In the mountains

Luciana laughed at Raziel's reaction to what she said. The prince was completed taken aback by the seriousness in her tone, and he had reflexively gotten up from her thighs.

"Did I scare you your highness?" She laughed again. She would think of his reaction again and laugh harder.

"Is this how you want to play it Lucy?"

"You tease me all the time. I figured I should do same to you." She laughed again.

"Very funny." He scoffed, but when she continued laughing he joined her.

"Admit it your highness, I scared you." Luciana said.

"Scared me? What is so scary about marrying you?"

"Uhm... your father and your kingdom mighty turn against you." Luciana said.

"I have already turned against my father. As for the kingdom, I don't think they will be able to stop me if I decide to marry someone, no matter who the person is."

"I wonder how stubborn you would be as a child." Luciana said with a slight chuckle.

"Ironically, I was very obedient as a child. I would do every thing my father asked of me without questions." Raziel said.

"What changed now?" Luciana curiously asked.

"I stopped being afraid of punishments." He told her.

"What kind of punishments were you given?"

Raziel sighed. Then he lay his head on her laps again, closing his eyes.

"The most common punishment when I was about six to eight years old was being whipped with a scourge, mostly at the back of my palm."

Luciana felt her heart squeezed at his confession. Who would be heartless enough to do that to a child? And it was his own child.

"That's horrible."

"But I slowly got used to it. Then he upgraded to making me watch people being cruelly punished and killed."

He had told her about that before, but it still felt terrible hearing it again.

"The first person he made me punish was the closest person to me." Raziel said.

"Lorenzo?"

Raziel nodded. "We were much closer when we were younger, and we usually played together. My father thought it was improper for me to be friends with a common guard, and he made me punish him to show him his place."

"That must have really hurt Lorenzo's feelings. And yours too."

"That's true. Lorenzo then decided to climb up in rank, and he ended up becoming a general."

"That's good. But he seems very soft for a general."

"Lorenzo is naturally a soft person. He being a general didn't change that. But he knows what he is doing in the battle ground." Raziel said, before changing the topic. "How was work today? Did anyone give you a tough time?"

"I think they look down on me because I am human. And they believe that I am only there because of your influence. It is nothing I cannot handle anyway." Luciana stated with a shrug.

"They are right." He said, and she turned to him with a frown. "You are only there because of me. Honestly, no other person will let a human head a team. It's now up to you to change their perspectives."

"I am trying."

"I am sure you can handle it."

"Prince Raziel have you ever thought of ending the slave trade?"

"Yes. Many times. But I am not king. Only the king can."

"Have you tried talking to him?"

Raziel chuckled. "Do my father seem like someone who would listen?"

Luciana was not surprised. A man that could be so cruel to his own child, when he was only a little kid would be the last person she would expect to listen to him.

"Do you ever plan to be king?"

"It's still not up to me. Either my father hands the throne over, or he dies. You know what happens when the king dies on seat?"

"Yes. The crown prince would have to fight with other people who feel they are worthy of the throne. I wonder why they even do that when there is already a crown prince." She shook her head. "I thought your father was going to hand the throne over if you get married. Why not marry Lady Dahlia? I think you get along well with her." Luciana suggested with her gaze away from him.

"First of all, there is no handing over happening. Secondly, I am not marrying Lady Dahlia. We get along well, but not enough to get married to her. Thirdly why do you want me to be king?"

"How do you plan to escape marrying Lady Dahlia when you did a blood ritual with her? And I want you to be king because I know you will be a better king than your father."

"Lady Dahlia's issue is already taken care of. And how are you so sure that I will be a better king than my father?"

"I just know that. And when you become king, it will be proven." Luciana responded.

"How old are you Luciana?"

"Twenty one. Why?"

"According to the humans, aren't you too old to still be unmarried?" Raziel asked, and she frowned.

"I am. But that doesn't bother me."

"Why?"

"Because I don't see myself ever getting married. I am not ready for such life long commitment. Plus I am still trying to pick up the pieces of my life. Me getting married the way I am now would be a disaster."

"What if it were Duke Wright?" Raziel asked.

"Elric?" She shook her head. "I wouldn't be able to give him the happiness that he deserves."

"Did you ever feel anything for him?"

Luciana looked down at the prince who had decided to question her personal life. But she found herself wanting to answer all his questions.

She nodded. "I did. But I didn't let myself indulge in it."

"Do you still feel anything for him now?"

"Prince Raziel, I am too broken to feel anything for anyone now." Luciana confessed. "I am not sure my heart functions anymore."

Raziel chuckled a little. "You are funny Lucy."

"Did you also see my short name 'somewhere in my house'?" Luciana asked, using the words he used when she asked him how he knew her last name.

"No. I just think it's fitting for your name."

Luciana smiled.

"What if I ask you to marry me?" Raziel jokingly asked Luciana.

"Depends on what you have to offer." She answered smugly.

"What? I am a crown prince remember?"

"You are going to have to write me a long note, telling me how that will benefit me."

"Well you will become far higher than a baroness, and you will be able to influence a lot of things."

"That's a very tempting offer your highness. I will think about it." She joked.

Raziel then got up from her laps, believing that he might be tiring her out. Instead he pulled her head to rest on his shoulder, after giving her a somewhat meaningful stare.

*******

Meanwhile back in the castle. Evelyn just came out of her personal dressing room, wanting to go join her husband in bed.

She was still annoyed at the fact that Dahlia did not join Raziel in performing the ritual. She tapped the king who had his eyes closed.

"What is it again Evelyn?" He answered drowsily without opening his eyes.

"I think we should push the wedding of Prince Raziel and Lady Dahlia closer."

The king opened his eyes and sat up, and Evelyn smiled that she had successfully gotten his attention.

"Why?"

"Isn't it surprising that the prince just agreed to marry her after the first meeting? I don't trust him." She said.

"He took the blood oath Evelyn. He can't back away."

"But Lady Dahlia can. She didn't take it with him."

"The last time I spoke with Lady Dahlia, she was happy to be here. I think she wants to marry him."

"I had my eyes on her during the ritual process. She didn't seem happy when the prince was performing the ritual."

"Evelyn dear, you worry for nothing. But we will be having the wedding in five days if that will put you at ease." The king said.

Evelyn nodded, happy that she had gotten her way. "And I would also like Dahlia to join in the ritual."

She had a feeling that Raziel will do something to sabotage the ritual. She wanted Dahlia to suffer the consequences of whatever he was planning along with him.

"That's up to Lady Dahlia to decide dear. Now come lie down."

Evelyn frowned, but she decided to go with the little she could get. For now!

______

By the time Raziel brought Luciana back, she was already asleep. He carefully placed her on the bed, and removed her hair from her face.

He watched her sleeping from for a while. He wondered if her nightmares had stopped bugging her. He took a mental note to ask her the next day. Then he decided to leave.

Just as he opened the door to leave, he turned back to the human.

"I hope you will forgive me Luciana." He whispered before leaving.