《Keep it a Secret》


 Prologue

    The prince peered across the balcony, staring at the two clashing soldiers in the courtyard below. At the moment, the winning side was the yelling Aderia, whose expression was disturbing as she hacked away at her sparring partner.


    Brandon, who never lost his composure, calmly swatted away every attack as he was pushed back. It didn''t take long for him to turn the way around, and soon Aderia fell flat against the ground, kicking her feet in protest.


    "If only I can be as free..." The prince mumbled to himself as he finished his breakfast half-heartedly.


    "Prince Troy." His butler bowed deeply, gesturing at his clean plate. "May I?"


    "Yeah, here you go." He pushed the plate towards him, with his eyes still glued onto his personal guards.


    Brandon was trying to console his friend to no avail, even giving her his sword as a gesture that he forfeited. Aderia smacked it to the side and ran off into the palace, screaming.


    "What a bustling scene. Are they usually like this?"


    ... Oh. He was wondering when ''she'' would come. Troy greeted the princess with a polite nod of his head as she slid into the seat in front of him. His butler quickly whipped up a full plate for her and set it on the table.


    "Yes." The prince answered in a cautious tone. Princess Irene wasn''t a bad candidate as his wife, but she gave off a mysterious aura that made it seem like she was hiding something in the background.


    It didn''t put him at ease, knowing that she had the ability to betray him in the future.


    "You don''t have to be so defensive." The princesscut through the grilled salmon,poppingitintoher mouth. "I thought the point of us meeting before the marriage contract is forged was so that we could get to know each other."


    Troy chuckled, resting his chin above his hands as he stared at Irene. "Let me get this straight. The persistent side who want this marriage to happen is your parents. Did you think I was a fool to think a truce was to be made between us? Your country has always been eager to take mine, ever since the time of our forefathers."


    "Maybe not a truce, but your country will definitely see some improvements if you would only cooperate with us." Irene reasoned calmly, taking a sip from her tea. "Your obstinate attitude in closing the gates to your country is taking a toll on your merchants. Where are they going to procure the resources needed to face this harsh summer, now that you''ve cut off the trade?"


    "Thank you for your deep insight, but my ministers are working on that very matter. Keep your opinion to yourself." The prince coldly remarked, pushing himself off the chair and stepping away from the balcony and the arrogant woman.


    He could hear the bite in her words as she called out after him. "I will, but keep it as an option when you run out of ideas!"


    He stormed through the hallway, fuming. When he got to the stairway, his bodyguards were already waiting for him. "... Hey."


    " ''Morning, Your Highness." Aderia waved at him casually, her anger from before magically vanished.


    "Good morning." Brandon bowed deeply, exhaustion carved into his face. He must had gotten through a lot trying to deal with Aderia.


    His butler took his leave, excusing himself to go attend to his own meeting. Troy joined his


    guards, listing off the things that he was going to do today when Aderia stopped him. "Did something happen?"


    "Huh? What do you mean?"


    Aderia glanced at Brandon, who spoke up for her. "... You''ve been frowning this whole time."


    "Was I?" Troy touched his forehead, noticing that he had left behind a crease from how long his eyebrows were furrowed for. "I... didn''t realize."


    "Must be that princess, huh?" Aderia guessed in one try, and she grinned at the sour expression that crossed the prince''s face. "I knew it. You always look like you''ve gone through some sort of existential crisis once you talked to her."


    "Is it that obvious?" Troy rubbed his face, sighing deeply. He was sure he was able to contain his emotions, but that princess had a way of bringing them to surface.


    "Is she interferingwithyour work?" Brandon asked with concern.


    "No, it''s just... She told me what to do and what not to do so often that it''s driving me crazy. It''s true that she''s definitely more experienced, but still..." His reason slowly turned into a jumble mess of words as he grew progressively angrier. "At any point, I don''t want to heed her advice. It''s frustrating that she always thinks she''s right!"


    They reached the garden where Troy would be meeting with a visiting foreign minister, and he was still mumblingabunchofwords to himself. Brandon had to scoff quietly to snap him out of it.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    When he finally calmed down and went to the gazebo, where the minister was already waiting, Aderia broke into a fit of laughter. "Haha! Did you see how frustrated he was? I think this is the first time he''s actually so bothered by someone else!"


    Brandon let out a rare chuckle. "Yes. Perhaps it''s out of bound for us to laugh at his predicament, but I have to agree."


    Aderia continued to snicker as she was reminded of the prince''s behaviour. "His whole life, he''s used to the ministers babying him and agreeing to whatever he has to say. And as familiar we are with him, we can''t ever treat him as an equal. So seeing him get challenged by that princess is quite something."


