>>Amber

I never thought I'd hear someone say they pitied Corvina. Everyone simply liked throwing garbage at her.

And this is why I asked him why he said that. I had to ask him, I couldn't help myself

"I always pitied her. She looked rather starved for love." His gaze came back to me, and I noticed the look of pity in them. The realization hit me like lightning.

!!!

I looked away, feeling embarrassed, I clutched my skirt.

Prince Nevan and I had never met before. To begin with, he wasn't in the country for most of the events and parties but that doesn't mean he was never there. He must have seen me somewhere...

"Starved for love?" I whispered as I frowned. The psychology behind my aggressive and rash behavior in my previous life was something normal people would never understand.

After all, I was always trying to hide how broken I was from the inside.

"Some people are cursed with bad luck, that in turn makes them look bad too. Lady Corvina looked like one of those people to me."

I pursued my lip in shame

It was humiliating how he saw right through me. He was right. I was always starved for love. This is why I used to be so rash and why I obsessed over Hael so much. I wanted someone to love me, be only mine and since Hael was also a slave, he was already mine.

My eyes stung all of the sudden and I felt them brim with tears

But I didn't want to cry

There was no need to, yet the urge didn't go away immediately.

I was, afterall, reminded of what a pitiable character I was.

He had just caught me off-guard. I shook my head as I blinked the tears away, "You are the only one who has ever said those words."

"I'm sure there are others who feel that way," He said, "The world is never all bad," I glanced at him, "It's just that the bad are always loud."

!!

I stared at him in admiration. His words hitting me like an arrow.

This man deserves to be the Crown Prince. He was wise and he definitely looked at things beyond their surface.

I wonder why he isn't engaged though?

"Saint Amber!!" Another voice made both of us turn to look at the lady making her way towards us. She was initially running but the moment she saw the Crown Prince, she halted and began to walk 'gracefully' as a lady should.

Seeing that made me scoff internally, but seeing her did relax me as well.

"Lady Serena," I called out her name as she approached us, "What brings you here?"

She stopped in front of us and gave the Crown Prince a bow, "Good Afternoon, Your Highness,"

Placing his hand on his heart, Nevan gave her a short bow in return, "Good Afternoon, Lady Serena."

Hmmm

As I stared at them both, a thought crossed my mind.

Both of them are good people

And both of them are single

Hmmm

"Saint Amber," Serena looked at me, "Are you alright?" She stepped closer to me

"I'm fine," I smiled at her, "Did you come running when you heard the King summoned me again?" Since she is the duke's daughter, any type of news reaches her fast.

"Yes!" She answered, then glanced at Nevan, cleared her throat and spoke again, "Yes," This time calmly

Nevan had noticed all her actions and it made him smile. He was probably smiling at how she was trying to keep her 'composure'

"Don't worry," I shook my head at her, "Hael was with me, and we both had to give a briefing on the Miasma case. There's absolutely nothing to worry about."

"Oh," She let out a breath of relief, which warmed my heart.

I stepped closer to her and wrapped my arms around her, "Thank you for coming though," She was initially surprised at my actions but then she hugged me back.

It felt nice

"You seem like good friends," Prince Nevan said

We broke the hug and looked at him, "Lady Serena here has been a huge support for me." I smiled at her. Other than Hael, she's the only one who has helped me.

And then suddenly it flashed through my mind, making my smile vanish.

Oh shit!!

Hael!!

"Yes," Serena answered while I panicked, "We became friends by- chance, and we've been good friends since then." She moved to step closer to the prince, facing him, while I stepped away, looking the other way.

I forgot about Hael! I was looking for him!!

Oh! Holy! I've wasted so much time!!

"I've never really seen you interact much with other noble women, so it's a surprise you and Saint Amber are friends,"

Shit, shit, shit, shit!

I need to get going!

"Ah, yes," Serena thought about her answer, "I usually don't get along with people."

"Why not?" He asked, "Is there anyone troubling you?" His voice was sweet.

"Oh no," She waved her hands in denial, "It's just me. I have a- weird personality."

