I was halfway through tying my hair when there was a soft knock at my door, three polite taps, like someone who'd been taught manners since birth. I walked to the door and opened it. My eyes widened upon seeing who it was. I was so shocked I had to rub my eyes twice to see if I was hallucinating or even dreaming. The prince had never come to my room before personally. As he had always sent notes, messages, or clothes to be brought to me through the maids or Lukas. He had a whole parade of people to do his errands for him—so spoiled and lucky. And yet so cold. He had a distance problem as a hobby.
So when he swung the door open with a supernatural force, he stepped inside, and an announcement of refusal could stop this man from coming in normally. I'd slam the door in his face or flat-out step on his toes and even use the tactic he's been using against me since he got here—threats—but this time was different; he looked even more pissed, and I wasn't one to put myself in any unnecessary trouble again.
He stood there like a statue carved from midnight: taller than I remembered, colder, and somehow… stiffer. He didn't say hello. He didn't even glance at the maids, who froze in the hallway, cowering in fear as if it were not the first time his rage seeped through the air. He simply closed the door behind him with a soft click that sounded like a verdict. Then he walked straight to me. Before I could form a single sentence or before I could even decide whether to be terrified or annoyed, he reached out and pulled me into his arms. Not a gentle, polite hold. A possessive, immediate grip that smelled like iron and old books and something faintly sweet that made my knees give out. I couldn't deny how warm his embrace felt to me, and his chest was hard as a rock. I wonder what lies under the clothing...
He buried his face in my hair and breathed in. I could feel his chest rise and fall. He stayed like that for what felt like hours, but only a minute passed, and it felt like he was memorizing the shape and smell of me... Should I be creeped out? And then he let go of me.
He turned away and walked out, slamming the door so hard the whole room shivered. I stood there, stunned, hair half-tied, heart pounding like a drum. What the hell just happened? What the hell in the rats' dungeon is wrong with this guy? One moment he's cold; the next he's a sudden emotional wreck, clearly. He can't pick a lane and stay with the struggle.
Lukas barged in two minutes later, all grin and too-bright eyes, like he hadn't just seen his prince act like a man possessed.
"He's in a foul mood today," Lukas said, dropping onto the chair as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "And no, it's not because you look like a disaster in that dress." He laughed, but there was a shadow under his smile that hid more to the story than meets the eye. "It's his father."
My stomach dropped since I had never met his father before, only heard some side stories from Lukas. "The king?"
Lukas nodded. "The king's forcing him to meet the princess he's supposed to marry. you know those arranged marriages if you're familiar with them"
I blinked. "Princess? Since when does the prince have to marry anyone he doesn't want to? I've never heard of such a story before, Lukas... Are you sure you got this correct? Marry???
I felt my heart almost sank to the bottom floor. I did feel a little upset hearing this, and it's not because I'm jealous, no, definitely... it's just how the information was casually dropped on me. That's when I heard Lukas continue.
"Since the throne likes to play matchmaker," Lukas said. "Apparently, this princess has been following him around, pestering him, trying to touch him in ways that make him want to vomit. " He made a face signifying disgust. "And not only that, she's clingy. She's stalker-ish and always acts high and mighty, like she's some kind of big shot around here when really nobody's ever really heard of her and her shit family till the prince's dad met her and took a liking to her, which only God knows what he saw in her because it's definitely not looks or smarts. You'll find that out in a matter of seconds. That aside, the prince hates her guts, if it wasn't already obvious.
So that must've been the reason why he hugged me so gently...well, it doesn't really explain the gesture, so I asked Lukas just to be sure my hunch was right.
"So he came to my room because...?" I asked hesitantly, nervous for an answer.
"Because he needed to smell you," Lukas said bluntly, then flushed. "Not like that. He needed… calm. He said your scent helps. He said you make him less… sharp."
I felt my whole face turn red. "He—he said that?"
Lukas shrugged. "He didn't say it like that. He said it like a threat. But yes. He came here because of you."
I almost laughed if it weren't for my sheer will stopping me.
I wanted to cry. Mostly I wanted to understand why my life had turned into a mushy soap opera or a reality TV show where I was the only one without a script.
With a sigh, I said my goodbyes to Lukas, walking out of the room and to his office because I know if I don't try and do something about his mood, his grumpiness will come back to haunt me, not out of guilt, but because I don't want to be killed for saying a single sentence.
Knock knock!
Who the fuck's there at this hour? Whatever it is, do not bother me or else I'll slice your—
"Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed," I said in an obviously bright mood. I tried not to shove it in his face too much with his unpredictable mental state right now.
"Don't start with me."
Why are you here? care to rub something in my face or something, or to bother me to get you another reached food you love so much
Gosh, was I such a bother to this man? More importantly, how am I going to cheer an icy king up? That task is a level of impossible for me. Game over, I thought.