The Prince’s Bride

A Royal offer.

What do you call a woman who sees but chooses not see? Rather, a woman who hears but chooses not to hear?

A woman in denial.

A woman like Dalia, as her head moves left to right, like that of a turning steering, trying to find out whom it is Lucien is speaking to, despite her name being called by him.

"Me? You're talking to me?" Dalia finally speaks having come to an end with her act.

"Yes, Hello Dalia. Correct me if I'm wrong, do you not go by the name 'Dalia'?" Lucien becoming skeptical about having her name wronged, as he reasons deeply, yet, he couldn't have had her name wrong, especially when he needs something gravely from her, and even if he didn't, he is not a man who forget easily.

"Yes of course, my name is indeed Dalia, it's just a surprise that someone like you would know my name." Dalia speaks, tightening her grip around her little brother in defense, who seem to quiet at this moment.

Hearing Dalia's words, Lucien comes to a decision which at this point, Dalia may know who he is. Dalia reasons, as it must certainly be a man of power, rather, an Alpha of a pack to be able to scare off werewolves as many as that.

"In a haste I see." Is Lucien's comments as his words do come with a smile, whereas Dalia stares at his action in perplexity, but, not without noticing how Lucien seems to even become more handsome and attractive, just with a smile.

Her gaze still remains on him, trying to understand why the heavens have made her cross paths with such an authoritative, yet, striking man whom she knows nothing of him, not even his name.

"I hope those men haven't touched you or harmed you in any way?" Lucien furthers asking, amidst all of Dalia's perplexity.

"None of that nature, yet, I think I should be wary of you who stand in front of me." Dalia responds not caring even if it is Lucien that saved her, as she knows one thing of certain. No one does things for a good heart nowadays.

"I come in peace, so please, relax your mind." Lucien, always one to be calm replies. However, Lucien's words may come true, and astonishing to Dalia, it would seem her body believes every word that comes out of his mouth, yet, she knows better that to trust a foe who may be disguised as a friend.

"How rude of me. My apologies, my name is Lucien Zeak." Lucien extends a hand forward to Dalia, introducing himself, whereas, Dalia stares at his forward hand, debating if she should accept his introduction or not.

After all, he is her savior, if one would look at it.

Dalia chooses the latter, with the reason of carrying Sebastian and rocking him to sleep peacefully, while all these known to Lucien, as he nods his head in understanding, before retracting his hand away.

He couldn't have thought of her to be easily welcoming, right? When it is for such he picked her in the first place.

Her intelligence.

"You're royalty." Dalia's words come out as though a question, but indeed a statement of what she knows by hearing Lucien's name, especially his last name. For who wouldn't know the 'Zeak family', when they are indeed the most famous of all Royal families, courtesy of a particular man in that family, a man who stands in front of her.

Lucien.

Dalia's gaze not once drops from Lucien's, as he also holds a proud smirk on his lips, according to Dalia's intelligence of putting two and two together. 

Not even a tiny bit do the rumors of Lucien's appearance and elegance do any justice to whom Dalia lays her eyes on, as because of him, Dalia begins to feel insecure about her own appearance, as per, she being a woman, but she shoves such feeling away, as Lucien has one thing she doesn’t, and probably if she had it she would also definitely not look like this.

Royalty.

"Yes Dalia, I'm royalty." Lucien confirms whatever doubt may still remain in Dalia's mind, yet, such did not bother Dalia again at the second Lucien pronounces her name and the way it slips out of his tongue.

Dalia may choose not to admit it, but she knows, that every single time her name slips out of Lucien's tongue, something stirs in her abdomen that gives her such a sweet, and, disturbing feeling.

"Then why are you here? For someone with such rank, you should have matters to attend do, than to be with a pauper." Dalia makes her statement, as she didn't know if she should feel glad or upset that Lucien saved her life. Reason so, she knows royalties do not give a care about the commoners, especially since when the present king came into power.

On the hand, Lucien feels the daggers in Dalia's statement as it is because of such believe and mentality the people have, that he wishes to turn tables this time around.

"I came with an offer, an offer to you." Lucien speaks averting Dalia's words of mockery to him.

"An offer, to me?" Dalia asks in disbelieve. "What could I possibly have that you may want or trade with me?" She continues with perplexity deep in her voice.

Lucien adjusts his stance, as his black coat move with the new position he takes. "Yes, I do want something from you, but, until I state what it is I request of you and before you give me a response, I would advise you take the child whom you carry into consideration." Lucien speaks taking Dalia by surprise with his words, and also intrigued as to what it is he has to say.

Dalia doesn't bother giving Lucien a response, as Lucien, takes that as his cue to speak. "Do you know of the 'chosen king competition?" Lucien asks, as Dalia scoffs out at his question which she would regard as 'dumb' for even a royal.

"What do you see me as? A dumb commoner? Or just because I am not royalty do not mean I do not know of such, hell, everyone in Aveynia knows of such dumb competition, which has no value, but to cause more discomfort into the lives of others by picking a king whom would not even care for his people." Dalia speaks as even with her bluntness, or rudeness, Lucien sees the truth in her words and most especially, the pain in her eyes.

"Good then, I'm glad your feelings are as displayed." Lucien says, whereas Dalia stares at the man in front of her in disbelief, as though he hasn't just heard her speak of royalty like a piece of trash.

"You know nothing of my feelings, Mr... no, your highness." Dalia sates, with her last words coming indecisive of what to call Lucien. At her little display of anger, she seems to have stir Sebastian, as his coo's and cries begin to surface gently.

"Hush, hush, baby, I'm here with you." Dalia rocks Sebastian a little more, as Lucien stares at such affection and warmth she holds for the little one, and he becomes certain once more that there is no better candidate than Dalia.

"My apologies for my statement, had I known it  would stir up your feelings, I wouldn't have said such." Lucien remaining calm in the whole situation adds, whereas Dalia's gaze turns back to him in perplexity of what a man Lucien is, she can not understand.

"Since you do know about the competition, you must know another is about to take place in a few days..." 

"I speak not be rude your highness, but, can you move to the point, as I do not wish to be ambushed again by those who hunt me." Dalia speaks truthfully, starting to become wary of her surroundings, especially at how dark it is gradually become.

Never in Lucien's life, as anyone ever rushed him to speak before, as whenever he did speak, everyone wanted to hear more, yet, here is Dalia, cutting him off before he even completes a sentence.

On the other hand, Dalia is one whom even if the world is against her, cannot still filter the words that do come out of her mouth, which indeed has caused her trouble a number of times, as this situation is none different, even if Lucien is Royalty.

How didn't she think of it before? How didn't she see the expensive coat that hangs around his body that only a royal born or a high class can wear such, or the neatness of his skin that shines brightly.

"You need not ever worry about them coming after you, as the day they do disobey a direct order, is the day they never see the sun rise again." Lucien speaks with coldness evident in his voice that even Dalia herself, shivers.

Dalia neither says nothing, nor, acts, as the one thing she does, is gulp the fear down her throat and the realization that she may need to mind her words, as Lucien is indeed a thousand times more dangerous than all those men combined.

"I seek only one thing from you Dalia, which is, to be my second half in the chosen king competition." Lucien finally speaks, as Dalia's gaze go wide in consternation.