But where the hell do I even go! I have no idea where Hael could have taken Lyal!

Are they even in the palace?!? I grabbed my hair in despair.

I have to do something!

"Weird?" Prince Nevan was intrigued, "I think you're quite lovely."

"OH!" Serena was taken aback, she wasn't expecting a compliment, "Thank you," She shied away, a subtle blush spread across her face.

I need to run

I'll put my bets on what Hael told me

"Prince Nevan," I turned to face both of them, "Lady Serena," They both looked at me, "There's something urgent I need to take care of, so," I looked at them and noticed a 'certain' vibe from them. There was this flowery aura around them but I really had no time to spare and ogle at them, "You two should spend some time together." I began to step away, "I really need to go."

"Wait," Serena tried to stop me but I gave her a thumbs up

"Best of luck,"

???

My actions baffled her. She was confused by my words but honestly, I had wasted too much time already..

"Goodbye," I turned around, "See you again," And I made a run for it.

My footsteps echoed off the marble floors, my heart pounding in rhythm with my racing thoughts. I sort of knew that running around randomly wasn't going to get me anywhere but the anxiety in me wouldn't calm down.

Hael isn't bothered by killing.

He's got plenty of blood on his hands and he doesn't care.

But he can't kill Lyal. If he ends up killing Lyal, he'll be hanged for treason against the Royal Family. It doesn't matter if Lyal is from a concubine, he's the king's child!

But wait, why do I feel like he's going to kill him? Because I saw him angry? He was angry for me, right?

I gulped

He got angry for me, that is all the more reason I can't have him killing Lyal! We still haven't even sorted out anything between us

I said I wanted us to become something! I want to get to know him more and I want him to want me!

Things can't just slip away like this!!

"Hael!!!" I screamed his name, "Hael!!!" Panic clawed at my chest as I ran, my breath coming in short gasps. I turned another corner, my eyes scanning frantically for any sign of him.

"Hael!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the ornate walls. "Please, answer me!"

This jerk!! He told me if I called his name, he would come to me!!

Where the hell is he then!?

Did he leave to go kill Lyal!?!

No

"Hael!!!!!" I screamed, "Come to me! Damnit!!"

I felt sick. No, he can't do that!!

"Hael!!! God damnit! Hael where are you!!!! Hael-" a hand came and hugged me from behind. And then, suddenly, he was there. Emerging from a shadowy alcove, his tall figure seemed to materialize out of nowhere, making me freeze but I recognized his touch immediately.

"Why?" I heard him say, "Are you yelling my name?"

"Hael!" I turned around, "Where were you!?" I glared at him, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and frustration. "You told me if I called your name, you would come to me!"

He stared down at me, "Why?" Hael stepped closer, his expression calm and collected despite my outburst. "I am here, am I not?" He replied evenly, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

"What do you mean 'why'??!" I didn't quite get it then but I understood what he meant by what he said next.

"Worried that I would go and kill Lyal?" Hael's eyes darkened, and he reached out to gently grasp my shoulders.

"Yes!" As soon as I said that, his expressions turned cold

"Why? Are you worried about him?" His voice was sterner too

"No," I glared at him, "You idiot," I cupped his cheeks roughly, "I'm worried about you." I looked at him, straight into his eyes, so that when he looks back into mine, he would know I'm telling the truth.

He paused, "Me?" His eyes went slightly wide

"Of course you! I don't give a shit about Lyal. But if you do anything to him, you'll get in trouble!"

He stared at me, "..."

"Do you get what I'm saying?" I was worried

"You're worried I'll get in trouble if I kill the prince?"

"Yes!"

"You're worried about me?"

"Yes!"

A smile appeared on his face, and then he hugged me, burying his face in the crook of my neck

>>Hael

Hah

This feels so nice

It's a good thing I controlled myself and didn't kill him

Well

At least not yet

I can't kill him on my own and dirty my hands. I have other plans for the third prince.

"Hael," I felt her hands wrap around me, "What did you do to Lyal?"

I rolled my eyes at her question

"Why?"

"Just tell me," She pulled away, and I didn't like that, "What did you do to him?"