Irene's POV:

  My day was great, No it was awful I hated every bit of it but still, I loved every part of it.  The prince is...I try to describe him, he looks like he's going to hurt someone, then the next minute he's nice, he just confused me. My work at the palace was all done after I finished polishing the prince's armor, I kissed Orla goodnight and retired back to the streets in my way to my house.

 "Hi father I'm back," I say immediately I enter my house just to find my father in the kitchen. I smile and ambled towards him.

"Hey flower" he kisses my forehead"  how was your day.....?" he asks. I tuck at the apron he was wearing. My father loved cooking. It was something he used to do with my mother, I smiled up at him before replying.

 "Stressful actually"I take a few steps to my bed.

"Are you limping?" with this I stood frozen, I almost forgot, I can't let my father know I now work for the prince too, he has never had a likeness for him. 

"Uhm.... yeah, I uh... I tripped on the stairs"I lied, which have a pang on my chest. I never lie to my father or even to anyone.

"Really?, sit down." I recall when I'll scold my brother to sit and he'll hurry and sit like an obedient dog. I sat like an obedient dog as my father takes my foot and applies oil to massage. I smile at his silly behavior as he rushes every second to pour oil.

"It's just a slight fall father" I giggle.

"I know but I have to make sure you're fine before I leave" leave?

"Leave? to where?"I ask curiously.

"Oh, I have a job to do in the city of Leah, I'll be gone for a week," he says. I could feel my heart crushing and my shoulders fall.

"Oh..."I take my legs out of his grip.

"I won't be a long flower"  he rubs my shoulders and smiles at me. I have never been too far away from him.

"I know Father, I would miss you greatly, when are you leaving?"I ask

"Very early....... tomorrow" he grinned as he stopped to look at me. I pull him into a warm embrace.
    
"I'll go to bed now"I announce.

"Of course flower"  he kisses my forehead, letting me go to lie on my bed, I can't have a bath now I'm too sad to do so. I sighed and squeeze myself into the bed throw.

*****
Hadrian POV

 "What the hell was that?!"I yell walking into my room as Leo trailed behind me.

 It is a tradition that every year we host a game, a game where only nobles of the seven kingdoms come to participate in it, it is played by getting on horses with a long pole and then placed on the two ends and then we attack. And now just during training my knights held back when they had a perfect opportunity to strike me.

"You have to calm down Hadrian, you're the heir to the throne if anything were to happen to you, your father won't like it."

I sigh as I rub my temples continuously trying to think. If my men don't see me as a threat during training then it means I do not deserve all my wins then, I haven't earned them, they've been given to me.

"You will do something for me"

"Oh no, this won't be good," Leo says and I smirk.

"Find a place for me to stay and I'll participate in the games secretly" Leo looked at me puzzled and confused.

"Okay listen, I'll tell my father I'll be going on a trip or something to sort things out and then you'll find a place for me to stay after each game every day, and you'll also find a subjet or someone to acknowledge in my replacement, then after the games, I'll show my knights and my father I can do it myself" I tap Leo's shoulders.

"Wow how did I know I'd hate this?"

"Be real Leo, do this....."I walk to the table"...... and that's an order" I finish.

Leo sighs and walks out of the room saying "this won't be fun" making me laugh.

****
Irene's POV

I apply my rose powder on my cheeks just to make it a little puff. My father had already left this morning, a whole week, I pray he'll be fine, I would surely miss him. Knocks from the door made me to halt my make up entreaty. I wondered who was at the door, all my father's friends must know he bad already left, right. No one ever finds me, it's strange actually, maybe it's one of his customers. The knocks continue as I scramble to put away my make up.

"Just a minute!"I yell and rush to open the door. "Leo?........hey what's wrong?" I ask with curiosity. He barely visits me.

"I need a favor Irene" this did not sound good. I usher him inside, he strides in as I lock the door behind me.

I sigh"go on"

"Hadrian needs a place to stay"he shrugs.

"Is something wrong with the palace?"I ask.

"No no of course not, just he uhm........ He wants to participate in the games and also does not want that"

I furrowed my brows" so, how does that concern me?"

"Well..." he scratched his head".... your father isn't home currently and from what I hear and he won't be back in a week, so .....I was thinking maybe you could let Hadrian stay here until the games are over"he finishes. What? The Prince in my house, no! Why my house? 

 "Prince Hadrian here? No way" I snapped, I can't have him here especially not when he makes every cell in my body leap just in sight of him, I cannot possibly stay around his so scary yet beautiful scent and just a look in his eyes makes my cheeks fluff and burn too. Not to mention, he was arrogant and rude.

"Please Irene, he needs this, he could pay you." I frown at Leo's words.

"I don't need his money," I say.

"Please, please come on" he pouted. I groaned at his plea. He tried pouting but that was scary which made me burst into laughter causing him to join too.

"Ugh... fine, he can come"I grumbled.

"Yes, thanks so much, you won't regret his stay" Leo jumps and leaves the house.

"I highly doubt that"I mumbled under my breath and immediately start cleaning up my house to prepare to leave.

*****
Third Person'sPOV

Hadrian stood before his father and his father's wife as they had dinner with Natasha, Eleanor, and Fred.  He already told him of his lie. The King takes a bite out of his meal and started back at his son. 

