It was late in the evening when Tanya finally decided to leave Mera they had just finished dinner. As Tanya left Mera in her quarters and began to make her way to her own quarters in prince Malek's wing. She came across Prince Zayer who was making his way toward the opposite direction.
His meeting with the Emperor must be over Tanya thought to herself.
"Your highness," she greeted him and then bowed before him. As she made to walk past him he instead came in front of her and blocked her from passing
Then suddenly he walked aggressively toward Tanya forcing her move backward in a particular direction he wanted her to. She continued moving until was backed against the wall in the hallway. He wasn't touching her, but he was close enough that she couldn't get away from him.
"Your Highness?" Tanya asked him, wondering what he was doing as her heart frantically began to pound in her chest as she helplessly looked up at him. Zayer's green snakelike eyes looked down at her as he stared her down.
"About the game we played earlier..." he began and Tanya stiffened remembering his reaction to their game.
Tanya turned to look at the guards stationed nearby in the hallway they looked her way but didn't do anything.
Of course they couldn't stop Zayer he was a prince after all.
"Wh-at about it Your Highness?" she asked him.
"You lost on purpose, didn't you?" he asked.
Her eyes widened in horror. He knew! she thought to herself. "I-I don't know what you mean," she lied as her eyed darted around in a panic.
"Oh, is that so?" he replied sounding unconvinced and irritated. "You want to know what I found especially funny as we played? I had said I would go easy on you, and I initially did. You positioned your pieces in an unusual way, you placed them as if you were aware of the best move to make but intentionally put them in an ob. If you're going to pretend to be bad at something, do it well," he whispered to her, his deep voice reverberated in her body.
Tanya panicked she hadn't expected to have been found out, let alone she hoped she hadn't offended him but from the way he was reacting it seemed she had done just that. His demeanour was completely different compared to earlier when she had seen him. Despite the unspoken tension with Malek, Zayer had been calm and collected the entire time but right now as Tanya stared into his eyes he looked annoyed and there was a hint of something else in them. To have made him lose his composure like this Tanya feared for how he would retaliate and punish her or worse others on her behalf.
Tanya panicked over what she should do now. He knew she was lying already so it would be best if she apologized quickly.
"I apologize your Highness, I never intended to offend you. Please forgive me," She sincerely and frantically apologized.
"Why did you lose on purpose?" he then asked her.
"I am of a lower rank, I can't challenge a royal family member," she explained to him.
"Don't give me that excuse. You did it for him didn't you?" he asked her.
Tanya was silent. She was realized he knew the truth.
"I noticed the way he talks down and glares at you. You dim your light for him, don't you?" he went on with interest in his voice.
Tanya could only stare at him unsure of how to answer.
"When I heard he demoted you from your position, I wondered why. You're quite smart, aren't you? Smart ones are never favoured, they're boring," he said to her.
Tanya shivered at that. She felt uncomfortable and overwhelmed by the prince's questions and statements. On top of that he was too close to her, and she felt trapped. She was wondering if she was in trouble or not.
"But for how long you intend to keep things this w--," he commented before being cutoff.
"Your Highness," a voice then said from nearby.
Zayer and Tanya turned their heads to find Master Hardik standing a short distance away from them.
"Looks like I've been caught," Zayer whispered as he turned away from Tanya to look at Hardik.
"And you are?" he asked.
"Hardik, Your Highness
"The crown prince's cousin?" he asked. "The resemblance is uncanny."
"May I help you?" Hardik asked. "You have the lady in a corner perhaps I could be more helpful in getting you what you need."
"Oh not at all I was making my way to my room and bumped into her. I was just talking to her about the way she played in our Roku game earlier," he told him.
"I see,"
"Well then, I want a proper match with you one day," he said to her, then began to walk away from her.
Tanya sighed in relief having been given a chance to escape from Zayer. Then suddenly stopped turned to her once more.
Tanya tensed up wondering what the problem was now.
"I wanted to say one more thing. I know it's late now, but I wanted to offer my condolences for what happened to your parents. Especially since it happened in my Empire."
Tanya's eyes immediately widened and welled up with emotion. "Thank you." Was all she could muster to say to him. Giving her one last look he then resumed walking away from her and left.
Her and Hardik watched as the prince left returning to his quarters.
"Are you alright?" Hardik asked when he reached her .
Tanya stared at him and nodded her head.
"What did he say to you?"
"I apologize for the fact that you keep on having to help me in situations like this," Tanya apologized.
This was the second time he had saved her. Not to mention she was seeing him around a lot more often. Before they would only see each other hear and there.
"What are you apologizing for? You've done nothing wrong," he told her.