Princess Elise

Chapter 6: His feelings

Chapter 6: His feelings

Nathaniel's Point of View:

When I arrived back to my castle, Arnar was already waiting for me. 'I hope he did something that requires physic v**lence.', said Clyde irritated and I rolled my eyes, but I have to agree with him. 

Before he could tell me anything I raised my hand while marching to the stairs to get to my chamber and cut whatever he wanted to say off.

-" Arnar, not today. If no one is d*ad or need to be d*ad I don't want to know. It can wait.", and he still continued.

-" But, your Highness..."

-" Do you insist on being the one who needs to be d*ad right now?", I asked using the Alpha aura and he instantly bowed his head, looking in the ground not making another sound and I left without giving him another chance to protest. I'm fed off for the day.

The maids already prepared a bath for me when I got there and I got everyone out of the room. When I was left alone I undressed and jumped in it. All I could think right now was my mate that spoiled my day with her attitude.

 ' Why does she have to be so stubborn? She was in the wrong!', but then I think about her and I just can't stay mad on her for long. Now that I'm thinking about it, I fell bad that I p*nished her like this. I know there are a lot of children starving in the world, but still, I'm pretty sure that she is not used to this kind of treatment. She seemed surprised even when her father screamed at her.

'She better get used to it with that attitude!', scolded Clyde.

When I finished my bath and got to bed I thought that maybe it would be nice for me to go back there in disguise and give her something to eat. After all, she doesn't know how I look like and I am the one who gave her the p*nishment. I can break it if I want to. 

' Tomorrow I will remain in my kingdom, but the day after I will go back to her and see what happens.', I thought to myself, smirking at the idea of seeing her again so soon. 

' Woohoo! What a clever boy! Do you have any more bright ideas like this one?', mocked Clyde making me scoff.

***

I woke up excited thinking about my next encounter with my mate and I had a good mood for the rest of the day, a good mood meaning that I'm not t**eatening anyone's life. I guess Arnar sensed I'm not gonna t**eaten anyone today and that's why he came to my castle again. It seems that everyone around me enjoys spoiling my mood.

He knocked on the door of my study room and coughed a little to get my attention first. 

-" Your Highness, may I come in?", asked Arnar with a glimpse of hope in his eyes.

-" Try and make it quick, Duke Arnar.", I replied coldly.

-" King Nathaniel, you know about my daughter, Anna. She is going to be 21 tomorrow and ... your Majesty haven't found a mate yet ... and my daughter is also a pure b*ood ...", he said hesitantly, but I cut him off.

-" What are you trying to tell me, Arnar? Get to the point, I don't have all night for you.", I retorted in an annoyed tone so he would realize that I'm not enjoying this conversation.

-" What I'm trying to say is that, maybe, you would consider to spend some time with her and get to know each other, and ... "

 ' ... and, he just enjoys being cut off by someone at this point', mocked Clyde.

-" First of all, I will not even consider your offer and secondly, does your daughter know about your visit at my castle to decide her future?", I asked outraged and repulsed by his actions.

-" Of course she knows, your Majesty! You won't have any problems with her, she agreed on getting to know you as long as you are down to it. I think that you should at least consider it.", he told me, still hoping that I will agree, but Clyde grew even more disgusted by each passing second he thought about someone else instead of our mate.

' There's no way in h*ll you're going to agree to that gold digger to be my mate!', yelled Clyde suddenly inside my head, making me frown. 

' Of course not! Just calm down and stop yelling!'

-" Arnar, I'm sure you have a wonderful daughter ...",

 ' Yeah, I'm sure of it.', Clyde cut me off, rolling his eyes.

" but I am not interested in any relationship for now. I appreciate you're visit here, but I think it's time for you to leave.", I continued, informing him, and he turned his back to leave, but then he turned to face me again and I can tell he's afraid to ask me the next question.

-" Your Highness, if you won't mind me asking. Me and my daughter are already here and it's a long way back to my manor, could we stay the rest of the night in the palace?"

-" I do not host she-wolves in my palace. You should have known the answer to that question already.", I replied bored, not even looking up at him, keeping my eyes in my paper work. I could feel how disappointed he is, but eventually, he just gave up on asking more questions and began to walk away from my study when I stopped him.

-" Arnar!", 

' Don't you dare tell me that you let them stay the night!', said Clyde incredulous and Arnar stopped in his tracks and looked at me with hope in his eyes. " I just want to inform you that I will be gone for a few days and I don't know when I will return precisely. Just so you know and don't come all the way here in vain.", I smirked, looking down again and I caught a glimpse of his smile fading and Clyde snickered in my head.

I can sense him nodding his head, tho I was not looking at him, and left.

' What a nerve he has!', commented Clyde and I shook my head. I stood there for another 2 hours after Arnar had left me to my work and then I got to my chamber that's next door to my study room. I sat on the bed, looking at the ceiling and thinking about what should I tell her when I arrive there and how I should act around her or even if she would even talk to me at all. Her father warned her just the other days to don't talk to strangers and I'm a male after all. It would be pretty dumb of her to do such a thing. I don't know if I should be glad or outraged if she talks to me and accepts my help.

