The return

Maya was so frightened by this man's voice and the way he addressed himself that he was the soldier and the way he told her to turn around.

The least and the worst decision that she would make was to face that man right away. Because she did know the moment she did so was going to be the end of her small adventure outside the castle.

He spoke again, this time his voice was pleasing but yet with determination.

"I said turn around" his voice reverberated in her ears and she forgot to breath. Fear grew inside of her, she didn't understand the way of his words or the meaning of them, she froze on spot.

She didn't know what to do while cursing herself inwardly. Hey...Maya!!...just think of something to get you out of here or else this man or a soldier or whoever he might be is going to arrest you and drag you back to the castle, send you to the dungeon where all kinds of punishments are given to whoever breaks the laws of the palace.

She told herself in vain trying to be brave or probably she could run away but he might catch her and that could stir up more troubles or maybe she could try to trick him.

Without further thinking about a plan to come up with to escape this man abruptly to her surprise this man grabbed her hand and suddenly turned her around.

Her dark brown unkept hair flipped to one side and revealed her face. She tried to look away but he pulled her towards him, her face few inches away from him.

He watched her, piercing her with his eyes. She was left dumbfounded.

"Who you might be...a killer who was sent to murder the prince dressing as a maid ?!. No.. I doubt this kind of disguise, beautiful" he chuckled, his hands unbothered left her.

She sighed but he didn't leave her alone, he asked " What are you doing outside here?. I bet you sneaked out, didn't you?!" she stepped back away from him before she could answer to his question.

"No sir. I was....was sent here for..uh..short palace errand. I'm taking supplies for..rr..uhm...y-you know the prince right?!. Yes for the prince's dinner tonight", she stuttered but managed to speak a lie but likely he saw through her lie.

"For the prince?!. Alone ??" he laughed. "Don't lie to me, I mean no harm to you" he said, his eyes watching her very intently.

She was surprised by his sudden change of behavior.

He seemed to be softened and yet so composed.

The strange thing about him was the way he was looking at her. His eyes were so pretty and shining in light brown. There was a hint of something in his eyes that yet she failed to figure it out.

She let her eyes inspecting his face before they trailed down to his body and then back to his face again.

It was shameful for a lady to explore the body of a man but it wasn't her fault.

He was gorgeous, a very good looking man in his age.

He had a short and curly dark brown hair that covered up to his neck which some of them cascaded down to his face and he was tidily letting them backward when he talked to her.

He seemed to be taller than her height or maybe the boots that he wore made him look taller.

His hair and his eyes perfectly matched his muscular body in black leather armor and yet he was looking very attractive.

He met her gaze when she was looking at him, he smiled.

Feeling ashamed she lowered her gaze and looked away.

What was she thinking?!. She might be crazy.

She was in trouble but yet she still did had time to admire somebody else's body.

Ravius was looking at this young girl in front of him who seemed to be intimidated by his earlier actions.

She was young and beautiful and yet he was amazed by the way she was looking at him with confidence but eventually she looked away shyly and seemed to loose her interest on exploring his looks.

He wondered when he had seen this lady ??.

Seems like it wasn't his first time seeing her and what about the doubt he had it on her earlier, was it a wrong choice ?!.

And he was contemplating whether to let her go or stick with her.

Because he felt right at the moment, her fate was in his hands.

So many years passed away at the border, prince Asa - the only prince of the monocot kingdom was expected to return back at the capital city.

The majority of the people at the palace were overjoyed and so far they were awaiting for his arrival. Many preparations were made for his expected arrival, the servants for serving him, the guards for patrolling and the banquet for welcoming the prince

The caravan escorting the prince was at the top of the hill approaching the gate of the capital city. Prince Asa along with his closest guards were riding on horses along the road towards the city gate.

He stopped his horse and the guard beside him ordered the caravan behind the prince to stop, the prince watched the kingdom of his country from afar. The magnificent, yet the white grand castle rose highly at the top of the green hills and the villages around it.

He stood there for a while, breathing the familiar scent of fresh air while the perfect memories of his childhood pictured in his mind.

Until he knew, he was really back home.

The prince after being pleased by the view of his hometown, he gestured for the caravan to move but when he was about to ride his horse, the guard beside him spoke.

"Your highness, you should move to the carriage"

"Why is that, Cosmos ?!" the prince asked.

"The city is not safe, your highness" the guard who named Cosmos replied to the prince .

The prince scrutinized the face of the soldier shortly before he said. "At the border, on the way and even now at the city where I lived and grew up is not safe !?" Asa asked sadly and paused for a bit when he saw that the soldier's face still concerned about it he continued.

"Stop it already !!. You are just being overprotective, aren't he zayn ??." prince asked another soldier who looked younger than the first soldier.

"Absolutely, your highness." zayn replied to the prince, he then looked at the direction of the other soldier and then smiled. The older one casted a scolding glance to the younger one before he said.

"It's my duty to protect you, your highness"

"Then protect me and not cage me!" Asa cut in his sentence before his horse stepped forward and rode away towards the city gate. The rest of the soldiers rode their horses joining him.

The man beside me was looking at me intently I barely felt the urge to look at him and when I met his gaze the man was still looking at me curiously without moving his eyes.

At the moment I felt that I was caught and seemed that there was no way of letting me go.

But what could I do to convince him to let me go and keep my little castle escapade a secret ??.

I thought for a while and then after I gathered so much courage to speak, he did right before I could even utter a single word.

"Aren't you afraid of being punished for your silly mistake. You are so young and yet so stubborn"

Those words felt like punishing me already, I stuttered at my own words. "Uhm...please spare me. I can do anything for you I'm begging, please don't report me". Finally I mustered the courage to ask him to have mercy on me.

If will he ever understand my reasons of wanting. No, needing to escape away, maybe he could just let me go.

"Really ?" he asked .

I nodded without even realizing what I nodded for.

"It's fine, you can go" he said .

" Really?! " I jumped in excitement.

" Yes, isn't that what you wanted ?" he pointed.

"Thank you, uhm.. really thankful for this". I managed to say before I hurried to turn around. This soldier could change his mind at any moment. I walked in two steps before I heard his voice again.

"Wait, not...that way. I meant... back to the castle ".

My shoulders dropped in disappointed. So he meant I should return back to the castle the place where I tried my best to run away from. He must be kidding, isn't he?!.

He moved closer slowly to where I was standing, holding a flower in his hand.

"Take this" he pointed.

What does he want to say this time ?!. I thought.

"You seemed to be fond of flowers ". He continued before he handed it to me.

I was surprised by his movements, I looked at him briefly before he spoke again .

"Be careful on your way back and you must keep your promise. You said you can do anything right ?! then meet me by the altar tonight" he met my gaze and hold me there.

"I hope you can keep your promise " he insisted and walked away.

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📚 Hello my dear lovers. I hope you enjoyed. Much love❤️ from your author mayatella_.