elaine.
He would love to have her around but... it's not easy.
What if he lost his mind again as he did just a while ago?
"You do have a choice, Your Highness," Captain Elaine responded. "You're a guest and His Majesty won't force you to accept anything you don't like. However, all these are for you and your safety. I truly hope you can accept and cooperate."
Helias Casteveron stared at the Captain without saying anything. Fortunately, he was soon snapped out of his thoughts this time before he do anything crazy. "Alright," he responded with a nod. "As the guest, I shouldn't make things difficult for King Arias."
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness." Elaine Vernimiere slightly bowed her head. "I will do my best to ensure your safety."
"I heard that your skills aren't less than General Cayden," Helias Casteveron pointed out. "If that's really the case, then I have no reason to worry."
"You flatter me, Your Highness," Elaine humbly responded. "Though a good skill is a must need for a guard, I don't think I can't compare to my cousin. He's the best here just like you are in your Eslore."
"Then we will have to find it out one day," Helias Casteveron said; a little smile on his face.
This time, Elaine didn't notice any playfulness behind the smile but... for the first time, she felt like he was enjoying talking to her rather than looking at her as if she was a prey.
Was she thinking too much?
"We should do it once we both recover," the Crown Prince continued. "But it might already be time for my return then. It might be better to have it when you come to Eslore."
Elaine Vernimiere slightly raised a brow when she heard the Crown Prince. Then she honestly remarked, "It seems like you want to test me, Your Highness."
Maybe Helias Casteveron forget everything he decided yesterday as Elaine already make him flash a real smile again. "Are you always this honest?" he asked; purely out of curiosity.
"Well... if I'm to pay for being honest or for lying, I think paying for being honest is much better," Elaine Vernimiere replied, flashing a small yet genuine smile that the Crown Prince didn't get to witness before.
Staring at her mesmerizing amber eyes, Helias Casteveron felt like something struck him. However, in no time, it was her response that made his eyes slowly grow wide.
Why was that response so familiar?
'Paying for being honest is much better.'
When Helias realized that it was Marian Vizelle who once said that to him, confusion washed through him once again!
Though the woman standing before him was very different from Marian in terms of behavior, their features looked so much alike! And now, she gave him the same response that the late Marian used to give him.
Whenever he asked her why she was always so honest, little Marian used to say that her father told her it's better to pay for being honest rather than suffer for lying.
Were all these a coincidence?
There, he was being strange again but Elaine didn't know what to do. She really wished to know his problem!
'What are you thinking, Helias?' the Crown Prince thought to himself. 'Marian is dead!'
He truly wanted to stop seeing Marian in the Captain who was standing before him! It was so tormenting and confusing!
"I heard that you will be visiting -"
"No," Helias Casteveron interjected Elaine, surprising her once again. "I won't go out for today."
With a hint of confusion on her face, Captain Elaine asked, "Is it because of the new arrangement, Your Highness? If you're not fine with it -"
"It's not that. I just want to rest. I don't sleep too well last night." He interrupted once again but his voice was calm. Elaine also noticed how his gaze never left her.
Though she felt like something was wrong, she decided to feign ignorance. "I understand, Your Highness. Then I'll leave you to rest." She bowed and walked out of the chamber.
Helias Casteveron stared at her until she was out of his sight. She talked about honesty but... he just lied.
He didn't think that he will be able to spend the whole day with her around. At least, that's the way he felt for now.....