Grand entrance

Vincent didn't expect her to ask him that and he looked deep into her eyes if she was playing mischievous with him but nothing. Her clear eyes were gazing at him with…is that expectation brimming in her eyes?

 " What? Do you think of me as a Prince or wish for me to be a Prince?" He asked while watching the sour expression on her face.

 Minerva moved towards the dragon before brushing her rough skin. " No. I believe you're a Prince or a Duke, maybe a Lord or nobleman."

 " Why?" He probed further while looking at her.

 Vincent has never met such a dramatic lady before.

 Minerva came to stand in his front but her height was nothing compared to Vincent. She could reach just his chest so she climbed a rock to be on the same height as him.

 " Because you look like one. Your aura, and your charms that includes your handsome characteristics," Minerva said all in one go making Vincent chuckle.

 After laughing to his heart content,he became speechless while gazing ardently at her. When none of them said a word, someone did.

 " Maybe he is," the voice came from behind making Minerva jump down from the rock only to slip but Vincent's strong arms grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms as he stared at the young man with a knowing look.

 Seeing his brother so protective of the girl, Dalton smirked and waved his hand. " I'm not interested." He replied while looking at Minerva who leaned even more into Vincent's arms.

 " What is it Dalton, tell father I'm busy," Vincent said to his younger brother who has no interest in leaving.

 " Father has been searching for an eligible wife for me ... .Sighs…I'm tired, the Castle is boring," the young man smiled and sat on one of the rocks.

 Minerva then turned to look at Vincent and grinned uncontrollably while understanding what he and his brother were talking about. " You're a Prince! How could I be so stupid to not notice earlier." She then removed the expensive jacket before handing it to him.

 Dalton was watching them quietly.

 " Take, I'm not worthy to wear this," Minerva felt blessed for seeing two princes in one morning and that was enough. She just wanted to start her hunting school and make her father proud anywhere he's right now. Little did she know her life would never remain the same after crossing paths with Vincent.

 " Did I order you to take it off Minerva?" He was quite upset now. He hoped to make her believe he was just a security head and nothing more. He didn't know why but he wasn't willing to let her alone after sharing a few times together. Though they just met yesterday.

 Minerva blinked innocently before obediently putting the jacket on.

 Dalton smiled as he watched his brother and the girl having a good time while he just sat there, running away from those fake ladies his father wanted him to marry.

 Vincent patted the blue dragon which was now resting before pulling Minerva away from there while his brother followed their trail.

 "So…how was the journey? How many young hunters did you manage to bring?" Dalton knew that the last session, the people who were sent to find young hunters brought useless ones and his brother made up his mind to do the job this time and Blueshead was his last destination. 

 " Only one. Her." He pointed out with his chin to Minerva who was walking beside him.

 Dalton wanted to laugh but he stifled it. Altogether, Vincent brought fifty young hunters that year when they were supposed to gather about two hundred yearly.

 " Should I say the force decreased this year?" Dalton asked before coming to walk beside his brother. " Father would be disappointed."

 " Reliable force Dalton. Not by how many they are but the strength they possess like my pupil here." 

 Dalton wasn't surprised. Those his brother trained personally ended up doing a hundred percent better than the others.

 " Very good." He commented. Despite the girl being his personal student, Dalton also knows Vincent has a soft spot for her.

 " I'm taking her to school, tell father I'll be back soon. You know what to say when he asks what I'm doing," Vincent replied nonchalantly before taking Minerva's hand in his, making Dalton shocked.

 ****

 " In RedShire, hunters have rules they follow, rules they obey and those that cannot be broken. A hunter can never fall in love especially with females." Vincent said and looked at Minerva to see the shocked expression on her face.

 " So I can't marry? I think I would drop from attending the school. I want to have someone I love and children," Minerva complained, failing to see the expression on Vincent's face and that evil smirk on his lips.

 "You can't drop Minerva. Once chosen, no going back."

 Vincent has personally made that rule for only his students and even though he knew some were having one feelings or the other, they couldn't show it but this Minerva can be very stubborn just by hearing her say she would drop from school because of the rule of not falling in love.

