"Help? What sort of help?" Sera questioned.
For all she knew, the plan was to get inside and announce to the world that they were about to marry. But she hadn't known that Damian could have help, or that Damian asked for help.
"It's not what, it's a who," Damian said with a playful look.
As soon as he said that, he got on his tiptoes. Sera looked up—he was way taller now. She couldn't help but notice a glimpse of his stomach showing when he raised his hand in the air.
'I wonder if his abs are as described in the book,' Sera thought, her mind momentarily distracted.
Shocking Sera's mind, Damian whistled like a bird. The noise that came out of his mouth was a perfect imitation of a bird's call. It was loud and eerie, but soon, other animal noises from the woods took over, creating a chorus of sounds.
He did it again. He whistled, and the bird's call echoed once more.
"What are you doing?" Sera questioned. Damian said nothing but continued to scan the surroundings, anticipating something with each whistle and noise he produced. "If you're thinking that an eagle will swoop in and solve our problems by carrying us into your kingdom, I highly doubt that's the case," she added finally.
Damian frowned at her, unable to comprehend her remark. He paused, looked up again, then back at Sera.
"Do you really think—"
"What is it?!" Someone interrupted, the impatience evident in his tone.
….!!
The unexpected voice startled Seraphina, causing her to take a step back. It was a deep, masculine voice, and its annoyance was palpable even from a few feet away.
"You're here," Damian acknowledged, turning towards the source of the voice.
"Do you want me to stay back there?" the voice inquired once again.
"Not really. Oh, meet Seraphina Rose. Princess, this is Arthur, my friend," Damian introduced, shifting to his right to reveal the towering figure standing beside him.
Arthur had the appearance of a seasoned warrior, bearing the scars of numerous battles on his face. The most prominent one ran across his pink lips. His emerald gold eyes locked with Seraphina's gaze, and both engaged in a silent exchange, each assessing the other's presence.
"N-nice to see you, soldier," Sera greeted, her voice quivering slightly, before lowering her gaze.
Clad in his steel armor, Arthur had rushed to Damian's aid upon hearing the familiar bird whistle, a signal they had trained as a means of protection.
"Please, call me Arthur. And Damian, can we—can we talk?" he requested.
Understanding that the two men needed a private conversation, Sera smiled at Arthur and remained in her spot as Damian walked away.
Standing on her tiptoes, she stole a glance at the kingdom. The atmosphere that emanated from it felt simultaneously intriguing and unsettling, prompting her to avert her gaze immediately. Guards patrolled the palace grounds with an intensity she had not witnessed before. It made her wonder if the absence of such security had contributed to her own assassination.
Shrugging off her thoughts, she redirected her attention to the two men. Damian had turned his back to her, his broad shoulders and towering figure obscuring her view of his friend.
'Who is Arthur? I thought Damian's plan was meant for just the two of us. What is he discussing?' Sera pondered, her brows furrowed in confusion. Nevertheless, the notion of having additional assistance provided her with a sense of reassurance. She withdrew her gaze from them and sighed.
A minute passed, and then another.
Seraphina made an effort to avoid the two men engrossed in their discussion, but her gaze inevitably settled on Damian's well-built back.
Her impure thoughts dissipated as soon as they emerged. She quickly dismissed the notion of Damian reciprocating any feelings, though she couldn't help but continue looking at him.
Shortly after, Damian walked alongside Arthur. Arthur halted in front of Damian, but Damian continued walking ahead.
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
"We'll be inside soon enough," Damian assured her as he approached, keeping a few feet of distance.
"What's the plan?" she inquired.
"Hm..." Damian pondered, scanning their surroundings. "I was just about to tell you when we'll be executing it. But yes, the fruit cart will be here soon. Arthur will assist you in hiding at the back, among the baskets..."
"You do realize there's a risk of me getting caught, right?" Seraphina questioned.
She was well aware that fruit carts were frequently inspected before reaching the kitchens, and rigorous checks were carried out for almost everything entering the palace grounds.
