A delightful smile embellished the Princess's lips as the day had seemed all of a sudden so beautiful.
The birds were singing happily, the flowers have blossomed to the fullest, and the sun was just the right amount of heat to make the air fuzzy.
Oh, the ground was so beautiful as well.
A wide smile was plastered on the Princess's lips as she stood next to her parents and Prince, overlooking the guest.
The reason for the Princess's sudden change of mood could be linked to none other than the shirtless werewolf standing behind his Master.
It seemed as though he had grown even more dashing during the last days she hadn't seen him.
And his body, oh, his body, was as impeccable as it had been the first time she laid her eyes on him.
His raven dark hair was glistening under the sun, almost overshadowing the bronze tone of his tanned skin.
And his eyes...those honey-colored orbs that shined like a bulb in darkness was placed to face the ground.
Princess Divale couldn't hide the excitement, joy, and happiness she got just from seeing him. Her legs were nearly lifting the ground to grab a hold of this werewolf, but she held herself.
"I'm delighted for this chance to spend more time with the Princess. And this would have only been possible thanks to you, Your Majesty" Master Filen bowed.
"Oh, don't be so courteous, Master Filen" the Emperor waved his hands with a kind smile.
"We hope you can keep her safe till you get back," the Empress said.
"Sure, of course. I want you do not have a single worry" Master Filen assured.
"Alright, that's enough courtesy, let's get going" Princess Divale snapped up and walked towards the carriage.
"Um, you can stay behind" Master Filen nodded his head towards Lukel.
At once, the Princess screamed.
"No!"
Everyone's head immediately looked up to see what made her scream out that way.
"W-what I mean is the slave can accompany us" the Princess was quick to cover up.
"But there would be no need for that, Your Highness," Master Filen said.
"Of course, there is!" Princess Divale bellowed.
~He is the only reason I would be able to tolerate your boring talks of the even more boring art!~ the Princess snapped.
"What I mean is, I would like to go for some shopping there and we need someone to carry the boxes and all," Princess Divale said with a sheepish smile.
"Is that so?" Master Filen raised his eyebrows.
"Then I see no problem. Lukel, get into the behind" the Master ordered and Lukel got on the back of the carriage like an obedient servant.
"Shall we?" Master Filen offered his hand to the Princess and she took it after managing to glare at him discreetly.
They got into the carriage and it left the castle to the Park in which the preceding abortive tests happened.
"So, what items do you plan on purchasing in the Park?" Master Filen asked.
"Oh, just some miscellaneous items, nothing huge" the Princess shrugged.
Master Filen tried to make a conversation as they were on their way to the park but all Princess Divale could think about was the werewolf outside the carriage.
Her eyes diverted to him through the small window from behind occasionally but he never once even lifted his head.
Her lips turned into a frown as she watched him.
Why can't he just look up once for her to see the beauty he has been blessed with?!
She was about to stomp her feet on the floor of the carriage when Master Filen announced that they had arrived.
The carriage halted to a stop in the park and the couple got down from the carriage.
The Princess was helped by Master Filen to glide down the carriage but her eyes remained on the werewolf.
"Let's go," Master Filen said as he placed his hand at her back to lead her into the park.
As she passed by Lukel, she used a sneaky finger to draw a line from his chest to his stomach.
That action seemed to be what made him snap his head up to glare at the Princess.
A small smile was on her lips because she had succeeded to grab his attention. She gave him a wink before she turned back.
"Your Highness, how have you been lately? I feel like it's been strangely too long I last saw your face" Master Filen crossed his arms behind his back.
"I've been good. And it was just two days ago we last saw," the Princess said.
"Oh, of course, I remember. But a poet once said Time flows like water with you, and it slows like a tortoise without you" Master Filen muttered with a smile.
"I see, nice words" the Princess mused as they walked down the park.
"I know, right? Sometimes, I just can't get enough of the artistic words used by some great authors" he said.
~Oh, boy, he's about to begin~ Princess Divale rolled her eyes inwardly and sighed underneath her breath.
"Um, Master?" She called before he began his speech.
"Yes, Your Highness?" He tilted his head.
"I am feeling really happy today and I would like to make a bouquet with me home. Could you please help me get some?" the Princess asked.
"Get flowers for you?" Master Filen furrowed his eyebrows.
"Yes, not the ones that are in the stalls. I want fresh ones plucked directly from the soil. You see, they have a different scent and feeling. When you grab then like this-" the Princess clenched her fist.
