Lucid had sorted out the kingdom's affairs and his mind drifted back to his daughter. That's right, he needed to go out with her. Knowing his daughter, she wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. He could only sigh and walked towards her chamber.
On his way to Elen's chambers, he bumped into his wife and the look on her face made him worried.
"What's wrong, wife?" He asked
"Elen.... Elen, I can't seem to find her anywhere. I wanted to give her something but she wasn't in her chamber. I searched the garden but she wasn't there either..." She said but before her words could dissolve, a realization struck into her mind. What if....oh, no! She just hopes it was not what she was thinking.
"What if she escaped? she has been behaving strangely lately. She didn't even seem to bother about the marriage anymore....what if she had planned to es__"
"Shh...no need to worry, wife, she wouldn't do something like that, I trust her..." He paused for a while and a smirk played on his face.... "I think she snuck out of the castle with Amir again, she talked about leaving the castle with me though. So I think my guess is right." He said assuring her but she didn't seem convinced.
"What if your guess is not right and__"
"Shh...you worry too much, my wife. Okay, how about we go ask any of the maids or guards." He suggested
She nodded and he slid his hands behind her waist.
"W-w-what are you doing?" Someone might see. She asked.
"Then let them see, this is my castle after all. I'm entitled to flirt with you anywhere I want." He said and she shook her head in disbelief.
They met a guard in the hall way.
"Good day, your majesty.... good day, my queen." He bowed and greeted them respectfully.
"Did you perhaps see my-- I mean her highness?"
"Yes, your majesty, I saw her with her friend Amir. They were heading towards the stable." He said.
Lucid had already heard what he wanted to hear and he dismissed the man, the man bowed one last time before finally leaving.
He turned to his wife and cupped his hands in his palm. " I told you she's safe and didn't do anything stupid. So there's no need for you to worry." He said as he gave her a hug.
"Shouldn't you be angry that she sneaked out of the castle?" She asked.
"Do you want me to be angry?" He asked raising a brow.
"No...it's just that, she shouldn't go out alone without her guards with her." She said, talking like the worrywart she was.
"It's not the first time she's sneaking out, you and I know that, Amir is with her, he'll take care of her. Besides, she's leaving soon, so why don't we allow her do what pleases her." He said and she nodded.
"Enough of the worrying, my wife...let's go." He said as a mischievous smile flashed on his face.
Emilia could only sigh, knowing how shameless this husband of hers was, she followed him.---
....
"My father would be searching for me by now." Elen said to Amir with a worried look on her face.
"He'll definitely know, you're with me, so there's no need to worry." He assured her.
"Alright then. Let's see how fast you can keep up with me." She challenged.
"Oh, so you're challenging me huh? Princess."
"Stop calling me princess and let's start already, I'm really getting impatient to watch you lose." She beamed excitedly.
"Hmm, confidence, I like th----"
He couldn't complete his sentence because, Elen had already kicked her horse and she was now riding it as fast as she could.
"You sly bitch, you dare leave me behind huh?" He murmured to himself and before he could register in his mind what he had said, he was already riding.
The wind was blasting with so much force on her face. The truth was that, she's never rode a horse with this kind of speed! She just want to make sure Amir loses, but now all her plans were backfiring, the speed was just too much, she had started slowing down and she could see Amir almost catching up with her.
Damn! He's going to win! She thought, she couldn't even finish her thought when Amir swooshed past her.
Oh god! He's won already?!
He stopped his horse in one abrupt movement and Elen saw herself also stopping her horse.
He wore a grin on his face as his horse circled her.
"The pretty courageous princess suddenly lost? Where was your courage that you were exuding a while ago." He teased.
"I'm not going to let this slide so easily." She said, fuming in anger. Wait, who was she angry with? Herself or him?
After reasoning out things, she came to a conclusion that she lost and he won. Though it was hard for her, it was just the truth.
She sighed and held her chin high to look at him." Fine, you win." She said as she rolled her eyes.
"Well, we're even then?"
"Huh?"
"You defeated me in a swordfight and I won this horse ride, so that means, we're even." He said and her mouth formed an 'O'
"Okay, let's get going, you said you wanted to take me somewhere right?" She asked.
"Be calm, there's no need to rush things, we still have plenty of time and besides the view is better at night." He said.
"Fine then." She said
"Let's take a ride round the kingdom, you'll love the view, I promise." He said
Elen nodded and the both ride their horses. Elen knew this was the last time she'll have to do something like this, do she didn't protest. She wanted to savour this moment forever. He's really being a good friend and she appreciates him for staying with her through difficult times.
Perhaps, when she get married, she wouldn't be able to do all of these things anymore.