[Music Recommendation: With My Heart ~ Ahn Eun-Jin]

Adric noticed the insecurity and shyness in the manner the princess spoke. It was very unlike Oriana to be this calm; he wondered what these people had done to her. The side of her head was bleeding.

Oriana felt the scrutinizing gaze of Adric on her, which made her conscious of herself. Her hair had not been brushed, her dress looked unkempt, and there was nothing princess-like about her. Oriana felt less of herself at the moment and wished she could just hide.

"Your highness, thank you so much. You saved our lives," Louis finally got on his feet and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince.

Adric recognized the man, "Oh, you were the man.." He then turned to look at Oriana, who had seen him that day too but had run back inside the carriage.

"You’ve been hurt badly," Adric said to Louis, but his eyes were on Oriana. "You should see a physician; let’s go."

"Thank you so much, your highness, but we’ll be fine. You’ve done more than enough for us," Louis rejected the offer politely, but Adric wasn’t having it.

"I insist," his words held finality in them. He started walking towards the carriage; Louis helped his daughter enter before joining her. Then Adric waited behind to help Oriana, who was yet to say anything, walking slowly behind.

"Let me help you," Adric stretched forward his hand.

Oriana looked at the hand offered to help, then she looked at her own, which was now covered with callouses, making it look very rough.

"I’m fine," she said, before entering the carriage without any help.

Adric looked at his hand and smiled before dipping it inside his pocket. He entered the carriage, sitting on the opposite side alone while the other three sat on the other side.

"What exactly happened out there?" Adric asked after the carriage had started moving.

Louis, seeing that Oriana wasn’t going to talk, said, "It was just an internal issue between me and one of my workers. The girl decided to take things too far by accusing the princess," the man replied.

Adric nodded; he noticed how Oriana tried to intentionally avoid his gaze. He decided to let her be since the girl had too many emotions to process at the moment.

When they got to an inn, Louis and Freya were assigned to a room where a physician tended to Louis and also gave them change of clothes and good food.

Oriana finished bathing and tried to clean up the cuts on her face. When she noticed that a side of her leg had a little mark on it, she sighed. All her body was already filled with bruises. She picked up the gown on her bed and changed into it; it was a different dress style from what was found in her own kingdom.

"Princess Oriana, His Royal Highness summons you," Oriana heard someone knock at her door. She knew it was inevitable; she had to talk to Adric. She looked at herself in the mirror for some time, trying to force a smile on her lips.

"Good morning, Your Highness... no, good morning, Prince Adric," Oriana rehearsed. She needed to put on a smile to show Adric that she was fine. After checking her body properly to be sure her wounds were covered with the dress, she stepped out of her room, where a servant was already waiting for her.

The servant led her to a room far away from her own. When the door opened, she found Adric drinking all alone. Oriana quickly fixed up a smile on her face.

"Your highness," she bowed deeply. "I wasn’t able to show my gratitude to you earlier as I was shocked, and the situation was embarrassing. Thank you for saving me." Oriana said with a voice filled with happiness and a smile on her face. She waited to hear Adric’s reply, but the room remained silent, with Adric staring at her unblinkingly.

"Your highness?"

Adric finally moved his eyes away, settling them on the jar of wine in front of him. "Is that how you feel?"

"What? I’m not sure I understand what you mean," Oriana kept the smile on her face.

Adric got on his feet, "I’m asking you, is that really how you feel, Oriana?" He called her name without a title.

Oriana squeezed her hands together, "Y-yes, that’s how I feel," her voice a bit shaky.

Adric nodded, "That’s fine. How did your family find out about the letter?" He asked.

Oriana bit her lips, "Oh, that. I don’t really know, but it’s not a problem. I handled it-"

"For a minute, can you say things the way they really are, without trying to keep things under control?" Adric was now walking towards her.

Oriana inhaled, "Why? So you can mock me? And daunt me with your words?"

"And what makes you think that?" He asked.

Oriana didn’t reply for a moment, her eyes staring back at Adric, who was now standing in front of her. "Thank you for helping me; I’ll make sure to pay you back soon,"

"I want you to pay me back now," Adric said, "Since you’re fine and okay. I told you I hate giving favors, yes? But I’ve done that for you three times, so why don’t you clear your debts now, princess?"

Oriana inhaled deeply, "When I go back to the palace, I will send enough gold to you,"

Adric threw his head back and laughed, "Says a princess who has been banished by her own family. Why don’t you do exactly what you’re known for, seducing men?"

Oriana couldn’t control her boiling anger; she slapped him with force. "I didn’t seduce anyone; yes, my family abandoned me. That’s not why-" Oriana felt tears get stuck in her throat, "I’m tired too, and I really want to give up every day because of people like you. I hope to just die already," she sobbed, raising her face up to stop the countless tears that now poured down.

"Good... now that’s how you really feel," Adric said with a smile.

Oriana bit her trembling lips, "Was this what you wanted? To see me crying and broken? Yes, I’m broken, and yes, I don’t even feel like a human, and it hurts right here," she pointed at her chest.

"You’re doing just fine from where I stand, Princess. And all I can tell you is that ; surviving is winning everything else is crap. You should survive whatever is thrown at you and don’t give your enemies a show they would enjoy." Adric said to her. Patting on her shoulder gently he turned his back, walking back to his bed.

Oriana blinked her tears away, she didn’t like how she felt at the moment. She felt so small, like even the wind could break her. Seeing Adric turn his back, she made her way to the door then paused.

"I want to pay you back for saving me, I too hate owing people,"

Adric turned, "Hm?" With a cigarette now on his lips, with his hand raised to light it.

Oriana inhaled deeply, she wasn’t thinking straight at the moment, she touched the sleeve of her dress and started bringing it down.

"What do you think you’re doing?" Adric asked, still looking at the girl.

"I remember your words, you said you would take me to bed the next time you helped me right? I’ll offer my body willingly then," Oriana could feel her legs tremble at her own words.

Adric raised his brows, "I remember saying that, but I’ll let it be since you didn’t cook this trouble up yourself,"

But Oriana didn’t stop, she moved down the other sleeve now holding the dress which would bare her entire body if she should let go.

Adric was stunned at the girl’s confidence, "Don’t tantalize me Princess, I’m no gentleman. If you’re really giving I wouldn’t hesitate to take," he warned, but Oriana didn’t blink.

"Just one thing, please don’t look at my body, it’s hideous." With a deep sigh, Oriana let go of her gown which now pooled on her feet. Adric reached for the curtain and brought it down, with everywhere now dark he closed the distance with the princess.

Adric’s lips crashed on Oriana’s own. It was a first time feeling for her so she didn’t know how to react. She held his shirt tightly with darkness engulfing the whole room, Oriana’s senses were alert.

When she felt Adric touch the scar on her tigh. She flinched, ashamed of her body, though everywhere was dark she still felt insecure. As the kiss continued, with her body stiffened, slowly she finally gave in and let herself get lost in the dark.