Alora gazed admiringly into Magnus's eyes. She was captivated and entranced by his red eyes, so she did not even dare to blink. She opted to stay ducked, maintaining an intimate position similar to that of couples during a dance, leaning against the back, engrossed in the moment with him.
"How long do you wish to stay like this?" Magnus asked, bringing her out of the trance.
Alora shook her head and promptly stood straight, taking a step away from him. "I apologize," she whispered.
Magnus tapped his finger once against her forehead. "You should say thank you for saving me, Your Highness," he said as he dropped his hand to his side.
Alora peered at him and repeated the same words. Magnus ended up smiling and went in the opposite direction of hers.
Alora chose to run after him and walked closely behind him. 'He is very tall,' she thought, lifting her head. "My brother is shorter than him," she murmured as she recalled seeing Elliot from behind only.
"Shorter than who?" Magnus interrupted her chain of thoughts.
"Huh?" Alora was surprised he heard a low voice too. "My brother, Your Highness," she replied.
"Why are you walking behind me?" Magnus questioned her and halted suddenly. He turned to face her when he saw Tobias coming in their direction. However, when Tobias realized Alora was without the blindfold, he stopped at his place and lowered his eyes.
"What is it, Tobias?" Magnus questioned.
"Your Highness, a message has come for Miss Alora," Tobias informed and looked at the scroll in his hand.
"Give it to me," Magnus commanded.
Tobias was hesitant to go ahead, but he couldn't either ignore the order. He went close to Magnus and handed him the scroll. "Who sent this?" he queried.
"Norman Wilson," Tobias replied.
"That bas–" Magnus stopped cursing as he saw Alora's eyes dart at him. "You may leave," he told Tobias and he quickly left their sight.
"Let's see what your dear father sent this time," Magnus taunted Alora and opened the scroll.
"I hope this message reaches you well. You should leave the Palace of Elmswood soon. It's not a place for humans. Go where you were supposed to live. Your mother is worried for you. If she gets sick during Venus's marriage, then it will be a problem. Once you go to the old residence, write to me using someone's help.
Your father,
Norman Wilson."
Magnus chuckled and was ready to tear it into pieces when Alora took it from her.
"Your father is worried for his second daughter, ignoring the fact that his first daughter is living with a vampire. Norman does need a good beating," Magnus stated.
"Will His Highness not say such things about my father?" Alora requested him with a tinge of anger.
"Are you getting angry at me?" Magnus questioned her.
"I don't dare to," Alora said as she furrowed her brows together.
"But you did," Magnus proclaimed. "Humans are strange. They love to feel pain even if their family hates them," he muttered.
Alora sharply glanced at him. "Why is Your Highness taunting me?" She lowered her eyes and fiddled with her fingers.
"I have some work. Go back when you get tired," Magnus stated. "And don't wear a blindfold. Let the others fear you and enjoy that feeling," he suggested to her. Magnus left her sight in a blink of an eye.
Alora sighed as she looked at the scroll. "Father will be angry to see me in the capital. But I'll be staying with Prince Magnus. I don't think my family will have a problem then," Alora murmured as she was still unsure what more had written in her fate.
~~~~
"Your Highness, are you sure about returning to the capital?" Tobias asked. "Just because of a human the Prince has suddenly decided to leave Elmswood. It never happened." At the same time, Tobias was astonished.
"It's because of another matter, not Alora," Magnus replied.
"His Highness cannot lie to me," Tobias said with a smile as he was done checking the documents, which needed to be taken to Velaris.
"Tobias, shall I make you look into Alora's eyes?" Magnus questioned him.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," Tobias immediately apologized and lowered his eyes. The smile across his lips had disappeared too. He resumed the work, while Magnus engrossed himself in an important work.
What Magnus needed, he couldn't find it in the old book in his hand. Closing it, he furrowed his brows as he contemplated.
"What do you think a human possesses such eyes?" Magnus asked Tobias suddenly, who was stacking the pages together.
Tobias stopped his work and gazed at Magnus. "I have heard that it was a witch's curse."
"Why would a witch do that? To wipe out the vampires or the werewolves or the humans?" Magnus's questions made Tobias think hard.
"I wish I had known the answer, Your Highness," Tobias humbly said. "The Prince should not be bothered about a human," he then added.
"I am curious about Alora's eyes," Magnus answered.
"It's strange that His Highness can directly gaze into Miss Alora's eyes. No one could stand her eyes," Tobias remarked.
"Is it a good thing or a bad thing?" Magnus inquired.
"I have no idea, Your Highness. The Prince despised humans, then why is he keeping Miss Alora close to him?" he pressed the question while squinting his eyes.
"Alora is an exception. She is the only human whom I cannot hate. Others are evil," Magnus replied with a small grin.
"His Highness said the other day that Miss Alora fancies him. Does he like Miss Alora by any chance?" Tobias amusedly asked.
"I do like her. Alora is different and special," Magnus stated with a smile, gracing his lips.
Tobias smiled. "His Highness never showed interest in any woman before," he stated.
"Alora allures me toward her. Her charming blue eyes, her innocent talks, and her beautiful face are the few things I cannot ignore, Tobias," Magnus asserted with a smirk on his lips.