The Rogue Prince

CHAPTER 13

"Alby, the carriage is ready." The princess knocked on his door.

"Okay. I'll be out soon." She heard him reply and walked away. Albrecht finally came out with his magic staff in his hand. He walked to the fore of the castle where the carriage was waiting for them with Sir Evans sitting in front of it with the reins in his hands.

"What's that?" Lady Aloysia asked pointing to the staff Albrecht was holding.

"I'll tell you about it along the way." He winked at her

"Are you ready?" The Black Knight asked and without any reply they got unto the carriage. They took off and the king and his son stood there waving at them till they were no more in sight.

"So are you going to tell me what that is?" Aloysia asked again as soon as there were out of the city.

"It's a magic staff with transformation powers." He said blatantly.

"And what are you going to use it for?" She asked as if she expected him to add its usefulness for their journey without her asking.

"Well, it is the last thing she touched before I saved her life so it will be able to guide us to her".

"Really, how?" She asked sounding intrigued

"By magic. I am going to use a spell on it so that it will lead us to her, literally." He lied

"How long is it going to take us to get there?" Albrecht asked after a long period of silence.

"About a week, so start getting comfy." She smirked at him.

As the sun began to disappear and the moon began to appear, the sky became bright with hues of orange and violet signaling the end of the day. They knew they had to rest for the day and continue the next day. Luckily they had just arrived at a town.

"Let's look for an inn to spend the night we can continue tomorrow." Sir Evans reasoned with them.

"Yes. That sounds like a good idea." Albrecht said smiling mischievous at the princess.

"Wipe that smile off your face." She chuckled. Soon they came to a stop at the nearest inn.

"Two rooms for a night please?" He said to the inn keeper.

"Two? But we're three." The princess whispered into Albrecht's ear.

"No, we're four and I want us to reduce our expenses." He whispered back.

"Four?"

"Yes, she'll be joining us soon." He said.

"Who will be joining us?" Clearly oblivious of the fact that, Miriam had been sitting there the moment they entered the inn.

"Two rooms." The inn keeper turned to him and handed him two keys.

"Good day, your Highness, My prince and Sir Evans." Miriam greeted from behind them, then when they turned to face her she curtsied. Aloysia stood there with her mouth agape trying to understand how she got there before them since they left her at the castle.

"When did you get here?" Albrecht asked smirking while Aloysia and Sir Evans looked at her amazed.

"A few hours ago."

"How did you know we were going to stop here?"

"I didn't. I guessed." She smiled at him

"We both know that's not true." He chuckled.

"Is that you, Lady Aloysia?" The inn keeper asked and his voice was so loud that everyone in and outside the inn could hear him.

"Yes." She turned to him and he bowed down immediately, all the men bow and the women curtsied. The whole place was dead silent, the only thing that could be heard was the crickets.

"Rise." She said with authority and everyone obeyed.

"I miss this." Albrecht said with a hint of jealousy and the princess chuckled.

"Your highness, are these people your entourage."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, I think that's why I couldn't recognize you." He bowed again.

"Hey! What does he mean by that?"

"I mean no disrespect sir, all I am trying to say is that this is too small an entourage for the princess of the  great Alcheronia empire." He bowed again.

"Okay."

"Sir, can you give me those keys and I shall take you to the royal suite."

"As you wish." He handed the keys to the inn keeper and placed them in the drawer with an odd look on his face.

"Follow me." He said and led them to the royal suite.

They stood there staring at the suite in awe, almost everyone, except Aloysia, she was pretty much used to it.

"The Knights can sleep here, the Princess and her maid can sleep in the other room."

"Are we going to pay for this."

"Of course not." The inn keeper said and princess Aloysia chuckled.

"I am not her maid." Miriam gave him a deathly stare.

"I am terribly sorry ma'am." He said and bowed at her.

"I will take my leave now, have a goodnight." He bowed again for the last time.

"Goodnight." The princess waved him off.

"Okay let's get some rest, tomorrow we'll leave before day break." Prince Albrecht said heading towards the room the inn keeper had directed them to sleep in.

"Okay, goodnight." Lady Aloysia said happily also headed towards the girl's room. Miriam and Sir Evans just followed them quietly. After Aloysia had entered the room Miriam silently and entered and silently closed the door.

"So..."Miriam said after standing there staring at her change into her night gown.

"Ha! You scared me" Aloysia sharply turned around.

"You're the girl who has fallen in love with my prince." She said and she slowly began to levitate Aloysia as she approached her.