    Brandon nodded, but then did a double take as he took it into consideration. "It is true that it will cause suspicions to rise if the princess is too... demanding with her wishes, however."


    "Pfft, demanding? I wouldn''t dare. I bet she was just spouting out the truth and the prince wasn''t able to accept the fact that he might have done something wrong."


    Brandon glared at her sharply. "Mind your words, Aderia. It''s alright if it''s just between us, but others may hear in and cause you trouble later."


    "Yeah, yeah..."


    They changed the topic into a military one, discussing about how to train the soldiers under their command while waiting for the prince to finish. As Aderia was beginning her argument, Brandon caught sight of the source of brewing emotions for their prince.


    The princess herself.


    He touched her elbow to silence her and gestured at the princess, who was, without a doubt, heading towards them. Aderia blinked between the princess and Brandon, wondering whether they should bail out or see what''s in store.


    "Don''t say anything inappropriate." Brandon warned his friend sternly, well aware of Aderia''s habit of saying whatever was on her mind. "Don''t try to argue with me. She''s the princess of a nation bigger than ours, so have some respect, alright?"


    "I wasn''t planning on being disrespectful! Do you really think so lowly of me?!" Aderia half-screamed, angered by the accusation.


    Brandon grabbed the finger she was jabbing at his chest. "It''s not like that. While your outspokenness is appreciated by our prince, the princess may not think that way. Do you understand?"


    Aderia opened her mouth to backtalk, when a voice came from beside them.


    "Oh my, I apologize. Am I interrupting something?"


    Aderia jumped back, almost wanting to yell at her sudden presence, but Brandon quickly took over. "Absolutely not, Your Highness. How can we be of service?"


    "Oh, it''s nothing of importance, really." She smiled, but Brandon immediately noticed that it didn''t reach her eyes; it was the same look the prince had when he had to deal with some of the more troublesome ministers.


    Judging from how obediently silent Aderia was behind him, he could tell she knew too.


    The princess might not mean any harm, but she could easily be plotting against their country. She came across as polite and graceful, a perfect example of how a proper princess should be. But her brilliant intelligence that outshone her brothers was a force to be reckoned with.


    Tread carefully. Brandon squeezed Aderia''s finger, which he was still holding, trying to get the message across.


    "I was watching the two of you sparring this morning, in the courtyard. It was a sight to behold, especially with how skilled you are." Irene commented, her voice filled with admiration. "I say, even my squadron is lacklustre compared to you!"


    "We''re nothing special, Your Highness." Brandon bowed his head, hoping that Aderia followed suit. "After all, we''re only His Highness'' guards. The soldiers employed under the other jurisdictions are much more experienced."


    "Skilled, and humble to boot!" Irene exclaimed, putting her hands together. "I wish I have guards of your capabilities for myself."


    Brandon almost stumbled on his response when Aderia peeked out from behind him. "You look like you know your way around a weapon, Your Highness."


    "Aderia...!" Brandon chided, immediately pushing her behind him. "I... My apologies. My partner is very forward with her... advances."


    "I take no harm in her remark." Irene smiled affably, notably more genuine than her last one. She cocked her head to the sideto have a better view of the hidden soldier. "What made you think of that?"


    Aderia pushed the blockade in front of her to the side, answering to the question with a deep bow. "You walk with your footsteps silenced. With the heels you''re wearing, that''s an impossible feat unless you''ve done it a lot of times, uh... Your Highness."


    She glanced quickly at Brandon, who managed to hide the shock at this revelation.


    He hadn''t noticed about the footsteps since he was busy trying to keep Aderia in line, but she must had kicked up a fuss in the first place to test the princess.


    They shared a similar thought: Someone who could walk lightly without any sound, especially women wearing high heels¡ª


    An assassin.


    "Are you harassing my guards now?" Troy''s bitter voice broke between them. He stepped up to the princess, unaware of the lingering tension. "Back up a bit, princess."


    Irene bowed her head, a smile still plastered on her face. "I''ll be seeing you soon, Prince Troy."


    After she left their sight, Aderia grabbed onto Brandon''s arm, whispering, "Should we, uh, tell him?"


    He lowered his face so that he could whisper back to her. "I have a feeling we shouldn''t. At least, not straight away."


    "I think so too..."


    No matter from what angle they were looking at this from, it was too risky to reveal what they just learnt to Troy, especially since talk about the princess was a landmine for him. He would definitely explode and have her exterminated, which would only lead to a war.


