Chapter 220 - Warm and Safe (1)

What is this warm and soft feeling?

Alexandra's eyes fluttered open and the brightness of the room blinded her, she has to blink multiple times just to adjust her vision to it. A feeling of warmth engulfed her whole body and her head was resting against something soft. She was laying on top of a bed engulfed with warm comforters and her head resting against tons of pillows, she didn't wake up sitting or laid on a cold and hard floor with only Harrison's coat covering her while her head would be either leaning against his shoulder or on top of his lap.

Harrison served as her pillow during that time when she was kidnapped and trapped in a room along with the other kids when she would go to sleep. Harrison doesn't mind though and she didn't even hear a single complaint coming from him. Sometimes, when she would wake up from her short nap, he would tell her to go to sleep again or if she is hungry and such. Pretty sweet but she finds it unusual because the usual Harrison that he knows would just either scold or tease her.

She sat up from her position, her head slightly aching in pain. The blanket or comforter that covered her upper torso fell to her lap. She wasn't wearing the torn or almost destroyed and dirty dress, she was wearing something comfortable and clean.

Alexandra surveyed her surroundings that seem familiar in her eyes. There were bookshelves against the walls of the room, a set of couches and a glass table with a few books scattered on top of it, there were some flower vases, paintings, and such. There were 5 doors, leading to 4 different rooms or places while the other was leading outside the room. The room was rather large and it was only simple. On each side of the bed, there were small drawers with a few things on top of it.

She was back in her room.

She looked beside her and saw a person, a female to be exact. Her arms were crossed as she placed it on the bed while she rested her head on top of her arms. She was sleeping peacefully. Her chestnut hair was tied in a bun and she was wearing a maid's uniform. Alexandra could easily tell who that was.

"Diana."

She called out to her name in a whisper as she smiled to herself. She was finally back, in her palace, in her own room. Diana was probably with me the whole time that I was asleep, she thought to herself and she leaned back against the headrest of her bed. The familiar floral scent, the light, and comfortable atmosphere, the warm and soft bed, she felt nostalgia as if she just returned here after years. The windows were open and she could hear the birds chirping outside. It was still early in the morning when she woke up.

She closed her eyes. She doesn't want to move yet, she doesn't want to do anything at the moment.

She felt something move near her and she thought that Diana was probably awake now.

"Princess?"

There was doubt lacing her tone of voice and Alexandra opened her eyes then looked at her direction, Diana was staring at her blinking multiple times. Her small face looked pale and her eyes were red, I'm sure that it wasn't because she just woke up. Her eyes were even swollen as if she cried, her voice was raspy. She looks stressed. Did she cry?

Alexandra just smiled at her and Diana's eyes widened and glistened as her breath hitched, she immediately stood up from her seat and hugged Alexandra, real tight. Alexandra just let herself be engulfed in a tight hug by her as she knows that Diana was worried about her when she was kidnapped. She probably didn't sleep because she was too worried. A sob escaped from Diana's lips as she hugged her tighter and it felt like Alexandra couldn't breathe but she didn't mind. She missed this.

"It's fine now. I'm back," Alexandra said in a low voice only they could hear as she hugged Diana back.

"Welcome back, Alexandra."

Diana replied and they stayed there, hugging each other without saying anything.

--

It has been 2 weeks ever since that incident.

Her days have returned to its normal and usual ways though she was still recovering from what happened, she wasn't traumatized or anything. She was recovering her lost mana and even though her back was healed, thanks to Rowan's abilities, she could still feel the pain that she felt back then. Everyone was worried about her and when they learned that she finally woke up, they celebrated and spent time with Alexandra.

She was asleep for 3 days.

The reason was physical and mana exhaustion. She used way too much mana and spells. She also overexerted her body as she kept on running around and fought with many people who are way older than her. She probably forgot that she was in a child's body and not in an adult one.

When she woke up, Carlos apologized to her multiple times and he even kneeled on the ground, with his head against the floor. He looked extremely guilty and he kept on blaming himself because of what happened, though Diana scolded him and told him that this shouldn't happen again or else she would throw him to the sea and swim with the sharks. She was much scarier back then when she learned that the princess was kidnapped.

She didn't saw Harrison though. Up until now, she still hasn't seen him. Is he busy or what? Well, he was probably being drowned in a sea of work so she doesn't mind.

The news about the kids that were kidnapped and saved was spread throughout the empire. They were even shocked that the princess was one of those kids and immediately gifts were sent to her, it came from the families that were close to them. Along with those is Maribelle's family. Maribelle even wrote a long letter for her and told her that she is going to come over the palace.

