Chapter 3

"Where have you been?" Ren asked his brother. 

"I was just looking around." Prince Chris replied and took away his eyes from mine. 

"Anyways, meet my new frien---"

"I don't have any interest." Prince Chris said with a cold tone.

"I have come here for my own reason. You can enjoy the party." He said and walked away.

"What a rude person he is!"

"Oh Alina, don't say this. I believe there's something in his mind which is bothering him." I said.

"Yes, you are right Lauren. Even two years ago, he wasn't like this." Ren said.

"Then what's wrong with him now?" Clara asked.

"Sorry, I can't say." Ren replied.

"Ok fine, don't say. But why did he come here and where is he now?" Alina asked.

"I have no idea. He didn't want to come. But when I said that I'm going Westelia, he had agreed to come." Ren replied.

"Ren, is it about his past or something? Is my Kingdom has any history with him?" I asked shockingly.

"Actually, I don't know. I have never heard anything about Westelia from him. But maybe you are right." Ren said confusingly.

"Lauren dear, come quickly. It's time to cut the cake" Suddenly, mother came.

"Ok mother, I'm coming." I said.

"Sorry guys, I have to go." I said.

"Oh that's not a problem. Go girl cut the cake." Alina said. I went to cut the cake.

As I made my way to the cake-cutting ceremony, my mind buzzed with questions about Prince Chris. His sudden appearance and aloof demeanor had piqued my curiosity, especially after Ren's cryptic responses. With the celebratory atmosphere of the party fading into the background, I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Prince Chris's behavior than met the eye.

With each slice of cake served and every cheerful conversation exchanged, my thoughts kept returning to the enigmatic prince. I couldn't help but wonder what could have caused such a stark change in his demeanor over the past two years. Was it something from his past haunting him? Was there a connection between his troubled demeanor and my kingdom, Westelia? The questions swirled in my mind like a storm, demanding answers.

After the cake-cutting ceremony, I excused myself from the festivities under the pretext of needing some fresh air. Stepping out onto the balcony, I was greeted by the serene night sky adorned with twinkling stars. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, momentarily calming my restless mind.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Prince Chris's approach until he spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a sharp blade.

"You seem troubled, Princess Lauren," he remarked, his tone devoid of its previous coldness.

Startled by his sudden presence, I turned to face him, my gaze meeting his intense stare. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that I hadn't noticed before, a glimpse of the turmoil hidden beneath his stoic facade.

"I... I was just..." I stammered, unsure of how to articulate my thoughts.

"You were wondering about me," Prince Chris interjected, his voice softening slightly.

Taken aback by his directness, I nodded hesitantly, my curiosity overcoming my apprehension.

"I apologize for my earlier behavior," Prince Chris continued, his gaze shifting away from mine. "It's... complicated."

I tried to study him carefully, sensing that there was more to his apology than met the eye. There was a weight in his words, as if he carried a burden too heavy to bear alone.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I said.

Prince Chris's eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions before settling on a mixture of gratitude and reluctance.

"I appreciate your offer, Princess Lauren, but this is something I must deal with on my own," he replied, his tone resigned.

Despite his refusal to accept my help, I couldn't shake off the feeling of empathy towards him.

"If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know." I said softly.

For a moment, Prince Chris seemed taken aback by her gesture, his eyes widening in surprise. Then, to Lauren's surprise, a ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, fleeting but genuine.

"Thank you, Princess Lauren," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

With that, Prince Chris turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone on the balcony with my thoughts. Whatever secrets Prince Chris was hiding, I vowed to uncover them, not out of curiosity, but out of genuine concern for him.

Back inside the palace, the festivities continued late into the night, but my mind remained preoccupied with thoughts of Prince Chris. 

"Lauren, what are you doing here?" Suddenly Alina's voice broke my thoughts.

"Oh! Alina, it's you." I said with a little shock.

"Are you thinking about something?" She asked. 

"Nothing so important."

"You always say so." She said with a little anger.

"What's wrong?" Suddenly Ren and Clara appeared.

"Nothing, we were just gossiping." Alina replied.

As Ren and Clara joined us, the atmosphere shifted subtly, as if a veil had been drawn over our conversation. Alina's earlier anger dissipated into a forced smile, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle over us.

Ren, always the one to break the tension, spoke up. "Gossiping, huh? Well, count me in. What's the latest scoop?"

I glanced around nervously, my mind scrambling to come up with a plausible topic to divert their attention. "Oh, you know, just the usual palace chatter. Rumors about upcoming events, scandalous affairs—"

"Affairs?" Clara's eyes widened with interest. "Do tell."

I inwardly cursed myself for mentioning such a sensitive topic, but there was no turning back now. "Well, nothing concrete, really. Just whispers among the staff. You know how these things go."

Alina shot me a knowing look, but she didn't press further. Instead, she changed the subject smoothly. "Speaking of upcoming events, have you heard about the masquerade ball next week?"

Ren's eyes lit up. "Of course! I've been looking forward to it for weeks. Are you all attending?"

We nodded in agreement, relieved to have shifted the focus away from our earlier conversation. As we discussed our plans for the ball, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Alina's sudden appearance, her accusatory tone—it all felt too calculated, too intentional.

But I pushed those thoughts aside, unwilling to confront the possibility that my friend may have been hiding something from me. Instead, I threw myself into the conversation, laughing and joking with Ren, Clara, and Alina as if nothing were amiss.

Eventually, the hour grew late, and one by one, the guests began to bid their farewells and depart for the evening. Ren, Clara, Alina, and I lingered in the grand hall, reluctant to let the night end.

"Well, I think it's getting late," Ren said with a yawn, stretching his arms above his head.

Clara nodded in agreement, stifling a yawn of her own. "Yes, it's been a long day. Goodnight, everyone."

With that, she and Ren made their way towards the staircase, leaving Alina and me alone in the hall. As the sounds of their footsteps faded into the distance, a heavy silence descended upon us.

Alina turned to me, her expression unreadable. "Lauren, we need to talk."

My heart skipped a beat as a sense of dread washed over me. Whatever Alina had to say, I knew it wouldn't be good. With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I braced myself for what was to come.