    "What did she say to you?" Troy groaned, blissfully unaware of their tensed expressions. "Was she badmouthing me?"


    Aderia snapped out of it first, shaking her head with a wolfish grin. "She wasn''t, actually. Were you actually worried that she had a bad impression of you, Your Highness?"


    She skipped away happily, and the prince followed after her in blatant ignorance, denying her words. "I wasn''t! I just want to know what she said!"


    "Hmm... Really, now? Whatever should I do?"


    Brandon stared after their disappearing figures, his mind getting to work. Aderia was a better actor than he was; she would definitely be able to keep the secret to herself, but he was sure he wouldn''t keep calm as long as he would be seeing the princess around.


    His hand rested on top of his sword, sheathed to his side. The princess wasn''t shocked at the fact that Aderia called her out. If she was, she did a good job concealing it, which hardly seemed the case.


    She was warning them not to tell.


    Brandon held the sword tightly. It didn''t matter how provocative the princess was being. If she ever laid a finger on the prince, he would jump in without no hesitation. Aderia must had felt the same way.


    For now, the safest route was to keep an eye on Irene.

 Chapter 1

    Brandon finally took up what happened with Aderia the next day, when they were stationed outside the meeting room Troy was in.


    "Aderia." He called out, but she immediately held up a hand and gestured her head to his other side.


    "Ssh, there''s some maids walking by."


    Brandon quickly got into his position and let the maids walk pass, exchanging a simple greeting with them. Aderia waved goodbye at them as they round the corner at the end of the hallway, and she turned to him with a frown.


    "What''s with you today? You''re exceptionally... unexceptional." She commented rather dryly, though her eyes sparked in amusement.


    Brandon heaved a deep sigh. "It''s not exactly reassuring to know that an assassin is in the castle, no matter how low the risk is."


    "You''re going to make him feel suspicious, with how tense you are all the time. You''re getting more and more out of it."


    Brandon would have never guessed a day would come for him to be scolded by the reckless woman standing beside him. But alas, he couldn''t deny the biting truth in her words. "I''m sorry. You even had to cover up for me."


    "I''m alright, but get your act together. Troy will sniff you out sooner or later."


    "Well, what do you suggest I should do? I''m worried that she''ll do something to him when we''re not watching."


    "Do you really think she''s going to act like that? If she''s going to murder him, I think it''s going to be because he was just being an ignorant fool."


    "Aderia!"


    "Sorry! But it''s the truth. Our best bet is to make sure that Troy takes her suggestions into consideration, instead of rejecting them. Otherwise I''m sure she''ll take him out and rule the country in his stead."


    Brandon rested his head against the wall behind him, pondering. "You think this can all be settled if we have the prince become friends with her?"


    "Yeah? Besides, if he implements whatever rule or law she dictates, it would also be a win on our side."


    Brandon thought over this carefully. He had his mind focused only the danger she possessed. The idea of having that danger as something beneficial instead never occured to him. "... That alone will lead to a bigger problem, though..."


    "Yeah... The prince got the heart and head of a hard rock. It''s going to take some work to have him warm up to her, since he already hates her so much..."


    They whispered between themselves for the entirety of the meeting, with Aderia even coming up with the name of a friendship plan between Troy and Irene. Just as Brandon reminded her not to get close to the princess, the doors to the room clicked open and a stream of ministers gradually walked out.


    They both bowed their heads low, until Troy stepped out himself, with a sickly pale face.


    "Your Highness?" Brandon inquired, rushing to his side to support him. "What''s the matter?"


    "Things have been going south lately... We''re getting complains from all over the country, from merchants and citizens alike..." Troy grumbled, exhaustion filling his voice. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Aderia raised an eyebrow at Brandon, conveying the words ''See? I told you he sucked at this ruling thing!''


    But of course she couldn''t spit that out on his face. "Maybe you should have some refreshments first, Your Highness. Get your brain to work again."


    "Have the maids make some tea and deliver it to my office." Troy ordered, pushing himself off Brandon. "You two can join me."


    Aderia grinned and went off to the kitchen, happily carrying out his orders.


    The prince may be incompetent in terms of running a country, but he was fair with his subjects. Perhaps that was a point that would balance out the princess'' infamous cold attitude towards her servants.


    She might have treated them well the day yesterday, but that could easily be passed as a means of giving warning. She was trying to catch them off-guard by appearing friendly.


    She got to the kitchen, cheerily asking one of the maids working there for a tray of tea, and waited around. As she was sitting nearby a counter where the kitchen helpers prepared their ingredients, some of them started chatting with her.