"Is this necessary son?" Triton asks responding to the lie Hadrian said that he was going to travel to the far east to clear some dispute.

"Highly my Lord" he bows. 

"Well then, Natasha will go with you, you guys get to know each other, or don't you think so my Lord" Isolde said as she folded her hands on the king's grinning at him.

"That won't be necessary, I can take care of myself, and besides she will need to be here for the games coming up, "Hadrian said in his defense. The last thing on his mind was been distracted.

"That's true, who will take your place in the games" Triton asks as he takes a small piece of bread into his mouth.

"I have arranged that, he is sir Chad from the kingdom of Sira" Hadrian bows.

"I haven't heard of him" Triston raises a brow

"Trust me father, he won't disappoint"Hadrian smiles.

"Don't you think I should come, I mean we would have fun"Natasha stands from her chair to move closer to him as she rubs her hands on his chest. Hadrian eyes narrowed towards her hands, a smile lit up by the side of his lip.
   
"Not necessarily, stay here...."Hadrian gently pulls her hand away “I leave immediately father."

"Be careful"  Triton says and Hadrian nods as he exits the dining. Isolde walks over to where Natasha stood numb.

"Stay calm my child, I'll make sure his journey is worth it"Isolde whispers to Natasha. Natasha turns to face her with her eyes widening.

"What are you planning?"Natasha asks out of curiosity.

"You'll see, come let's finish dinner." Natasha hesitates then follow Isolde back to their seats and encourages everyone with a bright smile.

*****
Irene's POV
It was just after dinner. My breath was out of order and I was just panicking,  I couldn't think straight anymore. It was difficult trying to avoid the Prince today after allowing him in my house. I fumbled to clean the kitchen and straighten the sheets. I was planning on letting the prince stay on my father's bed. I jerked when I heard five knocks on the door. Only Leo knocks five times, what if it's the prince. They're here!!

"Irene open up it's Leo" he knocks again.

"Just a minute" I grabbed all the dirty sheets and shove them under the cabinet at the backroom then run to open the door finally. Leo walks in followed by Prince Hadrian and immediately, his scent filled the whole place and my knees shook. He was dressed in peasant clothe to make him unnoticeable among the villagers.

"Greetings your highness"I curtsy.

"Hmmm, this is where you live?" he sounded offended. Did I clean properly?

 "Uhm....yes" I mumble beneath my breath.

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow Leo, he says as Leo passes a bag to the prince and came by me and whispers have fun. I gave him a light smile as he leaves.

 "I am guessing this is my bed" he throws his bag on the table pointing at my bed and pops on it, my bed is much larger than my father's, I gave a slight frown as I was about to protest but I quickly stood shut.

  "Uh...of course, your majesty" I ignore the fact that I was a little giddy and move to my father's bed.

*****
I get up from my bed shrugging out of the loud cockcrow, I narrow my eyes towards my bed and Prince Hadrian wasn't there. My vision was blurry so I try to get up as my head came bumping with something thick and strong, felt like metal. I wince in the pain rubbing my forehead, that got my eyes open. I looked up to meet the prince staring down at me. He bursts into laughter, it's not funny but the way he sounded when he laughs made me giggle. I put my head down and continued flinching.

"I am sorry Sire, I didn't mean to" I get up finally and stood still bowing to the prince.

"Let me see"Hadrian's palm meets mine as I rub my forehead constantly.

"No please Sire, it is of no use" I hissed.
 
"Don't be stubborn now" he slowly takes my hand off and our eyes meet....... again. I can't take this much longer. I bend my head but immediately he brings my chin up and smiles. Does he do this with his mistresses. I am not one of them and certainly do not wish to be among the heartbroken girls the prince used. "Irene right?" he asks as he rubs his hand slowly on my forehead.

"Yes, sire"  I hissed as he rubbed harder.

"Next time be more careful and try to call my name if you don't see me" he smiled and lets go of my head and immediately the pain left, how did he do that.

I rub my forehead"what did you do, My lord?"I ask softly. 

"Just be careful next time"  he smiles and I reply to him with a light smile"now you can finish putting on my armor "I look at him puzzled but then realize that he's not yet completely dressed, I quickly help him put on his belt buckle, his shoes, gloves, and cape.

 I check again and immediately realized I forgot to put his sword. I rush and grab his sword as I hand it over to him. He smiled and shoved it into his seath.

"You didn't forget today" he smirks and takes his long gold black hair to the back.

I giggle silently"you're ready sire, I'll pray for your victory today and advancement to the quarter-finals." I said bowing.

"I'd appreciate that." he trailed "I'll take the back so I won't be spotted" he added"and Irene.....?" he calls stopping in his heels. 

"Sire" I respond.

"...call me Hadrian not sire"  his statement amazed me. Calling the Prince by his first name. Certainly not. I open my mouth to protest but he silenced me with his hand above. I bow standing still “Hadrian" he repeats.

I let out a sigh "Ok... Hadrian"I sheepishly said.

He chuckles and leaves through the back. 

I stood in my stupefaction, first the lady Eleanor and now the prince.

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