 " Why can't I?" Minerva wasn't happy about this.

 " Now tell me, who do you love that's making you want to back out from school?" He asked while looking into her eyes.

 " I…I…no one. None for now." She winced and looked away. " But…already catching feelings for someone, well, I'll go for it." She didn't want to disappoint her father.

 " Good." Vincent replied. He wasn't dumb to know who she was talking about. The way she looked at him when embracing her late father said it all.

 " Second basic rule, don't ever drool on royalty."

 " Why do I have a hunch you're teasing me?" Minerva was getting the clear picture now.

 Vincent smiled, " I do. But…it's the truth." 

 ***

 They arrived at a large building with brick walls. As soon as the guards who were standing outside saw the Prince, they immediately stepped aside for him and the girl beside him to enter.

 Minerva was quiet after Vincent teased her to no end and she felt like biting him on that mouth of his. 

 The moment they stepped inside, Minerva was greeted by a huge building and crowds of young people with different colors of uniforms.

 " Amazed?" He asked when her fingers tightened around his. He could feel her stiff body and nervousness.

 " Amazed? It's breathtaking, so down to earth," Minerva said loudly for him to wear. Her eyes moved from one place to another, looking at all the students in uniforms while training in the large field which was bigger than twenty towns. At the huge building across the field was a giant writing at the top.

 " Hunters Academy." Minerva said out the name and her inside quivered as if it would combust from excitement.

 Vincent smiled at her stunned reaction and led her through the long pathway at the middle of the field which was made of ceramic. The green field at the sides gave it a perplexing look.

 Still holding her hand, they walked on the pathway and Minerva felt as though she was in heaven. So beautiful, she thought.

 The moment the students noticed the Prince walking on the pathway, they stopped all they were doing. 

 Minerva tensed even more as it now seemed the whole students were looking at her.

 " Your Highness," they greeted. It was enough for Minerva to flee due to the loud voices.

 The students weren't just greeting the Prince, they were looking at the girl whose hands were interlocked with the Prince's. 

 Murmurings filled the air while everyone was wondering if the girl was a new student.

 Minerva felt the hairs on her back stood when some came nearer but wouldn't dare touch her because the Prince was there. Her hair especially was also the major cause of the commotion. 

 Some were wondering if she added color to her hair but that was impossible. 

 " It looks like you're already popular, was your mother's hair as red as yours?" He asked while Minerva was looking around like a child.

 " Yes, but my father says mine is much redder than hers."

 Vincent nodded his head, " I won't be surprised to see you're the only red haired girl in this school." He was sure about it. Most of the students were awed by such a sight and her cream smooth unblemished skin didn't do anything other than make her look like a princess.

 Vincent even wondered about that because a hunter like her was even prettier and had a more porcelain skin than his father's mistresses and sisters.

 " That's impossible."

 " That's why you look so adorable," he teased and did something Minerva didn't expect. Vincent suddenly kissed her hair before handling her to a plump woman. " Help her get dressed."

 " Are you leaving me?" She asked when he turned his back to leave.

 " Would you prefer it if I bathed you?" He asked and Minerva immediately shook her head, how could she let a Prince do that.

 The few teachers there were surprised at the casual conversation between the two. Some even thought Minerva was royalty but she wasn't acting like one.

 The woman was about to Usher Minerva into the building when a loud sound came from the field. The students started rushing away from there, scampering for safety while some were too mortified to move.

 Vincent was more shocked because something like this has never happened before.

 When the dust cleared off, screaming filled the air as students and teachers rushed into the building for safety. RedShire was the safest place but something like this easily got into the building, standing there on the huge field.

 Vincent couldn't imagine in his entire lifetime that he would see this creature. His heart plummeted down his chest and he rushed towards Minerva who was looking shocked and stunned at the same time.

 Before anyone could know what was happening, shrieks and roars fil

led the air from hundreds of students as Minerva left the ground into the air, her heart beating so heavily she thought of so many possibilities of her dying.

 " Minerva!!!" Vincent yelled in horror.