Homesick

| 14 | The Fight

River took off so quickly that Dapha was only able to see which direction he originally ran in. She walked all way to the front of the mansion but still couldn't find him. "River, where are you?" She called out. "How did he get so far away in such a little time?"

Finally Dapha spotted him, he was sitting on the ground, legs bent and arms crossed around them. She sighs and walks over to him, as she says. "I thought we talked about nobles sitting on the ground? You'll get all dirty."

"What do you want? Shouldn't you be with your fiancée." River said harshly.

Dapha shakes her head and takes a seat next to him. "Are you crazy? Raines not my fiancé I just met him like a week ago."

"Well that's not what he said." River mumbled.

"Who cares what he said, don't I get a say in this?" Dapha argued rolling her eyes, she then looked over at River who was giving her a confused expression. Before she was able to defend herself, she notice a bleeding cut above his eyebrow. "Look at that nasty cut," She hissed. "It's definitely going to scar." She gently moving his hair out of the way to get a better view.

River quickly grabs Dapha hand and takes it in his own. "I don't care about that, I want to know the truth, tell me." He said, eyes filled with determination.

"Fine, what happened was, Raine came to the mansion and tried to force me to become his fiancé." Dapha shrugged. "I said no and I thought that was the end of it but he still ended up telling everyone we're engaged, that jerk."

Raine looked at her, he was definitely skeptical.

"You don't believe me do you?" Dapha huffed. "I guess, it's hard to believe your brother is two faced."

"It's not hard to believe." River mumbled. "I can always see it in his eyes, he may act happy but in reality he actually looks like he wants to murder everyone around him."

"Oh, well I guess you do know."

River hummed and nodded his head. "So, you don't actually want to marry him? Right?"

"Not at all!" Dapha exclaimed, waving her arms away. "No offense but your brother's plan was to have a whole harem, do I look like I'd want to be someone's second choice? Plus he's too young."

River sighs. "That's a relief, I got worried." He mumbled with a small grin. "What do you mean he's to young? We're older than you."

"Oh I meant I'm not interested in any sort of relationship until I'm seventeen." Dapha said nervously. 'I don't care if I'm a child again, I still have the mind of a seventeen year old and I refused to get engaged to a child.'

"I'm leaving." River said standing up.

"Oh? I guess it makes sense for you not to wait for your brother." Dapha mumbled, standing up as well.

"I'm not sure when I'll see you again, my father's not going to like what I've done." River sighs.

'This sounds excatly like the event Ivory's been planning for, maybe her plan did work.' Dapha thought to herself. "That's a shame." Dapha took a deep breath as she stared at the ground. "And I'm really sorry," She mumbled. "I didn't mean to ruin your relationship. If I was more stern then I could've stopped Raine from announcing that. If it was with Prince Nahkai it would be different but you two are brothers and I just.."

"Dapha." He said under his breath. He takes Dapha's hand and leans in, their faces inches apart and in a blink of an eye, he kisses her cheek.

Dapha jumps back, her face flushed with embarrassment. "River, what are you doing?" She exclaims.