They Call Me Princess

Chaper Twelve: Snow

3rd Person's P.O.V.

The twins left the next day, feeling very accomplished with themselves. After all, it took less time than they expected, only a week!

However the "lovers" were not as excited about seeing one another, alone with only a few staff members around.

But they most certainly did not have feelings for one another.

Not at all.

At least that's what they would say to themselves when they were alone.

Isabelle would spend most of here time either with Vlad who continued with her "Princess Lessons", or in the library reading whatever she could get her hands on.

It was bad enough that she was in that country, she didn't need to fall for her father's worst enemy to make it even worse.

Alexei however, spent more time in his office. He ate in there, worked in there, and even slept in there if it meant not having to see her. Besides, in two days he was going to leave for battle. He's been gone for too long.

His father wasn't battle ready and hasn't been for years, besides Alexei would take the throne after he was married and had an heir, so he might as well start taking on as much as he can now.

His problem at the moment wasn't the anxiety of the upcoming battle or the duties of being royalty, no it was the girl he was pretending to be in love with.

He couldn't believe what he did, he promised himself that he would kiss her when his sisters walked in and stop when he knew they noticed.

So why did he continue to kiss her so deeply? Why did he pull her back in after he got the reaction he needed from his sisters?

With an angry sigh he ran his fingers through his hair tousling it and stood up from his chair. He couldn't just leave and not tell her. She was still his lover whether he wanted her to be or not.

She was still under his care.

"Vlad. Where is she?" The butler looked towards his employer with a questioning look but didn't dare speak out.

"She is more than likely in the library sir. Shall I bring her here?" The Prince walked by him shaking his head.

"No. If anything urgent comes up I'll be in the gardens." Vlad nodded his head and watched the Prince exit the room.

Alexei walked to his room first to grab his winter coat and scarf, only to do the same in Isabelle's room which was across the hall. Much to his disapproval, but his sisters insisted and he didn't have the heart to move the poor girl around any more.

He wrapped his scarf around him as he walked into the library and looked at the brunette girl that sat before him, legs criss-crossed on a sofa with her nose deep in a book.

He will not say that she was beautiful, but he could sure as hell think it.

Without a second thought he dropped her coat and scarf in her lap and crossed his arms.

"We need to talk. Hurry up." Was all he said as he watched her stand. She didn't even question what his motives were, she just slipped her jacket on and zipped it up before wrapping the scarf around her neck.

She looked at him expecting something, but all he did was turn and walk out the door. The brunette just rolled her eyes and followed behind, not knowing what else to do.

She quickly caught up to him and awkwardly walked beside him, not at all close but not far enough away that they seemed too uncomfortable with one another.

Even though she was the definition of uncomfortable at the moment.

Before long he opened a door that led outside and into what appeared to be a garden area. Orchids and azaleas covered the first few sections, but most of it was full of roses and lilies.

It was stunning to see so many vibrant flowers before spring time. He closed the door behind her and silently watched her take in every detail.

Even though he won't ever admit it, he was proud to see that his mother's garden had this effect on Isabelle.

He suddenly frowned at himself, when did he start using her name like that? Shaking his head he walked up to her and grabbed her hand, and wrapped around his arm.

Limited physical contact, that was his plan to get through this.

"You said we needed to talk?" Isabelle asked while using her other hand to fix her scarf.

How should he go about this? Maybe delicately?

"I'm leaving in a couple days for battle. My army needs me." He inwardly cringed. There went his plan to go about it delicately.

He stopped when he noticed that she didn't continue, leaving her a few steps behind him. "You fight with your men?" Her quiet voice was just barely above a whisper.

He wanted her to yell at him, scream and cry even, but she just stood there looking directly at him with a blank expression.

"Yes, it keeps them motivated to know that their next reigning monarch is with them to the very end." He waited for the sniffling of tears, or sobs, but all he got was her slowly walking back towards him.

"Make me a promise then." He looked into her eyes, how was she so calm?

"What is it?" She couldn't believe that she was going to say this, but she had to give him some hope in a time like this.

"Come back safe and in one piece okay? Please?" She held out her pinkie to him with her face towards the ground as a blush spread across her cheeks.

He couldn't help but smile at how cute she was when she was embarrassed. He lifted up his own hand and wrapped his finger around her's.

"I promise." He whispered before turning around and walking away. "Come inside before you get sick."

Instead of footsteps crunching in the snow behind him he was greeted with a snowball to the back of his head and a set of giggles following behind.

Isabelle didn't know what came over her, but she just saw the perfect opportunity for a snowball fight.

However, when she was greeted with snow in her face she was shocked.

This meant war.

Within minutes the two were flinging snow at one another without a care in the world about who would see.

While Isabelle was laughing at Alexei, who she hit right in the face making him drop his snowball on his head by accident, she didn't realize that she was out of her once abundant pile of snowballs.

He easily cornered her while she laughed a triumphant smile gracing upon his lips. When she finally sobered from her laughter she soon realized why he had been so quiet.

She quickly looked from right to left only to find herself cornered between a wall and a rose bush.

However, when he threw the ball of snow she dodged and ran past his surprised state.

But he was already hot on her trail before she could get far enough away.

She was so close to the door to enter the fortress when he grabbed her and lifted her off her feet, only to lose his balance and fall backwards with her tumbling on top of him.

Vlad walked outside to collect the Prince, more paperwork needed to be filled out immediately. However, he was surprised by the sight outside, not only was the prince covered in snow, but he seemed to be occupied with the maiden that lay on top of him as their laughter filled the air.

"Your highness." He bowed low to get their attention, which easily worked considering the scrambling of bodies to stand up and crunching of snow as the two walked inside.

"There is some paperwork that needs to be filled out." With one fleeting glance at Isabelle, the Prince left following behind his butler.

What had she done to him?