There was an extra lamp placed next to my head when I woke up the next day. It burned with a green fire that made the whole place warm.

For some reason, it warmed my heart as well. I told him my room was getting slightly chilly and now I had a lamp. I am not sure to be happy about this or suspicious.

Nevertheless, the books made my mood better.

And each day he started bringing me new books seeing the speed I can finish one book with. He was a little less cold towards me as our training proceeded and I started getting visibly better. I can actually spot the movement of his shadow, could count my heart beats with the time of his appearance and vanishing again.

Another month went by this week. And I realized killing him was not the first thing in my mind. He would sit down with me sometimes even after the sun would set and just look at the stars in silence or sometimes he would sit there and we would argue about our favorite character in the book.

And deep down in my heart, I started realizing that maybe just maybe he was not the one who destroyed my family and my life.

Still, the questions in my mind angered me and the pain of my father's death haunted me. Sometimes he would brutally turn into someone I cared for like my father and Gerald but then I realized it was to test my power of perception which he even slightly compliments.

"You can do better." He said which meant I did not do badly either and this was a compliment in itself.

He would sometimes say things that would let his reflect his mood which happened seldom. And some days he would be the passive cold Prince I met first I came here. And on the day with my worst luck, he would be the arrogant Prince I met in the forest for the first time when I got the map from him.

On that day he would show off his extraordinary skills with weapons and I would be one left with sore muscles and injuries.

But never once did he remove that mask from his face.

---

My personal maid chuckled as I stepped on Henley's leg again as he tried to make me dance. Plaintive music filled with halls as looked at me with a smile.

"On my shoulder, Lia." He said as my arms kept shifting as per my comfort because now they were paining slightly.

He was not aware that I spent my mornings' training with a heavy mace.

"Don't look at your feet, look in my eyes." He said but each time she did the warrior in her was replaced was a girl harboring a crush.

I did look into his eyes but that made me even more nervous.

Though I did struggle with keeping the coordination my desire to present myself as perfect in front of Henley took over and I gradually mastered waltz.

"Lia, don't trip over the dress." He teased me as we danced at the ball with numerous eyes on us.

"I have learned from the best," I said.

"You did." And with that, he spun me around gracefully causing both of us to laugh since I actually ended back in his arms perfectly for the first time.

---

"I need your help." He said in a reluctant tone one evening when our training session ended.

"Yes?" I asked not showing surprise in my tone.

"Do you know how to dance?"

I literally had to count my heart beats and slightly pinch myself to make me believe that this was indeed real and not one of those surreal dreams I was living since I got caught.

Of course, I knew how to dance; I was a princess for crying out loud. Henley taught me to waltz and that was a time that still made my heart flutter. Even though before that my father made several failed attempts. It surprised him how I could be so good when it came to weapon handling and battle tactics and yet I had no sense of dancing whatsoever. But Henley was my Prince charming, he taught me to dance, the elegance, the eye contact, subtle tilts, and touches.

"Yes, I do."

His hands reached out and rubbed the back of his neck, he was embarrassed about the whole situation and this was a novelty for me, seeing his like this.

"Well..." He said and then stopped as if contemplating over something.

"You don't know how to dance and want me to help?" I said it for him.

But as soon as I did, I realized the absurdity of the whole situation.

He nodded confirming my doubts and I gasped lightly in shock. He was asking for my help to dance?

"Why me?" I asked because definitely there was some kind of game here.

He might have instructors at his command who can teach him.

"Others are just too afraid." He stated simply.

He has been a loner all this life because everyone was terrified of him.

"And why do you need to dance?"I asked the second important question.

"There is a ball in the palace."

"And yet you have never been in that ball, why now?" I asked because if he went before he would have known how to dance.

"Like I said I have been intimidating, I have never been invited to any ball, even one held in my own Kingdom. But this is an important ball, more like my coronation ball."

"You will be the King now?"I asked feeling the bitter taste in my mouth.

"No, I will be crowned the official Prince." He said and I realized so far he has been just a hunting dog for King.

He must have done something big to earn him the title of prince now since King didn't have his own heir.

"Who did you kill?" I asked in an angry tone.

"A few." He said it so casually that I felt something sharp hit my heart.

What was I expecting?

"Do you have even know what you leave behind after all the blood?" I asked feeling my hand twitch on my sword.

I can just pick it up and try to take him by surprise. I was getting better at targeting him now.

"Lot of pain." He said as if he could feel it as if he could relate.

