Page 2 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

He has a whip in his hand, and I look away, cringing. The guards are allowed to strike any of the Fae if they deem them to be not working fast enough. Cruel is what I think it is, but this is how we live. And what can I do about it? I’m nothing but a normal twenty-five-year-old woman.

They are building a mansion for the king’s son, Archie. Apparently, it is to be his house until his father dies, and he inherits the crown. Why they have to build another house, I do not understand.

It’s a waste of space, time, and resources if anyone asks me. The prince doesn’t need a grand home to live in. The palace is plenty big enough for both of them.

I groan as I spot Prince Archie in front of the building site. Over the past several weeks, he has taken an interest in me, and I don’t know why. I don’t know how he’s figured out who I am.

But he has.

He has now tried talking to me several times, and I’ve evaded him quite a bit, but I can’t do it all the time. No doubt, he knows where I live, and I don’t want him to put stress on my mom by visiting. Not when I don’t know what it is he wants.

I don’t want anything to do with the prince.

“Adeline!” he yells.

I flinch, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath before plastering a smile on my face and turning to face him. Prince Archie walks toward me, his long blonde hair flowing in the wind, a smirk plastered on his face, flanked by two guards with swords on their hips and whips in their hands. How does he not feel trapped with them following him everywhere? He can’t go anywhere alone, most likely afraid that the Fae will do something to him.

Everything in me wants to turn and run away. I never wanted to catch his eye. All I’ve ever wanted was to live in the background, taking walks in the forest, and helping my parents.

Getting married has always been a dream of mine, but to a commoner like myself, not the king’s son. But I don’t even know if the prince wants to marry me or why he has taken an interest in me. I want a simple life, one of ease and love, but with the prince, I won’t get that.

“Adeline!” he yells again.

All eyes are on me as he closes the distance, watching curiously as to why the king’s son wants anything to do with me. I would be curious, too, if I were them. But right now, I wish they would look away from me and move on with their day.

“Yes, Prince Archie?” I give a slight bow, showing the respect I don’t have for him.

His eyes regard me as I stand straight, waiting for him to say what he wants. But he just continues to stare at me, taking in everything. I’m wearing my faded green dress with several patches of different colored fabric sewn onto it where there used to be holes.

I clench my jaw and wait for him to be done. Taking a deep breath, I bite my tongue as his eyes continue to go up and down my body.

He does this every time, and it makes me sick to my stomach the way his eyes roam across my body. Bile threatens to come up as his gaze stays on my breasts for several seconds before making its way to my eyes.

“Prince Archie?” I ask, pulling him out of his trance. “Did you need something?”

His eyes land on my breasts once again, and I roll my eyes. I am by no means super well-endowed up top, but Prince Archie thinks otherwise. But I’m not small either, just the right size for my slim frame.

He nods. “I want to have lunch with you today,” he states.

“I don’t think I can do lunch. I am a busy person,” I gently say, trying to get out of it.

It isn’t a complete lie, though. There are so many things to do to prepare for the baby coming and the impending winter. Can I really afford to have lunch with him?

I could, since I go walking every day, but being outside is a way for me to reset my social battery and stay sane. Without it, I would go absolutely mad.

His face hardens, all emotions leaving as he stares at me. “It isn’t a request.”

I flinch. “Sorry, Prince Archie,” I whisper, bowing. “In that case, I will join you.”

I don’t dare straighten until he tells me I can. I thought it would have been okay saying that I couldn’t but I was wrong, so wrong.

It’s a fine balance when it comes to Prince Archie, and I’m still learning it. Will I ever figure it out? Probably not.

“Rise,” and I do just that.

He smiles like nothing had happened. “Meet me outside the new building at one,” he says and starts walking away before I have the opportunity to reply.

I hate how he simply states things and walks away like no one can object. Because we can’t, even though I have tried.