Marcus

I reach the palace and pass an order that a painter and royal doctor should be sent to my room immediately. I enter my royal chamber; as the royal doctor and painter come into my royal chamber, the royal doctor takes off my shirt; he starts bandaging the wound on my chest. I begin to describe that girl's eyes, so that the painter can craft an engaging painting of her eyes.

To get her painting done, I memorize and describe her eyes to the painter as if I've been watching her for years.

Lucas gathers his all courage as he asks, “Your Highness! Why are you getting that mannerless girl's painting made?” I don't even bother to give a glance to him or reply to anything. Lucas gasps as he doesn't get any response from me.

As the royal painter says, “It's done, my lord!” my eyes shimmer and I flash a wide grin as the painter gives me her painting. I observe that painting carefully and my heart swells with joy. I can not believe that the painter has made such a wonderful painting of her eyes. It's reminding me of her eyes—the way she was glaring into my eyes.

I smirk as I commemorate every moment. Wrath rushes through my veins as I reminisce how she wounded my chest. I give that painting to Lucas as I order, “Go and find every single detail about her. Find her from anywhere. Whether you have to dig the ground or tear the sky.”

As Lucas stares at that painting, he utters, “But my lord, there's only eyes. How will we find her just by her eyes in the whole Aetheria?”

I glare at him as I shout, “That's your problem, not mine. Go and find everything about her as soon as possible.”

Lucas gasps and bows before stepping outside my royal chamber. I clench my teeth together, recalling every single moment of her eyes. “You will regret attacking and giving this wound on my chest. I promise I'll make you regret it.”

I march toward my caretaker, my nanny’s royal chamber. As I enter inside her royal chamber, “Nanny Rose,” I summon her. I hold her in high regard and love her deeply, considering her more of a motherly figure than a caretaker. She is the only person who cares about me and who I care about.

Nanny Rose turns her head slightly to me and grins slowly, as the moment she catches my sight. She's dressed up like every other day, in a long black gown.

“Sit my son,” she insists. I take a seat on one side of the bed, but her eyes lowers down to my chest and her smile fades away.

“How did this happen? Someone wounded you. Who dared this, your highness? Tell me. I will kill that idiot.”

“Don't worry. I'll punish that person soon,” I retort.

“No one ever dared to stab your chest. That must be someone powerful and daring,” she states. I nod my head, “She is.”

Her eyes pop out of its sockets. “She! A girl!” Her temple tenses in worry and surprise. I chuckle as I witness her expressions.

“Forget about that,” I say. She sighs and renders me a glass of drink.

“You were here for this. I know,” she says. I grin as I take that glass and devour it. I've been drinking this since I was child. Only nanny Rose can make this and I truly can't go a day without this drink. It works as a drug for me.

“I don't know what this drink is, but I like it.”

She flashes a wide grin as she retorts, “I know.”

“I should be going then. I need to take a bath and relax. I'll talk to you later,” I declare. She nods and bow as I stand up.

I make my way to the royal bathroom directly, to clean my body and my mind also. After undressing myself, I step inside the bathtub. At one end of the massive stone bathtub, a sculpted lion's head serves as a spout, from which water cascades into the tub in a gentle, soothing stream. The water reflects the soft glow of moonlight and candles.

Suddenly, I feel a presence, as I open my eyes, my eyes meet with her dark blue eyes, shimmering in the moonlight. I blink, expecting the vision to vanish, but she remains. Is she truly here, in front of me?

I can feel her warmth, the softness of her touch. Her wet blonde hair glues to her body, causing my pulse rate to increase. As I reach out my trembling hand; I remove a strand of her hair from her eyes, she shuts her eyes close. As I lean on her to grasp her waist, she fades like a mist in the morning sun. I glance at every corner of the bathroom; she's nowhere.

“I was imagining her. What has happened to me?”

Lucas appears out of the blue and bows his head in obeisance. I hawk gasping for breath and turn toward him.

“What happened? How come you are suddenly here?”

"Your highness! We have information about that girl,” Lucas informs.

I scowl. "Who?" I ask, my chest moving up and down in cadence as I struggle to breath.

Lucas takes a step toward me and informs, "That girl who attacked you with a sword and who wounded you on your chest."

A smirk forms on my face as I recall the glimpse of her eyes.

"She is a princess, Princess of Wantra, a small realm of Aetheria. She's a powerful and compassionate princess. Her name is Elara Stone.”

“Elara,” I whisper.

“Yes. People consider her as the most beautiful princess existing in the world. And..." Lucas pauses.

“What?” I look back at him, raising my brows.

Lucas gasps as he continues, "She is soon going to marry Sebastian Rivers.”

I tighten my jaw in frustration and hold the bathtub’s edge as tight as it can be held. "When is it going to happen?" My breathing increases as fury consumes my body.

Lucas shakes his head as he says, "They haven't decided yet but they both like each other. It is known from sources that both of them are going to meet again in a few days. There's a huge celebration for the King’s birthday."

“Aren't we ruling over Wantra?” I ask, turning my body slightly to face him.

“Not yet. It's just a small realm. It didn't catch your attention before.”

“How many days would it take for us to go there?”

“Approximately ten days if we go by steeds, four-five days if we take water routes, but there's a secret cave. By using that cave we can reach Wantra in just two days,” he retorts.

I smirk, as I get to know that. "Get ready. We are going there."

My heart is burning in rage. I am wanting to tear Sebestian into pieces.

“If they are meeting then I should also go there to meet all of them.”