The Alpha and His Cursed Princess

Chapter 22

After laughing for some time she stopped at looked at him with an amused expression.

“Archie, are you talking about his trips to the suburbs? He just goes there for outdoor activity.” Amelia explained.

“Is that what is it you think?” his tone was neutral at variance with his probing gaze.

He pressed the button of the living room and Amelia turned around to face him and asked. “How did you hear about it?” she asked curiously.

“News gets around and it seems your brother is too handsome and famous among the youngsters in Halland to ignore any of his actions and people always talk about him.”

She frowned, “People are worried about that. Lucas said that the outdoor activity makes him free and he likes to go out and meet people.” She looked up at Archie. “ Do you think it's wrong?”

“No, he said bluntly. “I think it's alright if he is just trying to indulge in some adventurous hobbies but if he is doing something behind it, then it is a big trouble.”

Amelia flushed. This man had a seriously weakening effect on her normal good manners and his reputation for integrity gave Amelia no reason to disbelieve him.

Nevertheless, she asked. “ How did you get to hear about it, Lucas has told about his outdoor activities to his close friends who always accompany him and only me because he doesn't like anyone prying in his private affairs and he also swore secrecy to me. He had told me that he was just trying to go around the countryside and meet people and know their problems. You know my dad was the ruler of Halland before it was taken by the government and Lucas feels he still owes them we make sure to visit those people who are in need.”

“But did he tell you exactly what he is doing?” Archie questioned.

Amelia looked at him hesitantly and then continued. “ Well, looking at the circumstances Lucas cannot take his position as a king and it's for the best. But some people still look up to us so when Lucas was sixteen and he went out on a trip with his friends, he went out to one of the villages and he noticed that there was so much poverty and people were being tortured by the government officials and from that day onwards he decided to go around  Halland and help people who are being tortured or persecuted or even in need of money. You might be thinking that we live very lavishly because we get monetary benefits every month from the trusts that take care of our finances but what you don't know is that both of us have been helping people who are in need since from the time we came to know about their problems. When my dad was alive he would take care of every need of the people around him.”

Lucas was looking at Amelia with surprise because he didn't know that both the brother and sister were so generous but he couldn't trust her completely as there were so many things Lucas was doing and it was not going unnoticeable by his neighbor Harry. Harry was fond of Lucas since he was a child and knew that he was a harmless kid but whatever activity he has indulged himself in was not looking like he was just trying to help people. It was far beyond that and he was in doubt whether Amelia knew about it.

“They are such good siblings, even after their father's death they have been taking care of their people that commendable,” Casper said with honesty.

Archie stared at her in confusion as if he didn’t know what to do.

Amelia looked at him and said. “I am really thankful you have helped him in going for this trip and more importantly I am happy that he went because he needed a break. All I want for him is to complete his studies and accompany me to run the new business that I am about to start. Whatever we earn from that would be more than sufficient  for both of us to survive.” Amelia informed him.

Amelia wondered whether she should  tell him that she had started to get seriously concerned about Lucas and his obsession with the people of Halland as he was too emotional. But decided against it as she had to keep her own counsel and should not involve anyone in that matter as Lucas was her brother and she needed to sort him out.

Archie stood back to let her walk inside the room. She walked through into the living room and stopped by the window looking out at the view.

The sounds of the city were muted by the glass and the white terrace outside looked beautiful under the moonlight although she couldn't see Archie she could feel his presence behind her.