Running From The Prince

Chapter Eight

Juliana's home was just as grand as hers. The floors shined with expensive marble and wall paintings of all kinds. She didn't want to spend too long starring or else Juliana might question her

" My parents are off to the kingdom of Swayn, they might not return until later tomorrow evening" Juliana informed her, Alex reckoned that the girl was just feeling lonely and wanted to have someone to hang around in her parent's absence

She didn't early mind. It wasn't like she was eager to go back to the Silva manor as it is. Unlike Juliana who had a mom, Alexandra Silva didn't have the presence of any female in her life apart from her Nanny who annoyed the hell out of her

" Winter?!" Alex was brought out of her thought by Juliana's yelling. She only just noticed that they were standing outside a balcony that overlooked a vast garden. A blond male had his back to them, he was dressed like all the noble males she met did and there was a bow and arrow held firmly in his hands. His gaze seemed to be fixed firmly on something perched up the branches of a tree, something she couldn't quite see from her position. She didn't need anyone else telling her that this was Juliana's twin brother. The one her friend had been so insistent she paired her up with

" Go away dog face," the boy said sternly, not even bothering to look back at them " Am busy here"

" Can you at least come up here for a minute? We have a guest"

" You can entertain them. Like I said before, am busy"

Juliana frowned in displeasure, face flushed in anger. She was about to make her way down the stairs of the balcony to give her brother a stern scolding but Alex held her back with a smile. She decided to speak to Winter instead

" What are you shooting at?"

The moment the other heard her voice, his face whipped towards her direction, so fast she was surprised he hadn't gotten whiplash. His bright blue robes widened and his mouth fell in surprise. She noted just how handsome he was, like every other man she had had the pleasure of meeting

" Alexandra?" The bow and arrow made a cluttering sound as they were discarded on the ground, Winter was now making his way up the balcony towards them. A bright smile on his face. " I didn't know you were coming"

" Um..well I didn't either. Juliana asked my brother" And Ryan had already left before she could make her mind to not come, so she really didn't have much choice but be here

" Right, do you um..do you want to have tea or something?" He asked her, cheeks slightly flushed

She heard Juliana giggle from beside her and saw Winter flashing his sister a cold look. It finally became clear that what Juliana had said was true, her twin brother might have a crush on the real Alexandra. It was rather cute. She knew for certain that the boys back at home didn't behave this way to girls.

" Sure, why not" she agreed with a smile. Winter's face visibly brightened, his blush spreading even wider across his slightly freckled cheeks

" Come then, I'll have the Cook make you something. Juliana can go bring us some tea"

" W..what? Do I look like a servant to you?!"

Winter ignored her and held onto her hand leading her off the balcony. Alexandra couldn't help but chuckle slightly at Juliana's bewildered look at being left behind

When they entered a lunge room, well decorated with gold decors and vases, he pulled a chair for her to seat in a gentlemanly fashion and she accepted with a smile. He settled in the seat facing her, he looked nervous if not shy. Juliana hadn't followed them into the room so Alexandra wondered if the girl was still playing matchmaker

" So, um.." He began, it didn't seem like he knew what to say at all. It was almost entertaining watching him act so fidgety like this. " How was school?"

" Fine. Nothing unusual"

" I heard.." He coughed awkwardly " Are you breaking the engagement with Albert?"

And then it clicked. Juliana had mentioned earlier that Winter happened to be a good friend of the arrogant prince. Could it be that he was gathering Intel to pass on to his pal? Well in that case...

" In case you forgot, he's the one wanting to break up with me"

Winter's face fell slightly. " So, you still hold feelings for him?"

" I don't," She said plainly. Winter gave her a soft nod. She hadn't known him for more than a day but Alex was good at reading people. And she knew for certain that Winter didn't believe her. Nobody seemed to believe her. Did there all believe that Albert was so irresistible that she couldn't possibly get over him?

