?

　　“Princess…are you sure you are alright?” Anne asked as she looked at me through the reflection of the mirror. Her hands did not stop as she continued to masterfully braid my hair.

　　“I’m fine.” I told her, looking away from my reflection to ignore my bad complexion and eye bags. I did not manage to get a good rest after the events of yesterday but it is not like I am allowed to take the day off, especially since today was the day I introduced my three future spouses to my family. “Was there any trouble with rooming our guests?” I asked, curious to know if anything had happened after I had retired for the night.

　　“Nothing out of the ordinary. Prince Augustus and Lord Regent Isaiah were in their rooms the entire night. But I heard that the Duke of Ashborne had left in the middle of the night.”

　　I glanced over to her. “He left the palace? Where did he go?”

　　“The guards stationed by the front gate said that he told them he was going to town.”

　　“And what of the coachman who took Cassian to town?”

　　“Ah, well…” Anne stopped moving her hands.

　　“What?”

　　“That is…apparently the duke took a horse from the stables.”

　　I sighed, knowing for a fact that if Lady Marie or her children found out, they would not be too happy about this. “Surely, he returned safely?”

　　“Yes! He returned just before dawn, Your Highness.” She said, quickly finishing up my hair as she added a beautiful jewelled hair pin to finish off the look.

　　I stood up from the chair and muttered a thank you to Anne. I headed to the door and exited my room. I still had half an hour before the scheduled brunch with the alphas, my family and Lady Marie and her children.

　　“Anne,” I called out, she was by my side in a blink of an eye. “Would you happen to know where the duke is now?”

　　Anne furrowed her brows, deep in thought. “I saw him by the gardens in the morning when I was heading to your room, princess. Although, I’m not sure if he is still there. I could go ask the staff members who are assigned to him-”

　　“No, that’s fine.” I said as I started to walk, irritated by how the heavy dress I was wearing dragged along behind me. I would always prefer to wear casual dresses and trousers for easy mobility but Anne had reminded me that today was an important day and I had to dress the part. I had a feeling that she only insisted I wear a dress because I didn’t yesterday when I first met the alphas.

　　“Princess, the dining hall is in the opposite direction.” Anne called out.

　　“I want to get some fresh air before brunch.” I told her. “In the meantime, Anne, could you go and find out where Cassian went last night?”

　　“Very well, princess.” She said with a quick bow as she rushed away in the opposite direction.?

　　When I reached the gardens, a gentle breeze greeted me as it carried along the floral scent that I found to be incredibly calming. I scanned the vicinity, noting how there was no one around. I headed towards the gazebo located in the middle of the garden, my eyes trailing along the many blooming flowers around.

　　I stopped in my tracks when I finally turned my attention to the gazebo and noticed a figure leaning against the banister. His attention was fixed on the lovely veins coiling around the wooden frames that he did not even notice my presence. I took a step back, thinking that I could try to avoid being alone with him as much as possible, but of course, that single back step was all it took for him to notice me.

　　His naturally peaceful face from earlier immediately twisted into annoyance. “I couldn’t recognise you for a second there.” He called out, sounding extremely irritated. “You look like a completely different person in a dress.”

　　I ignored his words as I lifted my skirt slightly and curtsied at him. “Good morning, Lord Isaiah.” I said before I was about to turn around and leave.

　　“Leaving already?”

　　“I do not want to bother you.” I said.

　　“And yet you call me by my title knowing full well I loathe it.”

　　“I am only regarding you properly.”

　　Isaiah made his way towards me in a slow stride. I unconsciously took a step back when he was a few feet away. He clearly noticed my sudden movement as he smiled down at me.

　　“You’re just trying to irritate me.”

　　“I assure you that I am not.”

　　Isaiah chuckled. “It’s funny how you are suddenly so timid, princess. What happened to the feisty version of you who openly mocked me?” he said, inching closer.