Curiosity replaced my anger.

"And yet you kill."

"Because that is who I am." He had that dark look in his eyes again, the one that could make his enemies cower in fear.

He was daring me to challenge and I stared back fearlessly.

God knows why but my fear for him was gone.

"So will you teach me to dance?" He asked like we were not talking about death a minute ago.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really, since you are only one who could teach me as you are not afraid of me."

"Should I be?"I asked carefully stepping closer.

"Maybe." He said slowly not meeting my eyes now.

"Okay, then one arm on my waist then," I said feeling awkward.

"Where?" He asked his voice raised a notch in surprise.

"On my waist," I said and shook my head at him pretending to be innocent when he was anything but.

He nodded and carefully placed his hand on my waist, for a second I felt heat gush at the point his hands rested which I adjusted perfectly for the waltz. I placed my hand on his shoulder and with another one, I placed in his free hand.

And it I almost found it endearing when he looked at his feet just like I did when I was learning to dance and I found myself giving him the same instruction.

"Look at me."

And he did, it was not a good choice because my insides curled under his gaze.

With a rhythmic movement of left foot right foot, leading the dance I tried to teach him the flow of it. Unlike me, he was a good student. He caught up fast and matched my pace, as I moved my left foot so did he and so on.

He would slightly make a mistake once in a while but other than that he was doing fine within the first hour of practice. It made me wonder how he was so good at learning new things. Was he an intelligent person behind that mask?

"You are doing good." I finally said my throat parched in nervousness.

The whole time a knot was formed in my stomach and I was afraid that I might miss steps and look like a fool.

"Are all Princesses a warrior like you?" He asked and I blinked back trying to make sense of the sentence with his gaze never leaving my face.

"What do you think?"

"I haven't seen anyone like you." Even though he meant a warrior princess but his words held so much more or maybe I felt like this.

"Not even females in our army are this well trained."

"You have females in your army?" I asked surprised since females were not allowed to be a part of something meant for male as per their mindset.

"Any able-bodied human and father want them to fight." And with that silent prevailed.

He called him father.

"Try swirling me in place and back to the actual position." I tried my best to explain with my limited knowledge.

He tried and got it almost correct in go but as he twirled me back in place, I came a little too close as my hands rested on his chest and his hands curled around my waist. I did not look up afraid to see in his eyes, the emotions or lack of emotions.

"You have beautiful eyes." He said like a whisper to himself.

WHAT? My brain yelled but my mouth betrayed me as no words came out and I just stared back at him.

"They are just plain brown," I said and felt stupid after saying that.

"And a sharp nose." He observed closely and I gulped under his scrutiny.

I noticed his eyes travel down to my lips and hurriedly pushed him away, "You have learned enough."

My whole body was heated up and my heart was beating fast. I have danced with Henley but it was nothing like this even though we trained daily close to each other, dancing with the dark Prince was more dangerous.

"I will leave then." He said and I tried not to feel disappointed.

Get your senses back Lia!

I tried not to fall prey to his charms and games.

"Also, I will send you a dress." My heart stopped at his words.

"For?" I knew what was coming next.

"For the dance."

He was taking me to his coronation ball, like what? A trophy from a kingdom he conquered?

"Why would I agree to something like this? You will only disgrace me as loot from a war." I said bitterly angry at how he didn't even ask.

"You are going and that is not a question Princess." He said back to his cold stern tone.

He could actually drag me there if I refused so I just glared at him with absolute anger.

"Why are you taking me?"I asked ashamed at myself for having a slight hope of him not being the devil I thought he was.

"So that you could know the reason of your training finally." My eyes widened at his words not because I would finally know why I was bought by the dark prince but his reason to take me.

"So I am not going in as a trophy," I said kind of relieved.

"No one would know you are the princess." He said and I felt my heart swelling with even more hope.

I know I was stupid but he has never done anything to seriously harm me. And he had no idea to humiliate me as a mistress he won after a battle. He respected me and for some reason, I knew the feeling was mutual.

"So I will be masked like you?" I said in a lighter tone.

But he shook his head, amusement coloring his eyes, "No love, I will be without the mask, it's my coronation after all."

He respected and trusted me now.

------

more than 2 months and Princess is finally going to step out! YAY!!

Thoughts about Bretrarum? Hate him? Like him? Or still deciding?

Can anyone try guessing what the Dark Prince has in mind?

Also, happy weekend people :)

NEXT UPDATE: MONDAY