    "I heard you were confronted by the princess yesterday." The head chef asked, a deep frown etched on her worn out face.


    "Yeah... Who did you hear that from?"


    "The boys working at the stable. They say it looked like you and Brandon were having trouble."


    Aderia sighed inwardly, relieved that they weren''t close enough to pick up the conversation. "It was nothing, the princess just wanted to, uh, confirm something with us."


    "Really? I heard that she packs a real punch, that princess! Sounds like she''s got some issues!" Another chef chimed in, shaking his spatula in the air. "I say, the moment she walked in here, I already know she''s up to no good!"


    How come these people were already aware of it? Aderia grumbled, already feeling restless. She prided herself on her extremely keen judgement, but she failed to sniff out the princess this time. It just didn''t occur to her that Irene had another layer beneath that ice-cold exterior.


    She was still brooding over it when she returned to the prince''s side, a tray of iced jasmine tea and 3 glasses balanced in her hands. Brandon poured the tea into one and went to give it to Troy, who was studying some documents at his desk.


    "Thanks. Go ahead and drink some with Aderia." Troy said, not bothering to look up as he accepted the offer.


    "... Alright. Don''t push yourself too much."


    Brandon claimed the seat next to hers and instantly recognized her change in the mood. He searched inside his head for whatever mistakes he had done to incur her wrath, but came up with nothing. Something else entirely must had ticked her off.


    Aderia reached forward to get her own share and passed one onto Brandon. She glanced once at Troy, making sure that he was engrossed in his work, and turned to Brandon with a quiet voice, "A lot of the kitchen staff told me that they already suspect Irene when she first came. It sucks that I''m one of the last person to know."


    "That''s why you were sulking?" Brandon chuckled lightly, careful not to let Troy hear. "Aderia. It''s not your fault. Perhaps the princess, for a lack of better terms, is just good at what she does."


    "At what? Putting up an act? That one got me fooled too, but I''m angry that I didn''t notice that she was an assassin earlier on. We''ve met her a bunch of times, but I only realized about her footsteps when we''re in the garden."


    Brandon pondered over this. "... Did she only decide to reveal herself at that moment, then?"


    Clarity finally slithered its way back into her troubled mind. "Now that you said that, didn''t Troy say that they were arguing about something during breakfast?"


    At that moment, they shared a mutual understanding.


    "Ah. So she was also frustrated over his behaviour." Brandon massaged his temple, tired. "Which leads to that ominous message. I see."


    "You don''t see shit, Brandon. Why are we the ones stucked between their stupid argu-"


    "Can I ask you two something?" Troy suddenly chimed in, though he was still looking at the documents and unaware of his guards'' conversation.


    "Uh, yeah?" "What is it, Your Highness?"


    "Are you dissatisfied with how I run this country?"


    "Um, what?" "I beg your pardon, Your Highness?"


    "Somehow, people aren''t fond of the rules that I''ve come up with. I cut off international trade as it was taking a burden on the finances, but then the merchants kept whining on how I was taking their jobs. Why couldn''t they just settle down and work something out on their own?"


    Aderia was deeply concerned on the last part, but decided to ignore it at the time being. "Why did you think that cutting it off would help with the finances?"


    "Since it costs the most expensive."


    Upon hearing the answer, Aderia almost wanted to throw the table in front of her upside down. Brandon held her shoulder down, already used to her antics, and shook his head silently.


    There was no other way. The prince would definitely be killed if he continued to act this way.


    They had to proceed with the friendship plan.

 Chapter 2

    "It''s no use. He really hates her."


    "... I agree. It seems a bit far-fetched to assume he will be amicable towards her within the span of a few days."


    Aderia was groaning, gripping her head as she wallowed in despair over their failed attempts. Brandon tried getting in a good word or two about the princess when Troy was complaining about his work, only to be kicked out of the office. When Aderia suggested they have tea together to commemorate Irene''s first week staying at the castle, she was relieved of duty.


    What a stubborn prince.


    "That reminds me, is he taking you or me for today?" Aderia finally got herself off the table, directing the question at Brandon, who was still practicing on his own. "He wants to walk around town, right?"


    "He asked for me, but I''ll have to leave the job to you. I''m not very... accustomed to the ways outside the castle." Brandon panted, finally putting his sword away.


    "Oh yeah, sometimes I forgot you''re a noble too."


    Brandon''s father was His Majesty''s personal guard, and so was his father before him. It was an inherited position, reserved only for the extraordinary swordsmen of their family.


