Second Meeting

2

"My lord, are you alright?" The sword of honour stepped off his horse and sprinted toward them. Renai just stared at the dangerous-looking man who also addressed him 'Lord' but from no angle it seemed like he was bantering. The man knelt before him and studied his wounds. "Does it hurt much?" He asked with his voice laced with utter concern and apprehension. It sounded too weird to her.

Zebian raised his dirty hand, his face still dressed in a displeasing wince. "I'm better, call of appreciation for this young nymph," He pointed out at her. She, begrudgingly, cocked her head toward the armed man. Her heartbeat shot to a reckless pace.

The man's features softened hearing his words, he nodded deeply and slowly as in a gesture of gratitude to Renai, who just gulped in response. Her face was now deprived of colours. She swivelled her head toward the injured boy, her lips quivering as she frightfully asked, "Are you the prince?" Her voice barely made it to anyone's ear as she lost it inside her.

Zebian smirked evilly, seeing her morphing from assertive to timid. He was entertained by the drastic change. "Will you still run your mouth on me if I say yes?" He enquired sneeringly. The mousy girl flinched in terror and shook her head in a quick no. She instantly threw her eyes down and kneeled properly.

"I beg your pardon, my lord. Please do not bring your wrath upon me, for I'm childish and a fool," She pleaded with her eyes welling tears up. She kept them unshed even when her mind pictured thousands of ways her father would punish if he got to know about it.

"It is your fortunate luck that had earned you your life spared. I feel obliged to you for your kind attempt to heal me," Zebian proclaimed reasonably, giving Renai her breaths back. She sighed in relief once hearing him that he forgave her.

"Indeed, his Highness is kind, the kingdom is in good hands," she profoundly praised him with her eyes still downcast. The sword of honour witnessed the whole conversation and scooted closer to his knees to lift the prince in his arms, but before he could even slide his hand under his knee, the prince jerked away.

"I shall do it on my own," He quietly grumbled in his ear. The sword of honour retreated in acknowledgement. A smirk played on his lips as he figured out the prince wanted to act sturdy in front of the little angelic girl, maybe to impress her.

Zebian stiffly stood on his feet, it was evident how much he was trying to hold back the pain as his face nearly reddened. He hobbled closer to the horse, the guard firmly held his arm when he was about to stumble, they sauntered. He helped him climb up the horse. Renai was still eyeing at the ground when his eyes averted on her, her chest was heaving heavily which told him she was scared.

He gulped for no such obvious reason. The guard astride the horse and yanked at the bridle to get the horse moving.

Renai took a sigh of peace once they got away from her sight. She willingly let herself fall on the ground as her eyes stared out at the sun. a smile leaked down her lips as her only best friend stared back at her. It brought poise to her trembling heart.

For the first time, someone excused her for her mistake.

*****

It had been two weeks to the incident yet he couldn't toss the girl out of his head. Her face was robbing him off of his sleep, it was bizarre. She revolved in his thoughts like a loop of torment. Her dainty fingers, focused eyes and parted lips were playing havoc on his mind, having him for most of his time. He could sense the lust brewing inside him for her even when he was aware of how ordinary she was and also, a mere kid. Someone who wasn't even deserving of his glance.

But there was one thing that nagged him the most. He forgot to ask her name.

He brought the gauze closer to his nose, which still had the oil on it, and took a long sniff, his eyes shutting as he relished the scent. It smelt of roses, just the scent he preferred. Strange.

Even when he least expected it, his wounds healed within days. His doctors felt no stone unturned in serving him but his heart gave all credit to her ointment.

The moment between them didn't feel special back then, but now he couldn't stop thinking about it. It contained so much more than he had noticed at that time. He turned around once his mother's arrival was announced by the guard. He graced her with a smile as she marched to him and only stopped to kiss his forehead before saying anything.

Zebian shut his eyes, relishing her motherly smooch with a smile. She pulled away and fondly looked at him, "How is my son feeling now?" She asked with a peaceful smile and ran her hand through his hair.

"I'm better, mother. I shall sing praises of my excellent staff who nursed me," He spared a glance at the people who were uniformly standing with their hands across their thighs, maintaining two feet distance between each other.

Meriall frowned playfully. "And what about your mother who spent a whole day in making you the remedial brew?" She feigned resentment. Zebian held her hands and placed kisses on both of her palms.

"Your hospitality can not match the kindness of this whole world, you are ethereal," he beamed, making Meriall kiss his cheek in awe this time, a grin sitting upon her lips.

Her eyes flitted on the piece of cloth he was holding. "What is this?" She tried to take it from him but he hid it behind his back.

"Nothing, I was only looking at those blood stains. It's not for you to see," He covered it up with his masterful tongue. Meriall awkwardly nodded once and turned to stare outside, Zebian followed suit. It was evening, close to sunset.

"I'm planning to make a round outside of the castle," Zebian told her while keeping his eyes on the children playing in the ground opposite the public chamber.

Meriall shot her head his way, "Your Highness, his Majesty is not home and he definitely would not like your uninformed visit to anywhere after everything happened weeks ago," Meriall rebuked him sternly, her bluish orbs glittered in objection.

"I will not dare to take long, mother. Just a round for ten minutes and I will be back," Zebian contorted his head and passed her a genuine smile. Meriall sighed fumingly but nodded her head halfheartedly.

"Do come back before your father gets home, otherwise I would fall under his excoriating wrath," Meriall spoke as she stepped ahead and grabbed his developing biceps. Zebian nodded faintly and walked out of her hold.

