Turning around the corner Leo suddenly found her nose in collision with someone’s broad chest. A little startled she sprung back, lifting her face to meet Carsein’s cold gaze.

Initially Arwin’s behavior had convinced her that she’d just imagined the incident in the bedroom when she first met the scary mercenary, but seeing the continued disdain in his expressions, she was now certain she hadn’t. However Carsein seemed content just sending her hateful looks, showing no signs of further harmful intent. It still always gave her cold shivers, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of showing him fear, so she did her best to smile. ‘Kill them with kindness’ as they said, although she didn’t know who, her memory still being a big blank.

“Oh, hello Carsein” she nodded, ignoring the frown forming on his face at her apparent lack of terror.

“Princess. I am to escort you today as well” he growled, “follow me.”

She sighed and shrug her shoulders as he turned to begin his stride down the hallway, not doubting that she would follow his command.

This wasn’t a new thing. It had been about a month since she first woke up in the mansion, void of any memories of her previous life as a royal, and for the past two weeks Carsein had followed her around everywhere. Arwin had commanded it, saying it was for her protection and although she hated it, she trusted that Arwin had a reason. Still, she wondered what that was since she never sat foot outside the mansion. The heightened security made her worried. Worried for her future. Arwin had said she was safe at his estate for now, but she couldn’t know when that would no longer be the case. What could Arwin do if the king found out and wanted her executed along with the rest of the former government?

She dreaded the thought, but almost more so she feared having to leave this place she’d grown so fond of. Arwin was such a kind and beautiful man and she’d begun finding herself dreaming of him both at night and in waken moments. The visage of the handsome man with his beautiful golden hair and delicate, yet manly features always played at the corner of her vision. It was like she was obsessed.

She barely saw him nowadays and the longing haunted her, leaving her without energy or appetite for anything else than catching a glimpse of him when he returned, sometimes in the dead of night, wearing a glum expression. An expression that worried her. Something was wrong, she could feel it.

Following behind Carsein, her eyes on his broad back, she inquired: “where are we spending our time today?”

Without looking back he shrugged, “the yard. I need to train.”

I slightly giddy feeling came over her at the prospect of spending the day outside for a change. It was springtime and the flowers bloomed so lovely already. The sound of birdsong and the feel of the fresh breeze always made her more relaxed.

Leisurely reading under the pear tree, she hummed a satisfied melody. A blanket covered her lower body, one that Carsein had insisted she wore since the wind could still be chilly even if the sun shone. The gesture had surprised her, she didn’t think he’d care if she caught a cold, but she couldn’t read any emotion in his expression, so she’d just shrugged it off as him trying to keep his promise to his employer to keep her safe.

She shot him a glance as he stood in the middle of the yard swinging his sword. His naked upper body gleamed with sweat in the sunlight and his form and the way he moved with ease attested to his skill as a swordsman. She was sure he could best even the most skilled knight of the royal order, though she didn’t know where this knowledge came from. If he ever decided to end her life, she would have no chance.

She shuddered a little as a cold breeze flew over her, gripping the pages of her book making them flutter.

“Leo!”

She jerked her head at the sudden call of her name and spotted a familiar figure standing in the side entrance of the east building. Arwin. He was home already!

She sprung to her feet a delighted expression on her face, but as she scurried toward him her heart stilled. There was an expression of concern on his face she had not seen before and it made her uneasy.

“Leo, I need to talk to you. It’s urgent” he spoke as she reached him.

Following Arwin inside she swallowed in an attempt to remove the tight knot that was forming in her throat. There was something terribly wrong, she could feel it. The usual butterflies that usually appeared in his presence, had all left, leaving room for only cold claws to tear at her insides.

Arwin opened the door to the east wing’s tea salon and gestured her to take a seat at the table near the window, placing himself across from her.

“Leo” he began, something in his eyes sending cold shivers throughout her body, “we’ve been discovered.”

She gasped, her heart almost coming to a full stop as the words reached her ears and she grasped their meaning. Cold sweat sprung from her forehead and her hands began to tremble.

But before she could express her fears vocally, Arwin grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently in an effort to comfort her and spoke: “It’s all right, it’s all right. Don’t be alarmed”

She tried to calm her heart. She trusted this man completely, so if he said she needn’t be afraid she had to do her best not to be.

“I’ve been expecting this to happen at some point, so I’ve been spending my time getting close to the new king gaining his favor. He knows that you are here, and he isn’t happy, but there is a solution…”

Hope welled up inside her and her gaze flew up to meet his, the sight almost taking her breath away. His face as beautiful as always, but his expression was so warm, gentle and caring that she felt the butterflies slowly return.

“Marry me”

Heat flushed to her cheeks at his words and her heart now raced even faster than before, but for a slightly different reason. Marry him? Really?

“W-what?” was all the response she could muster. That didn’t make any sense, how was that a solution? Would he even want to? She peered at his face, hoping to find an answer in his deep blue eyes.

“I’m sorry…” he withdrew his hand and a dejected expression formed on his face as he looked away, “I should explain. The king was worried you might become interested in revenge or maybe even try to ascend the throne once you gained back your memories. So, I thought if you married me, he could be at ease knowing you would stay under my watch, since he trusts me. It was the only solution I could think of...” He peered at her, his expression cryptic.

“I-I’m not rejecting you” she stuttered, realizing her question could have given him that impression, “I-I was just surprised… Do you really want me?” She glanced at him hopeful and anxious.

“More than you know” he smiled, the sight rippling through her body forming warm shivers and making her face light up in a joyous expression.

“Really?”

“Yes.”