    "Not so much of a noble than a mere servant." Brandon noted, though he wasn''t exactly offended. This was where he belonged, at the side of a sire he had sworn his loyalty to.


    Lately he began thinking whether had actually made the right choice, though...


    "Don''t you want to tag along? I know it''s dangerous if people recognize him if there''s too many of us and all that, but I''m sure you''re bored cooped up in the castle too."


    "It''s quite alright. I still have to overlook the squires practicing for the evening, so my schedule is already filled."


    "What a shame..."


    Aderia picked up her sword that she had neglected by her side, strapping it on her waist. She turned back to Brandon with a half-wave. "Guess I''ll see you later then. I''ll buy you some sweets!"


    He returned the wave with a half-hearted smile, burying his disappointment. He really wanted to go as well, but alas.


    Aderia went to meet up with the prince, who was visibly rejecting her as the guard of the day. "Why is it you? I thought I asked for Brandon!"


    She pouted, sulking. "Why does it matter who goes with you? Do you really detest me that much?"


    "Aderia, you have the directional skill of a broken compass. We''ll end up at the next country by the end of the day."


    "Bwahaha, isn''t that ironic, since their princess is actually here?"


    Her laughter was immediately shot down by a warning glare. "I''m sorry. You said you wanted to visit around the town''s center, so I won''t get lost. That area''s my hometown."


    Troy''s eyes widened at the revelation. "I didn''t know that. Actually, thinking back on it, I don''t know much about you in the first place."


    "That''s right! I''m very hurt you have so little interest in me, you know!"


    "You don''t look like the type to share, so I never inquired."


    "Hmm, that''s true. I just don''t find my past to be anything worth sharing."


    They continued the small talk as she lead the prince through winding streets lined with cobblestone buildings. The prince had on civilian''s clothes, so nobody was paying attention to him, which in turn let down Aderia''s guard.


    It wasn''t until they arrived at a dead end that she realized something was wrong. "Huh. We should be at the fountain at the town square."


    Troy let out a disgruntled groan. "Are you sure this is your hometown?!"


    "I mean, it''s been a solid 8 years since I left, so..."


    Before Troy could finish his lectures, a commotion nearby caught their attention. A fruits seller at a stall had a struggling young boy in his grasp.


    "What''s going on?" Troy got closer, his eyes squinting to get a better look.


    "He''s probably caught stealing." Aderia pointed out at the apples rolling on the ground."


    "Kids these days... Do they have nothing better to do?"


    "Uh, I don''t think that''s what you should be concerned about here."


    The seller was yelling at the boy still, obviously angry that his fruits had been stolen. The boy managed to break free and dropped to the ground, but before he could flee the area, he was caught by the other people who had surrounded the stall.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Aderia lurched forward as one of the men raised their fist to hit the boy, but someone else had already stepped in to stop him.


    It was a woman with blonde hair, who swatted away the man''s fist like it was nothing. When he was angered that she had humiliated him, she threw a punch into his gut that effectively knocked him out cold.


    Aderia whistled in amazement, while Troy stood idle, with an unreadable face. It wasn''t until she turned to the seller that he finally gasped.


    The princess was holding out a significant amount of coins, perhaps worth even more than what the boy had stolen. The seller was ecstatic by this unexpected deal and let the boy off as he gave him a fresh batch of apples.


    Aderia wasn''t surprised by the princess'' actions, as she already knew beforehand that Irene must had a measurable amount of skills. She was an assassin, after all. Self-defense wasn''t compulsory for those who lurk in the shadows, but it was an added bonus.


    She stole a glance at the prince, curious about his response.


    Troy was still staring at Irene, his expression complicated. "Is that normal?"


    "What is?"


    "Helping out a criminal. The boy is a thief, but he got away scot-free just because someone else paid for it."


    Huh. She was expecting some sort of a snarker, not a deep question. "If the experience of being caught taught him not to steal anymore, I guess it''s worth it. I do disagree with beating the hell out of a helpless kid."


    "... I see." Troy said simply, turning away from the scene. "Let''s get going, then. No point loitering around here longer than necessary."


    "Oh, now that you said that..."


    Aderia pranced towards the opposite side, leaving Troy behind. She got up close to Irene, who was chiding the boy for his behaviour.


    When the boy finally got the message and promised not to steal again, the princess didn''t even turn around to greet her. "What a coincidence running into a royal guard here."


    "Yeah, well... Troy... Uh, I mean, His Highness wants to take a look around. That being said, are you alone, Your Highness?"


    "Yes. I''ve heard of the liveliness of this town and came to inspect myself."


