Lorcan stepped inside his chambers with Astrea's letter still in his hands. He slumped on the sofa stretching his legs on the table in front of him. His red eyes once again scanned the obnoxious letter, "How dare she!?"
Still irritated, he closed his eyes and entered the dreamland. The next morning, as usual, he got up early for his training but his mind was not able to remove the image of that disrespectful letter. He was not able to believe that the lady with such elegant handwriting was the one to send such a letter...Wait! Did I just praise her handwriting? But it was really elegant.
His mind was in chaos and he was not able to concentrate on today's training. His apprentices and Ryan also noticed his unusual behavior.
"Are you alright your highness?"
Lorcan snapped out of his thoughts hearing Ryan's voice, "What happened?"
"I asked if you are alright, you seemed a bit out of it today"
He shook his head dismissively, "Nothing...what is the time now?"
Ryan frowned and took out his pocket watch, "It is mid-noon your highness"
Lorcan widened his eyes and dashed out of the training arena leaving Ryan confused, "What is wrong with him?"
Lorcan hurriedly reached his chamber and took a quick shower and started getting ready to meet that impolite lady. He was not able to understand himself when he contemplated what to wear. He never felt like this, it was just that, he wanted to look his best in front of that lady who dared to offend him. Finally deciding on the black and red outfit he went out of his palace.
Marriot hotel was the largest and grandest in the entire Nethilor empire. Only royals and Nobles of high standing were able to afford a reservation in this place. As Astrea already informed the staff about Lorcan, he was directly guided towards the third floor.
The place was adorned with lavender and baby's breath creating a picturesque view. As Lorcan entered, It was not those flowers that caught his attention, but the young maiden sitting in the midst of it. Silver hair shone reflecting on the sun rays, graceful lavender with a white-colored gown on her body. Her mere presence enhanced the beauty of the flowers around them, then his breath hitched when she darted her serene green eyes on him. He was in a daze as she got up from her chair and curtsied, "Glory to his highness the crown prince"
Lorcan blinked his eyes coming out of his reverie, "Raise your head"
Astrea raised herself and gestured towards his seat, "Take your seat, your highness"
He stepped towards his chair as Astrea too followed. Lorcan observed her refined movements and asked, "Why are you so polite today? Your letter was anything but polite"
She took and sip from her teacup and replied, "I was beyond annoyed when I heard about my engagement, I apologize if I have offended you, your highness"
She was not at all sorry and Lorcan smiled at her uninterested words, "Why are you against this engagement? Isn't it a great opportunity for you to raise your status by becoming my crown princess?"
Astrea glanced at the smiling man in front of her and felt like rolling her eyes, "I'm not interested in marrying for political reasons and I hate being forced to do things that I don't like"
Lorcan raised his brows at her blunt answer. He was like that too, he loathed when someone forced him to do things their way, "I will talk to his majesty and cancel it but I need a solid reason to refuse it"
Astrea blinked her eyes and thought about it, "You can just say that you like someone else"
"My father won't believe that" came the quick reply for which she frowned and asked, "Why?"
Lorcan just shrugged his shoulders, "The idea of me liking someone is strange for him"
Rea pursed her lips, "Then what should...." she stopped talking when the door for their Vip room burst open revealing the seething Commander of the royal army.
Sebastian clenched his jaw and spoke to Rea as he glared at the crown prince, "Rea what are you doing here?"
She frowned at his stiff voice, "What does it have anything to do with you, commander Canmore? And stop calling me Rea!"
Lorcan observed their exchange and was surprised to see the stone-like commander making various expressions, "What is happening here?"
Rea turned towards Lorcan and her eyes mellowed, "It's nothing sweetheart, don't worry"
Lorcan froze in his place while Sebastian widened his eyes and asked, "Sweetheart!?"
Astrea ignored him and stepped towards Lorcan clasping his arms in hers, "Yes, he is my fiance and my future husband" she looked up to Lorcan's shocked face and winked, "Isn't it honey?"
