The Wizard Prince's Rebel Soulmate

Chapter 2

Aurora wanted to argue, but a groan from the corner made her walk over and crouch down next to Sandra.

“Guido, what happened?” she asked once more.

“He just appeared in my office, I nearly had a heart attack, mamma mia, I tell you… I’m not the youngest anymore, princess,” Guido stammered, wringing his hands.

“What do you mean, he appeared? Like… out of thin air?” Aurora turned around to look at her friend.

“Sí, out of thin air, one moment I was alone, the next, pouf, he was standing there before falling down on the floor.”

She carefully touched the shoulder of the young man and turned him, until she could see his face. His curly hair was just a little too long and as black as his shirt, some sweaty strands were clinging to his forehead. His eyes were closed, but she could see that he was breathing, though it was heavy and seemed faster than someone lying on the floor should breathe.

Aurora almost staggered back when his eyes suddenly opened. So black, even being close to him she couldn’t distinguish where the pupil ended and the iris started.

“What’s your name?” she gently asked, wondering if he would be able to answer her.

“Le… Leandro,” he croaked, “water.”

Sandra got up to get a glass of water and a straw, while Aurora stayed next to Leandro.

“It’s ok now, we’ve got you. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you…” she kept talking to him until Sandra came back and put the straw next to his mouth so he could take a few sips of water.

Thankfully, her aunt and Lorenzo came rushing in after just a few minutes, making the small office feel crowded. Sofia immediately took charge of the situation, ordering Guido to call someone Aurora didn’t know.

“Do you know who this is?” Aurora whispered at Lorenzo, who stood next to them.

“Yes,” his lips were a tight line. “That’s the crown prince of Southern Italy.”

Leandro was unconscious by the time an elderly man arrived and introduced himself as Federico. He was a friend of Guido and a healer, and he immediately sat down next to Leandro and checked his vitals.

“I’m not sure what happened to him, but he’s going to be fine,” he informed them after a few minutes. “Although it would be better to get him to the clinic.”

Sofia hesitated.

“I’m not sure if he should go to the clinic, we don’t know who was after him. They might find him there. It would be better to bring him to the Secret Library, we have enough guest rooms available,” she decided, and Federico nodded.

“I thought you might say that. I brought a wheelchair, it will be easier to transport him that way.”

Sofia motioned for Sandra to step forward and conceal Leandro, so they wouldn’t be recognized on their way back.  

Together, they quickly made their way back home, pushing the crown prince, who now looked like an elderly man sleeping in his wheelchair, through the small entrance door.

Lorenzo carried him upstairs, and they carefully placed him on the bed in one of the guestrooms, so Federico could take care of him.

Aurora sighed. This was not how she thought the evening would go, but she followed the others to the kitchen to wait for news.

“Are you sure this is the crown prince, Lorenzo? What is he doing here?” she asked while pulling out four glasses and a bottle of white wine.

“Did he tell you his name?” Lorenzo asked in return.

“Yes, he said his name is Leandro.”

“Then it’s him, alright. His parents are King Ciro and Queen Gabriella, they’re still in Sardinia, as far as I know. I’m not sure why he is here, I guess we’ll have to wait and ask him when he wakes up.”

They stayed quiet for a while, sitting around the kitchen table, sipping on their wine, until Federico entered the room.

“He should be fine by tomorrow,” he informed them. “Seems like he got into a fight or something, had a nasty cut on his waist. But no internal bleeding, all organs are intact, he just lost a lot of blood. Don’t know how he managed to get into Guido’s office, his powers must be incredible. Just let him sleep in tomorrow, then he should take it easy for a couple of days, ok?”

“Thanks, Federico, we really appreciate your help,” Sofia told the healer, and escorted him out after they all bid him goodbye.

“Well, what about some ice-cream and a movie?” Aurora turned to Sandra, not wanting to go out again.

“Thank you, but I think I’m good for today. I’ll finish my book and see you tomorrow,” her friend got up and strolled towards her room.

“Lorenzo?”

But her old friend shook his head.

“Sorry, sunshine, but we didn’t expect you to be here tonight, so Sofia and I kind of… made plans already.”

She winced slightly.

“No need for details, have fun you two,” she shooed him away with a quick gesture, and he laughed on his way out.

Aurora sighed, trying to decide whether or not she should make herself some food. Cooking for one person didn’t seem to be worth the effort, and she didn’t feel like cleaning up. But she did feel hungry, after all, they never got to eat anything at Guido’s. She opened the fridge, but ended up just looking at everything inside. How could they have a fridge full of food, but nothing to eat?

Just when she was about to grab the ingredients for a sandwich, a noise behind her startled her, and she quickly turned around, slamming the fridge door closed in the process.

“What on earth are you doing here?”

Leandro was slowly limping into the kitchen, the effort it must have taken him to get here visible on his face.

“Hungry,” he mumbled, and she hurried over to help him settle into a chair.

“I was just about to make myself a sandwich, but I can make something else if you want. Pasta, sofficini, uh, chicken soup?”

He tried to smile, but it seemed that he didn’t have the energy for it anymore.

“Sofficini? Are there children living here?”

Aurora scoffed. She loved sofficini. The fried dough containing a simple filling of tomato and mozzarella, or cheese and ham, was delicious, and although she was aware that it was marketed for children, she wouldn’t let anyone talk down on it.

“They are my private stash, but it seems you don’t deserve them. Sandwich it is. And then you go right back to bed, mister, or my aunt will have my head.”

She turned back at the fridge and collected everything she needed, before moving to the kitchen counter and assembling everything.

“Don’t worry, cara, I’ll protect you. Can’t let you get into trouble for helping me.”

Aurora chuckled.

“I don’t need you to protect me. If anything, you look like you could use some protection yourself right now.”

She plopped a plate and a glass of water in front of him before sitting down to eat her own dinner.

“I’m sure you mean well, cara (dear), and I’m sure you are a wonderful witch, but believe me when I say that I am quite powerful. Now, if you don’t mind, I like my sandwich toasted.”

Aurora’s hands stopped midway to her mouth, and she sat there for a moment with her jaw dropped, wondering if she’d heard right. Of course, working as a waitress, she had her fair share of condescending customers, but since she found out who she really was, nobody had disrespected her like that. She held her anger back though, not wanting to upset Leandro, who, even though he was smirking right now, was still injured, she reminded herself. Instead, she put her uneaten sandwich down on her plate, smiled brightly at her guest, and conjured the now familiar flame in her hand, aiming it at his sandwich and toasting it… slightly longer than required.

“There you go, Prince Leandro.” Picking up her sandwich again, she suppressed a laugh at his surprised look. “I believe we haven’t been introduced earlier. I’m Princess Aurora, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

His eyes widened.

“I’m… wait, what? You’re alive?”