    Inspect? She said that as if she was already ruling over the country. "Forgive me for asking, but have you come across the town square?"


    "Yes? It''s in the other side of this area." Irene blinked at her questioningly. "Are you not familiar with this place?"


    "Um, I used to be, but I''m directionally challenged, so I brought us here on mistake."


    Irene pondered on something, then looked up at her with a smile. "Shall I guide you over there, then? Provided the prince gives his consent."


    "Meh, he''s fine. I don''t baby him much like Brandon does, so don''t worry about it."


    Or so she said, but dragging along the prince was a damn hassle. He kept sneaking death glares at her whenever she fell back to check up on him, so Aderia resolved herself to just stay by Irene''s side.


    On the contrary, the princess was quite a pleasurable companion to hold a conversation with. Alarm bells would already be ringing inside her head if the princess acted strange, but she was just talking about mundane things.


    Aderia was itching to know what kind of rumours were associated with her.


    "Did you have fun with your trip here?" The question popped out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Brandon would have pulled her away if he was here.


    Irene tilted her head to one side and hummed. "Mm, from the environment itself, I''d say it was joyous. As a princess though, I can point out some corrections that can be made for the merchants."


    Oh no.


    Aderia didn''t have to look back to know that the princess had stepped over a landmine. She waited for the wrath of the prince to envelop them, but nothing happened.


    And then...


    "... You said a few days ago that an international trading is essential for the merchants." The prince''s lone voice came from behind them.


    What? Aderia''s steps halted and she gawked at the prince.


    Irene continued to walk without a shift of expression at the sudden interruption. "Yes. I believe I ask you to take it into consideration."


    What?? She turned to Irene with a similar expression.


    "Before, when you dealed with the merchant." Troy''s voice sounded hesitant, like he didn''t want to actually say anything. "Why didn''t you leave the boy be? He did something wrong, and he''s supposed to get what he deserved after committing a crime."


    "Who are you to dictate that? The child was poor. He didn''t have money to cure his hunger, so he resorted to the only way he could think of." Irene finally stopped walking. "The root of the problem here is the mismanagement of the commoners. Do you not notice how poor some of your citizens are, for you to decide that they''re all criminals for a reason they''re not responsible for?"


    Aderia almost flinched at the brutality of her words. She couldn''t guess what the prince''s reaction was, as he was in front of her now.


    In front of them was a grand fountain, with water gushing out of a statue in the middle. They''d reached the town square.


    Aderia stepped up to the prince''s side and bowed deeply. "Thank you for guiding us here, Your Highness. We''ll be off your radar now, but please be careful on your way back."


    "It''s nothing much. I''m rather glad I can converse with a woman my age." Irene took Aderia''s hands in hers, her blue eyes clear and bright. "You made me see something new today. I appreciate that."


    The princess let go and flashed another genuine smile, before disappearing into the crowd. Aderia watched her go with mixed feelings, but she was mostly happy that everything had turned out well. Irene''s last words were probably from Troy''s interest in her suggestion, and the fact that he was showing signs of listening to her without blowing off steam.


    It''s a good thing she accompanied the prince for today. If they hadn''t gotten lost, they wouldn''t have encountered the princess.


    Troy was unusually bleak after that. Aderia tried her hardest to uplift his mood, but he remained that way until they got back to the castle. The prince isolated himself in his office after telling her off, and Aderia was guilt-ridden.


    "What happened today?" Brandon asked, concerned that they both were equally depressed. A walk around town was supposed to be stress-relieving, right? "Did you get jump by a group?"


    "No, it''s just... I messed up. I thought I was doing good at first, but I was wrong... hnghh."


    They were both standing guard in front of the prince''s office. The prince simply greeted Brandon with a simple ''Hey'' when he returned, and had locked himself in. 3 hours had passed since then.


    Aderia went ahead and gave his partner a recollection of the day, complete with dramatic hand movement. She also included her observation of the princess.


    "I see. So he was hung up about how the boy was let off scot free?"


    "... I was hoping you''d say more, but yeah, that''s the gist of it."


    Brandon glanced at the door, unsure whether he wanted the prince to actually listen in on their conversation or not. When there was no response whatsoever from behind it, he turned to Aderia with a wistful smile. "I guess I owe you an explanation."

 Chapter 3

    "Are you aware of the prince''s background?"


    "Can''t say I''m fully aware, aside from him being an illegitimate son."


    Brandon made sure the coast was clear, before scooting closer to Aderia. His voice was low as he began his explanation, "That''s right. But the prince was born outside of this castle. In fact, he was born outside of this country. The current king only figured out his whereabouts when his mother died, so he was brought here immediately after."