' You, my friend, can think about that while I will be glad to be there with her and when we will meet again with her father I can get outraged by what she have done. For me it's clear what I have to do.', winked Clyde at me.

I finally fell asleep while making scenarios of what could happen when I will get to see her or if I even get to see her at all.

***

In the morning I felt a bit tired as I didn't get much sleep. The sun was up faster than I thought and I got only a few hours of sleep, around 2 or 3 hours, but I shook this feeling off of me and packed some ragged clothes so no one would see me leaving the castle dressed like that. They would think I've gone mad or that I'm gonna k*ll some noble man ... or woman and hide the fact that it was me who k**led him or her tho I would never hide this.

 In fact, I feel proud whenever I do it. K**ling whoever you want, whenever you want brings people to fear you and this fear is a good way to keep people in control. However, it does not mean that I k*ll innocent people, I would never do such a thing, I'm not going that low. Besides, k**ling innocent people will make everyone start a rebellion and it brings no joy k**ling an innocent.

I prefer k**ling someone who actually did something wrong and there are plenty of them for me to play with, I can't get bored this way. 

As usual, I inform the butler that I will be gone for a few days and he shall not let anyone inside the castle while I'm not here. I don't want to worry about thieves while I'm with my mate.

-" But, your Highness ... you have just returned. May I ask where your Majesty is going? The nobles will began to gossip your whereabouts and they were already asking too many questions that I don't know the answer for.", said Jon, my butler, with a sincere concern on his face.

I grew up with him and I just know that he cares deeply for me and my well being, but I can't just risk and tell him everything, at least not now.

-" You can tell them that it's none of their businesses to know my whereabouts and focus on their work instead of mine. If anyone will cause problems to you while I'm gone, you come and tell me who and what have done. I'll take care of them.", I replied coldly, looking bored around the room. He looked at me like he wanted to say something else, but eventually gave up and sigh. 

-" Alright, your Majesty, as you command.", he said looking down and left.

I, too, left outside with my bag and this time I decided to not take a horse with me. Like this I will get to see her in the third day of the punishment. I wonder if she would even get the strength to get out of the castle. Tho I still believe that she will have the strength to get her 'brawler' behavior out of her and get angry enough to sneak out and give me a chance to test her. 

'Let's see how quick is she going to break and defy her father's orders and your p*nishment just to anger the two of you.', said Clyde grinning. I can't wait to see what she does. If she's gonna talk to the stranger, me, I may have to give her another p*nishment ... that I will have to break. 'Only if she was 18 already!', thought Clyde grinning.

***

In the following morning I was waiting for her to show up in the glade. I stretched out a sheet and put some food on it to tempt her and don't be too suspicious about my presence there. I've got pretty much anything that she might like and make her eat with me, things like fruits, veggies, cooked fish and chicken, also some sweets.

I have waited for 3 hours and a half and haven't saw her yet. I began to lose faith that she will show up at all, but after 5 minutes I heard hooves hitting the ground and leafs rustling and I instantly knew it is her. Now I just have to act surprised to see the princess.

When she got closer to me, I could see that her eyes were red and puffy, from crying I thought, and dressed in dark blue leather pants and a dagger attached on the right side of her thigh and a tight corset around her chest matched with the color of her pants, but not letting anything show as she had a white and dark blue short cloak on her, hiding her chest from any curious eyes that might be on her and black boots. She reeked of anger and I knew it was because of the hunger.

' So she's mad ... Good! She made me mad too!', Clyde rolled his eyes and I grinned. When she saw me, her full lips that were a light pink last time, now are pale and a gasp escaped from them and tried to hide her face but failed miserably as she tried to don't look suspicious and face me from a side and hide at the same time. ' How pathetic', I thought.

' Just wait, little b*at, and I'll give you a real reason to gasp in surprise.', said Clyde more to himself.

-" Your Majesty, I had no idea you will be here.", I said looking around. "Did you get lost? Shouldn't your knights have been here to accompany you?", I asked with concern in my voice.

-" No, I'm alright. Thank you for asking ...", she answered in a tiny voice.

-" Would you mind me being here? Shall I take my leave?", I asked, still concerned.

-" No, you can stay.", she said looking away from my gaze. 'Wow! That was quick.'. Then I heard her stomach rumbling and I took advantage of that to ask her now and don't waist any time.

-" Would her Majesty accept to eat with me?", I asked and she jumped down her horse, taking a seat on the ground closer to me and her horse followed her closely, not leaving her alone, bending down behind her, allowing her to lean against him with her back.

-" Could I take that apple? Please?", she asked shyly, pointing in the direction where I placed the apples. ' So much with caring for her subjects lives.'

-" Of course, your Majesty!", I replied with a small smile that she returned. ' Is she truly dumb or just wants to get revenge on her father and us?', asked Clyde shocked that she smiles to a stranger, ' a handsome stranger may I add', interrupted Clyde  AGAIN  . But instead of eating the apple, she gave it to her horse that happily received the apple.

-" Does your Highness doesn't find anything appealing to eat or you don't find it fit to eat with someone like me? I thought you are hungry.", I tried to push her to speak.

