[Music Recommendation: Whom The Fire Burns ~ Phildel]
Oriana walked between Adric and Nicholas. At intervals, she glanced at Adric to see what the Crown Prince was doing, but his face was just ahead, as if he was looking at something very important.
Nicholas, on the other hand, had his eyes glued on the princess. Though he was really angry with Adric’s presence, which meant he needed to act right, he still didn’t stop smiling with a kind face.
"Are we taking a walk or here to hunt?" Adric broke the awkward silence, picking up a leaf which he cleaned first before throwing in his mouth.
Nicholas cleared his throat, "I was taking my time to teach the princess about the forest, and you know how vast it is; anyone can get lost," he touched Oriana’s shoulder. Adric saw this from the corner of his eyes but didn’t say anything.
"Also, hunting might hurt her. We don’t want that," he completed before bringing his hand down.
Adric chuckled, "I was wondering when you became a sidepiece for the princess. I didn’t know she’s turned mute," he turned to meet the anxious golden eyes that were looking back at him. When their eyes met, Oriana looked away.
"I can speak for myself," Oriana started, turning to give a slight bow to Nicholas. "I just didn’t want to draw anyone back, as I don’t know how to hunt."
Adric nodded, "The problem is drawing us back, yes? But you want to hunt too?" Oriana nodded. He sucked his teeth, "We should teach you then. That’s the best we can do for you. Why don’t you walk straight into the forest?" Adric squinted his eyes like he wasn’t seeing clearly.
Oriana’s eyes followed where Adric was pointing. "Inside there?" she asked in a small voice. Then that will make her the...
"Prey," Adric completed her thought. "You should know how the prey acts to be able to hunt it. Now go ahead and hide."
Nicholas stepped forward to challenge this, "We can’t put the princess down in such a manner. How can you be like this to your wife?"
Adric pushed the leaf he was chewing on to the other side of his mouth, looking at Oriana, fear clearly written on her face. "We let the princess, who is my wife, decide that. I mean, this could be the beginning of a spicy night in the forest for both of us."
Oriana turned her face quickly to look at Adric. He had just called her his wife and also mentioned a spicy night in the same sentence. That meant he had feelings for her too. If this would bring them closer, she didn’t mind playing the prey for Adric. Anything just to make sure he reciprocates her feelings.
"I will do it. I want to do it," Oriana raised her hand, pointing at the forest, "All I have to do is hide there, right?"
Adric was surprised to see Oriana accept so easily without retorting, unlike her who always had something to say. He nodded, "Yes, over there."
"Princess, it’s not safe inside the forest. Please give it some thought. You don’t have to agree," Nicholas said, worry for the princess on his face.
Adric’s eyes were on Oriana, watching her like a predator ready to hear her response. When she didn’t say anything, he turned to Nicholas, "Of course, she has to agree to everything her husband says, or are you scared you won’t be able to catch her first even during a hunt," he said in a low voice for only Nicholas to hear.
Oriana noticed the tension rising between both men. She cleared her throat, "Can I go now? I mean to hide?"
Adric continued staring at Nicholas intently but he nodded, "Go ahead, Princess."
"Remember, you will find me." Oriana shouted as she walked inside the forest, "You’re the only one who can protect me," she tried to remind Adric of his words before she disappeared into the woods.
Adric grinned when he heard this, knowing that Oriana was talking to him. While Nicholas took the words as being directed to him.
"Don’t worry, I will find you," he moved away from Adric, ready to start the hunt by running towards where Oriana was hiding.
"Are you really going in to hunt the princess?" Adric asked in a calm voice.
Nicholas raised his brows, "What do you mean, isn’t that what you said?"
Adric touched his chest, feigning innocence. "Me?" he shook his head, "I have forgotten if I ever did. I just asked the princess to leave so we could hunt properly between us."
"And the princess?" Nicholas asked.
Adric waved him off, "She will get tired and leave. Oriana is very smart." There was a glint of mischief dancing in Adric’s eyes as he watched the prime minister think about what he had just said. Adric knew that Nicholas was very gullible. He was smart to some extent but believed people easily. This was why he recently started suspecting him of working fully for the opposition group in the palace against him just to stop the coronation.
"Are you afraid of not getting any game? You know how I always win. I mean, you can back down now, but what do you think will happen when who you are trying to impress hears of it," Adric shook his head with disappointment.
Nicholas was not sure what to do. He decided to take on Adric. He didn’t want him bragging every time, and he needed to score more points for the princess to be impressed.
"Let’s do it."
Adric smiled, stretching his hand forward, and when they shook hands, they both walked in a different direction from where Oriana had gone to hide. Before Adric left, he marked the part where Oriana had entered, then he left with a smile on his face. He didn’t walk very far when he was stopped by Walter.
"Uncle!" Walter shouted, happy to see his uncle. He hugged him closely.
Adric raised his brows by default when he saw his little nephews, and behind them was Rowan.
Rowan sighed, "One rabbit hopped away deep inside the forest," he said with a tired look on his face. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Adric narrowed his eyes, wondering who the rabbit was.
"Auntie’s maid is missing," Walter announced, "The new one that is scared of Uncle Rowan."
Adric understood who it was immediately, "You should have been careful. Find her before the princess hears about it," he said, turning to look at the place he had just left.
"Uncle, are you done hunting? Will you come with us?" Walter asked, happy to have his uncle on board.
Adric hummed, "I have a game waiting for me to hunt. Now go and catch the little rabbit. Make sure Uncle Rowan doesn’t bite it," he ruffled Walter’s hair, then gave Rowan a stern look, "I’m sure the poor girl was trying to run away from you," shaking his head slightly.
"Aren’t you supposed to be hunting this way?" Rowan pointed. Seeing the mischief in the prince’s eyes, he knew he was up to no good.
Adric waved them off, "My prey knows me, and I know my prey. We share that great bond," he chuckled, thinking about how Nicholas was on his way trying to hunt something very big just to win against him.
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