Lady Sophia prepared herself to fall on the ground, screaming while crying her eyes out when the sphere of water became rain. However, her plan was ruined when she looked in Lady Elaine's direction once more.
A random variable has entered her scheme, and her face turned white instantly. His interference was unexpected, and Prince Lucas did not even notice him as he was approaching Sophia.
Sophia tried to alarm the prince of the outcast's presence, but he vanished from her sight in the next second. She clenched her jaw in anger and irritation but softened her expression spontaneously when Prince Lucas reached her proximity. However, Lady Sophia did not realise that some of the students noticed her change in expression.
----
Elaine blinked her eyes open slightly, unfamiliar with her surroundings. She sat up slowly from her lying position and looked around the area. Below her head was a folded blazer of an Academy student that served as her pillow--a male's.
Leaves rustled behind her, startling Elaine when a man revealed himself to her. Lady Elaine looked up at her fellow student, and she hitched a breath when they both held each other's gazes.
She could not verify his identity then, but now that she got the chance to face him, it was just as she thought. His similar physical features with Prince Lucas was not a mere delusion.
The man's hair, dark as night, was soft and lustrous. Not only were his eyebrows perfectly symmetrical, but his lashes were longer than the average man's, and it was stunning. His pale skin highlights his deep ruby eyes that were as brilliant as the gem itself. Lady Elaine had never seen a man as attractive yet mysterious as he.
"I greet Lady Elaine, daughter of Duke Gustova." He crossed his right hand to his left shoulder and circled his left arm around his back, bowing respectfully to Elaine.
Unable to immediately comprehend the situation, Elaine could only stand up silently, her mouth parted slightly.
His head was still lowered as she still had not received his greeting. However, Elaine personally raised his upper body, staring into his scarlet eyes once more. She was lured in by them.
"I do not dare to receive the greetings of someone of high regard like His Highness," Elaine responded, still awestruck.
"..." He stared straight into Lady Elaine's sparkling and pure blue iris; his eyes were fondly watching them. "I am not the prince you have assumed I was."
"Then, who are you?" Elaine tried to figure him out, tilting her head.
"...I may have been born of the same blood, but I do not have that position, Lady Elaine." He replied. "There is no need for the lady to treat me as a royal."
"I do not understand, Your Highness." She shook her head with confused eyes. "You are the first prince of Athelis."
"Perhaps I am to you, right now." He replied. "But, you know nothing about me in your current state."
"...Your Highness knows of my illness." Elaine gasped softly in realisation. Everyone should have known who this prince was, yet he knew that Elaine did not.
"The word has already spread." The prince told her. "It is only a matter of time before they find confirmation on the subject."
Elaine stared at him in silence once again. Her eyes were piqued with interest now. "Is Your Highness worried about me?"
He did not answer, nor did he give Elaine a reaction. She figured he wouldn't anyway and decided to shift away from the topic. However, Elaine knew that he was worried about her, making her feel warm and tingly inside.
"Why has Your Highness decided to bring us to a secluded area in the forest?"
"...I felt that something troublesome would happen in the Fort if I did not bring you away." The prince told her the truth.
"And, Your Highness healed me from the aftereffects of the magic I performed as well?" Elaine continued.
'How did she know?' The prince thought to himself. Still, he answered her. "Yes."
"...May I know Your Highness' name?"
Asking for his name was unexpected, so he paused for a while. The prince contemplated on whether he should tell her or not for a few minutes. But Elaine waited eagerly for him to reveal it, and he gave in. "I am called Malik."
"Prince Malik." Elaine liked the way his name rang in her ears, smiling. "Why did Your Highness reveal yourself to me?"
Prince Malik's tongue was tied at that moment, no matter how much his heart knew the answer. Instead, something else came out of his lips. "And why haven't you run away?"
Prince Malik did not know what he was saying. Lady Elaine was within his reach, yet he wanted to push her away. He was 'dangerous', but he yearned for her warmth.
"Is there a reason I should?"
The prince blinked at her response, slightly bewildered. They were visible to Elaine; however, they did not induce fear inside her heart.
'Is she really not afraid?'
'...Should I tell her?'
Maybe he could keep it a secret. No one dares to speak about him anyway, so Elaine would not learn the truth. Perhaps he could also reach out to her light like others did, even if it was temporary.
'...No, I should not be greedy. I should not bring Lady Elaine into my darkness. I should not involve her with myself.' Prince Malik's thoughts were swirled with what he should not be doing, ignoring what his heart truly desired and craved for.
"Yes." Prince Malik stepped backwards with a frown directed at himself, regretting his actions. "This was a mistake."
Lady Elaine's eyebrow twitched at the way he worded their meeting. "Prince Malik--"
The first prince was already out of her vision when she tried to chase after his back. It was as if he was trying to escape something, even leaving his piece of clothing behind.
Elaine was left utterly confused and speechless.
'Leave him.' Tiara said. 'You did your best.'
"...Prince Malik was purposefully trying to push me away, Tiara." Elaine bent down and took the prince's blazer in her hands, staring at it. "Why show me such kindness and attention when he meant to avoid me?"
'Do not blame the boy.' Tiara reasoned. 'Everybody has a past.'
"...I know." Elaine sighed.
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