Royal Entanglement

link and the way her fists clenched. He smiled, then let himself down the horse, the servants coming around to help him and hold the horse in place.

”Thank you for earlier. ”

She looked up to him. ”Prince Xander. What an honor to meet you. ”

His eyes grew curious. ”You sound like you have been wanting to meet me. ”

She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. It looked rather strained. ”Yes, Your highness. And such luck I have. ”

”It saddens me that I will not meet you under such circumstances. I reside at Fermichs grand palace. You can go through the necessary procedures in order to meet me. On account of today, I will make sure to give you a bit of time. ”

He turned away, clasping his hand behind him as he raked his hand through his hair again. Lady Sophia broke into a sarcastic smile as he started to walk away from her.

”I do wonder, Your highness, if His majesty will share the same opinion. ”

Prince Xanders brows furrowed as he turned sideways to her. ”What do you mean? ”

She shrugged, walking to him, holding her dress elegantly in her fingers. He watched as she made her way to him, then smiled again.

”I was just wondering, Your highness, if His majesty will grant me audience, especially if I tell him about the servant you see behind the palace gardens every night. ”

Prince Xanders eyes widened, his cool demeanor immediately evaporating, just like the secrecy of his constant visits to the servants quarters. He was set to marry the daughter of one of the lords of his fathers council, a rather sickly maiden named Lady Lisette who seemed to have nothing to speak of except for convention.

Despite his duties, however, he could not help his affection for the servant, Charlotte. He had seen her just once, in the same palace gardens, and he had known there and then he preferred her simple dressing over anything any other lady would adorn herself with.

But it was forbidden. They all knew it was. And that is why he never had the courage to go to his father. Even though he would break her heart when he wedded, he would still do it, because that is the price that came with the crown that sat atop his head.

”Who are you? ” He asked, his voice low, his eyes lifting to the servants that stood around him.

She laughed, seeing his disorientation. ”I am Lady Sophia, Your highness. The second daughter of a noble family from the small Western kingdom of Green Oak. ”

His brows furrowed. ”That tells me nothing of why you know about my visits. ”

She smiled even wider. ”I have a resolution and that is why I am here, Your highness. ”

He raised his head slightly, letting out a small breath. ”Speak. ”

She moved forward. ”What do I start with, Your highness? The secret, the consequences or the conditions of safeguarding your secret? ”