"Who would you want me to spy on?"Malachi asked with a raised brow and tilted his head to the left. He was surprised by Zeb because he knows him better than anyone else.
Malachi could tell that the crown prince was up to no good. That he wanted to do something unusual, something that he has never done in his entire life.
Normally, Prince Zebulon is someone who doesn't care about anything. He's always cold and distant to everyone except Malachi and old lady Sarah.
"Someone I know maybe?"Malachi asked and shrugged nonchalantly and raised his eyebrows, eagerly waiting for his response so that he could take action.
Silence reigned the room, the only faint sound that was heard inside the room was the rustling of the big Oak tree which was moving to the melody of the strong wind.
Zebulon dug his hand inside his pocket and removed a piece of paper, and handed Malachi who grabbed it doubtfully.
Malachi squinted his eyes at the piece of paper to see the details, he turned it towards the window to have a better look with the help of the silver glow from the moon.
"She's called Amira? What a nice name." Malachi complimented, he raised his head from the piece of paper to look at Zebulon.
"I would like you to gather all information about her," Zebulon said with a serious face as if he was talking about a serious crime which needed attention.
For a split second, Malachi wondered how Amira was able to get into prince Zebulon's mind. It looked like a miracle since Zeb has never allowed anyone to interfere with his thoughts.
Not to mention his cold heart. Malachi's lips curved into an amusement smile when he gave it a thought.
"Your order is my command, your highness," Malachi said in sarcasm as he bowed, the corner of his lips curving into a mischievous smile.
______
"The sky looks beautiful."Amira thought as she admired the clear sky. She loved to watch the stars and moon most of the time because it gave her the peace that she needed.
Amira turned her head towards the wooden door when it clicked open. Her lips curved into a wide smile when she saw who stood at the door.
She was expecting him to come and that's why she didn't go to bed early even though she was feeling exhausted and sleepy. Amira knew that Leon would come to congratulate her and tease her a little.
Amira walked to Leon and wrapped her hand around him tightly, that's how it has always been. Leon hugged her back tightly and rocked her sideways like old times.
"You're squeezing me too tight," Amira grumbled as Leonard chuckled in return, squeezing her petite body even more.
"I thought you would not come."Amira said and heaved a deep sigh after letting him go."I was about to go to bed."She grumbled.
"You see!"Leon pointed his finger at Amira and laughed out loud. Amira frowned since she didn't know what Leonard was talking about.
Amira turned her head to look around, however, she didn't see anything.
"See what?"She asked with slightly raised eyebrows.
"Why don't you admit that you missed me?"Leonard asked as the corner of his lips curved into a mischievous smile. Amira rolled her eyes jokingly when she heard his words.
"It won't hurt if you admit, you know, "Leon added,"It has always been this way. They like joking around whenever they're together.
"Don't be paranoid," Amira said as they sat on the bench on the veranda, she heaved a long sigh and leaned on the wooden wall.
"I came to congratulate you."Leon turned his head to look at Amira who smiled back at him.
Amira's heart melted into a puddle. She couldn't believe that Leon risked coming at night to congratulate her.
"Thank you so much," Amira said in almost a whisper and leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes slightly.
"All thanks to you and father for teaching me everything."She said and heaved a sigh. It broke Amira's heart when she thought about her father because she missed him damn much.
"I'm proud of you because you learned everything that we have ever taught you," Leonard said in satisfaction.
From his experience of being a castle soldier for years. He knows how tough it is to ride a horse for five kilometres.
"It has always been my pleasure to be your student."Leon huffed when he heard her words. His heart pounded wildly when Amira's warm breath brushed the sensitive flesh of his skin.
______
A few metres from Amira's wooden house, a man stood with his hands deep inside his pocket. He watched Amira and Leonard as they laughed happily.
Leonard's face changed subtly from happiness to seriousness when an idea popped into his mind. Amira knotted her eyebrows when she saw that look on his face because she already knew what that look meant.
A deep frown settled on Amira's face when Leon grabbed her hands gently and gave them a slight squeeze, she could tell that he wanted to talk about something serious, something that requires thorough thinking.
Amira almost asked him not to say whatever he wanted to say because she was not in the position to think hard. However, she chose to keep quiet and listen to whatever he had to say.
Lady Serena taught Amira that it's wise to listen to what someone has to say and then choose whether to do whatever they told you or ignore. Amira looked at their hands before raising her head slowly to look at Leon who was looking back at her.
"Have you thought about the disadvantages of being the crown prince's Chosen bride?"Leon asked with a calm voice, he didn't want Amira to think that he didn't support her in whatever she was doing.
Leon wanted Amira to know that despite it having advantages, the whole idea has some disadvantages too, that was all that Leonard wanted Amira to see.
Just like the coin has two sides, the head and tail. Amira sucked in a tight air when she heard his words, she didn't care about the disadvantages of becoming the crown prince's chosen bride.
Amira chose to focus on the good side of it, she'll be able to prove her father's innocence once she gets access to power and that was her main goal.
She knows that she will be happy when her father gets the justice he deserves and the real criminal is imprisoned.
Silence reigned on the veranda. Leon stared at Amira as her face twisted in different emotions, sadness, relief and some unexplainable emotions that he couldn't wrap his fingers on.
Leon didn't want to watch Amira go through such an emotional moment. However, he had no option but to ask her, he wanted Amira to know what she was getting herself into.
He knows that once she becomes the crown prince's bride, there is no backing down because the royal family adheres to the rules and anyone who breaks them is punished severely.
Leon didn't want to watch his childhood best friend getting punished because he cares about her so much.
Amira closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh for a hundredth time already. She pressed her lips into a thin line and gave Leon's hand a slight squeeze.
"I don't care about the disadvantages, Leonard."She paused and took a deep breath. "All I care about are the benefits, Leon."Her lips curved into a faint smile.
Leon's stomach turned cold and his heart almost stopped when he heard her words. He looked at Amira with sad eyes.
Leon wanted Amira to understand that a marriage without feeling or love involved was like torturing yourself for eternity.
"You need to care about the demerits too, Amira."He said with an emotional voice.
"It's because you're going to be stuck with the royals for eternity. You need to be concerned because it involves your life, Amira."Leonard tried to explain to her so that it could get into her thick skull.
"I would like you to be happy in your entire life, Amira," Leon said and gave her hand a slight squeeze.
"I'll be happy when my father gets justice."Amira shrugged nonchalantly.
Leon just looked at her because he didn't know how to explain it to her anymore. He hoped that she would be able to understand someday.
_____
Leon and Amira watched the sky silently. Leonard decided to drop the topic because he didn't want to get into unnecessary fight with Amira.
He creased his eyebrows when he realised that Amira had gotten more heavy on his shoulders. Leon smiled when he realised that Amira had already fallen asleep.
He gathered her in his arms and took Amira to her room. Leon removed the sandals from her feet and covered her with warm blankets.
Leon is used to doing this because Amira has fallen asleep so many times while they're together. He brushed hair strands from her face and planted a butterfly kiss on her forehead.
"Oh my goodness! I forgot to give her the letter."Leon waved his hands in the air in frustration. He dug his hand inside the trouser pocket and pulled out a letter.
He looked at it before placing it carefully on the bedside table.