Rumble Rumble

"Ugh. I hate bumpy rides." I complained aloud. 

The carriage continued to shake even an hour into the journey. 

"Is that what you have to say after all this time?" Damond sat opposite me with his arm crossed and wore a look of disappointment on his face. His golden brown eyes pierced into mine.

Yes. I had been silent all this time. I didn't want to think about this situation in a negative way, but I just couldn't help myself. I just blurted something out to fill the silence. 

Damond seemed to take note of my worry. Of course he did. 

"Well...what do you want me to say then?" I asked.

"How you're really feeling Rina..." "And don't lie either." He unfolded his arms and waited for me to speak with worried eyes. 

"You know how I feel about it so why bother asking?" Yeah, he should really stop asking. I..I don't want to think about it.

"That's the thing with you. You always bottle up your feelings until they explode like a bottle of champagne. Just say what's on your mind!"

"What do you want to hear Damond?! That i'm scared that the Prince is a creep, a womanizer? What if he's a drunkard, a-an old man?!  For all I know he could even be a wife b-beater!"

I had never felt such a weight lift off my chest in just a matter of seconds. My shoulders had already started to relax. I hadn't even felt that they were tense...

"That's good Princess." He rarely calls me by title in private.

 Hm, he was right though... Maybe I really should stop keeping everything to myself.

"Thank you Damond." He always knew what I needed even before I realized it. Somehow, he knew me better than I knew myself.

 Maybe it's because he spent his whole life by my side. Now that I think about it, his whole purpose of living is to protect me... Ever since he was born, his father(who was also a Royal Guard to my mother) drilled the whole idea of shielding me into his head everyday. 

If his father was still alive, i'm sure he would continue to lecture him, even now at his age. 

"There's no need to thank me. If the Prince ends up to be any of the things you mentioned I will just simply hit him in the face. That can't be too hard." A wide grin spread across his handsome face and his eyes lit up with futile eagerness. 

He should know by now that he can't actually do that.  Damond can become a tad...violent at times. Overprotective would be an understatement. But surely he will comport himself at the palace right? 

"I know the Prince is said to be a weakling but you still shouldn't underestimate him." Oddly enough not much was said about the Prince of Shoubet, although it is the most powerful of the 12 Kingdoms. 

With little rumours about him flying around, I began to fabricate a version of the Prince in my head.

A tall, scrawny spoiled, brat who had his every wish handed to him. Somebody that demanded too much and gave too little. And maybe even a drunkard.

Ha. I'm imagining him to be the most terrible person. Expecting the worst is always better than expecting the best. 

My reverie was interrupted by a light knock on the carriage window. 

It was the driver. 

Damond opened the door just slightly to hear him. 

"I just wanted to inform you that we will be arriving in 30 minutes time Your Highness!"

"Yes yes, ok now continue riding please." Damond snorted. 

He sounded impatient. It seems he does not enjoy this journey any more than I do. 

The horses neighed and the carriage started to move once more. 

Thirty minutes. It's alright. 

                                                               ***

What had felt like the longest and most drawn out minutes would soon be over. We had already arrived at the Capital gates and were now going through customs and verification. Peeking through the window curtains, I observed the thousands of stares fixated on our carriage. 

Surely, a grand, black carriage looked out of place in this colorful bustling city. I couldn't see it properly, but it looks very beautiful. 

Quickly, we started moving again, this time having passed the gate. Suddenly, the scenery turned pitch black but we continued to ride. 

We must be going through a tunnel. 

"Don't be scared Rina..." You could hear the smile in his voice. 

"Oh, be quiet. I'm not 5 years old anymore." 

Just as I said that, a bright sun ray pierced my eyes and I realised that we had already passed through.

My mouth opened agape at the beautiful sight in front of me. 

A palace stood tall and white, bright in its demeanor as if a heavenly light emanated from within it. It was grand, but slim in it's stature and surrounded itself with beautiful, expensive, pink flora. Compared to our castle at Dewsdale, this was really something else. 

It looked really big from this distance....It must really be huge. 

"It looks like they are some nobles awaiting you, Your Highness." The driver spoke from the front. 

Nobles! Oh. I wasn't prepared for this. Will the Prince be out there waiting? 

"Relax Rina. It will be alright. Don't show them weakness. These people are opportunistic. They will pounce on you any moment of vulnerability." 

Damond's face turned back to that same serious and protective look he had on whenever he sensed danger.

Getting closer now, I could see the nobles waiting my for arrival... Is that the Queen and King?! 

Oh God!

The carriage stopped and I was now in full sight of the Royals.

"Deep breaths. Let's go." 

His words did nothing to help. Only now did I notice my heart violently slamming against my chest. 

As my personal Knight and Guard, Damond got down first and opened the carriage door. 

Trying to look elegant, I held my dress with both hands and came down as slowly and gently as possible. Hopefully I looked like some fairytale princess good enough to meet their expectations.

If things went wrong with them, my Kingdom would suffer. After all, they would be the ones to help boost us to prosperity again. 

I walked forward and rose my head to catch sight of an even more beautiful thing than the castle.

There stood the most handsome man I had ever seen in my entire life. He was tall, with the lightest brown hair and sunset eyes that stared through me warmly. He had fair skin with a bright smile, shining as if he was the sun itself.  

From the outside, it would seem like I had only glanced at him for a second. 

When did he get here? I hadn't noticed him standing next to the King and Queen.

The King was a middle aged looking man with a small beard, and the Queen looked a bit older with an aged smile and a thin stature.

I bowed deeply while listening to Daniella and Penelope unboard their carriage. 

"Welcome Princess Kaprina. We see you've arrived safely, although you took too long." The Queen said, her voice vile.

What? Took too long? What in the world?  What could I do about that? Why are they acting like this already? 

I just got here!

"Thank you for the Welcome, but you must forgive me Your Majesty. Your Kingdom is quite popular. The traffic was ruthless." I replied with a warm smile. 

"Ah, of course." 

The smile on her face started to look fake the more I looked at it. 

Gosh. 

"You will come inside and be acquainted with the castle soon. We will have a talk another day." The King said. 

"Luca." He said once more. His eyes turned to the Greek God standing some steps away from him. 

Luca, so thats his name. Sounds like an angel..

As he steps closer and closer to me my heart continues to thrash against me violently. 

Luca's hand stretched forward seeming to want mine. I gave him my hand and he bowed and brought his lips to it with the gentlest touch.

Oh...

"Pleasure to meet you My Highness" he says. His voice was deep but soft and he seemed to take in my scent with a deep breath.  

I was too excited. What if he turns out to be a bad person? Why am I so drawn in by his mere appearance?!

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I look forward to our unionship."

HIs dark eyebrows shot up with surprise. He looked flustered. 

What did I say to warrant such look?

"Well..." He sighed. 

He smiled like the sun now.

"I am not your husband Your Highness."