NOWHERE TO RUN

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: PAT UND PATACHON - WHIRLWIND ~ ORCHESTER AMPER & STRITTMATTER]

"You!" The princess pointed at the man with a look of contempt on her face. Oriana glared at the guest; it was the same man she had bumped into at the entrance of the inn. She sucked her teeth; this person wasn't a minister or a palace official.

"You already have them attending to you; I'll take my leave." She said with a small bow. Done with playing this game of barmaid, for a reason the man in front of her struck on her last nerves with the way he smiled at her.

"Young lady," the first woman attending to the man spoke in a clipped tone, "your regard for His Royal Highness borders on unbecoming." The woman turned to look at the man.

"Forgive her, Your Royal Highness, she is still new around here. Allow me to pour you a drink." The barmaid suggested with a prim tone.

Highness? Oriana repeated in her head. This man was royalty? Oh well, it appears men of high standing have been plagued with base urges which they all now struggle with. The girl pursed her lips, casting a sideways glance at the young man.

"Dispel that unbecoming demeanor immediately, young lady! A curtsy is due to His Royal Highness Adric, the Crown Prince of Avon!"

Oriana's eyes moved to settle on the man who now had a smug look on his face which annoyed her even more. But she couldn't do anything much here, Avon was a kingdom two times bigger than Orion and this was not just anyone but their Crown Prince.

"Tend to me now, would you?" The Crown Prince spoke with a hint of impatience, while his eyes held a mischievous smile, his gloved finger tapping the counter near his glass. "The other ladies may retire for the evening. I require only one attendant for now."

The other ladies got on their feet and made their way towards the door. One stopped to glare at Oriana, as if warning her to act well but this didn't sit well with the princess because she glared back at the lady.

"I don't have all day, come have a seat and let's enjoy this moment." Adric said, his finger which continued to tap on the table increased Oriana's anxiety.

This wasn't the style or vibe she was aiming for, No. After dealing with Minister Cavendish she had decided to look for men like him and punish them not getting stuck in a room with a crown prince of another kingdom. The only way for her out of this mess was to reveal her identity, and leave with her dignity.

"There has been a grave misunderstanding, Your Royal Highness," Oriana began, trying hard to remember what the governess had taught her during her etiquette classes, she continued, "My presence here... does not reflect my true identity."

The Crown Prince had a blank look on his face, like he didn't care about the girl's next reveal.

Oriana furrowed her brows, what's with this attitude? She asked herself. By right the whole room is supposed to be intense, with drumrolls waiting for her he great reveal.

"Do you not understand? Okay let me make this easier for you. I am a Pri-"

The Crown Prince of Avon, took out a small box that had brown short sticks, like the colour of his eyes, raising it up to his lips he told Oriana. "Get the matchbox there and come light this."

Oriana turned to look at the matchbox then at the man, was this man being serious right now? And what's that, he was not just promiscuous, he smoked too? The girl shook her head.

"Is that a No?" Adric asked, retrieving a matchbox from his own pocket. He lighted the end of his cigarette and started smoking.

Oriana nodded her head, "It's a No..and *cough..." She covered her face with her hand trying to move away the smoke from her direction. "Can you please stop smoking?"

Adric shook his head, his brown eyes gauging the girl's body. Oriana noticed how he was staring and she backed away, carefully putting down her gown which she had tied up earlier, for straightening out Ministers.

"Chicken brain, you've grown so well but still looking where to fly. I'm glad you finally landed in my arms, maybe I could have a taste first. Won't you agree?" Adric spoke casually without being formal.

Oriana knitted her brows, where did the formalities go. This man speaks like they have met before, she needed to leave the room, this one had a nut cracked in his head just like her and with the way he was looking at her at the moment she wasn't sure what next he might do.

Adric moved the cigarette to his other hand, still looking at the girl. "What's that look?"

"Have we met before?" Oriana asked, using her hand to cover her chest protectively.

The Crown Prince tapped the butt of his cigarette on the ashtray. Then he looked up at the girl and smiled, the side of cheeks showing a dip of his dimples.

"If you come sit beside me, then I'll tell you if we've met." He said moving to the side, he tapped on the pillow near him. "Don't be shy, come sit."

That's right, this one had more than few screws loose in his head. Oriana said to herself, slowly with an awkward smile she started taking a cautious step back.

"I'll go get us more drinks.," She said with a tight smile, nodding her head as she backed away. Oriana was happy to see the man still smiling at her, without moving. Maybe he was just a crazy man claiming to be Prince. His smile creeped her out. But it's okay as long as he didn't chase after her.

The princess calculated her moves in her head, ready to grab the door knob she turned her head for a brief moment backing the Crown Prince.

Before her hand could reach out for the door knob, she felt a larger hand cover her's pushing the door close.

"Ah!" Oriana tried to scream, but the second hand covered her mouth flawlessly turning her to pin her back against the wall.

"You were going to open the door when the party was just starting. Or do you like people watching?" He asked with a wide smile, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

Oriana gulped, how did he get here so fast and she didn't even hear a sound. He had been sitting there grinning like a dull brain, how? She blinked her eyes, trying to wriggle herself from his hold.

"Hey hey...you might want to stop moving. I get turned on when my women get fiesty, and I don't stop until I'm satisfied. If you're also into that we can try it out." Adric said, the smile still on his face like he had won the jackpot.

"Phuck..." Oriana's words came out muffled because of the hand that covered her mouth. She raised her free hand to slap him, but then the crown prince quickly caught it and turned her around pinning her two hands behind her.

"I should get you to the bed then, to calm this burning desire of yours,"

Oriana's eyes widened, how did things escalate to this, she needed to find her way out but this man held her firmly and all her attempts was looking futile. She decided to kick him with her leg but it was like a gentle breeze had graced the room, then touched the Crown Prince.

"Even toddlers kick better than that, legs are what you love most? You should have started with that, now don't be shy always tell." The crown prince moved in a way that told Oriana that this man was more than experienced and this wasn't his first time.

Before she could blink, she found herself spinned to rest on his arm, then a faint wink which he gave her before pushing her to the bed where her dress raised above her knee.