Secret

Being rendered bewildered by the nature of the family she was supposed to join in three days, Rizelle cautiously glanced at her fiance once again.

Right before the silence made the situation too awkward, the Princess noticed a little smile on her husband's lips.

"I'm only doing what I should do, Uncle," he finally spoke up and briefly glanced at Rizelle. "A wedding is between two persons and it won't be right if Princess Rizelle does everything alone."

"Well said there, cousin," Crown Prince Alerone Caderin chimed in. Putting aside whatever conversation he had with Nicien earlier in the day, he was now carrying that friendly smile again.

Nicien Vamieres only glanced at his Crown Prince cousin for a split second. He didn't appear interested and he didn't smile either. Just like he did before in the royal court, his face was just blank and he turned away immediately.

Rizelle looked at the Crown Prince who didn't even seem to be affected by the cold treatment he received from his cousin.

As a royal herself, she had met many Princes in the past and some of them was heir apparent to the throne of their respective kingdoms but... Alerone Caderin might be the most unique Crown Prince she had ever met. His behavior and attitude were nothing like the Crown Princes she had met in the past!

Unlike his son, King Hamon didn't seem to be alright. Though he was trying to not make his feelings too obvious, it was hard to have everything hidden. Soon, the servants started serving dinner and everyone started eating.

While she was quietly eating just like everyone else, Rizelle had many things crossing her mind. The huge crack and the tension between the King and Prince Nicien was too obvious but... why did the Supreme Princess act as if she didn't notice anything?

As someone who had a huge presence in the lives of both King Hamon and Prince Nicien, was there nothing she could do about it?

Rizelle wasn't a fool to not know that power struggles only caused a bloodbath as it grew more intense!

Complete silence occupied the dining hall for a long time and when Supreme Princess Selova broke the silence, dinner was almost done now.

"As Princess Rizelle will be staying here in the main palace until the wedding, I hope you can take good care of her, Your Majesty." Her words were directed to the King who nodded at her with a little smile on his face.

"You don't have to worry, sister. She won't be just your daughter-in-law but also my niece-in-law. I will make sure to treat her well." As Hamon Caderin talked, there was a small yet genuine smile on his face the whole time and for the first time, Rizelle realized that the rumor about the King was true.

Everything about him proved that he truly cared for the Supreme Princess. To Rizelle, this was the first time that King Hamon sounded serious.

"Why do you worry so much, Aunty?" Crown Prince Alerone chimed in with a sigh. "I'm here and that means you have no reason to worry." He looked at Rizelle with a smile and added, "I will make sure that the Princess isn't bored at all."

"I trust in you, Crown Prince," Supreme Princess Selova Vamieres responded with an amusing smile on her face. "But I hope that you won't bother the Princess so much." With a peal of light laughter, she added, "You will make her tired."

"I will remember that," Alerone Caderin playfully replied, making the Supreme Princess laugh even harder. This made Rizelle realize how peaceful it was to listen to the two. The atmosphere was so much better compared to the moody one just a minute ago.

Soon enough but fortunately, dinner was done and they all retreated to their chamber. For Rizelle, it was a long day that she won't possibly forget for the rest of her life.

* * *

The next three days passed by in preparation for the royal wedding and just as he promised, Prince Nicien also spent all his time in the palace, cooperating with the preparation. He met Rizelle several times because of the preparation but... they didn't talk much.

To be more precise, they only talked to each other when needed. At least, he didn't neglect her as per his mother's advice.

It was the night before the grand wedding and Nicien Vamieres was alone in his chamber in the Candor Palace. Midnight was fast approaching yet he didn't feel like sleeping at all.

All he did was sit alone in the chair behind his desk and his gaze was fixated on a small piece of red fabric that he was holding in his hand. The fabric was small enough to fit in his hand and it had something sewn in the middle - a small fire torch.

Minutes passed and all Nicien Vamieres did was gaze at the fire torch which was like a logo. He never once took his eyes off from it as if it was some mesmerizing treasure. It was until he sensed a thing he was familiar with.

Slowly, Nicien put down the fabric and his gaze swept around his chamber before he slowly rose from his seat. He walked towards the shelves in one corner of his chamber and when he reached there, he stood still with his gaze on the shelves as if he was waiting for something or perhaps... someone

After around a minute, the two shelves before him suddenly rolled to his right and left, revealing a secret path with a chamber. It wasn't just this; a woman dressed with a black hood appeared before Prince Nicien while the latter looked at her; his expression calm and blank like ever.

Once he turned around and walked back to his seat, the woman entered his chamber and the secret path was closed. When Prince Nicien took his seat, the woman was already kneeling a few steps away from him. However, she didn't utter any word until the Prince talked to her.

"I don't remember myself summoning you, Imayne," Nicien Vamieres said to the young woman. His voice was low and calm.

"I apologize for the interruption, Master; but I make sure to know if you are alone before I come here," the young woman named Imayne responded with his gaze glued to the floor. "Tomorrow is the wedding and the leaders of the guild are worried. They want me to come and check on you and to know if you have any orders for tomorrow."