He climbed up on his precious horse with legs astride and tugged at the bridle to get the horse in motion. Two of his royal guards accompanied him as he made a dash toward the spot where he saw her the last time. It took him five minutes to reach near it. He pulled at the strap and stilled the mighty animal. Getting off of it, he commanded his servants to not follow him from this point on. He strolled toward the cliff, his guard opened his mouth to speak but never actually spoke. He feared upsetting his highness.

Zebian walked toward the spot, his eyes were wandering around aimlessly, he didn't know why he was there. Something inside him made him come in hope of meeting her again. Little did he know he wasting his time and energy. She wouldn't be here, why would she?

But surprisingly, he stopped once his eyes saw what he wasn't expecting.

Was it her?

He had reached the spot and found a girl huddling against the tree where he rested. Her long brown tresses laid out around her body like a veil, his heart secretly praised the allure those soft tendrils had, he liked it. In fact, he felt the urge to touch it.

But his conscience scolded him for having such thoughts. He shook his head and restrained his intentions.

His eyes again fell on her when he heard her weeping. A crease of frown settled on his face, he stepped closer and unconsciously crouched beside her. His hand lifted up to touch her shoulder. Once he grabbed it, she jerked with all her strength and shot him a panic-stricken gape, as if both of them weren't expecting each other here.

Her eyes glittered in recognition and she immediately kneeled before him out of respect. "My prince," her mouth let it out like a whisper. Zebian gulped painfully, watching her behave submissively stirred something inside him. It affected him in a strange way even after being used to such formalities.

"You may lift your eyes," He commanded in a gentle voice. But still, she kept her eyes low for a long minute. Zebian noticed the reluctance, but he wasn't to let go of it. He wanted to see her eyes. He needed to know if she was really crying.

"You may lift your eyes, nymph," He repeated, slightly solemn this time while staring at her round head. She felt his stare boring hole and sighed breathlessly.

"I demand your eyes up, nymph," this time it more sounded like a threat, she flinched visibly before glancing her eyes up and then throwing it down due to intimidation. Her eyes locked on him once she noticed his jaw ticked. He profoundly studied her.

"Were you crying?" He stepped ahead while asking. She curled her fingers into tight fists as she shook her head, lying. Zebian hissed under his breath.

"I behead people who lie to me," He gritted as he crouched before her, making her lower her eyes under his piercing gaze. She gulped meekly.

"I'll ask again, were you crying, rose?" His eyes weren't leaving her face even for a nanosecond. She let out a shaky breath and hesitantly nodded. The seam of his lips pressed together as he contemplated something.

"What are you doing here?" He gave an eye to the surroundings. The sun was again ready to set just like that day.

"It's…it's my secret place, my lord. It's where I come to unload my heart," she spoke in a low voice. Zebian bit his lips and hummed.

"So, you come here every day?" He asked. She nodded, snivelling.

"Since when?" He moved to huddle beside her and witness the glorious sun. her grey orbs followed his action which startled her. He turned his gaze at her and batted his eyebrows for an answer.

"Ah…since when I was a kid," his lips stretched a smile.

"You are still a kid," he replied jokingly. Renai blinked his eyes as she registered her words. A blush crept on her cheeks.

"Yes. You're right, my lord," She mumbled.

"Zebian," He told her.

"Huh?" She looked at him, baffled.

"My name is Zebian, I permit you to call me by my name," He said and softly smiled. Her eyes widened.

"I shall not dare, my lord. It equals high treason," She lowered her gaze. The fact a prince was sitting beside her shuddered her heart, fuelling terror in her veins. She was a commoner and it was a sin to sit with someone as noble as him.

"Not when I permit you myself. Zebian is what I'm going to take for you to address me with," He said. She turned her gaze away from him, at the sun. He snuck a glance at her face from behind.

"What is your name?" He finally asked her.

She gulped and wondered whether she should tell her name but his threat flashed through her mind so she planned on keeping it truthful and straight.

"Renai," she replied.

"Renai," he tested on his lips. It rolled flawlessly over his tongue.

"Similar to rose," he referred. She looked as if she would die if he mistakenly ever touched her. Her whole body weight was on her hands, her toes were curled. He noticed it all. Whereas Renai was close to collapsing due to her rapid heart beating, he was struggling to keep his hands to himself.

"Turn around," he ordered her out of the blue. Renai inwardly flinched at his words. She ever so slowly moved her head over her shoulder and peeked at him. His face betrayed no emotion. She swivelled toward him, her fingers wringing.

"You are scared," He leaned on his hands and nudged his chin.

"I find you intimidating, my lord,"

"Zebian, it is," His tone dramatically heightened, slipping ground under her feet. He clenched his jaw. A voice inside him chided him for scaring her even more. He raised his hand to scratch his eyebrow.

"I want you to call me Zebian," He said calmly, his anger was now long gone. Renai blinked, still unable to lift her eyes.

A grunt left Zebian's throat, he stepped closer and crouched closer to her, hitching her breath and pinning her more against the tree. "You will call me Zebian and it is my full and final order," His jaw was clenching. Why was it too hard for her to understand?

"I am obliged to follow his highness' word like a death warrant, but…"

"I shall take your soul before you express your rejection," That froze her blood faster than frostbites. Her skin turned blanched.

"Why would my lord pass such right to a commoner?" She wrung her fingers as those words slipped. No ounce of amusement could be seen on Zebian's scruffy face.

His hands clasped behind his back as he stared at her before dropping the bomb.

"Because I want us to be friends," Now that's what made her look up. This time not with fear, but in utter disbelief.