    "Huh, will you look at that. Is it Irene''s country?"


    "Her Highness. But no, it''s not. It''s somewhere even more isolated up north." Brandon let out a sigh. "He didn''t get used to palace life that easily, and he was understandably confused by the sudden turn of events. He always skipped his classes and caused a massive ruckus around the castle, so his reputation wasn''t¡­ the best, to say the least."


    Aderia could already tell where the story was heading, but she kept quiet.


    "The king caught wind of this and ordered for him to be locked inside his room for 3 days. No food, no drink." Hurt gleamed inside his eyes as he remembered the past, when he was powerless to do anything as the prince banged on the door, begging to be let out. "He sneaked out the second night and stole some bread from the kitchen, but he was caught by his guards and brought to the king. You can probably guess what happens after."


    "Nobody came into his defence, and he got punished?"


    "Yes. The windows to his room were barricaded, and he wasn''t allowed to talk to anyone. It was a mess. The punishment was only lifted after he apologized for what he''d done."


    "Damn, that''s harsh. So that''s why he''s fired up to become the prince and overthrow His Highness, huh."


    Aderia closed her mouth after she realized her treasonous words, but Brandon wasn''t paying much attention.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    He nodded once. "He''s probably affected by how the princess treated the boy, despite them being in the same situation."


    "I see..."


    The prince was caught stealing and was punished severely. The boy did the same but not only was he let go, he also got what he wanted. The act must had sparked something inside of him.


    "You did a good job, though. Getting lost was one thing, but you made them have a progress in their relationship."


    Brandon grinned widely at her, even reaching out to pat her head as he continued the compliment, "You''re much better with this than I am. If I was there, I wouldn''t even let the princess come close."


    "But... Troy doesn''t look like he''s enlightened, or anything. He''s just... so quiet. It''s borderline disturbing."


    "I''m sure he''ll come to his senses soon. If he thinks of the princess as the saviour he needed when he was a child, that feeling will stay until now. Give him some time for that to happen."


    "Alright..."


    The prince ended up shutting himself in for the rest of the day. Brandon wasn''t particularly fussing about it like he usually would, so Aderia finally calmed down, too.


    The next day, Troy slipped a note under the door, asking for his breakfast to be sent to him. Aderia went on to oblige the request, and Brandon was left behind.  He took the chance to knock on the door to get the prince''s attention.


    "Your Highness. I''m sure you overheard our conversation from last night."


    There was no response. But he pushed on with a certainty, "I want you to know that the incident will never happen again. The king is long gone, but if by chance you are met with the mistaken judgement of other people, Aderia and I will lay our lives for you."


    "A bold statement." An amused voice drifted from Brandon''s back, jolting him. "You truly deserve the title of his most loyal subject."


    "Your Highness¡­!" Brandon swerved to face the princess, who was hiding a smile behind her hand. He bowed deeply with a flushed face. "M-my apologies, I''ve let you witness such a humiliating moment¡­"


    "Humiliating? None at all. In fact, my admiration for you has surpassed my own expectations."


    Aderia popped up from behind her, not even bothering to hide her snicker. A tray filled with food was balanced perfectly in her hand. "Yeah, not humiliating at all."


    He would have lectured her on site, but Irene needed to be tend to first. "I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but why are you here and not having your breakfast¡­?"


    "I heard from Aderia that the prince wishes to dine inside his office. I''d like to have breakfast together, so I had the chef prepare for two." Brandon realized that the amount of food was indeed, intended for more than a person. "I also heard from Aderia that the prince is sulking from yesterday''s events?"


    "Ahh, that''s, well¡­" A sniping glare was thrown at Aderia, who stepped away from his line of sight. "¡­ Yes, Your Highness. I terribly apologize for his behaviour¡­"


    She waved him off. "You don''t have to apologize on his behalf. Open the door, I wish to have a proper discussion with him."


    "¡­ Yes. As you wish, Your Highness."


    Irene took the tray Aderia was holding and stepped inside as Brandon let her pass. The guard caught a glimpse of the prince lying down on the couch he and Aderia usually sat at.


    The door shut close behind her, leaving them both together.


    "¡­" Aderia began sprinting away, only to be pulled back by a furious Brandon.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    "Uh, um, well, you know, to daily practice! Y-your face is scary, Brandon¡­!"


    "You''re already a prodigy, you don¡¯t require any more practices. Come with me."


    "Ah, wait, Brandon! I''m sorry, I wanted to stop her but she said it was-- Brandon!!"