Damian nodded. Seraphina attempted to discern his thoughts by delving deeper into his eyes, but they revealed nothing.
"You have to trust me on this," he finally said after a while.
Arthur moved to the front and stood beside Damian.
"Twenty more minutes. We should walk to the west side. Uh, Sera, all the culinary activities happen in the West of the palace."
"West?" Sera questioned. 'West was where we were the last time, Damian's room.'
"Yes. So, we should get going since it's a whole round way. Come," Arthur said and started walking in the front.
Damian waited until Sera started moving, and then he walked behind her.
-
"Hide!" Damian suddenly said in a hushed tone.
Seraphina heard the approaching footsteps and quickly sought refuge behind a tall tree. Then, a masculine voice echoed, sending shivers down her spine.
"Prince, what are you doing here?" The guard's voice was rough and carried an air of authority.
"I'm out here with Arthur to discuss something... in private," Damian replied.
The guard visibly grew uncomfortable. The prince and the knight shared a storied history. Their friendship was renowned within the palace grounds, particularly during their training. As a result, no one dared to come between them.
"Well?" Arthur prodded, attempting to intimidate the guard.
"My prince," the knight bowed and walked away.
With each step, the clanking sound of the knight's metal plates hitting against one another resonated through the air. Seraphina waited behind the tree until the sound gradually faded away.
She let out a sigh of relief and cautiously stepped forward.
"That was a close call."
"Just a few more steps. Come," Damian whispered.
The next thing Seraphina knew, she was being loaded onto a cart. Damian draped a large woven basket around her, and she struggled to fit inside, trying to keep her limbs from sticking out.
"Princess..." Damian's hushed voice interrupted Seraphina as she adjusted her garments. She looked up, but his face remained obscured by the light. "Do not make any noise. And I mean it."
Seraphina nodded in understanding and replied, "Okay."
Several tense minutes passed. Her heart pounded in her chest. She refrained from making any sound or casting her gaze around. She kept her hands close to her body, gripping her legs tightly as she remained low and concealed within the basket.
The cart jolted into motion.
Seraphina's heart raced, its beat quickening.
The surroundings dimmed, and she felt exposed to the prying eyes of strangers. The direct sunlight overhead bore witness to her predicament.
"Stop!"
A loud, aged voice halted the cart.
She held her breath, her gaze fixed on her feet.
'Please, God, please...'
"It's just fruits! See!" Arthur's voice rang out. "Let the cart pass!"
Suddenly, the cart resumed its movement. The bumps on the gravel road forced her to tightly grip the sides of the basket to avoid falling.
After what felt like an eternity, the motion came to a halt.
"Get out, come," Arthur hurriedly urged.
Seraphina wasted no time and stepped out. With one hand holding her dress, she followed Arthur up the stairs. True to his word, the West side of the building housed the culinary section. Women and men alike were busy preparing meals.
She had missed this on her previous visit to the West Wing, perhaps due to it being midnight. She trailed behind Arthur, her eyes occasionally meeting his emerald gaze. Each time, he quickly looked away, as though dismissing any lingering thoughts.
"Where is he?" Seraphina asked.
Arthur's eyes met hers once more, but he swiftly looked down and shook his head, as if shrugging off the question.
"He should be here. It would be suspicious if the prince were to enter the palace in a fruit cart. Not to mention the people in the palace-"
"Is she here?"
Damian entered the room, interrupting Arthur's words. Arthur couldn't finish his sentence. Seraphina's thoughts ceased as Damian walked in, carrying her trunk in his hand. Once inside, he placed it in a corner of the bed.
He removed his black coat and draped it over the bed.
"I'll take care of this. You can go," Damian said to Arthur, his gaze fixed on him.
Seraphina stood awkwardly to their right.
"Take care. If something goes wrong, you know where to find me," Arthur said, nodding.
Damian gave a brief nod in return. Was it their signature nod?
Arthur exited the room, leaving them alone.
-
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