"Oh, you can feel the difference" she narrated.
"That's a really good analogy, but where do I get some?" He frowned.
"Look over there, it's a little garden", the Princess pointed about few feet away from where they stood.
"Oh, wow, you have a really good vision" Master Filen mused.
"Now, go get me a bouquet" the Princess demanded.
"Sure," he bowed before he walked past her to get to the garden, unknown to him that he had just played into the Princess's game.
She had gotten rid of him as she desired. Now, it was left only the werewolf with her in this wide park.
A mischievous smile came onto her lips at once as she settled her gaze on the dashing slave.
Lukel was doing his duty as a slave, maintaining a safe distance from her and keeping his eyes downcast.
"Lulu boy," Princess Divale glided down to him with a smile.
"Didn't you hear me call you? Why aren't you responding?" the Princess stopped right before him.
"Yes, Your Highness?" He bowed.
"Hm, being so formal. Why so, darling?" She placed her palm on his shoulder and instantly, she felt his muscles go rigid.
Her smirk widened. He was just as attracted to her as she was to him.
"Stay away from me," he hissed under his breath.
"Oh, was that a threat or a command?" She placed her hand on her chest.
"Take it as you like. Whatever game you are playing by doing all these, put an end to it now!" Lukel gritted as his honey-filled eyes stared down at her.
"Why? You seemed so eager to touch me in the changing room" she snorted and his jaw went hard.
"Forget whatever happened there-"
"What if I won't?" She took a step forward.
"What if I just can't?"
Just a tiny distance was left between them and the Princess could already feel his hot breath fanning her face, and she was sure he could as well.
"You-" the werewolf held his words back and clenched his fists.
"I what?" Tell me" the Princess looked up.
"You have no idea what-" all of a sudden, Lukel stopped talking and settled his gaze behind her.
"What?" Princess Divale frowned.
Just as she was about to turn back, she felt a hand grab her arm and push her towards him.
Her chest was stuck to his bare torso now.
"Look at me!" He commanded and at once, her jade-green eyes looked up at him.
"As soon as I utter run, you run without looking back it stopping for anyone, do you understand?"
"What? What are you talking about?" Princess Divale frowned.
What was he saying? She couldn't understand a single thing.
"No time to explain, Princess. Do as I say just this once" Lukel hissed.
"But-" Princess Divale was cut off short when the werewolf pulled her behind him suddenly.
It was then she realized what he was talking about. The disguised soldiers got out of their shadows and surrounded them.
"Get the Princess!" One of them screamed, without even bothering to realize that Master Filen was not present at the scene.
Then, the Princess felt a small squeeze in her hand. It was so small that she barely even felt it before it disappeared.
"Run!" Lukel yelled before he lunged forward to attack the soldiers.
The vampires, having no other choice, were forced to fight back against their will.
Lukel used his hand to strike one of them before he used his leg to kick the face of another.
Seeing the expertise of his fighting stance, the soldiers braced up and went on full offense mode to throw him down.
They all surrounded him, with their swords, to take him down, but Lukel wasn't about to go down so easily.
He used to take one of them down and just as the rest were about to attack, he fought back twice as hard.
All this while, Princess Divale have been in that same position the werewolf had left her, staring at the fighting scene with a dazed look.
The way he fought, the way he defended her without a second thought struck something in her heart.
Something she had never felt before.
Something deep, emotional, and...warm.
She looked down at her hand. The hand he had squeezed as a sign of reassurance, thinking she might have been frightened from the attackers, not knowing they were her soldiers.
By the time Master Filen had come back with a bouquet of colorful flowers in his hands, all the soldiers were on the floor, rolling in pain.
Confusion filled the Master's head as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"Master Filen, I would like to commend you for your exceeding bravery when you saved my sister and the Princess from danger without a second thought" Prince Kelle announced.
Master Filen was still frowning from confusion.
"With this, I congratulate you on being the only suitor who would dine with the royal family of Urankia tomorrow night, we're expecting your honorable presence with any member of your family as well" Prince Kelle smiled and patted Master Filen's shoulder.
"Looks like you've finally found your Prince Charming" Prince Kelle whispered to Princess Divale with a smirk.
~Looks like I've finally found him~ the Princess thought as she kept her eyes on the werewolf standing before her.
Just at that moment, he lifted his head to lay his honey-colored orbs on her.