Lucia wondered what it would take for Adela to talk to her again. She was not talking to her unless she had to and it hurt. They used to be close. They were sisters. Why couldn't Adela forgive her? She had begged for forgiveness three years ago before realising that Adela wanted her to disappear from her life. She had tried to enlist their mother to help her connect with her sister but her mother had made things worse. She had realised she could not deal with her mother and she had hoped that time away would help Adela realise that their blood was much stronger than a man or a crown.
She wondered if she should leave again. Maybe her sister would be happier without her. It would certainly be less stressful for her. She would not have to dodge the bullets that were a combination of her mother's expectations and the weight of being in the royal court again.
"Are you going for a run?" A voice startled her and she turned an unconscious smile playing on her lips.
It was Prince Michael. She was standing on the patio and had been staring at the treeline beyond the manicured lawn. There was a track in there that she liked to walk or run. Her father would not approve as it had rained and she could slip and hurt herself. She had told the maid where she was going in case anyone asked.
"Yes," she replied, "I love to feel the cool air on my skin after it has rained."
She was dressed for it too. She was wearing black leggings and white running shoes and a grey hoodie over a black tee shirt. She noticed in surprise that the crown prince was dressed in grey sweatpants, white running shoes and a grey hoodie.
"I see you have the same thing on your mind," she pointed out with a grin.
He grinned sheepishly.
"I needed the fresh air before starting my day," he informed her, "I have been slacking off on my workout recently."
Lucia thought that he did not look like someone who had let themselves go. She could see the definition of his well-sculptured shoulders and she had a sudden need to squeeze his biceps.
She blinked the thought away.
"So which direction are you heading?" she asked the prince.
"I will go where you are going," he told her.
"I was going to run the trail in the woods," she said with a cheeky grin and turned her gaze back to the tree line.
"There's a running trail in there?" she could hear the shock in his voice.
"It's a trail," Lucia told him, "I did not say it was made for running."
Prince Michael frowned and regarded her. She had been planning on running a trail in the woods not meant for running. A wet one at that? Was she crazy? He had never figured her to be reckless.
That doesn't sound safe," he voiced after a pause.
Lucia's grin became challenging and devious.
"Are you intimidated?" she asked him, "You don't have to tag along."
"I will tag along," Prince Michael was not one to shy away from a challenge.
However, this was still out of his norm as he did not take stupid risks.
"Good," Lucia walked off the patio deck and began to jog in one place.
"Tell me if you can't keep up," she said and she was off.
Prince Michael shook his head with a smile on his face and followed her. She was going fast with her ponytail flying behind her. He easily caught up to her and they ran together until they reached the treeline. Lucia slowed down as she reached the treeline. She had found the track where she remembered it to be. It looked like it was well-maintained. She did not hesitate to jog in the shadows of the trees. Prince Michael was right on her heels.
They had to leap over fallen branches and some puddles but there were no issues beyond that. When Lucia had tired herself out, she gradually slowed down to a walk. They were still moving away from the house.
She was impressed that Prince had managed to keep up with her. She was even more impressed with how well the track was maintained. She wondered who had been using it in the three years she had been away.
"The track is better than you implied," Prince Michael noted.
He was slightly breathy. Lucia spared him a glance over her shoulder before focusing on where she was going.
"I thought it would be in bad shape," Lucia admitted, "I guess my memories of it are exaggerated."
"You used to come here a lot?" his breathing was more regulated now.
"Leroy and I would go camping here," Lucy told him as she leapt over a puddle.
"You love camping?" Prince Michael asked.
"Yes," Lucia smiled at the surprise in his voice.
Three years ago, they mostly met at balls and similar formal events where she had to be polished like a fine diamond. She had looked every part the youngest and most pampered daughter of Dominique and Josephine Handhoff.
They may have been friends back then but there was a lot about her he did not know. He was beginning to realise it now.
"Still out of ideas as to what to do while you study?" he suddenly asked.
Lucia stopped walking and looked at him in shock. Prince Michael stopped beside her and looked at her calmly. She wondered why he was asking.
"Yes," she confirmed, "I have not found a spot to fit in, yet. I think I might join the organisation I was with last year. I will have to move out of the country, I think."
The thought of her leaving left a bad taste in his mouth. He did not want her to leave.
"I might have a spot for you," he surprised her lying through his teeth.
He did not have a spot for her. No worries, he would make one. She could not leave. He would not be deprived of her soothing company again. Not if he could do something about it.
Lucia studied his face as if she would get answers that way.
Is he offering me a job? She wondered.
His face was sober but there was humour dancing in his eyes.
Is this a joke? She wondered.
A smile lifted the corners of his lips.
"No," there was a laugh hiding in his words, "It's not a joke."
He grinned when surprise morphed her face and was swiftly replaced by realisation which was replaced by horror. She had asked the question out loud. The horror didn't last as it was washed away by the wave of embarrassment before a sheepish smile graced her lips.
"What is the role?" she asked.
"I need someone to manage my charity events," he said.
Lucia lifted a brow.
"You have a PA for that," she told him bluntly.
"And he needs help," Prince Michael returned smoothly.
"Explain," Lucia said as she began to walk again.
"Peterson is a good PA but I am involved in a lot of things and he has started delegating," Prince Michael told her.
Lucia nodded her head. She knew that as the Crown Prince, he did have a lot on his plate. She never thought about the load on his PA. She realised that a lot was on his PA's plate too.
"What are the duties?" she asked him.
"I need you to arrange my charities and similar duties," he told her, "I also need help with arranging what more I can do for those who are not getting what they could from me."
"And you think I am the person for that job?" Lucia wondered with a frown folding the skin between her brows.
She thought it was a lot of responsibility.
"Are you not?" he asked her with a challenging smile.
She said nothing as she ran the idea in her head. What if she messed up? A small mistake could do a lot of harm.
"Petterson will be there to help you," he assured her, "All ideas are run by me before they are set in motion."
Lucia was not sure. She needed to think about this.
"Can I think about this?" she asked him, "What's the deadline for this offer?"
"You can think about it," the prince said reluctantly, "The deadline is the day after Alex's wedding."
Lucia nodded in acceptance. Prince Michael watched her as they continued walking. He hoped she would take him up on his offer. He would convince her it was the right move.