Chapter 49

~Talfen, the capital of Coldshore~

~Inner Court, Reqiel's Palace~

Sarell quickly cleaned up the mess that Prince Reqiel made, bracing himself to face the infernal creature that unluckily had been assigned to be the young Prince's bodyguard.

Just as he straightened the sheets, Andras was already on his way back to Reqiel, dressed in the high-quality robes that Malcer had made for him.

He wasn't willingly sticking to the troublesome Angel because he enjoyed his company, he merely did it because it was the ultimate card to play against the other Angel who was averse to him. He knew well that Sarell would be docile if Prince Reqiel's safety was on the line, it was as simple as that.

He placed a hand on the hilt of Outlaw as he strode down the hallways, there was the little problem that was the famed Princess' attention. He touched his face absentmindedly, maybe he should have magically altered his face to something more plain. Her attention seemed to be harmless for the time being and he would be long gone before it grew into something truly troublesome.

He pushed open the door to find the Angel sitting obediently, waiting for him. It made Andras tilt his head slightly to the side in thought, he had expected the Angel to be more troublesome - In the manner of being rude and putting on airs but Prince Reqiel didn't look to be that kind of person.

Reqiel shot to his feet when his bodyguard returned, Andras was dressed in black robes that made him look even taller and more imposing - like he wasn't enough of that already.

Personally, Reqiel preferred something with a little more color. Angels revered 'gold', it being the color of class and light but it looked bland to Reqiel. If anything, he could understand choosing black over boring gold.

Maybe he could get to buy some fabrics at the city square, he just wanted some color.

He strode over, his eyes encasing the scenery of a brightly lit night, "Let's go."

Andras nodded, and stepped to the side to let the troublesome Angel pass by before following right after him. A dark shadow cast across his handsome features as he walked down the hallway behind the skipping form of Prince Reqiel.

Servants passing by avoided his gaze, shrinking away or hurrying off when they came into contact with him. Only Prince Reqiel seemed immune to whatever scared off the other servants, chatting to Andras about the visit to the city square as they walked.

Right as they left the front doors of Reqiel's palace, a lavish carriage rode up, Prince Cederic jumping out before it completely rolled to a stop.

Reqiel inwardly shrank, some of the enthusiasm of his upcoming visit draining away. It should really not be surprising that Prince Cederic would choose to accompany them considering that Aethel was also coming along.

He nodded respectfully to the sour-faced Prince before marching forward to let himself into the carriage, only to trip on the steps of the carriage and lose his balance.

Reqiel made a face when Andras caught him before he got a mouthful of dirt, Cederic making no effort to hide his scoff. He couldn't say which was worse, getting saved by his bodyguard or sprawling to the ground, and that was saying a lot.

Aethel poked her head out of the carriage due to the ruckus, her lovely dark hair framing her pretty face. "Reqiel, are you-" The rest of her words got cut short when she lost her balance and fell out of the carriage as well.

Aethel hadn't been expecting to come face to face with Andras when she looked out of the carriage, and the shock made her lose her balance and fall against the guard.

Andras looked bored and a tad irritated by both nobles, he had caught Reqiel by his arm and before he could straighten up the Angel, the Princess fell right into his arms.

Cederic stormed over, glaring at Reqiel as he gently straightened his sister and helped her back into the carriage, like it was his fault that Aethel had fallen.

Well, perhaps it was partially his fault, because Aethel had only looked out because she was worried about him. There was no use trying to defend himself though, Cederic didn't need many reasons to glare at him.

Andras hesitated outside the carriage after all the nobles had gotten into the spacious carriage, only for Cederic to offer his arm.

"Come right in, you should be in here as well." He said cordially, in the nicest tone Reqiel had ever heard him use towards anyone that wasn't his younger sister.

Andras took the offered arm, sitting beside the fraud prince he was supposed to protect, while the children of the ruler of Coldshore sat across from them. He kept his gaze fixed on the floorboards of the carriage, although the weight of Princess Aethel's stare was so heavy that she might as well be staring at him eyeball to eyeball.

But it was difficult not to notice how she did unnatural things when he returned her stare so he deduced that it was best to keep avoiding her stare.

Beside Andras, Reqiel was also avoiding a certain person's stare. Although his sister was safe beside him, Cederic still glared at him darkly, the weight of his intent made Reqiel nervous.

This was exactly what he feared would happen if Cederic accompanied them on their sightseeing, the Crown Prince despised him too much to let him exist in peace.

Reqiel was aware that Cederic was so averse to him because he disapproved of him as a match for his sister and was unhappy at how he held her attention but he couldn't exactly do anything to remedy that because he was never a match for Princess Aethel to begin with and she was the one who chose to shower him with attention.

He had been looking forward to the trip outside of the Royal Palace ever since Sarell gave the go ahead, he wasn't going to let a grumpy prince ruin the atmosphere in the carriage.

So he looked at Aethel who had that spacy look in her eyes like she had had all morning and attempted to strike up a conversation with her in a bid to dissolve some of the tense atmosphere that filled the carriage.