My Fiance In Disguise

Chapter 11

The sound of footsteps and voices approaching told her it was the Celestial Guards.

Zephyr, his face grim, approached her. "Cooperate if you still want to live... Camellia," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"How did..." she began, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and fear.

Before she could finish, Zephyr took off her veil and kissed her, holding her waist, pressing her against the cool stone wall. The kiss was forceful, a desperate plea disguised as a silencing gesture.

The guards, caught off guard, covered their eyes, their shocked gasps swallowed by the muffled sounds of the alley.

"They're not here, General... Only.... Two couples doing a******y in public space," one of the guards muttered, his voice filled with a mixture of embarrassment and relief. They were all too happy to leave the couple to their private business.

The guards left, but Zephyr didn't break the kiss. He deepened it, his lips moving against hers with a fierce urgency exploring her mouth.

Celest, caught off guard, struggled against him, her heart pounding in her chest. She bit his lip, a gasp escaping her lips. "You p*****t," she hissed, pushing him away with a slap. "How dare you steal my first kiss!"

Zephyr chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He took off his mask, revealing his handsome face. "You're not gonna even thank me for saving you... Jasmine... or should I call you Camellia, my fiancee?"

Celest glared at him, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and confusion. "How did you know...?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Zephyr reached out and took her hands in his. "Let's go somewhere else safer." He didn't wait for her response, pulling her away from the alley. He led her to a small house, his movements brisk and decisive. He knocked on the door.

Maid Diana, her face etched with surprise, opened the door. "Prince Zephyr, you're here... Please come in... She is..."

Zephyr cut her off. "She's my fiancee," he said, his voice firm.

Celest, her eyes widening, nodded in agreement. "I'm his fiancee."

"Yes, you are," Zephyr confirmed, his gaze fixed on Celest, a sense of possessiveness mingling with affection.

"Yeah... I'm his fiancee," Celest repeated, a sense of bewilderment washing over her.

Diana stepped aside, ushering them into the house. They sat down at the dining table, and the maid introduced herself.

Diana, Zephyr's old maid, was kind and thoughtful. She gave them tea and then discreetly left them to talk.

"So, are you going to explain to me what's happening?" Celest asked, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation.

Zephyr leaned back in his chair, his gaze meeting hers. "That flute explains everything."

"What do you mean?" Celest asked, her voice filled with confusion.

"I gave that to you... Crying girl," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, his eyes reflecting a warmth that she had never seen before.

Celest gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You..." She reached out and hugged him, her arms tight around his neck. "You jerk. So you knew all along that... I'm your fiancee since childhood..."

Zephyr chuckled, his grip tightening around her. "Of course, I know. That's why I'm willing to do everything for you."

"Why did you leave?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He went quiet, the firelight casting long shadows on his face. "Celest... Are you pretending to be the long-lost daughter of the Celestial Duke to... Find answers about your parents abandoning you?"

Celest nodded, her voice thick with emotion. "Y... Yes."

"Please, just stay at the Duke's Residence, Celest," he said, his voice urgent. "I'll do it for you myself. You don't need to put yourself in trouble. You will get hurt. You know... A lot of innocent people have already died, and the demons are killing noble children and royal heirs..."

"I'm sorry, but I can't," Celest said, her voice unwavering.

"Fine, if you're too stubborn, at least let me help you," he said, his tone laced with a hint of frustration.

"Fine," Celest relented. "I'm really happy to see you, Zep..."

Zephyr smiled, a genuine warmth spreading across his face. "Me too. Just rest for the night. My guard is already chasing the witness," he said, his voice reassuring.

Celest frowned, her determination unwavering. "But so does my guard."

Zephyr smiled, understanding her stubborn streak. "Then I'm sure they will capture him."

Celest shook her head. "No, I won't sleep. I've already been through so much, Zep... I can't afford to lose this chance again, not with the Celestial Guards around."

Zephyr sighed, understanding her determination, but also concerned for her well-being. "Okay, but at least rest for a bit. And you're wearing... too revealing clothes... Diana, can you give her clothes?"

Diana, with a discreet nod, hurried out of the room, leaving the two alone once again.

"Your Highness, are you going to sleep here tonight?" Diana asked, her voice a hushed whisper as she returned with a spare set of clothes.

"No. I'm not going to sleep," Zephyr said, his gaze fixed on Celest. "Since she insisted on not sleeping, I'll do the same. Stay alert."

"Okay, Your Highness," she replied, her eyes darting between the two of them, a sense of curiosity and admiration mingling in her gaze.

Diana retreated to her room, her mind abuzz with the unfolding drama. A few minutes later, Celest reappeared, wearing a comfortable pair of pajamas. She sat down at the table, joining Zephyr who was already pouring tea.

"I didn't expect you to really dance in front of many people," Zephyr said, a smile playing on his lips. "You... look great."

Celest blushed, her eyes meeting his. "I know. Zep... Can you promise me something?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"No matter what... don't expose my identity. I'm not just doing this for myself. I'm also doing this for my loyal maid, who is the real daughter of the Duke... She sacrificed her life for me so I could escape..."

Zephyr nodded solemnly. "Don't worry... I'll keep it a secret."

Suddenly, the door burst open, making Zephyr instinctively pull Celest behind him. Jaden stood in the doorway, holding Lukas, who was tied up, his expression grim.

"Your Highness..." Jaden said, his voice filled with urgency.

"Jaden...." Celest whispered, her heart pounding.

"Your Highness.... The witness... Escaped... But it's good news and bad news... It's good news since he wasn't killed by the Celestial Guards and it's bad news since he escaped... and this guy is following me. He's also targeting the witness."

Zephyr, his gaze unwavering, confirmed, "He's my personal guard."

Celest, seeing the worry in Jaden's eyes, spoke up. "Jaden... Untie him... He's not a threat.."

Jaden, ever loyal, bowed his head. "Yes, Your Highness." He quickly untied Lukas.

"Your Highness... We can't go back," Jaden said, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and resignation. "The Celestial Guards are everywhere, scattered in different places. Maybe tomorrow..."

"But my parents would be finding me... And they would worry..." Celest said, a pang of guilt twisting in her heart.

Zephyr, ever resourceful, assured her, "Don't worry, I'll think of an alibi for you. For now, we should rest."

Lukas, ever vigilant, added, "We will be outside, keeping watch of the possible threat."

"Okay..." Zephyr replied, his gaze fixed on Celest, as if seeking her reassurance.

Both of them looked at each other when they were left alone in the room.

"Diana said... this is the only vacant room... Why don't you just sleep, and I'll keep on guard?" Celest suggested, her concern for Zephyr evident.

Zephyr, with a playful grin, replied, "Let's just share... the bed... We're engaged anyway. Don't worry, I won't do anything..."

Celest, her cheeks flushing, hesitated for a moment before relenting. "Fine."

They both slept awkwardly, their bodies close yet apart, the air crackling with a mix of unspoken emotions. Neither of them could shake off the feeling that danger lurked in the shadows, just beyond the walls of this safe haven.