The Reborn Witch Princess

Unexpected Partner

"Are we close?"

Rara opened her eyes, her face tired and drawn. She glanced at the maid sitting beside her, who was patiently enduring her frequent queries.

"My Lady, we still have three hours left before we arrive at our destination," the maid responded, her voice steady despite the repetition of the information.

Rara sighed, reaching for the water bottle situated in the middle of the car seat. She unscrewed the lid and took a long, refreshing drink, savoring the cool liquid.

They had been traveling for five grueling hours, making only brief stops for food and bathroom breaks. The interior of the black SUV was dim, with the hum of the engine and the gentle sway of the vehicle making Rara feel more exhausted by the minute.

In their convoy, two black vans led the way, with two more following behind. The front van was occupied by Assistant Bear and his subordinates, while the second van in front contained only a subordinate. The same arrangement applied to the vans behind them.

Chief Lisun had been unable to accompany her due to pressing palace duties. Instead, the king had dispatched Assistant Bear to assist Rara on her journey. Despite Assistant Bear's reluctance, he had no choice but to follow the king's orders.

Rara's gaze wandered to Mayonne, the young maid beside her. Though they were of similar age, Mayonne carried herself with a composure and maturity that contrasted sharply with Rara's youthful exuberance.

"Why are you working as a maid?" Rara asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Mayonne stiffened at the question, a flicker of discomfort crossing her face. She hesitated, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her uniform.

"I..."

Rara noticed her discomfort and waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it. It's not my business anyway."

"I... My parents sold me to a creditor to clear their debts," Mayonne confessed, her voice barely a whisper. She looked down, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of shame and relief. "They took me to a brothel to meet him. But Prince Ariel saw me and ordered them to release me. He bought me from the creditor." The memory of Prince Ariel's intervention brought a flush of gratitude to her face.

Rara's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She hadn't expected the usually flirtatious and playful Prince Ariel to have such a compassionate side. Her gaze lingered on Mayonne, trying to understand what it was about her that had warranted such an act of kindness. Did the prince have feelings for her?

A mischievous smirk curled on Rara's lips as she imagined teasing Prince Ariel about this newfound secret. It seemed she had stumbled upon an intriguing tidbit about the prince's private life.

Mayonne shivered at the sight of Rara's smirk, her instincts warning her of a potentially uncomfortable situation.

---

"My Lady, we are here."

The car's motion ceased, and Rara groaned, straightening up in her seat. She blinked, trying to shake off the haze of sleepiness, and peered out the window. They had arrived at the grand entrance of the palace.

The guards, clad in their formal uniforms, had already disembarked and were efficiently unloading their belongings from the car.

"My Lady."

Rara turned to see Mayonne's face up close. Startled by the sudden proximity, she blinked rapidly.

"Ah, Mayonne, what is it?"

"My Lady, please freshen up." Mayonne retrieved a clear, wet towel from a box situated in the middle of the car seats. Without waiting for Rara's response, she began wiping Rara's face.

Rara winced as the damp towel touched her skin. "Do I really need this?"

"My Lady, you are the Chosen Lady and the envoy from Haguar's Kingdom," Mayonne said firmly. She continued her work with practiced efficiency, applying makeup with quick, precise movements, selecting elegant jewelry, and finally spraying a sweet perfume that caused Rara to sneeze loudly.

"My Lady, this is the queen's order..." Mayonne's voice was drowned out by Rara's sneezes and her eagerness to escape the car.

Rara flung open the car door and rushed out, sneezing again without covering her mouth. She rubbed her nose, trying to shake off the dizziness, and took in her surroundings.

Instead of a scenic view, she found herself face-to-face with an irate figure—Prince Xavier.

He stood in front of her with his arms crossed behind his back, his imposing presence commanding attention. Dressed in regal attire and exuding an aura of authority, his sculpted features and powerful stance made many women weak at the knees.

Prince Xavier looked down at Rara, who had stumbled and fallen awkwardly. Her landing was far from graceful, and she seemed oblivious to how she looked.

"Are you done?" Prince Xavier's voice was cold and commanding.

Normally, such a display would have disgusted him, but with Rara, he felt an unexpected sense of satisfaction. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched her dazed reaction.

"Ah... not... yet..." Rara mumbled, still in a trance.

Mayonne quickly came to Rara's aid, helping her to her feet and brushing off the dirt from her clothes. "My Lady, are you alright?" she asked with concern.

"Mayonne... I... Am I dreaming? Can you see him too?" Rara asked, her gaze still fixed on Prince Xavier with a look of awe.

Mayonne frowned at Rara's dazed expression and the memory of Rara's earlier sneezing incident. With a sharp pat on Rara's backside, she made a loud sound that drew the attention of nearby guards.

Rara rubbed her behind and glared at Mayonne, a mix of irritation and confusion on her face.

Mayonne, unfazed, retrieved a fresh wet towel from the car and handed it to Rara. "What?" Rara asked, puzzled.

Mayonne pointed to the wet patches on Prince Xavier's pristine white shirt.

Realizing what she was being asked to do, Rara awkwardly took the towel and began dabbing at the stains on Prince Xavier's shirt. Her face turned crimson as she worked to clean the spots.

As she dabbed at the wet patches, the fabric clung to Prince Xavier's well-defined muscles, revealing more of his physique. Rara swallowed nervously and looked up at him, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm sorry..."

Prince Xavier's breathing grew uneven as he endured the close contact. The sweet scent of Rara's perfume intensified his reaction, and he found himself inexplicably drawn to her. If it had been anyone else, he would have been long gone, but Rara's presence intrigued him.

He took a step back, his expression darkening as he retreated into the palace, hoping to avoid any further interaction that might reveal his own unsettling response to her proximity.