" I don't have feelings for the prince"

" It's fine Lex " he gave her a comforting smile " I've known you since we were kids. I know it's hard to get over him so easily"

She sighed. Fine, if nobody wants to listen then that's their business. They can keep believing she was still love-stricken for all she cares. As long as she somehow finds her way home, then she can live with it

" But you know" He beamed at her once more " You can always count on me or Juliana. If you one day decide to finally get over the prince, I would gladly court you if you'll have me"

The lovestruck expression on his face made her feel mushy on the inside. Alex could only flash him a smile in response. What could she possibly say to that? She had always been an independent woman. Apart from her duty, there wasn't much space for anything else, even more, so relationships. Especially in this world that wasn't her own

" Thank you then, Winter"

He nodded, mouth opened in preparation to say something but was interrupted when Juliana barged into the room. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath

" Winter! You..have a guest " Juliana stared directly over to her in hesitation. " The prince is here"

Both siblings starred at her with mixed emotions, almost as if waiting for her to display an emotion that would confirm their earlier theories

" You should go meet him," she said to Winter, ignoring the way the two siblings glanced at each other

" We should go meet him together. It's only courtesy " Juliana proposed and Alex shrugged because she didn't care

They walked out of the lunge room together, passing the various servants and making their way towards the front yard where Albert's carriage was parked nicely.

He was stunning in his gold-encrusted tonic and matching boots. His bright red hair was gelled back giving an even clearer view of his sharp handsome features. A soft crease formed on the line of his forehead as he noticed her figure behind winter. His lips thinned in visible annoyance and she almost had the urge to flash him the middle finger. It wasn't like she wanted to see his stupid face either

" Welcome your highness. I wasn't aware of your arrival "

" Don't be so formal Winter. Am sorry I hadn't informed you of my arrival earlier, I hope am not intruding"

" Of course not Albert. We were just preparing for dinner " Juliana said, she received a glare from Winter at her casual reference. But Albert didn't seem to mind, it only seemed like he had a problem whenever it involved Alexandra

" It would be an honor if you would join us" Winter proposed politely, Albert only gave a soft nod in answer

It wasn't long before they were making their way back into the manor. The rest of the evening went much smoother than she had expected because she didn't have any interactions with Albert. They both kept the end of their bargain and avoided even having eye contact with each other. The prince stayed with Winter and she did the same with Juliana. Despite living in the same house, they both had their separate world, and she preferred it that much better

When night came, she was nestled in bed beside the sleeping Juliana when she had the urge to pee. She sighed, scolding herself for taking so much wine at dinner that evening

She moved off the bed to her feet. The room was dim but still illuminated with scented candles that made her able to make out her surroundings easily. She pulled the silk sleeping gown tighter around her body as she stepped out of Juliana's room and into the empty dark hallways. It wasn't all that dark since there were windows that had the light of the moon shining through them

She would just use the bathroom down the hall, it was the closest one and soon she would be back in bed. Alex yawned tiredly at the cold feeling of the flooring against her feet. When she took the next turn down the halls, she was almost scared to death when she ran into a figure

It didn't take long to realize it was Albert she had run into. What an irony. God only knew why the prince was walking down the halls of someone else's house so casually in the middle of the night. Perhaps he was a ghost of some sort, it wouldn't surprise her, she'd already met a real-life elf yesterday.

The thought made a smile curve at the edge of her lips. But it seems her reaction must have been mistaken by the other because the next thing she knew was that he was yanking her by the wrist, anger boiling in his red eyes

" What the hell do you think you're doing!"

" What does it look like am doing? I was just going to use the bathroom, now let go of me!"

" You just keep showing up in front of me" he growled, frustration and annoyance evident in his eyes. " Why can't you just stay away from me"

The guts of this man! She had the urge to kick him right in the spit where it'll hurt most. Did he think she would consciously appear in front of him?! Wasn't it already evident that she disliked him just Luke he did her? His arrogance was clouding his senses entirely

" Who do you think you are?! You think I would just stride in the halls at night with the hope I'll run into you?"

" It wouldn't be something new from you" he glared down at her. They were both too angry to realize just how close their faces had gotten to each other. " First you try getting involved with Rachel when you promised you would leave us alone. She's too naive to see what a scheming person you are"

" And I suppose you do right? You see clearly what a terrible person I am?"

" I've known you for far too long" he cast her a disgusted look before spitting out some cruel words " I know what you are capable of. It is why I would never love you"

Her blood boiled. Anger surged through every core of her body. To be judged like this by someone who knew nothing about her, it made her see red. Alexandra had spent her entire life chasing a responsibility she knew was far bigger than her. She was the girl who had managed to enroll in a military school of men and survived. She wouldn't let herself be lowered like this. Despite who Albert thought the real Alexandra was true, he made a big mistake by saying it out to her face like this

If her mere presence disgusted him then fine. She would make him even more disgusted and distorted

Without thinking twice, she grabbed his face in between her palms and smashed their lips together