The Doll and the Prince | Tedros Pendragon

Chapter 4

Tedros was caught off guard when he felt his chin knocked heavily by an unexpected force.

As he was speaking with a newfound friend who had declared himself to be his rival – to which Tedros certainly did not deem his classmate such (for how can one be considered a rival if they were not as strong as he was?) – he did not expect for someone to suddenly appear out of thin air, much less dash into his way. He clenched his jaw when he felt the stinging pain upon his chin, making him frown in annoyance at the culprit.

Don't they have eyes to watch where they're going?

Then his gaze landed upon a pair of pale jade eyes wide from both panic and shock. Tedros furrowed his brow, recognizing the individual to be the girl whom Espada had escorted a few days ago. She had her lips parted into an "o" while her wavy brown locks that reached to her waist were slightly disheveled. It took a short while for her milky cheeks to become pale as she realized what had happened, and before the young man could say anything, the person beside him spoke.

"Milady?" Chaddick asked, making the girl's sight shift to the owner of the voice.

Tedros did not think that her already big eyes could have widened even more, but it did.

"Oh!" The girl gasped as she stepped back from the young man, increasing their distance. "My apologies! I didn't mean to crash into you," she exclaimed as she fretted while assessing his body for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

Tedros gave a polite smile. "No, not at all." He said, trying to ignore the slight sting from his chin. He figured her forehead was as sturdy as a rock, but he couldn't say that to a lady.

The visibly worried girl released a relieved sigh. "I'm glad." Her lips slowly curved to mirror his smile, albeit softer and much more gentle. "I'll make sure to be careful next time. Again, I'd like to apologize." her pale cheeks tinted a rosy pink as she looked down in embarrassment. Tedros, having felt the sincerity of the girl's words, made his smile more genuine. As he observed the girl in front of him better, only then did he realize that she was wearing a nightgown, making him raise an eyebrow in question.

The young man considered that before saying anything, it would be more appropriate to introduce himself first. However, just when he was about to lift his hand for a handshake, Chaddick stepped in front and placed his blue coat that was previously tied on his hips upon the girl's bare shoulders, making the girl stiffen slightly from the action.

"A maiden as pretty as you shouldn't be running outside with only your nightwear, Milady." The boy remarked, making the girl laugh nervously in response.,

"Ah, yes." The girl smiled wider as a rosy blush tinted her pale cheeks. The young man observed how easily the girl's cheeks dyed with a healthy color, most probably due to her light complexion. Then, her pale jade orbs shifted to the silent Tedros. "It's quite... complicated, to say the least." She murmured in a soft manner before looking back down.

That was once.

"I'm sure it is." Chaddick chuckled deeply. As his friend did, Tedros caught a big pair of orbs staring into his own before turning its gaze to a different direction as the girl's blush stained her cheeks a deeper shade of red.

That was twice.

"I'd be willing to listen, though. It's not every day you encounter a maiden in distress." Chaddick curved his lips into a slight grin. "Except for that one time..."

"Indeed," The girl laughed airily from the knowing tone of his voice as she fixed a stray chocolate lock behind her ear. "Well, if you would be willing to," she smiled softly as the young man once again saw her jade orbs meet his blue ones.