A year later...

"Creepy prince alert." A maid whispered to another one.

"Seriously he is so creepy with his white ghostly hair."

"Why wasn't he dead instead of Prince Owen? Prince Owen was such a bright and cheerful prince." 

"I'm so glad princess Zoe didn't turn up like him."

Creepy, ugly, gloomy... I'm used to hearing such words, it doesn't make it any less painful to hear though. They want a villain, a parasite to vent on so they'd feel better about themselves and I just happened to be the weakest chain.

"Maybe I-- No, hold it in, hold it in..." I closed my bedroom door then stare through the window. The war is over, but as soon as Theodore came back he went on an expedition to slay the dragon of the east. He didn't even bother to see me, he promised to write me, but he never kept that promise. What was the point of flattering me? Why did I get my hopes up? Because he is my husband? Even if he is, it is not like we married out of love.

Please just let the day pass...

...

..

.

"Ugh, this flower doesn't compliment my dress! Get one that does, a lily or a white rose!" My eldest sister Chloe screamed at the maid who was arranging the flowers for the upcoming birthday party for our little sister Zoe, she'll turn twelve. "No, no, no! Not right, left! leeeft! Why are you all so incompetent?!"

"Chloe calm down." I said then she turned my way glaring. She closed her eyes then took a deep breath.

"You're right, all this anger will ruin my skin, I don't want any wrinkles at a very early age." She checked herself with her hand mirror that she always carries. "Ah, I'm so beautiful." As you can tell, my sister is a textbook narcissist, but deep down she is a good princess. Her eyes shift to me then she scanned me from head to toe. 

"God, why do you look like a beggar? If it weren't for the Evermoon crown in your head I'd assume you're a commoner pretending to be a prince."

That's right I am the third prince Noah Evermoon of the Evermoon kingdom. My eldest sister, princess Chloe Evermoon is unlike me, she is very beautiful and charismatic, the 'perfect' princess with her beautiful long red hair, her white fairly skin, and healthy body.

"James, do something about your brother's appearance!" Chloe calls out for our eldest brother James Evermoon, my father's successor to the throne. My brother is picture-perfect for a future king, he is well-mannered, wise, and level-headed. His personality is a little cold, but he is incredibly kind to us. He has short black hair, white fairly skin, he is fit and very tall.

"Who cares? I don't, the party is tomorrow, do your own thing and stop being salty about everything!" James said which made Chloe frown.

"I agree with Chloe! I don't want Noah in my party if he is not dressed up properly!" Zoe, my little sister, and the youngest of the Evermoon family said. As you can see, she is very infatuated with Chloe, she's one big spoiled brat, but she's just a child so I let it slide, I seriously wanna smack her head and kiss her forehead at the same time. Zoe's appearance is similar to our mom's. Blonde hair, white fairly skin, and big blue eyes.

Also, Owen is-- was the second prince, but he died fighting in the war. It's been a year, but it doesn't hurt any less knowing he is not with us anymore. When we heard the news we were all in shock, we couldn't find his body, we visit an empty grave when we want to see him. Owen was the only person who was nice to me, he used to stay by my side and tell me about his adventures, he told me once the war is over we'd go to that restaurant his friend recommended.

Promises are meant to be broken, I guess that was our goodbye. An unfulfilled promise, everyone seemed to have moved on. James is ascending the throne, Chloe is back being the entitled princess, and Zoe is just a child.

Me...?

I'm stuck...

...

..

.

Another year passed, finally, I got the news that Theodore, my husband is back. He is now the honorary knight that won the war and slain the dragon of the east. I wonder, now that he has such a big title he'd divorce me. I'm the gloomy prince, after all, he doesn't need someone like me in his life. Someone like James or Chloe is better suited for him.

"Hehehe... I heard that the honorary knight is staying a little more in the palace."

"He is so handsome~ I wanna sneak into his room at night~"

"Shush! His husband is over there!"

"Who cares? Didn't you see Sire Theodore's expression? It was dark and sour, he's probably gonna ask King Regis for a divorce."

So others are thinking the same?! No, no! If we divorce my dad will call me a disappointment! I-I won't allow it!

I walked, marched, then ran to Theodore's room. I barged without knocking to be greeted with shirtless Theodore. His build is better and there was a visible scar on his abdomen. I blushed then quickly shut the door. "M-My apologies! I should have knocked!"

There was silence then suddenly the door was swung and an arm dragged me roughly inside pushing me against the wall. I looked up at him and my eyes met his angry gaze. I felt intimated that I couldn't say anything. His grip loosened then he hugged me tightly.

"You're so thin, are you eating properly?" Theodore asked then kissed my forehead and my lips. I nodded my head.

"W-Welcome back."

"Why didn't you come live in my castle?! I went there as soon as I finished slaying the dragon! And why did you not write back?"

"Write back...? What?"

"My letters! I sent you so many letters, but you never replied to any!!" Theodore looked really angry and displeased, but I couldn't answer his questions because I never received any letters.

"W-What letters...?"

"Are you messing with me?!" Theodore shouted at me which made me recoil. "I sent you letters! Letters! But you never bothered to reply, guess you are just as entitled as the rumors say." I don't know why, but for some reason, hearing yell and throwing insults at me made me tear up. I try to leave, but he grabbed my arm. "We're leaving now." He dragged me out till we bumped into Chloe, when she looked at me in distress she gets in Theodore's way.

"Greetings princess Chloe, I'll be taking prince Noah, my husband, with me home."

"No, you won't!" Chloe said then slapped the hand that was grabbing me with her fan. "Prince Noah does not look presentable for the public to see him. I see you are in a rush so give us... Ugh, give us one hour."

"Fine." Theodore said.

"Go on, wait for us in your carriage." I followed my sister to my room. "Ugh men, you have one hot-headed husband Noah, he is one red flag with that attitude."

