The Bastard Prince

14 “What should I do?"

The sound of the stream lulled him into a light doze. The cool wind played on his skin. And all he could think about was lying there with her.

Bella… 

Karic opened his eyes staring up at sunrays through the leaves, but all he could see was her…

Her smile shone bright like that - like sunrays filtering through the leaves creating light beams that seemed to wave in the air. He smiled to himself as images of Bella’s beautiful smiling filtered into his mind. She was everywhere in his thoughts, even when he told himself to take a break from thinking about her. He couldn’t help himself.

Time seemed to go by so slowly, lingering making the wait painful. He couldn’t wait for tonight.

He wanted to be with her so badly he ached. His whole body felt tense, and hypersensitive as if she was the only one who could soothe him to his normal state.

And he didn’t even fool himself into thinking that he could resist. He needed her on a level he didn’t understand himself.

Its madness, Karic said turning over to his side. He closed his eyes trying to remember himself before he met her.

But he couldn’t. Everything in his life just felt like he was existing for this very moment. And for the first time, he was happy with his fate.

Except for one thing…

Karic sighed thinking about Phillip. His half-brother didn’t want to see him happy. He never did. Even when they were little, and he had so little. Phillip made sure to take away even that, leaving Karic with nothing.

Not this time, Karic thought as he sat up. He stopped moving as he heard the silent crunch leaves under footsteps. He looked around him, wondering if David was close by.

David was never too far, checking what he was doing and reporting it to his brother.

Karic got up slowly and smoothly jumped up into the tree he had been staring up at. He hid himself up in the branches and stared down below.

The footsteps got closer. And Karic could see that it wasn’t David, it was the Duke of Marinne. The man looked around him, and then leaned against the tree trunk and sighed. He seemed to crumble against it.

A few minutes later, the Grand King showed up. He came and stood next to the Duke, and for a minute they said nothing to each other.

“I feel like you’re not happy to see me,” the Grand King said. “I had to send my man to hunt down where you ran to.”

“I needed some air, and time to think. My daughter just lost her fiancé. Oh the misfortune,” the duke cried out. The duke cleared his voice as if he just remembered his manners. “I didn’t get time to prepare for your visit, I feel I am not serving my king properly.”

“Marinne,” the Grand King said impatiently. 

“My King…” the duke began, but trailed off as the King raised his hand.

“You know my name, please use it,” he said. “And I didn’t come here for your daughter’s betrothal. You know why I came.”

“I…” the duke said with a shake of his head. “It’s not…”

“Marinne…”

“Lionard. You know I wouldn’t be happy, because I know when you suddenly appear what it means. I…”

“Yes. I think it’s time,” Lionard said. “Don’t you think?”

“I…uhhh. But we agreed…”

“I know what we agreed on…” Lionard said taking a step away from the duke. He sighed looking down at his feet. Time ticked by with them standing like that. The duke half leaning against the tree and the Grand King staring at his feet. They seemed to have so much weighing on their shoulders. Karic stared down at them wishing he could see their faces, maybe he could get a hint of what they were talking about by seeing their emotions reflected on their faces. But at his vintage point all he could see were their heads, and he couldn’t understand their very cryptic conversation. “We cannot fool King Stefan any longer.”

“You think he knows?” the duke asked sounding fearful.

 “I don’t think he would be after your daughter if he didn’t know. I think it’s time for you to set everything to their rightful place,” Lionard said. He stepped closer to the duke of Marinne and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Think about it. And as for your daughter. I will take her with me to the Grand Court, and give her the grand debut her father never got the chance to give her. With my endorsement I am sure she will find another fiancé in no time.”

“You think so…I am so afraid that she will choose Phillip. I’ve seen the way she looks at him,” the duke said sounding hopeful and sad at the same time.

“She might, but it doesn’t hurt to give her a different view on things,” Lionard let his hand drop. He took a step away from the duke. “Please think about what I said, before King Stefan makes his next move.”

The duke nodded. “Are you staying?” the duke asked.

“No. I only stopped for a day. I need to head back to the Grand Court, things were not as they should when I left,” he said walking away.

The duke remained for a few minutes, before he pushed away from the tree trunk and walked away.

Karic climbed down after a few minutes of making sure that no one will see him.  He stared at the tree trunk, thinking about what he just heard.

He knew that King Stefan had a reason for wanting Phillip to marry the duke’s daughter, but what could it be.

The Grand King and the duke didn’t reveal much. Their conversation was cryptic at best.

But there was something there….

Karic walked back to the stables to check on Thunder. He was being a good boy, not lashing out at the other horses as he was prone to do.

He came to a stop as he found one of the Grand King’s men standing in front of Thunder’s stall. Karic could tell by the uniform he wore.

“Karic,” he said as he turned to him.

Karic smiled as he Gerald turned to him. Gerald was the commander of the Grand King’s army.

