Chapter 101: I’m guarding a prankster

Princess Amelia's delicate brows furrowed in curiosity as she watched me move about the courtyard, my eyes darting from side to side in a frantic search.For a moment, she merely observed me, her expression unreadable as she tried to make sense of my erratic behavior. S~eaʀᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Then, a flicker of recognition sparked in her gaze, like a candle flame coming to life in a darkened room.

"Levi," she called, her voice smooth and silken as it rang out across the courtyard.

As my gaze fell upon Princess Amelia, I took in her regal bearing and immaculate attire.

Her gown was a rich shade of crimson, its luxurious fabric flowing like liquid fire down her slim figure.

Diamonds glittered at her ears, matching the sparkle in her eyes as she looked at me with renewed curiosity.

Even as I admired her beauty, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety at the realization that she was the last person I wanted to know about Damon's disappearance.

But I couldn't refuse the princess's invitation so I approached her with a measured stride, the hem of my cloak brushing against the cobblestone path as I crossed the courtyard.

"Remember me?" Her words lingered in the air between us, their delicate melody twining with the rustling of the leaves and the whisper of the breeze.

She seemed so vulnerable, so unsure, her eyes searching mine for a spark of recognition.

Like a lightning strike, the thought of my mission snapped me back to reality, my gaze softening as the last remnants of anxiety faded from my expression.

She was the Princess, a royal and a lady, and I was a mere guard. But I had to remember my purpose, my mission. Her bed awaited, and I would find a way to reach it.

As the Princess stood before me, her doe-like eyes gazing at me with an innocence that I found both disarming and intoxicating, I knew that this was not the time for seduction.

There was a more pressing concern at hand, a concern that would not wait for the whisper of silk sheets or the caress of candlelight.

"Yes, your grace, I remember". My fingers closed around her hand, feeling the delicate bones and soft skin of her fingers against my palm, I bent to give it a tentative kiss.

The Princess's smile, soft and gentle as a summer breeze, revealed a shy sweetness that belied her royal bearing.

Her full lips curved up at the corners, her perfect teeth gleaming as she regarded me with a tender curiosity.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice lilting and light as a butterfly's wings.

My words came easily, spilling from my lips without hesitation as I covered my tracks with practiced deception. "I was just strolling," I said, my voice even and unwavering. "The courtyard is a beautiful place to enjoy the afternoon."

Her gaze shifted around the courtyard, her expression growing more curious as she failed to spot her brother. "Oh, where is Damon?" she asked, her voice betraying a hint of concern as she peered into the shadows and turned to glance behind her.

"He's not here". I replied.

I watched as her brow furrowed, her features tensing with worry as my words sank in. "He's not here?" she repeated, her voice tinged with a hint of distress. Experience tales with M V L

"No, Your Highness," I confirmed, my own expression remaining stoic, my features as unreadable as a blank page.

"Where is he?" she asked, her words tinged with the barest hint of accusation. "Shouldn't he always be with you? I thought you were his personal guard."

The Princess's voice rose slightly, the concern in her tone betraying her true feelings as she stared at me, her confusion evident in the knit of her brows and the tilt of her head.

"A quick stroll, yes," I agreed, my voice betraying no hint of the falsehood I was spinning. "I thought he would return by now, but perhaps he was delayed by a friendly face."

The Princess's eyes bore into mine, her gaze sharp and piercing as she sought to cut through my lies and discover the truth.

"You don't know where he is, do you?" she asked, her voice soft and deadly, like a dagger sheathed in velvet

The question caught me off guard and my carefully crafted facade shattered like glass, the shards of my lie crumbling at my feet as Princess Amelia's sharp intuition pierced through my defenses.

I could feel the blood draining from my face, my jaw going slack as I struggled to regain my composure.

Princess Amelia's laughter rang through the courtyard, a melody that was both whimsical and chilling, her amusement at my misfortune as sharp as broken glass.

"Of course you've lost him," she said, her voice playful yet weighted with a hint of menace.

Bewilderment clouded my mind as I watched Princess Amelia's laughter dance across her face, her mirth at odds with the gravity of the situation.

I felt adrift in a sea of confusion, unable to comprehend her reaction.

"Why are you still laughing?" I asked, my voice tinged with a hint of desperation. "The Prince is missing, shouldn't we be searching for him?"

My words seemed to sober her, her smile fading as she regarded me with a new, somber intensity.

As Princess Amelia's laughter subsided, a mischievous twinkle lit her eyes. "Oh, my dear," she said, her voice teasing and light. "You must forgive me for laughing, but I find your predicament rather...amusing."

"You see," she said, her voice gentling as she stepped closer, "that's just what Damon does. He tricks his guards and disappears, like a magician vanishing in a puff of smoke."

A wave of relief washed over me, as sweet and soothing as a cool breeze on a sweltering day.

The news that Damon was safe, that his disappearance was nothing more than a harmless prank, lifted the weight of responsibility from my shoulders.

As my relief receded, it was replaced by a roiling tide of anger, a tempestuous storm brewing in the depths of my soul.

How dare Damon play such a prank on me, knowing the stress and anxiety it would cause?

I gritted my teeth, the muscles in my jaw tensing as I tried to rein in my emotions.

But the anger was there, a silent beast roaring in the back of my mind, demanding to be unleashed.

"The Prince has a dangerous sense of humor," I said, my voice a low growl.

The words tumbled from my lips, fueled by a rising tide of anger. "This is why his other guards keep leaving, isn't it, Your Highness?" I asked, my voice tight and controlled. "Prince Damon always plays tricks on them."

A light giggle bubbled up from Princess Amelia's throat, a sound of amusement that was at once girlish and devious. "Oh, you've caught on quick, Levi," she said, her voice playful.

"My brother is a trickster, yes. He's always up to some mischievous scheme or another, making life rather difficult for his guards."

She shook her head, her lips twisting into a half-smile as she continued, "But what can I say? He's the Prince. He's used to getting his way."