Chapter 14–A timid princess

Alcot's POV

Chapter Soundtrack: Princesses Don't Cry by CARYS

I almost bumped into Sterling as soon as I stepped out of the guest room, now Bloyd's room. He furrowed his brows at me in a puzzle.

"Alcot?"

"What is it?" I did not give him a chance to interrogate me as I walked through the hallway. As usual, Sterling did not give me any breathing space and he hurried after me.

"What were you doing in Bloyd's room? Did you threaten to kill her or have you already killed her?"

"I cannot believe you think so ill of me."

Sterling scoffed out a laugh. "Think ill of you? I am only making assumptions based on the kind of person that you are."

"What a hurtful comment." I feigned hurt even though my facial expression did not correlate with my words. There was no expression of hurt on my face. Only my usual blank, cold expression that did not reveal the dramatic thoughts going on in my mind. I could not get over the thought that I kissed the prisoner. What was I even thinking, trying to seduce her?

"So, tell me. What were you doing in her room? I want to know if you've killed her already." Sterling pressed on and I sighed, already getting tired of his questions.

"I did not kill her, Sterling. The human girl is alive and doing great."

"So, what were you doing in her room then?"

I stopped on my feet and sent him a warning glare. "None of your business."

"Fine. Fine. Chill, Alpha. Woah." He tried to calm me and I shook my head at him before resuming my walk. He continued to follow me and I wished in my heart that he would leave me be. I wanted my space to think and reminisce over my moment with the girl and how I wish I could get another chance to do other 'things' with her. 

"Anyway, the human girl aside…, there is something you should know, Alcot. Something important."

"What is it?"

"The wolf rogues are back and they're causing more mayhem than the last time."

This time, my attention was fully on Sterling. I pushed all other thoughts behind me and pondered over the news he had just given me. The wolf rogues were back. They were the 'anti-Tarium' movement and have been causing havoc for more than a year now, canvassing for the decades old prophecy about the end of the Tariums reign. I had done my best to stop them and they had gone silent for months after I killed their leader. I wondered why they were back again. Do they never learn their lessons?

"They seem to be stronger than the last time, Alcot. We have to do something about them. And fast." 

Sterling was right. We had to do something to stop these stubborn rogues before they caused more damage. They wanted me to give up my throne and that was the last thing I would ever do even in the face of death. I was a true Tarium and we owned the throne. 

"Call a council meeting, Sterling. Let's end these guys once and for all."

...

Bloyd's POV

I was changing into a pair of jeans pants and shirt that I had found in the closet when the door suddenly opened. Startled, I pulled the shirt closer to my bosom to hide my almost unclad chest, save for a bra that I had on. I sighed in relief when I saw that it was no one else but Arabella. Her eyes sized me up admirably. 

"What the hell, Arabella! Try to knock next time or I'll teach you the hard way." I warned her and quickly slipped into the shirt, careful not to expose my moon crescent mark in front of her. 

"It's no big deal. The servants help me bath and dress up." She shrugged nonchalantly and sat down on my bed. "You really do have a banging, curvy body. I am jealous."

I rolled my eyes at what was supposed to be a compliment from her and moved to sit down on the chair close to my bed. 

"What do you want?"

"There is a big ball coming up tonight. It's for all the fair elite maidens from every pack in the realm. I got an invitation last week too."

"Well, good luck with your elite ball, whatever." I waved her off and picked a knife from the table close to me, playing with it carelessly.

"I was supposed to go with my best friend; Riley but she bailed on me because she's got new friends and apparently thinks that I am the lamest girl ever."

"I see that your friend has got an accurate eye."

She rolled her eyes at me.

"I cannot attend the ball alone."

"I don't see how that has got to do with me." I tasted the sharp tip of the knife on my tongue and I tasted the small amount of blood that it drew. Arabella grimaced at my action and muttered;

"Psycho."

"What'd you say?" I shifted my eyes to look at her, my knife raised in a threatening manner.

"Nothing." She sighed and her face fell. "Listen, I need your help, Bloyd. Come to the ball with me."

I took a moment to stare long and hard at her, trying to understand why she could still trust me even after all I had done to her. Wasn't she afraid that I might try to hurt her again? Was she really that dumb and stupid? 

"And why should I attend the ball with you?" I asked, curious. "We are not friends, Arabella. Never have been and never will be. I've bullied you countless times. How can you still be so easily trusting?"

"Because, Bloyd, I don't judge people based on the things they've done in their past. There's always room for change. I choose to see the good in people rather than the bad they've done."

I kept mute, staring at her without breaking my gaze. She fidgeted a little, uncomfortable with my stares. 

"Your father was a malicious tyrant. How can the daughter of such a monster be so soft hearted?" By the time I had realized that I'd exposed the words in my head, it was already too late. Arabella had heard those words and there was a surprised expression on her face.

"How'd you know about my father?"

Oh, shit. Think of something fast, Bloyd.

"Uh…you know, I did overhear the servants talking about it." I lied, covering up my tracks. Luckily, Arabella believed my tell-tale and nodded.

"Right." She sighed and stood up from her seat. She paced around the room for a few seconds with her arms draped around her chest. She seemed to be in her thoughts.

"It is true that my father was not a good man, Bloyd." She finally broke the silence between us. "Alcot might have been born in his likeness but I don't think it's the same for me. Like you used to say, I am weak." She said with a small self depreciation laugh and then bit her lips as if to stop the tears that had now welded up in her eyes from dropping.

"Everyone's always thought I was the odd one. I wasn't like my father or my mother or my brother. I was…me. A timid, weak, insecure girl." She brushed off a tear from escaping her eyes with a thumb. A part of me softened to see her this way and to hear those words from her. Somehow, I felt the urge to protect her from everyone else. Including myself.

"Sorry for disturbing your privacy, Bloyd. You don't have to attend the ball with me. I'll cancel." She sent me a small, warm smile and turned her back to leave but I called her back.

"No. Don't cancel." 

She turned her head to look at me, unable to comprehend the full context of my words. It was my turn to smile at her. A small smile of mischief. 

"Let's go crash some party."