 Chapter 4

    Irene was well-aware of how the prince was like since before she had stepped into the palace. Troy was arrogant, snobbish, and a nuisance to deal with. She was tempted to sink her blade into the back of his neck and be done with it, but out of sheer goodness, she decided not to.


    She carefully put the tray she was holding on the table that separated her with the prince, who was still draped across the couch. He was presenting himself in a vulnerable position, which meant he just didn¡¯t care anymore, or he was just unaware of her presence.


    ¡°How do you prefer your tea, Your Highness?¡± She asked, setting the cups and pouring the steaming tea inside. The aroma of jasmine enveloped the room, and she felt herself calming just from the scent.


    ¡°¡­ Not too sweet.¡±


    Ah, Irene thought, so he was just sulking. Touche. ¡°Are two cubes enough?¡±


    He finally sat up and met her eyes. He looked rather haggard, with his blonde hair messy and sticking out in all directions. His tunic from yesterday was crumpled and wrinkled.


    ¡°Yeah. Thanks.¡±


    He was unusually weak-willed today. Perhaps what happened yesterday really bothered him. Irene held back her tongue and handed over the cup. ¡°Here you go.¡±


    While he was taking small sips of the tea, she glanced at him furtively. Aderia had kept her up to date with the prince¡¯s past, and how the incident from the day before greatly affected him. She hadn¡¯t believed in every single word, considering the fact that she had the worst first impression on the prince.


    ¡°I bet they already told you about what happened.¡± Troy said, putting the cup back on its saucer. He leaned back on the couch,  his face still unreadable. ¡°That was a long time ago. I never thought it would come back to haunt me.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Your past doesn¡¯t make up your present.¡± Irene stated firmly, clenching her hands tightly. ¡°Are you trying to make use of what happened in the past to justify your current actions?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The answer startled the princess, who was immediately lost for words. Troy seemed sincere with his reply, with his eyes just looking¡­ sad. ¡°I¡¯m not giving an excuse. I¡¯m fully aware that I¡¯m an imperfect ruler. I just never came to terms with what I¡¯m lacking, until I saw you yesterday.¡±


    Irene stood up, smoothening the rumpled skirt of her dress. She glided across the room, and settled by the closed windows to the balcony. There was an itch inside her heart, and it was troubling her. ¡°I vouched for the little boy, you saw me, and all of a sudden you had the gall to turn over a new leaf? Preposterous.¡±


    ¡°Maybe. It didn¡¯t change the fact that I see now what you meant from before. How I lack understanding of the people. I failed to overcome my past, and from that I failed to overcome my weaknesses.¡± The couch he was sitting on creaked, and she kept silent as he joined her by her side. ¡°I was scared if I would get tossed aside again and let the ministers do as they please without saying anything back.¡±


    ¡°Even with your blind obedience, revolution is growing in every corner of the city.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a foolish man, Irene, not ignorant. Did you think I wouldn¡¯t notice?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Excuse me?¡±


    Irene stared at the prince next to her, as if she was seeing him for the first time. She never gave any particular attention to his appearance before, but the light streaming in had highlighted the dark circles under his eyes, and how sunken his cheeks were.


    He was exhausted. Terribly.


    Irene took a step back, then dropped her gaze on the documents upon documents stacked on top of his desk. She stepped closer to take a better look, and when the prince didn¡¯t protest, she pulled out a piece of paper.


    It was signed by the leader of the revolutionary army.


    A treaty that stated the rebels would storm in by next month and claimed the palace.


    ¡°¡­ You betrayed your own country.¡± She said, throwing the paper at him in anger. ¡°You couldn¡¯t afford to take care of it, and this is how you settle it? By giving it up?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes the best option is to surrender. I admire your intelligence and your wits, Irene, but I apologize. Your presence is unneeded. I fully intent on letting this country run by them.¡±


    Before she could say anything else, the door to the office was slammed open. She spent a second regretting to bring her dagger, and then Aderia had her pinned against the ground. She struggled to break free, but she was an assassin¡ªshe was no match against a soldier who was properly trained.


    ¡°Sorry ¡®bout this, princess.¡± Aderia said in her usual cheery voice, not the slightest bit apologetic.


    ¡°You have my gratitude for snapping the prince out of it. However, this only serves to realize his ultimate goal even more.¡± Brandon bowed politely. ¡°We cannot take the brunt of your country taking over ours, Your Highness. Please forgive us.¡±


    The last thing Irene saw before a sharp pain knocked her out was the prince opening the windows and letting the sunlight in.