The Prince Without a Heart

"Come, follow me quietly." The bearded man put a finger to his lips and waved to her to step out the door.

Hesitantly, Rain crossed the threshold and tiptoed after him.

"Who are you? Did Lucas send you?" she studied the man who was old but still looked agile with cynical eyes. His faded azure eyes seemed weird.

He chuckled at her question. "That rascal can't afford to."

Rain didn't stop tailing after him, but raised her brows in stun and whispered back, "Then how can you …."

"Didn't you say it was urgent?

Besides, I hear you attempted to flee. Who knows, if the prince has the habit of keeping grudges and feels you despise him, he'll disregard your entire existence. You must know he's cruel and unfeeling."

He walked forward but suddenly turned to look at her saying,

Especially if you really do know why you are here.

As much as you can't escape, you should win his heart… possibly, if he has one."

Rain was puzzled. Her mouth opened to speak, but the old man soon announced in glee, "We are here!"

He pointed ahead of the wide dim corridors as he spoke. "There is a tall double door at the end. The prince should certainly be in there. If you don't meet him today, I doubt you would be able to do so for some time. "

Clearly, the prince wasn't ever planning on calling on her. If she didn't take the initiative to find him, she would have been ignored until heaven knows when. Like useless castle décor, gathering dust as the seasons passed.

Before Rain could tell, the old man left hurriedly and disappeared into a corner.

In the dreary corridor, silent and eerie and without a single servant or guard patrolling, she exhaled nervously.

When she reached the doors at the end of the corridor, she rested her head on the frame. There wasn't a sound she heard from inside.

***

"Where's the princess?!"

Lucas was furious as he walked into Old Cadmus lounging about mischievously. He could tell something was amiss.

"If something should happen, it should happen sooner. How would you know she's the one if she's not put to test?" Cadmus stroke his beard unperturbed.

Lucas narrowed his gaze in astonishment. "Don't say you sent her into their midst?"

When Cadmus failed to respond, Lucas needed no soothsayer to understand. He quickly rushed off upstairs.

Cadmus scoffed as he watched him leave. "If the girl is to return in one piece, then she must be of importance to him, heh!" He muttered. "What's the rush?"