Chapter 4 — The Kind Prince
1249 Words
The gates opened slowly.
I stared through the taxi window as we drove inside.
The estate was nothing like I had expected.
The road leading to the main house was wide and clean, surrounded by tall trees and carefully trimmed bushes. Flowers grew along both sides of the driveway, and small lamps stood at regular intervals.
The house itself was enormous.
It had tall white walls, large windows, and a wide staircase leading to the entrance.
Mary leaned closer to the window.
“Are you sure this is a prince’s house?”
I smiled.
“That’s what the driver said.”
The taxi stopped in front of the building.
The driver turned around.
“Come on. He is expecting you.”
I looked at Mary.
She nodded.
We stepped out of the taxi and walked toward the entrance.
Before we could knock, the large wooden doors opened.
A young man stepped outside.
He looked to be in his late twenties.
He was tall, with broad shoulders and neatly styled black hair. His clothes were simple but expensive, and there was something calm about the way he carried himself.
His face was handsome without looking intimidating.
When he smiled, his expression immediately became warmer.
“Sam?”
I stopped.
“Yes.”
The man extended his hand.
“I’m Adrian.”
I shook his hand.
“Prince Adrian?”
He laughed softly.
“You can just call me Adrian.”
I looked at Mary.
She smiled shyly.
Adrian noticed her standing behind me.
“And you must be Mary.”
Mary nodded.
“Yes.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
He stepped aside.
“Please, come in. You must be tired.”
We entered the house.
The inside was even more beautiful.
Everything looked carefully arranged. The floors were polished, the walls were decorated with paintings, and large windows allowed sunlight to fill the room.
A woman appeared from another room carrying a tray.
“Please take these to the sitting room,” Adrian told her.
Then he looked at us.
“I hope you don’t mind something to eat.”
Mary’s eyes brightened.
I almost laughed.
“We don’t mind.”
Adrian smiled.
“Good.”
We followed him into a large sitting room.
There were comfortable chairs around a glass table, and several plates of food had already been placed there.
“Please sit.”
Mary sat down.
I remained standing for a moment.
Adrian noticed.
“You don’t have to be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
He smiled.
“You’re allowed to be.”
I finally sat down.
For the first time since we arrived, I felt my shoulders relax.
Adrian sat across from us.
“So,” he said. “The driver told me you have a business idea.”
I nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
He raised his hand.
“Adrian.”
I smiled.
“Adrian.”
“Tell me about it.”
I took a deep breath.
I had practiced explaining the idea countless times.
“I want to become a merchant.”
Adrian listened carefully.
“I don’t mean selling things from a small shop,” I continued. “I want to build something bigger.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“I want to work with merchants who bring goods from different places. Instead of waiting for them to find buyers themselves, I want to become the person they can sell to immediately.”
Adrian nodded.
“So you want to buy from them and resell?”
“Yes.”
“Why would they sell to you instead of taking the goods directly to the market?”
“Because I can pay them immediately.”
I felt more confident as I continued.
“I want to have enough money to buy their goods in large quantities. Then I can resell them to traders and customers here.”
Adrian remained silent.
I worried that he didn’t like the idea.
Then he smiled.
“You’ve thought about this carefully.”
“I have.”
“What would you need to begin?”
“Money.”
He laughed.
“That’s usually the problem with good ideas.”
I smiled.
“I don’t need too much at the beginning. I just need enough to make my first purchases and establish relationships with the merchants.”
Adrian looked at me thoughtfully.
“And what happens if you lose the money?”
“I won’t.”
He raised an eyebrow.
I quickly corrected myself.
“I mean… I’ll do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
He laughed.
“I like your confidence.”
Then his expression became serious.
“What made you choose this kind of business?”
I hesitated.
I didn’t want to talk about our parents.
Not yet.
“We just need a way to start over,” I said.
Adrian studied my face for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“I understand.”
He didn’t push me.
That surprised me.
Most people asked too many questions.
Adrian didn’t.
Instead, he asked about the business.
“How much money were you planning to invest?”
I told him the amount.
He listened quietly.
Then he surprised me.
“I’ll give you more.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“I said I’ll give you more than that.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“But you don’t even know me.”
Adrian smiled.
“Perhaps I don’t.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“But everyone deserves someone willing to believe in them.”
I looked at Mary.
She was smiling.
“You’re serious?”
“Very.”
I couldn’t hide my excitement.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
He smiled.
“Make the business work first.”
I laughed.
“I will.”
Adrian stood.
“Then consider it settled.”
He walked toward the window.
“Whenever you’re ready, come back here. We’ll arrange everything.”
I stood as well.
“I won’t disappoint you.”
“I believe you.”
There was something about the way he said it that made me believe him.
Adrian turned toward Mary.
“And you?”
Mary looked confused.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“What do you like doing?”
Mary thought for a moment.
“I like drawing.”
“Then you should keep drawing.”
He walked toward a small cabinet and picked up a beautiful sketchbook.
“Here.”
He handed it to her.
Mary’s eyes widened.
“For me?”
“For you.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I watched them.
For some reason, seeing Mary smile made me feel relieved.
Maybe this was exactly what we needed.
Maybe coming here wasn’t a mistake.
When we finally stood to leave, Adrian walked us to the door himself.
“Come back whenever you need anything.”
I nodded.
“I will.”
He shook my hand.
“Take care of your sister.”
“I always will.”
Adrian smiled.
“Good.”
We walked down the steps.
Mary held the sketchbook tightly against her chest.
I looked back at the house.
Adrian was still standing at the doorway.
He waved.
I waved back.
Then I turned away.
For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful.
I didn’t know that the man standing behind that door would eventually become the biggest mistake of my life.
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