"D-Don't badmouth m-my husband l-like that, Sire Theodore is kind."

"Yeah right, you only met him once or twice then poof, he disappeared to the war, once the war was over he never visited you and went into an expedition." Chloe said then threw an outfit on me. "Change into this." I went to the changing room and change my clothes.

"S-Sire Theodore mentioned that he sent me letters, but I never received any."

"That's weird, maybe he's lying... Ah, my beautiful perfect face, I'm seriously beautiful, who wouldn't fall in love with me?"

"I'm done..."

"Come here, let me do your hair and makeup."

"Okay."

"Don't let that lowly knight treats you-- an Evermoon prince like a potato sack."

"Alright..."

"There... I'm such a genius, only took me one hour to turn you into a masterpiece. Aaaah! Not only am I beautiful, but I'm also a genius!" I looked at myself in the mirror and I couldn't recognize myself for a second.

"Do you think... Theodore will think... I'm pretty?"

"Obviously! I made you perfect! Now go!" I quickly grabbed a book then went to meet up with Sire Theodore.

He was standing outside the carriage gazing at the sunset. "S-Sire Theodore, s-sorry for keeping you waiting..."

"It's fi..." Theodore trailed off and for some reason, his face turned bright red.

"Sire Theodore?" He snapped out of it then cleared his throat.

"Shall we go?" He extended his hand my way which made me confused. Does he want money? No, no, he has a whole castle with a huge treasury, is he asking for the novel I'm holding? No, of course not, does he need a handkerchief then?

"Here you go." I placed my handkerchief in his hand which he frowned upon. "U-Um... Was it the wrong thing...?"

"Hand! I want to hold your hand!"

"My hand...? Why?"

"What's wrong with holding my husband's hand?!" I blushed bright when he called me 'his husband'

"N-Nothing wrong, y-yes! Hands!" I held his hand then he escorted me to his carriage. We sat opposite of one another. I felt awkward and I didn't know what to say, I looked his way but he seemed absent-minded as he stare through the window.

"Our trip will take two days, and your belongings will take one week to arrive at our home." Theodore said still looking through the mirror. O-Our home?!

"U-Um... To be honest, I thought you came back t-to divorce me..." His eyes widen then finally he looked my way.

"There's no way I'd divorce you, not after-- nevermind, my point is-- you're my husband, or are the rumors true that you found a lover in those two years I was away?"

"N-No! I don't! You're the only person in my life!" Theodore returned back to his previous position but this time he's smiling.

One hour, two hours passes without any of us exchanging any words. I gave up then went to read the book I brought with me. It is about a princess who the dragon kidnaps, but the knight comes to save her. Pretty cliche, but cute at the same time. It would be so romantic if someone would go to such extreme lengths to be with me. I looked up to see that Theodore disappeared. "Huh?"

"Whatcha reading?" I flinched when I hear his voice next to my ear. Was I too absored in the book that I didn't notice him moving? "Noah?"

"O-Oh! The book! It's about..." I tell him about the plot of the story and he listened to every word I uttered which made me happy. It's been a while since someone listened to me. The only person who ever listened to me intently was my brother Owen. When I reached the dragon slaying part, Theodore frowned.

"Sorry, but that was unrealistic." Theodore objected.

"Why would you say that?"

"Firstly a dragon doesn't have one heart, but three actually. Secondly, dragons don't breathe fire, they release a hot toxic gas that would poison you to death, not to mention dragons are not flashy, they are masters of deception, despite their large size they are good at hiding and ambushing you. I was almost dead if I wasn't careful enough."

"Whoa! Tell me more!"

"I...Uh sure, as I was saying, dragons are actually very sneaky. It took me a whole year to track the dragon down, for a while I felt like I was going through a fool's errand..." Theodore kept explaining about dragon's nature and about his journey with his troop.

"Wow, you're so cool Sire Theodore."

"Can you not call me by my title?"

"W-What should I call you then? Mister Black?"

"I don't know, give me a pet name or just call me by my name."

"P-Pet name?!" I blushed then looked down then I noticed that I was actually holding his hand, as soon as I was aware of that I quickly pulled away. "S-Sorry!"

"No! Keep holding my hand!" His face turned red when he said then I found myself blushing too and I held his hand once again.

"S-Since when was I holding your hands?"

"Since I started talking about dragons." Aaaah! That's a long time! No wonder my hand was sweaty. "I like your hand, it's soft and small."

"E-Erm... Yours are big and rough."

"Do you not like them?"

"I like them, a lot." I guided his hand slowly to my cheek and I'm reminded of our first night. Theodore was rough and in a rush, but at the same time, he made sure I was not in any pain and I was not injured in any place. He stroked my cheek then leaned in to kiss me which I respond by closing my eyes.

A sweet gentle kiss landed on my lips, his lips were soft that I wanted to keep kissing him, but no sooner than he kissed me he pulled away. "S-Sorry, you were just so cute that I couldn't control myself..." I wanted to tell him it was okay, but suddenly Theodore pushed me down violently and the carriage shook.

"W-What...?!"

"Are you okay?" I nodded my head then he pulled away. "Stay inside." Theodore left the carriage then unsheeted his sword. It was so cool, the handle was made of gold and there was an eye in the middle, the blade itself was long and sharp with a long glass in the middle as though it is preserved for something.

"Honorary knight, is something wrong?" I asked.

"Someone sat a trap on the road, the tire got busted. It is not safe, whoever planted the trap will come attack, and for Christ's sake, don't call me 'honorary knight' you're my partner, I'd like it if you call me something more intimate." Theodore took out the spare tire and started fixing the carriage. He suddenly stopped then countered an attack out of nowhere. It was a bandit that lunged himself on Theodore.

To Be Continued...