7

A soft bed and silk are a comfortable place to sleep, but I quickly stood up and noticed that I am in an unfamiliar room.

I checked my dress, and still the same. Kier is sleeping on the sofa and the sun is about to rise, I need to prepare for my departure.

He is nice, he didn't do something to me when I am vulnerable, yet, Kier secured me. He treated me way better than the servants here in the empire.

I caressed his hair, what a unique color, similar to the color of a pearl. His features are softer than Emperor Blake, I can't help but to smile and wish that he will become a good friend of mine when I am at Gribe.

I didn't look back and walked out of his room, look around and there was no guard around. But I heard a voice at the back of the guest room.

A familiar voice and it's belong to my brother. He is cursing and throwing things around. I ran away because if he saw me lurking around, listening to him, it was not good for me, but a man caught my hand and covers my mouth.

His smell is familiar, and it belongs to Sir William. "Don't make a noise, I am following the crown prince since yesterday, I need to confirm something." He said and let go of his hand.

I looked at Sir William, he looked tired now, I noticed that most of his wounds is healed. And when he noticed that I am looking at him, he look away and distance himself from me, because my small body is crashing into his big physique.

"Sorry," he apologizes quickly and I step back. "I'm going, take care, Sir William," I said and he caught my hand, checking the ring that he gave to me.

He touched it and after he touched it, I feel the warmth on my hand, and it was like he put mana in the ring.

"Don't remove the ring, I put a protection at the ring," he said, oh God. How I can say that this might be the last time I will see him?

He noticed that I didn't respond to what he said and touched the tip of my hair. "Is there something bothering you?" Sir William asked and smelled my hair. I quickly say no and avoid his gaze.

It feels like he is judging me by the way he looks at me. "Let me escort you to your castle." He said and his gestures said that I should walk first and he will follow me.

I removed my heels, and walk beside him. Watching the sunrise, feeling the cold breeze, and he gave his coat to me and watched me walk beside him.

"I think this is the last time we will see each other." I look up at his face, and he is towering over me while walking beside him. He is tall, I am just above his shoulder.

"I think that is true, the emperor wants me to guard the northern part of the empire because the duke is having an important mission."

Sir William looks disappointed and when I am near the castle, he stopped at the garden and closes his eyes. "The emperor is aware of what the Crown prince is plotting." I feel sad for him, Sir William is loyal to the royal, but my father is tolerating the wrongdoing of my brother.

"I am sorry, I can't do anything to stop them, I have no power and I have no position to act, my title is just a simple decoration, but since I am abandoned and cursed, it's useless."

"No, you're not useless, because you helped me and you're the kindest person I met at the empire, you don't know how thankful I am, if you didn't help me, I am sure that I'm dead now." Sir William kissed the back of my hand while kneeling.

"My loyalty is only for you, Princess Delaney." Sir William's eyes locked on mine, and I can't look away from his stare, and he slowly stood up and hold my cheeks, which makes me close my eyes.

I didn't expect that physical touch is so comforting and addictive.

"Sir William, get up now, if people saw you in that state, they might think that you're out of your mind." Sir William looked at me and smiled.

"What I am about to do is define that I am crazy." I froze where I am, when his warm lips touch mine, holding my nape now.

I feel breathless for five seconds of my life, and Sir William touched my lips, and I did the same. Noticing now luscious his lips, and that is my first kiss. I am confused about what he just did. What does it mean?

The book says I cannot kiss a man when I don't have a relationship with him, and I realized that kissing is not right, I am also engaged with the emperor of Gribe.

"Sorry, I think that ring and loyalty are not enough to show my appreciation for helping me." I covered my mouth and run away.

I closed the door, hold my chest, and shut my eyes for a short time. My heart beat wild, how Sir William make my heart wild like this.

The unfamiliar comfort from him, I am still surprised by all of his actions, I don't know if I will be afraid of what he is doing or just accept his loyalty.

"Princess Delaney, I am sorry. I will leave the box outside, please don't avoid me when we saw each other, again." Sir William said and bid his goodbye to me.

I still hold my lips and smile, Sir William's lips are on mine lately, but what if that is his way to show appreciation to me, that he is just thankful for what I did to him?

I don't want to expect more from him, because I know that no one will like a cursed princess like me.

Maybe, now he is not affected by my curse, but what if there's a time when no one can tolerate seeing my eyes, and went crazy?

I wipe the small tears from my eyes, and open the door, and saw a white box. I hugged it tight first before opening the box.

And a blue and white dress is there, a heels and letter from Sir William.

It's sad, he came late, and now. I don't know if there is still a chance for me to see Sir William in the future, but I will always pray for his safety and the success of his life.

But I will never forget the taste of the first kiss, a warm lips that crushed on mine mind-blowing, like I am in the middle of the desert, and only a kiss can only quench my thirst.

My unforgettable first kiss.