The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

23 : The Hunt

An hour has passed and Captain Theobarlt is still standing in front of the door of the First Princess' room. He was in doubt whether to knock now or later as the Princess did not specify a specific time he would make his report. What is even troubling him is that the First Princess maids and even Alluka were sent to the Princess' palace grounds so he could come alone to the next floor where her room is located.

He admits that he is nervous of meeting the First Princess in such a private way for the first time. And how should the people react if they heard that the Princess called him in her chambers at night? Wouldn't he anger the heir of the Garrett family, the Princess' lover?

He raised his hand to knock but it seems like his hands could not make it. However, the door suddenly opens and his eyes widened upon meeting the Princess' morganite eyes.

"You have been there for an hour."

He was lost in thought for a second because her beauty is not enough for the word 'beautiful' as it is his first time to see her long black hair being down and straight. He gulped as he felt the weakening of his limbs and it was as if he could not move his feet anymore.

That moment, he is thankful that his hair is long enough to cover half of his face. "I apologise, Your Highness." He lowered his gaze to the floor as he also does not want to see the First Princess wearing her night garment.

"Come in." Princess Darya invited him in as she walked to the couch in her room. Captain Theobarlt hesitantly walked in and followed her. He was screaming at himself to stay calm and collected. So then, he sits opposite her as he puts his report on the table between them.

Princess Darya took it as she opened it and read it. She crosses her legs as she leaned her back to her seat. She then starts moving her feet out of habit and Captain Theobarlt notices this small mannerism. When the First Princess is thinking deeply and is focused on a certain event, she would unknowingly move her foot when she is sitting. And then she would usually frown when she is standing.

Captain Theobarlt is thankful of his habit of observing but now he finds it scary to which his eyes are all over the First Princess when she is present. If not because of his hair, people will naturally say that he is into her as he kept looking at her wherever his eyes could reach her. However, he knows that he must never keep this feeling going. He must never create feelings between his work and loyalty to the First Princess. He is merely her subject and that ends there.

"Your report is complete and précised, Captain Theobarlt." Princess Darya commented after reading his report. She puts down the rolling paper before looking at him. "As expected of you," she beamed. "The report you made will be very helpful to my next project."

"Are you curious as to why I called you to such a time and place?"

He flinched as he looked at her and nodded.

"I hope you do not mind me taking advantage of you, Captain," she beamed. "Please bear any rumours and criticisms you would hear tomorrow."

Ah, so the Princess purposely wanted to make a scandal between him and her? Tomorrow, the people will react to the news that the First Princess summoned a Captain to her chambers late at night as she also called everyone out of her chambers to have time alone with him. Does this mean... that starting tomorrow he will have a sort of intimate relationship with the Princess?

Somehow, he is happy to have been closer to the First Princess. Looking calm, he stood up from his seat to move towards her. He took her hand and kissed the back of her palm. "Please use me as you like, Your Highness."

Hearing him say that, Princess Darya could only smile as she reached for his hair and moved it up. His left eye then perforated through the depths of her heart.