His heart palpitated when he felt her warm and soft body in his embrace. She was so tiny and cute that he had an urge to carry her around in his pocket. When her gleaming eyes stared at him earnestly he was not able to help himself from nodding, "My fiance? Yes, she is!"
Astrea triumphantly looked back at Sebastian and smiled, "You heard it, commander. So stop bothering me from now on"
"How dare....." he started marching towards them but one of his deputies held him back, "Stop for now commander, Are you intending to hurt the crown prince?"
Sebastian shook himself out of his hold and glared at Lorcan, "Rea is mine, remember that your highness"
"Are you threatening me right now!?" Lorcan's cold voice drifted around the room making Rea flinch.
Sebastian didn't back away and replied in a similar chilling voice, "I'm just advising your highness" saying that he turned around leaving the room.
Astrea sighed in relief and released her hold from his hands, "Thank you for helping me your highness" she strode towards the sofa and slumped on it, "That annoying little...." as she muttered, Lorcan dazedly looked at his empty arms missing her delicate body.
He too stepped towards the sofa and settled beside her, "Is commander Canmore your previous lover?"
"Don't talk rubbish" she snapped but soon realized that she was talking to the crown prince of the empire and sighed, "I apologize for my unsophisticated words your highness"
"It's fine," he remarked surprising himself. Lorcan would have ripped a person's head if they ever talked in that manner but he didn't mind this little creature talking to him like this. In fact, he was pleased knowing that she was comfortable enough to speak her mind with him.
He came out of his thoughts hearing Rea's voice, "Sebastian is my childhood friend. We used to get along well until he killed my pet dog because of jealousy. He scared away all of my friends to spend more time with me and the last straw was when he threatened me to accept his advances if I wanted my family safe"
Lorcan widened his eyes and glanced at her, "Commander Canmore did that?" he was stunned, The Sebastian he knew was a self-righteous, strict, and no-nonsense man. Who knew he was like this behind the scenes?
Rea side-eyed him, "Didn't you see his performance just now? He even warned you the crown prince of the great Nethilor empire"
Lorcan chuckled making her irked, "Relax, so what are you going to do now that you have mentioned me as your future husband? Do you still want me to talk to my father about annulling?"
Astrea turned facing him and said in a determined voice, "Be my fake lover your highness"
"What?"
She took his hand making him flinch, "I bet that you are also being forced to take a fiance in the house of lords. So let us fake a relationship for some time to keep their mouth shut and break up saying that things didn't work out"
Lorcan frowned, "But that will hinder your future marriage prospects"
"I will take care of that," she stated, "So tell me are you in?"
He gazed at her adorable face. His red eyes strayed towards her pouty pink lips urging him to get a taste of them but he restrained with all his strength to not attack this brave little girl, "I'm in"
She beamed at him and went for a hug but stopped herself at the last moment and instead shook his hands, "Thank you, your highness!"
"Why did you stop yourself just now?"
"Hmm?"
"You know that we should act as lovers from now on?"
She nodded her head confused as he continued, "You need to get used to being near me, so don't hold yourself from hugging or touching me"
Astrea frowned, "Are you sure?"
Lorcan spread his arms and looked at her seriously, "We need to practice more to act realistically"
She tilted her head thinking if this was really necessary but soon embraced him with his urging. Lorcan grinned and relaxed on her dainty shoulders inhaling her addictive scent. Rea awkwardly rubbed his back as he tightened their hug, "Yo-your highness...I think this is enough"
"I want more" he rejected instantly making her dumbfounded. Soon she started to struggle and Lorcan reluctantly released her, "You need more practice lady"
Astrea glared at him getting up, "I'm leaving your highness"
Lorcan's jaw ticked, "So soon?" he wanted to spend more time with her, he didn't like the idea of her leaving him, "We didn't even have our lunch"
Rea furrowed her brows and soon her eyes sparkled. She held his arm dragging him up, "Let us go on our first date, fake lover"
"Uhh?"
"Just follow me....." she exclaimed taking him out of the restaurant.