A Dangerous Territory

"YOU entered the wrong room, my lady."

TEMARI felt like a bucket of ice was thrown at her. She froze and her stomach clenched painfully when she heard that voice. She looked at the direction where it came from but it was too dark for her to see anything.

"W-where are you?"

"Where are you, not who are you, huh. Either you recognize my voice or you know whose room you entered without permission," he commented.

Temari gasped at the implication of his words. "I didn't enter this room thinking that you will be here! I just…"

"Got lost again?"

Temari opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. How will she explain that she was running after a cloaked stranger and she thought that person entered this room?

Before she could think of a good excuse, she already saw a shadow move from the darkness. She stopped breathing when she finally saw the Crown Prince walking like a panther toward her, quiet but predatory. Temari's eyes widened when the light of the lone candle in the corner of the room finally illuminated him.

Rhys got rid of his extravagant prince outfit from the royal ball. His shoulder-length blond hair is wet, most of the strands were sticking to the sides of his face and neck. He looked like he just finished his bath. Not only because of his wet hair but because he was only wearing a long white robe, silk pants and nothing else. He was also barefoot.

The robe was loosely tied on his waist so his whole muscled chest and abs were exposed. The pants were too thin and hanging low on his hips. Every time he takes a step forward, the material of his pants hugs his thick thighs and –

"Loving what you see?" the Crown Prince asked mockingly.

Temari quickly lifted her gaze to his face. "Not at all, Your Highness."

Rhys smirked but his forest green eyes remained cold and cruel. "Lying doesn't suit a well-bred aristocrat's daughter, my lady."

That was the problem, isn't it? Temari is not a well-bred lady. She is an orphan and an infamous thief.

She didn't say that though. She could feel her face heating up in embarrassment and she hated it. She was never embarrassed or intimidated before. She was used to being surrounded by men. There were even a couple of times when she saw some regulars in Blackgrove Tavern without their shirts on, especially when they train. But Temari never felt anything during those instances.

Temari cleared her throat and tried her best to get her demeanor back. She took a step back. "I don't, Your Highness. I am aware that your… I mean, that is something I am not supposed to see. I apologize if I offended you."

"That?" Rhys asked with his brows arched. "What is something you were not supposed to see?"

Temari become even more uncomfortable. She continued to move back while the Crown Prince continued to walk toward her. She panicked inside when her back hit the door. She cleared her throat again and put her hand on the door handle. "E-everything. Your room. Your… appearance right now… I should go. I apologize for the intrusion, Your Highness."

Using her foot, she took her shoe from between the door and its frame and quickly wore it. "Have a good night, Your Highness," Temari said without looking at Rhys. She pulled the door open so she could slip out of the room but before she could do that he was already in front of her. His big hand went to the door and pushed it closed with a loud thud. He even locked it.

Temari looked up at his face in surprise. "What are you doing, Your Highness?" she whispered in amazement. She was not a coward but she found herself pressing her body against the door to get even an inch of distance from him. He was too close!

The Crown Prince didn't take his hand off the door. It stayed there, at the top of her head, caging her in. He looked down at Temari with his cold, almost cruel expression. "You are suspicious, my lady."

She swallowed and forced herself to lift her chin. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Your Highness."

His brows arched. "You can't fool me, my lady. The fact that you are here, inside my sleeping quarters, is enough reason for me to wonder if there is another reason why you are in the castle. Who are you?"

Temari's heart slammed against her chest. She realized that from their first encounter and even during the dance, the Crown Prince never asked something about her. He never even asked for her name.

"I am Lady Temari of Winterfield. I am the only daughter of a Baron. My father and I don't really like socializing and going to the capital so you might not know my family."

Rhys stared at her. Then he said, "I don't believe you. I will have to ask someone to dig deeper about who you are and your family background."

The Crown Prince moved and Temari panicked that he might really call someone right now. She couldn't afford to get her cover blown on her first night in the castle. Before she could think what she was doing her hands already grabbed at his arm tightly. "Wait!"

He froze. Surprise flickered in his eyes for a split second and then it was gone. Temari swallowed and licked her dry lips nervously. "I am really just a normal lady who wondered how it feels to be inside the castle of Mowsland. I admit I am a curious person. I wanted to explore the castle and I just happened to come across this room. I didn't know this is your sleeping quarters. I will not go out of my room alone anymore. I promise. I… just don't want this to reach my father. He will force me to just go back home."

She was spouting lies but she didn't bat an eye. She stared up at the Crown Prince, hoping she looked sincere and pitiful. He stared at her for a moment before he moved to fully face her. She was about to sigh in relief when he suddenly leaned closer until their faces are too close more than what is proper. Their eyes met. Then he whispered, "You didn't just come across my room accidentally, my lady. Not just anyone can find my sleeping quarters. But you did. And that's a problem."