.
Three days passed by in a flash with no sight of Ciaran. Orchid usually sees Grae around in the palace and when she would ask where Ciaran was. He would say
"There's no need to worry, princess. The prince would return and join you soon"
Where exactly was he?
"I can see you're worried, princess" Ava said, whilst they strolled in the garden
"I'm not worried, Ava. Just curious as to why he had disappeared"
Ava could tell by her expression that the princess was concerned. She just didn't want to say it
"It's alright to be concerned about your husband, princess. The event few days ago had everyone on edge and the prince saved us all. It's natural for you to worry"
"Well...if he was alright like he had said, why isn't the prince in the palace? Perhaps he was hurt and is now recuperating?"
"I wish I had an answer, princess"
Orchid looked ahead, she tried not to think about it but the thought didn't settle well with her
She couldn't help but blame herself at the thought of him getting hurt. He had warned her not to step out of the palace, but her stubbornness got ahead of her
She could take care of herself, she had done so in the past. She wanted to prove that
"Excuse me!" she yelled when she saw Grae walking in the hallway, Grae stopped and walked up to her
"Princess, my answer remains -"
"Take me to him" she demanded, standing firm
"Princess..."
"I want to make sure he's fine and you're not lying to me" she cut in
"Do I need a reason to lie to you, princess? The prince is fine"
"Then show me. I demand to see my husband" she just wanted to know how he was, why was he making it so difficult
If Ciaran really was fine, he wouldn't hesitate to take her to him, right?
Grae scratched his forehead at the princess's persistence
"I'd have to seek the prince's permission to let you-"
"Why would I need permission to see my husband? Why? Is it wrong? Or perhaps he's not alright like you said"
"Do not speak ill of the prince, Princess" he stated and then remembered Ciaran's words the day before
"The princess worries for you" Grae said and Ciaran sat on the bed, his chest was bare and the wound was evident on his waist side. It had turned black and dark veined popped up
"She feels guilty. I doubt she worries"
"What if she asks to see you? I can't say I do not know where you are"
"She'll quit soon, wait a day...if she still insists. Then let her come to me"
"Alright, princess. Come with me" Grae said, walking ahead
Orchid thought she had heard wrong, he was willing to take her to Ciaran?
"You may rest for now, Ava"
"Yes, princess" Orchid nodded at Ava before going after Grae. They walked towards the East Wing of the palace and headed to the last room
"The prince has been in the palace all these while?" she inquired, staring at the door
"He is inside, princess. I'll take my leave" Grae bowed and retired
She had hoped to see him for days and now that she stood before the door, she turned nervous
She shouldn't have insisted!
"If he showed me to this room, that means he must be inside. I didn't have to worry" Orchid said after a while and turned around to leave but the door suddenly opened, a hand came out and dragged her in
Orchid let out a yelp as she was grabbed and shoved into the room, having her chest bumped against a hard surface
Her eyes widened at the sight of Ciaran, he had a slight smirk plastered on his lips, his chest was bare and her fingers nearly trembled being pressed against him
"You were so worried about my well-being and had to come see me, but the moment you stand at the door, you thought to leave?"
"I-I just wanted to check if you were alright, I haven't seen you for three days so I thought something was wrong, and your...he was making things worse by telling me the same thing over and over again"
"Oh? So this is you telling me you were concerned?"
"It's seems you're well enough to tease me, I worried for nothing then" she then tried to step away but felt herself being bounded to him, he didn't let her leave
She saw a grin appeared on his face, she had walked right into his trap
"Ciaran-" she tried to snuggle out but heard a grunt from him
"Don't wriggle so much"
"You're injured" she finally realized, had it been as a result of the fight? Guilt immediately flooded over her, she had caused it "Is it bad?"
"It's merely a scratch"
"Let me see" Orchid took a step away from him and her eyes went down his chest, there was an open wound at the side of his waist, it had turned black and seemed to be spreading "H-how can you call this a scratch?"