Choices

The odd-eyed man stared up to meet the innocent pair of those ocean blue eyes that was held by the young girl who hid behind the wooden door.

After letting out a few frightened gasps, all the men snapped their attention to the girl as she attempted to hide and struggled to escape.

"No need to hide, lady." The odd-eyed man's voice deterred her. "Take it as an order and come out." Dragging his hands away from the table, he brought them behind and clutched them together on his back.

Promptly, starting from her eyes to nose, nose to lips, she revealed herself in front of the Prince. Her appearance brought faint awe on his face but he was fast enough to renovate and repress it.

With a weak courtesy of a bow, the girl tucked her loose hair back in its position. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I am here with foods to serve, Milord."

No apology.

"And may I ask where did you hide the foods aside from your uniform?" He raised a brow. Just now, her voice sounded so confident that anyone in the room almost believed blindly even though she didn't have a single thing with her that could be recognized as food.

When she realized she didn't have anything in her hands, she stepped backwards and for a while, had mute eye contact with her best friend who had the tray emptied already.

Stricken by carving frustration, her gaze slithered back as another man wearing an elegant tunic entered the hall. In his hand, he had a tiny vintage paper box that looked like popcorn boxes.

"Tristan, I think she is a spy. Possibly with a team here." The man told the Prince as he stood by his side.

"Not clever enough." The soon to be king Tristan joked with his little brother. "But what brought you here, Prince Trevor?" He tried to sound formal.

"I am here to enjoy your sweet voice." Trevor paused as he hopped onto the table and shoved a handful of popcorn inside his mouth. "But by any chance, are you indirectly telling me to practice calling you King Tristan for future?" He asked while chewing and savoring the satisfaction in those popcorns.

Tristan knew his brother was neither here for his will, nor the lectures and advice. He would have left too, however, seemed like now, his mind had changed and grew curious about the girl and also about the troubles she had created for his elder brother.

"I won't mind." retorting that much, Tristan averted his gaze at the girl again who hadn't apologized for her misstep yet. Above that, she was still glued there, unmoved. "What's your name?" She'd really got the courage not to run away.

"It's Lorelei Celeste." Just after her response, the guards were present, ready to imprison the culprit who was caught eavesdropping. They won't even mind peeling her ears off for such an act.

At their bows, Tristan slightly shook his head and to his disapproval, they left the chamber, didn't dare to protest against their lord's wish. "So yeah, Miss Celeste... now you are truly hurting my feelings." said Tristan, in the attempt of bringing the prime topic back.

"Wow, she dares to?" Trevor dazed over his own words even though he knew his brother was just being sarcastic. There was nothing better than this. He had been that way a lot since childhood.

Giving a brief nod, Tristan began taking steps towards her as his declare echoed across the entire place. "The meeting dismissed here. Remember what I have said." His voice trailed off when he halted before the girl who had her head bent low.

In the next few seconds, all the men left gladly and the hall turned deserted except for three fresh life there.

Tristan strolled his gaze on her flawless features and his face immediately dimmed. "I asked if you have any passion in slaughtering."

She shook her head. "I don't have any passion. I just face whatever comes."

He snorted as if he didn't believe what he had heard. "No woman ever dared to sneak into this castle. Most of the women... no... to be exact almost all of them are so vulnerable and rarely, think of even peeking at this estate. Do I want to know what type of courage it took to you to get in here?"

"Just my curiosity." Indeed, it was a fool's did.

A long breath from his highness as squared his shoulders. "You stalked and eavesdrop."

"I did." Celeste sighed calmly. Perhaps, she had been too obvious.

Tristan's amusement had hit the edge. She was too far from boredom and an adventure herself. "Lady.. now tell me, what punishment do you deserve?" He asked.

She lowered her chin. "You say, milord."

"Let's make it easier. You can choose between two." At his response, her face washed blank. A low chuckle unleashed from a corner of his lips before he added. "Be the executioner or the food taster. You can choose either." He said, sounded as challenging he could.

It was not any query. It was a sheer proposal that had to be obtained.

"Bro, you are scaring her." The other Prince threw a chortle of laughter.

Celeste straightened her back and looked up at the calmest one. Her formidable eyes pierced through his when they crinkled as he sneered. "I bet you will choose the easiest one. Food taster... isn't it?"

She was differentiated enough to endorse the challenge in his voice. She had been never scared of doing a thing. If it was death, she wouldn't have minded facing. If there was something influential throughout her mind, it was nervousness. It would be hard for any girl not to tremble in front of such a handsome man and those odd eyes of his.

"I rather choose both and be elected to the one I am best at." came her rigorous reply.

The white popcorns burst out of Trevor's mouth with coughs hearing upon what the girl had said to his brother. His sluggish gaze slid to the girl who had flakes of fire burning in her eyes. "Lady, in case, if you are still sane... apologize and Back Off. REAL FAST." He had warned her, knowing his brother's nature, an apology would set her free but if no, soon her life would be all messed up. It was the very least thing he could do to save a woman from such hazard she was trying to step on.

Celeste didn't bother the warns, neither did Tristan. He wryly stared at her. His dark, calm gaze was one of those foreign books that Celeste couldn't read. Later on, she gasped when his hand reached for hers.