Chapter 166 - Skin Ship

William pov

This was the tunnel we both used to go out when we were kids and reach the lakeside and play there until her mother came to find us. She was the only one who treated me like a human, but not an object to usurp the throne when even my real mother failed to do so.

I still remember her patting my shoulders and saying, "you will be fine, Will. One day when you will turn into fine gentlemen, I will marry you and Abi. if you want you can leave the palace then and come and live with us." her words had always been kind and full of warmth. She was the most brave and selfless lady I have ever met.

"Abi, do you miss your mother?" I asked before I could realize what I was doing. But it was too late to take my words back so I acted as if it was a casual question.

"I.. I did not remember much about her. I was too young when she left me." she replied, awkwardly.

"Yes, you were a child back then." I nodded and thanked God that the topic ended right there.

"Umm, do you remember my mother?" she asked back, when I had just taken a breath of relief.

"Well, I do remember her from the visits to the palace. She was the distant cousin of my father. She was a kind lady who was always warm towards everyone." i knew these words did not do justice to her at all, but i did not know what to tell her.

"This is a dark place." I added as we go further in. I have not used this tunnel in a while since I did not need to escape the palace that way, so I did not realise that it would be too small for an adult.

We bent a bit to move in further. This time there was silence between us.

How much time had passed when we continued to walk inside it.

"Why did you come to save me, your highness. It was not safe for you and it was not something you ought to do. It is my duty as a knight to serve you, not the other way around." her words reverberated clearly in the crumpled place, even when she spoke in a very low voice.

"How couldn't I save you in that situation?" I spoke with a trembling voice and took hold of her hands. She was the only one I had in my life whether she knew it or not.

I took a deep sigh to control the turbulent emotions hitting my heart. My deep breaths caressed her skin as I held her closer to me. I felt better when she did not try to release her hand and kept moving like that.

"I mean, it is my duty as your hunting partner to keep you safe. I do not believe in the foolish fact that a knight has to sacrifice while the emperor sits in his cozy room and enjoys the luxuries of his life. If it had been the other three of them even then I would have sacrificed my life to save them.`` I tried to explain when she shook her head.

"We are not that important to the empire, your highness. You are, you are the sole person the empire needs, your life is more important than any of us." she said and I chuckled. I did not want to sound harsh. But her every word pierced my heart.

As if I was nothing but a piece of object to serve everyone. As if the sole purpose of my life was to ascend the throne. So that they could live peacefully.

"Have you ever thought what if I did not want to ascend the throne? What if I feel lonely there, what if I did not feel like being a greedy prince or the emperor who was caged in his own palace?" My voice sounded full of coldness and bitterness, but I could not help it. The only person I have thought that would never look at me as a prince was also doing the same. As if a dagger had been piercing my heart badly.

"Do you feel lonely in the palace?" her words came out a bit hesitant, as if she wanted to know yet she was afraid to know and get entangled with my life. I should have denied, after all, my image was of a wasterl who had nothing but friends all around, yet I nodded. 

I wanted to gain a place in her heart, even if it was just sympathy but nothing else. At least she would feel my pain even if it was only for my moment.

"I do feel lonely there in the palace. Sitting alone in the garden or lying alone in the room. You must know little birds, that a prince can not have real friends or caring and loyal mates. They all are there for the post i hold not for me.'' I tried to be calm when I said that. Her hands that were still entangled with mind, Slowly rubbed the back of my hands.

"If you feel lonely again like before, and if the day comes again when you need someone to lean on or to vent your frustrations so that you will feel better, you can always come to me. I would be there for you. To spread some warmth in your cold life. This way, you would never feel lonely again." my steps halted when the words left her mouth and i could not help but turn and hold her in my arms with all the strength i have.

She turned stiff for a second but then she relaxed and hugged me back and rubbed my back as if she was soothing a kid. I knew that my feelings were not reciprocated yet I felt so much better with this small skin ship I could have.