"If you can laugh together, you can work together"
-Robert Orben.
As the day transitioned into night, Marcus's mind wandered through a labyrinth of memories, dreams, and possibilities, carried away by the enchanting spell of the twilight hour.
The gentle breeze rustled the curtains, adding a soothing soundtrack to the quiet solitude of the evening as Marcus found himself consumed by his own thoughts.
The late hour seemed to amplify the weight of his contemplations, enveloping him in a silent introspection.Marcus sank into his bed, his mind adrift in a sea of thoughts.
The tranquility of his contemplations enveloped him, creating a serene atmosphere that matched the stillness of the night. As he sat there, lost in his own world, the room seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for Marcus to unravel the mysteries within his mind.
His mind was consumed by the intense conversation, or rather argument, he had with his father earlier.Shrugging off those thoughts, his focus shifted to Blair. "The maid," he whispered to himself.
He was undeniably in love with her, that much was certain. It was in that moment that he realized something quite significant - he didn't actually know her name. A smile formed on his lips as he stylishly rubbed them, relishing in the thought.
"I can't believe I'm actually smiling at the thought of a girl. Is this really happening to me?" he asked himself, playfully twitching his face.
"What has she done to me?" he exclaimed silently, realizing that he was eagerly waiting for her to serve him his evening tea.
"I guess she won't come... she must be angry with me. I should go look for her," he concluded, and ventured out to find her.
He searched all her usual spots, including the garden, but couldn't locate her. Finally, he decided to check the kitchen in hopes of finding her there.
As he entered the kitchen, he spotted the head maid, Madam Eunice, who had been overseeing the evening preparations surrounded by other maids. Ignoring the giggles and drooling from the others, he approached her with glimmer of hope in his eyes. To everyone's surprise, he spoke politely, a departure from his usual arrogance.
"Hey, you're the head maid, right? Mind if I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his tone surprisingly calm.
"Of course, my Prince," Madam Eunice replied, abandoning her task and following him out.
"I'm actually looking for a particular maid," Marcus began as they stepped outside.
"Who...?" Madam Eunice asked, as if she didn't know who he was referring to.
"She has long, silky blonde hair... her eyes are emerald... her skin is fair... and her lips..." he explained slowly, getting lost in his thoughts with a smile.
"...are pink," he added, still smiling.
"You mean Blair?" Madam Eunice asked, jolting him out of his thoughts.
Was Blair her name? He asked himself.
"I haven't seen her since noon. I was wondering where she could have been," she added.
******
Princess Olivia stood in front of her mirror, dressed beautifully in her night robe. She grinned wickedly as thoughts of her accomplished plan filled her mind.
"Why the big smile?" Marcus's voice startled her as he entered the room, his hands crossed behind his back.
"Ma... Mar... Marcus?" Olivia trembled, clearly surprised to see him.
"What brings you here, Marcus?" she asked, fear evident in her voice.
He remained silent, standing elegantly with his hands still crossed behind his back.
"Where's Blair?" he demanded, giving her a stern look. They both knew he didn't need her answer to uncover the truth.
"I...I don't know..?," she stammered, her words hesitant and filled with uncertainty. She found herself at a loss for what to say, knowing deep down that no matter what response she gave, he would effortlessly read her mind and uncover the truth. The weight of his extraordinary abilities hung in the air, adding an extra layer of complexity to their conversation.
He locked eyes with her, seemingly able to read her thoughts and gather the information he needed. As their eyes locked, and it felt as if he could delve into the depths of her mind, extracting every thought and emotion. A look of astonishment crossed his face, his widened eyes mirroring the surprise and awe he felt in that moment.
"Pray to the gods that she's safe!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with anger and determination. Without wasting another moment, he swiftly departed, fueled by the urgency to rescue Blair from whatever danger she might be facing.
*****
Marcus's blood boiled with fury as his super-sensitive ears caught Blair's desperate cry for help. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched tightly, a surge of anger coursing through his veins.
With lightning speed, he dashed into the dense woods, arriving just in the nick of time. In the dim light, he spotted two masked individuals attempting to bind Blair to a tree, while a third menacingly brandished a gleaming knife.
"Release her now," Marcus calmly commanded, his voice laced with controlled anger. His fangs and claws were fully exposed, ready for action. But as the two masked men advanced, his anger reached its boiling point.
"I SAID LET GO!" he thundered, launching himself at them with ferocity. His fury transforms into determination and protection. With swift, precise movements, he effortlessly tore through his adversaries, leaving them defeated.
As he turned around, he realized Blair and the final assassin were nowhere to be seen. He sniffed the air, detecting their presence nearby.
The sound of Blair's desperate cries for help echoed in his head, fueling his anger even more.
Just as Marcus caught sight of them hiding behind the vines, his heart sank.
The assassin emerged, dragging himself out with Blair held captive, a sharp knife pressed against her delicate neck.
Marcus's fangs and claws were still stained with the blood of his defeated foes, but his anger surged beyond control. The sight of the knife perilously close to Blair's throat ignited a rage unlike anything he had ever felt before.
In the blink of an eye, Marcus materialized in front of the assassin with a speed of light, gripping his neck tightly as the man gasped for help. The knife slipped from the assassin's grasp, clattering to the ground.
Marcus fell into a deafening silence, his gaze fixed on Blair, who had collapsed from the grip of her assailant. Pained eyes locked onto her emotionless form, Marcus's heart ached.
With an increasing grip on the assassin's neck, his pain transformed into a seething anger. His eyes turned a fiery red as he finally hurled the man away, releasing his hold on his neck.
He remained rooted to the spot, his eyes tightly shut, trembling as he tried to regain his composure. When the realization hit him that Blair had fainted and lay motionless on the ground, he snapped his eyes open.
"Blair! Blair!" he cried out, shaking her desperately, but there was no response. Panic surged through him as he shouted her name once more, his eyes wide with fear, noticing her heartbeat slowing down.
Without hesitation, he scooped her up into his arms and made his way to the shelter of a nearby tree. The night air was serene, carrying a chill breeze. Gently, he laid her down and removed his jacket, carefully draping it over her body to keep her warm.
"Blair..." he whispered, a single tear escaping from his eyes. "This is all my fault," he muttered to himself, his head bowed over her body as he released quiet sobs.
"How did you know my name?" he heard her tiny voice grumble, sounding a bit cranky.
His head shot up immediately, his eyes meeting hers, those captivating emerald eyes that he had yearned for during their brief separation.
Overwhelmed with relief, he pulled her into a tight embrace, causing her to gasp in surprise at his sudden approach.
He held onto her tightly, his excitement palpable, and his tears and sobs now transformed into tears of joy.However, he reluctantly released her when he noticed her discomfort, her subtle sounds indicating that his embrace was becoming overwhelming.
With a smile on his face, he let go of her, gently wiping away his tearful eyes. "I'm sorry... I thought I had lost you, Blair," he whispered softly, his voice filled with relief and genuine concern.
Blair's weakness was evident, but she managed to muster a wry smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm fine. Still wondering how you knew my name, though," she joked, their laughter breaking through the emotional atmosphere, providing a momentary respite.
In an instant, silence enveloped them as their eyes locked, brimming with intense love and affection. Prince Marcus summoned all the courage within him and declared, "I... I love you, Blair," his words filled with an overwhelming depth of emotion.
"I love you" He repeated as he drew closer, he leaned in and tenderly planted a kiss on her lips, sealing their connection in that heartfelt moment.