Nevertheless, she was glad that everything has ended and it was all fine now.

Now, Alexandra was here with Maribelle along with Amanda, the one girl who she became friends with at the kidnapping incident. She was also one of those people who helped them with their escape plan. Though she didn't have the time to explain about her being a princess and why she hid her identity.

"Really, I never expected that you were the princess! Even though I thought that blue eyes were quite rare and that only a few families have those, I really didn't think that you were a member of the royal family and the princess of this land."

"Even I would be shocked too. Who would have thought that the princess would be kidnapped? I thought that that would be impossible but look at her."

"That is true. Well, only a few people know about the kidnapping cases going around the place. Not even the officers and my family knew about it."

Amanda and Maribelle were having a conversation, talking casually as if they didn't meet each other just now. It looked like they were close to each other. Well, Amanda was the same age as Maribelle. Alexandra thought that she was 12 years old but she isn't. Most of the people here look two years older than their age but she belongs to that small population who looked younger than their age.

Alexandra could only let out a short laugh as she watched them. They were having a tea party in one of the gardens of the palace, it was still early in the afternoon. The monthly meeting her father would hold with the leaders or rulers of the kingdoms under his empire was happening right now that's why Alexandra wasn't having her usual tea party with him and was doing it with her close friends.

Come to think of it, her brothers' return from the academy is near. Probably a few days from now. Even though she didn't tell them about the incident that happened a few weeks ago, they probably knew about it already because it was in the newspapers. They were probably enraged or something.

"Princess, aren't you getting bored staying inside the palace your whole life?" Amanda suddenly turned her head to look at her as Alexandra was eating a macaroon in her hands. She chewed and gulped before she responded to her sudden question, "I don't and after what happened before, I am quite nervous and afraid when going out. Besides, I have been trapped inside the Wistalia Palace for like 7 years. I only have 10 maids, a library, and a garden that would always accompany me."

"A princess trapped inside a cage called a palace."

"It's not that bad though," Alexandra smiled. She's used to it anyways. It's not like she's a prisoner or something, she was still able to do whatever she wants without somebody stopping her. She could read tons of books and her father would always buy a new set and such.

"Well, yeah. There are many gardens, a huge courtyard, your own library in your room, a private library for your family that is probably half the size of our family's mansion, and such. You even have good-looking brothers who are always there to protect you!" Amanda said as she counted with her fingers.

"That is true, you even have Arthur."

Eh? Alexandra looked at Maribelle while blinking her eyes multiple times, a confused expression plastered on her face. What does she mean by that?

When Maribelle realized what she has said, her cheeks slowly started to be tainted with a light shade of pink. Is this what I think it is? She thought to herself and a sly smirk made its way to her lips before she rested her elbow on top of the table with her head being propped up the palm of her hand as she stared at Maribelle.

"Do you like Arthur?" It was Amanda who asked her that, she looked excited and curious. Thankfully, their knights weren't with them and nobody was around so they could talk about whatever they want to talk about.

"I-It's just a crush."

"How long?"

"I don't know. It probably started when we became friends and started to talk with each other. We were still kids back then."

"So years?" Alexandra asked in a curious voice.

"Yes."

"No crush would last for years, Maribelle, let me tell you that."

"I heard that it would only last for 4 months."

"Where did you learned that, princess?"

Alexandra shrugged before she responded, "From the books, I guess?" Liar, it was back then in her previous life when her co-workers were talking about the people they have a crush on and how long it lasted.

Alexandra roamed her eyes around and she spotted a certain figure, running. It was Harrison. Amanda suddenly stood up from her seat and called out to his name, grabbing his attention. Harrison made its way to their direction still running.

"Miss Amanda and Maribelle. Oh, princess, you're also here. A pleasant afternoon for you three."

"What were you doing?" Amanda asked him as she tucked a hair behind her ear, smiling at him. "Were you escaping again?" Alexandra asked. Maribelle just remained silent as she ate a cupcake.

"Well, Arthur is chasing me," When Maribelle heard his name, her attention was grabbed and she spoke. "You shouldn't let him have a hard time chasing you," Was what she said but Harrison just grinned at her.

"He's used at chasing me and he is even a fast runner. Look, I can already see him. I shall take my leave now," Harrison said before he bowed at them and ran at full speed away. Alexandra could only let out a sigh before she picked up her glass of juice and drank it slowly. Amanda took a seat and let out a satisfied sigh.

"I think I have a crush on Harrison."

Alexandra spat out the juice that she was drinking when she heard what Amanda said.