Gabriel’s POV:
[FLASHBACK]
5 YEARS AGO: Shadow Pack Royal Castle
Even though I was a bit baffled by his sudden approach, his kind gesture had taken me aback in shock. But before I could utter a word, the genial smile on his face faded a little. He peered a steep gaze into me as he asked, “Umm, were you crying here alone?”
Shit! I had completely forgotten that I was barely enduring my emotional turmoil. As a result, tears were still glistening in my eyes and he saw me like that!
Gosh, this is so awkward. Never in my life, I had wished to meet the Crown Prince looking like a sobbing mess!
A bit embarrassed from being discovered by him, I quickly wiped off tears from my eyes and forged a nervous smile as I stuttered, “N-No, I wasn’t crying at all! I just got something in my eyes, that’s all! I think that’s dust and I am allergic to dust, haha!”
Darn it!
I really had no idea what I was blabbering out to cover the situation however, it turned more awkward. A brief absurd silence persisted between us after my prattling.
However, during this time, I noticed he was gawking at me, keeping a gentle smile on his sharp jawline. From his gesture, somehow it felt as if he had understood that I didn’t wish to let anyone see me in a weak state, that’s what made me nervous.
Prince Zordan adjusted the ruffled collar of his creamy white shirt and simply nodded at my clumsy response with a smile. When I calmed down a little, I could gradually feel the warmth of his giant leather coat comforting my shivers from the cold. I clenched the coat tight around my arms and cordially bowed my head for a formal greeting.
“T-Thank you, for lending me your coat, Your Highness. I am sincerely grateful for your generosity.” Even though I smiled at him, deep in my mind I couldn’t get rid of the curious thought that constantly bothered my inner peace.
Amidst countless elite ladies scattered around us, why did he notice me shivering from the cold? Was it pity…or actually a concern?
“As a future alpha of the kingdom, it’s my duty to look after my people wisely. You do not need to thank me for that, Lady Gabriel.” He was still smiling, sounding quite calm.
“Huh?” But this time, I lost my calm composure when I heard my name in his deep enchanting voice. Curiously I rolled my eyes and stared at him as I mumbled, “P-Pardon me, b-but do you know my name?”
His soft smile tainted a little as he carefully glanced around us, narrowing his dark onyx eyes. As if he finished checking out something, he walked a step closer and whispered to me, “If you don’t mind, can we move somewhere quiet? It’s noisy and crowded here.”
But more than anything, I was awestruck by his polite and well-mannered gesture without any hint of arrogance from his gesture. After a brief pause, I nodded my head quickly in return. However, for a second, it seemed as if he had read my mind and accurately said those words which I wanted to say.
But, anyhow, I was glad to get rid of such a noisy place with him.
While we quietly walked outside the room without catching any uninvited attention, he guided me to a desolate hallway bit far from that noisy place. There were no other people apart from us, not even the guards which left me a little startled. Soon enough, we reached a beautiful open balcony, with a soothing night breeze drifted around us. The ambiance was too quiet and peaceful, providing me with a strange kind of solace in my gloomy heart.
“I hope, you are not uncomfortable here?” As we reached the edge of the balcony, he peeked a quick glance at me and asked first. Sincere concern was evident in his voice.
I retained a pleased smile on my face and shook my head, trying to assure him first. “Not at all. Besides, I should thank you for taking me out of that suffocating place, Your Highness.”
“You can simply call me by my name.” A quick gentle response flew back from him as he smiled wider, gazing straight into my eyes.
Wh…What? I am allowed to summon his name?
With his kind words and the moment he laid his beautiful eyes on me, I lost myself in his perfectly built face, which made my heart pound a little aloud. His bright porcelain white complexion shimmered under the moonlit, while his soft black hair curled above on his forehead.
As he smiled wider at me, I could see two cute dimples formed on both of his soft cheeks, along with his puffy red lips that appeared delicate like petals of cherry blossom. His tender angelic aura left me mesmerized for a moment, not long before I revived myself back.
This is bad! Why do I feel this absurd uneasiness in my heart? For the very first time when I am watching him from this close, I couldn’t help but wonder, has he been always this divinely handsome?
No, this is wrong. I shouldn’t be bewitched by his charm when I am especially engaged to his young brother, Marcus. Just like this when I was getting a grip on myself, I tried to initiate a proper conversation, “Pardon me, but can I ask you something? I…I mean I can’t help but wonder… how do you know about my name? Aren’t we meeting each other for the first time today?”
As I uttered my nervous query, he let out a soft smile and gazed above at the shimmering moon, before he responded, “Well, even though we are properly meeting for the first time, how could I be not aware of the person my little brother has been engaged with?”
All of a sudden, the spark of excitement flaring in me faded a little as I heard his honest answer. So he was aware that I was Marcus’s fiancee, though he was kind enough to get me out of that uncomfortable ambiance.
I slowly lifted my head down and tried to keep a smile on my face. But strangely, a palpitation rose inside me the moment I heard about Marcus. Unknowingly, I was reminded again how crudely he had treated me in front of all.
“Marcus has been always lively in crowds and parties since the very childhood, unlike me.” Zordan continued elaborating to me, keeping his eyes on the moon above. “I am uncomfortable in such crowded gatherings and I couldn’t help but notice you as one of my kind. Also, my eyes were keen enough to notice you were shivering out of the cold, so I guess, it was just a cordial gesture to help a lady in need. But, can I tell you a secret?”
“Huh?” I flinched at his sudden question and peeked at him with my confused eyes. “S-Secret?”
“Yes.” He nodded and finally laid his soft gaze back on me as he smiled, “I did wish to approach you, Lady Gabriel. And I must say, I am glad to meet you.”
Without my consent, my heart pounded again as I watched him kindly smiling at me. However, a surge of unknown glum squirmed in my heart making a sad smile to curve on my lips. I quietly nodded my head and responded back, clenching his coat tight on my shoulder, “I am glad to meet you too, P-Prince Zordan. Let’s be on good terms from now on.”
That’s all I am satisfied with. Standing next to him under the bright cold lunar night, with a tranquilizing silence surrounding us…it felt like a forbidden dream to me. So peaceful yet so distant to achieve.
…
“Milady! Milady, please wake up!?”
GASP!!
Suddenly, an unfamiliar feminine voice woke me up from the land of a sweet dream in which I had immersed myself. I gasped in shock and opened my eyes wide before I sprang up on the bed.
Strangely, I found myself sleeping over Zordan’s bed and just as I had expected, I was still in his room. Four royal maids were gathered around me as I peeked at each one of them.
“Milady, pardon us for waking you. But we were commanded to get you dressed up for your father’s funeral.” One of them walked a step close to my bed as she humbly answered me.
And just like that, my painful reality hit me hard, dragging me far away from the beautiful dream I was having a moment ago.
Who knew, the solace I had dreamed of long ago would eventually turn into my biggest nightmare?
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