Chapter 18 Pick a card

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The young couple walked among the townspeople holding hands, the looks were not too much since they were both wearing cloaks now.

"Do you know what I refer to you as in my head?" Athena asked.

"What?"Xavier asked.

"Silly prince," She said.

"Oh, I remember you calling me that once," Xavier said in realization.

"Yea, you were such a jerk," She said with a smile.

"And then the jerk met the tamer," Xavier said as he drew her close and held her waist."My red-haired beauty," He said again, and she blushed.

"Why, why we're you that way?"Athena asked and he sighed.

"I was a mummy's boy once, My brothers taunt me and swore I would be nothing if it was not for my mom. she got sick and passed, I was left alone building my defensive walls and that was to say my mind without any restraint, because..."

"Because you did not want to show them your vulnerable side," Athena said in an understanding tone.

" Exactly, and then I met you. "Xavier said and drew her closer, kissing her forehead.

The smell of roasted meat danced past her nostrils and she immediately shrugged."Hmmm, smells delicious" She said.

"Want some?"He asked and she nodded with a smile, while her eyes twinkled like stars, he chuckled and they both went to the place where the scent was coming from.

"Greetings sir, welcome"The seller greeted with a smile.

"Greetings, can we get to bags of meat?" he asked.

"That will be twenty silver coins, sir"The meat seller replied.

"Want to see something fun Redhaired?"Xavier asked and she looked at him with a confused gaze.

"Twenty silver coins, why would you make it so expensive, just for two bags?"Xavier said arguing with the meat seller, I couldn't help but chuckle, he had the money but wanted to create a scene, what a drama prince.

"Am sorry sir but that is the price"the meat seller replied.

"I'll give you fifteen," Xavier said.

"Twenty," The meat seller disagreed

" Sixteen, "He said

"Nineteen, "the man said.

"Seventeen, it's that or nothing," He said.

"Eighteen," the man said.

"Deal," Xavier yelled as if he had just won a jackpot, then placed a pouch on the counter after collecting the bags.

" You're crazy, you know that "The man yelled as they walked forward.

"Thank you!"Xavier replied.

"Hahaha, he is right, you are crazy."Athena laughed as they reached a good distance away from the meat seller's booth.

"What can I say, I would do anything to make the girl I love smile," Xavier replied and she blushed. he opened it and put one in his mouth, he was shocked when Athena suddenly tip-toed grabbed his shirt and slammed her lips against his, his eyes went wide like saucers when her tongue slid into his mouth giving him a tingling sensation and ravaged his mouth then pulled away chewing the meat as she smiled with her eyes. However, Xavier was still frozen he had forgotten how bold and daring Athena could be but she gave him a good reminder.

" Payback, "She said and her eyes caught something that intrigued her.

'I love this girl,' Xavier said inwardly and hurriedly ran to her.

"Hey look, it's a fortune-telling booth, I've always wanted to try this."She said, dragging Xavier in with her, they saw an old woman in a red dress seated there, she was blind and cards were scattered on the table she sat behind.

"Welcome," She said and they both looked at each other in confusion. They took a seat and Athena greeted them.

" Greetings, we are here to know our destinies, ma'am "

"Pick a card, "The old lady said and Xavier picked and turned it.

" What did you pick? "She asked.

"It looks like a knight, a knight using a shield to protect himself from a dragon's flames," Xavier said.

"Ahh, you are going to be very strong in the future, one of the best, you will outshine everyone around you."The old lady said with a smile on her face.

"Pick another card."The old lady said and he did, he turned it around and it was a shield with a pretty girl's face drawn on it.

"A shield with a girl's face on it," Xavier said.

"You will be hurt gravely by a beautiful woman, "The old lady said and turned to Athena. "Pick a card, young lady," She said, and Athena did.

"It's a dragon rider card, "Athena said.

"You are very rare, if anything happens to you the land of Alfie will crumble...your blood will be the answer to a very big war, you are royalty."The old lady said but Athena was silent.

"Her blood?"Xavier asked but was completely ignored by the old lady.

"Pick another card, "The old lady said, and Athena did.

"It's a sword and a dead rose being held by a masked man," Athena said and the old lady gasped and started murmuring.

"Dragon, blood, killer," She kept saying.

"Ma'am, Old lady, is something wrong?"Athena asked.

"You... should be eliminated before you bring down this land. You should be killed or this land will flow in blood."The old lady said and grabbed her hand tight. Athena struggled and pulled away from her grip and ran outside with Xavier trailing behind her.

"Athena, wait"

"I don't want...I don't want to be here"Athena said.

"I know, she's scary," Xavier said calming her down as he held her hands taking her back to the palace.

The gates opened and they walked in, still holding hands, Athena seemed a little down and kept thinking of the old lady's words, she was confused at first the last said she shouldn't get hurt or the land will crumble and then she said she should be killed, was she a fake, but if she was a fake why do her words bother her so much.

"Don't listen to anything she said, she's crazy, so don't let it bother you okay?"He said holding her face and she nodded.

" Smile, "He said with a smile and she forced a smile for him.

"Good girl"

"Xavier, "Prince Nathan who stood at the stairs looking leading to the entrance of the palace called. He looked up and saw his brother standing there majestically, eyes fixated on Athena. They both bowed slightly then Nathan asked."Who's your guest?"

"It's Athena, your Highness," Xavier said.

"Athena, as in, the maid?"Prince Nathan asked raising a brow and Xavier nodded.

" Your Highness "She greeted with a slight bow.

"Ah, you look so...gorgeous, I almost didn't recognize you," He said then walked towards them, his eyes traveling down to her boobs down to her sexy curves and then her snow white legs that were revealed because of the length of her dress. she felt awkward under his gaze and tried hauling the dress down.

"Go," Xavier said noticing her uncomfortable attempts then returned his gaze to his brother.

"Wow Xavier, you've grown into a real man, I bet she tastes so good," Nathan said.

"She is not my plaything, I love her, so I'd appreciate it if you put those filthy thoughts out of your head and I will also appreciate it if you don't look at her that way...Your Highness" He said and walked away, this was the first time he stood up to his brother to even make a sentence.

"You can love her but you can not marry a slave into this family, you have to marry a princess you little brat" He heard his brother's voice behind him as he walked to his room.

~~

The next day, it was time for Xavier to leave, he held Athena's hand as he walked to his horse, there were not many people around just Sarah and Rose who followed Athena and Xavier to the stables.

"I'll miss you," She said with tears glistening in her eyes. Xavier smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I promised you right, I won't make you wait long."Xavier said holding her face and she nodded."I love you Red-haired"

"I love you, silly prince" She replied and the tears fell from her eyes. he embraced her and let out a sigh.

"If we ever get separated, we will meet again at the cliff okay?"He said and she nodded, He pulled away and climbed his horse then he came down again and held her cheeks slamming his lips against hers, it was a slow and soothing kiss that said 'goodbye, I will miss you' and 'until we meet again'.then like that he got on his horse and rode away.