　　I took another step back. “If I recall correctly, I mocked all of you.” I smiled.

　　“Ah, there she is. Goes to show that a pretty face can’t fix an ugly personality.”

　　I maintained my smile as well as my distance from him, afraid that he would be able to hear my erratic heartbeat. “Are you referring to yourself, Lord Isaiah?”

　　Isaiah looked almost dumbfounded for a moment, his hand twitched by his side before he let out a mocking laugh. “You’re lucky we aren’t alone, right now.” he whispered.

　　Just in cue, I heard footsteps approaching us. Before I could move away from Isaiah, Rodrick appeared before us. His eyes darted from the alpha and to me several times as though he was trying to figure out what was happening. We were hidden behind the tall bushes, just the two of us, a mere feet apart—I do not blame Rodrick for getting the wrong idea.

　　Rodrick cleared his throat and Isaiah finally backed away from me. “Your presence is required at the dining hall, Princess Cordelia, Lord Isaiah.”

　　“It’s still early, is it not?” I asked him.

　　“Lady Marie had decided to start at an earlier time.”

　　I let out a soft sigh. Leave it to her to change the plans that I made. “Very well, thank you Rodrick.”

　　“Let me escort you, princess.”

　　“I’ll be the one escorting her,” Isaiah suddenly said, causing me to look at him in shock. He looked back at me. “Isn’t that right, princess?” he smirked.

　　I opened my mouth but I found myself unable to agree nor disagree with him. It would be best for me to politely decline Isaiah’s offer and go with Rodrick instead since I could not fully trust the alpha. But strangely I felt as though Isaiah might think I was running away from him.

　　I did not need to deal with him constantly thinking I was afraid of him just because he is taller and bigger and stronger than me. I had to hold my ground, show him that I was not just pretending to be strong.

　　I turned to Rodrick and smiled at him. “You may go ahead,”

　　He paused, his eyes falling on me and Isaiah once more. “But princess…” he started.

　　“I’ve never seen a guard go against his master’s wishes.” Isaiah smugly said. “You should probably educate him better.”

　　“Don’t speak to him like that!” I snapped, glaring daggers at him.

　　“Oh? Seems like the master needs some proper re-education as well.” He snarled, reaching his hand towards me.

　　The piercing sound of a sword being unsheathed caused me to freeze. I turned to Rodrick who pointed his weapon at Isaiah.

　　“With all due respect, Lord Isaiah, please refrain from touching the princess.”

　　Isaiah chuckled as he leaned towards the sword, his long and thick finger casually tracing the tip of the blade. “Is this some sort of cultural thing in the Southern Kingdom? To threaten your guest like this?”

　　“Rodrick, put away your weapon.” I told him calmly.

　　“Do as she says, Rodrick. Be a good dog.”

　　“Isaiah!” I warned. The alpha scoffed as he pushed the blade away which led Rodrick to effortlessly place it back in its scabbard. “I’ll be fine so please leave us.” I told Rodrick.

　　“Understood.” He said, bowing down to the both of us before walking away.

　　“I do not care what position you hold, please do not disrespect my men like that.” I told Isaiah.

　　“He was clearly disrespecting me, princess. I suppose you and your people enjoy drawing their blades at me, huh?”

　　“Only because you provoke-” I started but my words trailed off when Isaiah suddenly grabbed onto my wrist, tugging me closer until I almost collided into him. I managed to steady myself before that could happen.

　　Isaiah looked down at me with an unreadable expression before he guided my hand to his arm, making me wrap my hand around him like a gentleman offering his arm to a lady.

　　“I said I would escort you, didn’t I?” he said when he noticed my confusion.

　　“Right. T-Thank you.” I muttered, still not over my shock.

　　Isaiah scoffed as he led us out of the gardens and towards the dining hall. Throughout our journey I kept overthinking that he was plotting something and that he was going to threaten me but he remained silent, allowing me to quietly go mad with my own thoughts.