“I saw him, and knew you had to be here somewhere,” he said moving forward to slap him on the back.

“I am,” Karic said hugging him back. They pulled apart. Gerald shook his head as he stared at him with a smile on his face.

“When are you leaving your so called father’s army and joining me. I need someone like you to guard the Grand King,” he said.

Karic laughed because he’s heard those words a million times.

“I’ll think about it,” Karic said slapping Gerald on the shoulder.

“That’s what you always say,” Gerald said with a shake of his head. “Come to me when you are done thinking about it.”

Karic waved at him as he left the stables. The Grand King and the duke’s conversation filtered into his mind.

Maybe it was time he really thought about it, he thought staring after Gerald.

Being close to the Grand King might just give him the answers he needed. But the fight between the Grand King and King Stefan wasn’t his own.

He had a woman to think about. Maybe she would have him, he would follow her anywhere.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Later that evening Bella sat in Marian’s room. The night wore on as she and Marian went over the same thing without her coming to a decision. They had spent the whole day together. It would seem the duke’s daughter was taking the sister thing very seriously. She just won’t let her leave. Bella turned to the door anxiously. She was supposed to be in her room waiting for her mate, and not sitting there listening to Marian.

Bella clenched her jaw. She should just get up and leave.

She groaned as she knew that Marian would follow her to her room, and she might see Karic there. And where would she be then. She didn’t think Marian will understand, why prince Phillip’s servant was there with her.

So she couldn’t go, not yet.

She just hoped Karic will wait for her, because this might take a while.

Bella watched Marian pace from the bed to her vanity table which was full of all kinds of stuff, Bella didn’t even use herself.  

“What should I do?” Marian asked finally coming to a stop in front of Bella. She stared at her expectantly.

Marian huffed, and then walked to the bed. She sat down taking Bella’s hands.

“It’s such a big decision,” she wailed. Bella cringed as the screaming returned.

Oh God…she need to tell her to stop that, Bella thought as she forced herself to smile.

She patted her hand.

“I know. But I thought you wanted Phillip,” Bella said. Marian had said so that afternoon, when they went for their last walk of the day.

She had looked at Bella bashfully, making her confession.

“I think I might want prince Phillip to offer for my hand in marriage. But he’s been paying you all the attention. It’s like he can’t help but look at you,” she said with a small smile. “Do you like him?”

Bella didn’t know how they even got to talking possible suitors Marian could choose. But they were there talking about it.

“No. He was just helping me with my brother,” Bella offered, not wanting to go into the fact that whatever Marian saw was one sided. Phillip was forcing himself on her. Marian had to believe that Phillip wanted her too, so that she would leave her alone.

“Really!” Marian said with joy in her eyes. It didn’t take much to make her happy, Bella realized.

“Yes,” she said. “Now. You have to talk to your father, when he finds you another suitor. Tell him what you want.”

Marian had nodded in agreement, but it would seem that had been simple to agree to when there wasn’t another temptation placed in front of her.

The Grand King offered to take Marian to the Grand Court for a debut. And her father wanted her to go before he agreed to prince Phillip being her fiancé.

“I don’t see what the problem is,” Bella said. “You go there, and then you marry prince Phillip after.”

“I know. I just don’t want to wait. A man like prince Phillip wouldn’t wait for too long,” Marian said. Bella looked at her surprised by her intuitiveness.

“Maybe that’s a good thing. Wait and see where his heart lies,” Bella said. And she regretted her words as soon as Marian turned to her.  

Fuck…

Of course Marian thought that prince Phillip wanted her.

“Or you could marry him tomorrow,” Bella offered with a smile.

Marian just stared at her. She got to her feet, and resumed her pacing again. 

Bella inwardly groaned. As Marian continued to pace for what felt like forever. 

She needed to go, Bella thought getting to her feet. She yawned. “I think I’ll go to bed now,” she said.

Marian turned to her as if she forgotten that she was even there.

 “Will you go with me?”

“Huh?”

“To the grand court. Will you go with me…I am going to need my sister,” she said her eyes filling up with tears. “I am going to need you.”

Oh s**t…Bella groaned because she could feel herself being swayed by her tears.

She didn’t have the heart to refuse her.

“I…” Bella began trying to think of an excuse.

“You can find yourself someone there too. I’ll help you,” Marian offered.

Bella shook her head, because she already found her mate. She was supposed to be with him right this minute, talking because she had something to tell him.

He needed to know what she was. But she was afraid to tell him, not when he hasn’t gotten used to her yet, gotten to know her so that he wouldn’t reject her because he didn’t understand.

And in order for that to happen, they needed time…time to build a bond with each other.

Bella touched her chest as she knew his rejection would hurt.

She needed more time…Bella thought walking out of Marian’s room.

“Bella? Bella?” Marian called her name, but she ignored her rushing to her room.

She hoped he will be there.