-" Oh, no! That's not the case. It's just that ...", she looked down for a moment and then looked back up at me. Now that she's closer to me I can see her clearly. Not just that her eyes are red and puffy, but her face is pale, her pink cheeks are gone and now I realize that her horse is sitting like that, more to help her stand. " ... my father allowed another King to p*nish me and I am not allowed to eat for 5 days. This is the third day.", she finished saying this and looked back down, fidgeting.

-" How could someone do this to such a beautiful princess as your Majesty is? Do they have no heart?", I asked outraged and Clyde snickered. She looked at me thru her lashes and smiled shyly at me like she had never received any compliments before.

-" I appreciate your kind words, truly.", and I found that the perfect moment to put my hand on her's and look into her eyes. I tried to stop mine's from glowing red so she won't know who I am as I felt the sparks erupting on my skin where I touched her and she trembled a little. Her skin smooth and silky and her hand small and fragile. I love to see how her body reacts to a simple touch of mine. She tried to retract her hand, but I took it before she could and hold it firmly in mine, looking deep into her eyes.

-" And I would appreciate if your Highness would accept to eat with a commoner like me. No one will know that you ate. You clearly don't feel well, princess. Please, allow me ...", and I tried to feed her a fried potato with some salt as I knew she was fascinated by potatoes, but she stopped me.

-" But you don't understand ... the King that p*nished me is a beast and I don't know how, but father said that he can sense if I ate anything or disobeyed his orders ... he t**eatened to e**cute anyone that will give me food. I can't do this to you ...", she admitted, looking sad at the food.

-" I won't mind being e**cuted for feeding the most gorgeous princess in the world.", I said cheerfully.

-" You won't be this cheery when that beast will make you kneel and cut your head off.", she retorted annoyed at the thought of 'the beast'. 'Auch ...'

-" I mean it. I won't mind.", I gave her a small smile and she looked into my eyes thoughtfully. I saw that she hesitated so I took the potato back and brought it to her mouth for her to eat and she looked at it for a few seconds like she was searching for p*ison or something and then opened her mouth, allowing me to feed her. If I knew that she's not thinking that she's talking to a complete stranger, and a f*****g male, I would have been in the ninth heaven now.

' Talk for yourself. I'm enjoying myself. I have time to be mad at her when we get back to our castle.', said Clyde cheerfully. She chewed on that potato slowly and looked at me with her eyes like pleading for a second one. I can't refuse a princess after all, so I did as she wanted me to. 

I sat there feeding her for another 40 minutes until she was full. I couldn't help but look at her with tender eyes as she ate.

' She's the sweetest little angel I've ever seen!', admitted Clyde with a dreaming voice so I mocked him and snickered, waking him up from his little dream land that our mate send him to and he regained composure and coughed a little. 'What are you looking at?', he asked in his 'scary lycan' tone and my lips escaped a small laugh that made her look up at me.

-" Are you alright? Have I done anything stupid?", she asked with visible concern in his eyes that I might have laughed of her.

-"Yes, your Highness ... I mean no! Nothing stupid at least. You are very cute while eating.", I told her and blush began creeping in her cheeks once again now that she ate. 

-" You are just flattering me ...", she said shyly in a tiny voice.

-" I'm saying the truth.", I said looking deep into her eyes and stretched  my hand out to caress her left cheek with my thumb and she averted her eyes after a few seconds of staring back.

-" I don't think this is a good idea.", she said with a great sadness in her tone and I frowned. I knew what she was referring at, but I found it hard for me to believe that she truly thought about kissing a stranger ... Usually I would be angry, but a wave of sadness washed over me ... and on the moon goddess name, it's a n*sty feeling, but it disappeared as fast as it came. Maybe I was just a little shocked that she could think of such a thing and nothing more. A little princess can't make me sad. I'm a f**king lycan! And a King!

-" I did not meant to offend you princess. I'm truly sorry!", I said, looking down so she won't see I'm actually mad, but then she looked around like she was searching to see if anyone is there and then just jumped in my arms, hugging me tight. I was surprised at first, but then I put my arms around her, hugging her back and she put her head into my neck and breathed in my scent. I did the same and closed my eyes. I was mad at her seconds ago, but now I relaxed entirely, breathing in her scent and caressing her hair gently. 

We sat like that for another 10 minutes, when I heard someone galloping to us rapidly and I caught his smell and I knew it's her knight.

I couldn't just run like that, with a few seconds before he arrives, she would know that something is off about me. When he was close enough for the both of us to hear and see him coming towards us, I put the hood of the ragged cloak on my head, kissed her forehead and ran away, not that fast to let them realize that I'm not a human, but fast enough to escape her knight's piercing gaze. I let the food and the sheet there and just ran. I could still hear her yelling from afar at him to don't follow me and leave me alone. ' So sweet, she already cares about the stranger.', I rolled my eyes. ' Too bad it's us!', reminded Clyde.

I have to see what is gonna happen to her from now on. I didn't meant for her knight to find us like that, I thought that we will be unbothered. I guess I have to stick around for another few days.