I looked around my private jet and noticed Anne and Marya with their headphones on, busy watching some Disney movie and comfortably sprawled on the plush seats. There were many seats empty although my private jet wasn't very huge, still I chose to quitely sit beside Noah. He too had headphones on and was listening to music, his eyes shut peacefully.

The jet was flying smoothly till now, but suddenly it started shaking. My breath hitched and my heart skipped a beat. I started to panic, but I tried to maintain my composure like a decent princess.

"Scared?" I looked beside me and saw Noah glancing at his hand. I too looked down and then realized that my nails dug deep in his hand, threatening to draw blood and I was holding his hand very tightly.

"I-erm . . . well, sorry about that," I muttered and quickly released my grip.

"Ma'am, the weather is a little bad. Hope you're not feeling uncomfortable, sorry for the inconvenience," the pretty attendant apologised gingerly and I waved my hand dismissively.

"No, I'm fine, but bring me a glass of water please," I said politely and she immediately scurried off to get what I desired. I took a glimpse of Noah and asked dubiously, "Aren't you scared?"

Noah gave a sardonic laugh, took off his headphones and stared at me. I shifted on my seat uncomfortably while quickly drinking the water the attendant had brought.

"After going through all this crap in my life, taking in two bullets, knowing that I'm basically sitting beside a liar. No, I'm not scared," he said flatly and I licked my lips.

That was enough to shut my mouth. I swallowed the lump formed in my throat because his words had cut deeper than a knife. There was a very uncomfortable silence and the guilt in me was building rapidly. I barely touched the food that was kept in front of me, although it looked delicious, not like the economy class food in normal planes about which Ginger had told me while scrunching up her nose in disgust.

* * *

"Ma'am, we have almost reached, it's time to freshen up," I heard the attendant's sweet voice and I squinted my eyes at her.

I brushed the blonde locks away from my face and watched her disappear into the crew cabin. Then, I slowly looked down and my eyes widened in alarm. There was something hard and warm pressed against my face. I quickly lifted my head and my head bumped into something papery.

I looked up and saw hands holding a magazine. The magazine shifted and my eyes locked into deep blue ones. I stared for some time, blinking in perplexion and then realization hit me. I had been sleeping on Noah's lap the entire night. I looked down at his lap and saw my drool on his jeans.

Noah just stared at me as I struggled to wipe my spit off his jeans with the end of my blouse. My cheeks turned bright red as my other hand while wiping his jeans accidentally touched his manhood. I blushed deeply, bit my lip in shame and averted my gaze at his shoes since I couldn't meet his eyes.

"I'm s-sorry for touching, no, for erm . . . causing . . . for troubling you the entire night," I stuttered miserably, failing to find the right words. I quickly got up from the seat and nearly ran inside the washroom. Once I was in, I leaned against the wall and inhaled deeply, wondering what else was going to happen.

* * *

The gates of the palace flew open. As I stepped outside the limousine, the cool, moist, morning air of England welcomed me. I took a sharp breath. The bodyguards and the maids came running towards us and carried our bags. I looked at the surroundings, it was still the same.

The Caen limestone palace stood tall and proud resembling the royal people who resided in it. The cobblestone pathway that led to the palace was surrounded by green grass on either side of it, little white flowers peeking in between like the pedestrians peeping through the sturdy bars of the metal gate, eager to know about the new guest arrived. However, I was no guest, but the princess of this place itself.

I was finally going to meet everyone and confront with my past. I glanced at Noah who stood silently with his hands shoved in his pockets, taking in the surroundings. Anne and Marya were barely able to contain their excitement as they saw the magnificent palace.

My smile slowly faded when I saw the corners of his lips twitch upwards. I walked slowly and gingerly towards the blonde guy, to greet him formally like a true princess, but instead, he did something very different. He closed the space between us and his lips came crashing down to mine.

His hands cupped my face while I was pushing his chest with my hands balled into fists. He refused to budge and bit my bottom lip, almost drawing blood to seek entrance. Tears pricked my eyes as his lips stretched into a wily grin against mine.

"Zen . . . Let me go, please," I mumbled and with all my strength, I continued to try and shove him away. This only made him tilt his head and deepen the kiss. I whimpered and tried to shake my head or wiggle my body, but his grip on my cheeks tightened. "Zen, I beg you . . . Please stop . . . "

"A princess never begs sweetheart," he said against my lips and suddenly, he was thrown on the ground. I gasped when I saw Noah punching him squarely on his jaw.

"Don't you dare do that again," Noah threatened in a cold voice while clutching his collar. Zen just laughed in a sickening tone and this made Noah angry. Very angry. Consumed by pure rage, he raised his fist to punch, but Zen quickly dodged his attack and got up. He jammed his fist towards Noah's face, but Noah swiftly caught his wrist and punched him with his other hand right on his nose.

Zen stumbled back clutching his nose as it bled and Noah was wringing his hands which was hurt due to the impact of connecting with Zen's fairly strong face. Zen spat the blood from his mouth and he looked furious, obviously feeling humiliated of getting beaten up and underestimating the opponent. He almost let out a war cry and plunged on Noah who welcomed to fight him with inviting fists.

Before more damage could be done, I turned around and quickly called the bodyguards who quietly watched the fight from a distance, almost in amusement. Anne and Marya had their eyes bulging at the two boys fighting as it seemed like they were almost cheering with their occasional sound effects. The bodyguards whom I called, ran at my command and hurriedly separated Noah and Zen who looked at each other intensely, making me nervous.

"This shouldn't have happened," I muttered and shook my head. Both the boys had deep bruises with their faces smeared in blood and the death glare they gave promised that they wouldn't be reluctant to kill each other if given the chance. The bodyguards still held them securely in place. Noah tried to shrug the bodyguard's hands off his shoulders  and I signaled the bodyguard to let him go. I was afraid if the fight would start all over again so I motioned Noah to not pounce on Zen again with pleading, wide and glassy eyes. Noah nodded hesitantly and I sighed in relief.

"What about we forget all this?" Zen said confidently and straightened his posture. He had his usual evil glint in his eyes and he smirked. "You wouldn't introduce me to this country boy?" 

I had no choice, but to put up the princess façade and go with the flow. "He's Noah, my erm . . . friend back a-at the town. He helped me a lot with coping up and all the other stuff."

"Very well country boy," Zen taunted Noah and stumbled ahead. He bravely stretched his hand out to shake and Noah firmly shook it, showing no reluctance. Zen then said those words that I dreaded hearing the most, "I'm Zen, Princess Mia's fiancé."