It didn’t take long for Ruen to reach the music room of the east wing. He was relieved that such an ordeal with Lady Kathrine was over. Lord Jared would have found something worthwhile for her to dispose of her time while she was at the mansion, so he didn’t have to worry anymore. Now that he was free, the only thing in his mind was to go back to the grand hall and see to it that Princess Lianne and the general was still in public view. He was anxious about the fact that even just a simple blink of an eye, Cain could easily manage her out of the dance floor and into a secluded place where... He shook his thoughts away and cringed. Before anything could happen, he was damn going to make it sure he was there to stop it. The music room was very spacious amidst the various types of instruments placed on it. There was no one in sight. No merchant or a

It seemed that Lianne’s words deeply affected the prince as he had not said another word to her as the evening got older. They both only sat on their seats silently and just observing the party throughout the night. When it was an hour past midnight, the guests one by one said their goodbyes and left the mansion along with Lord Cain and the other generals. King Garlow had also left too leaving Ruen and the princess alone at the royal table. The Duke was nowhere in sight and was thought to exit the mansion earlier. Considering that fact, Lianne began to doubt the prince’s words. She therefore concluded that it was really one of Ruen’s games of keeping her for his pleasure. There had been no advances during the ball from the Duke and that she had not received any summons from him to dance either. “Let me escort you to your room,” t

Lianne wasn’t comfortable staying in her new room. Half an hour after Prince Ruen left, she hastily went back to her own servant quarter only to her disappointment. She had found that it was already occupied by three male servants of the palace. It would seem that Garlow had made it sure she will not be able to go back to her old room, and because of it, she didn’t have any choice but to stay at the new chamber that night. Surely, on the morrow, she will be able to persuade Erza or the other servants to let them share their own rooms for her. Her first night inside the chamber however wasn’t as bad as she had thought to be, but it was a definite change of her comfort. The gown she had worn at the ball was hung at a nearby sofa chair. Truly, it was a beautiful dress. If not only for the man who gave it, she would have wanted to keep such a masterpiece. Now, she w

The earth was moist and foggy after a heavy rain that afternoon. Amidst hearing the servants’ precaution regarding the traps laid out by the King around the mansion, Princess Lianne didn’t give it much weight as she was too determined to escape. She knew that as long as she was inside the mansion, though she vehemently refused to be controlled all these years, she would never receive her rightful freedom. To flee was the only option. The track was downhill and rocky. The loosened soil in addition was threatening her pace of escape. There were large trees everywhere in sight and the moon’s radiance could only touch half of the forest floor. ‘Traps could be anywhere!’ she thought to herself, but the fear of it was naught compared to the terror she might face if she will be married to the old duke. Due to the haste of her flight out of the mansion, the only possession she h

The prince woke up early morning on the fourth day with the defervescence of his fever. Present in the room was Sir Culdran, his doctor, and his assistant, Lady Faye, and two other maidservants taking out the used linens from his room. The exhausted doctor immediately approached the prince and checked on his status, then Lady Faye followed, bearing a welcoming smile upon seeing the prince awake at last. “Your Highness, good morning,” Lady Faye greeted softly. She bowed her head and waited for His Highness’ answer. “Lady Faye...good to see you,” Ruen replied, voice weak but with depth, “you look so tired.” Lady Faye smiled in response as he stated the obvious. “Your Highness, I am truly relieved that you are healing well with your injury. It has been days when you were unconscious.” &ld