Disguised for Love

Part 6

-Be careful not to awaken a hungry tiger, else you will be eaten alive.-

Serenade Palace

"Did you send the invitation to your birthday celebration to the little girl?"

Crown prince Atticus is in the library with his brother, sitting down and drinking tea while talking about the trip that he has to do before the celebration when his younger brother asked him.

"Not yet," he answered while getting up, picked the invitation written in a scroll on his table, handed it to him.

Prince Celcius took the scroll and read it. Once finished, he put it down in the table in front of them before asking. "How come you sound disinterested? Maybe what I heard that you are getting interested in Princess Isabel is true." He teased.

Prince Atticus takes a sip on his tea and looks at his cup before putting it down and commented, "Lately, you became attentive with the gossip.

Prince Celcius laughed and answered, "I am always curious about what is happening with my big brother, you know that. Lately, you also become a bit secretive with what you are doing."

Crown Prince Atticus laughed at that, "When did the things I have done become secrets with you and Lord Taros?"

"Lately it does, that is how I noticed. Well, as long as your life will be happier and will stop you from being too concern about the little girl's feelings when she does not even care about yours," Prince Celcius answered him before taking a cup of tea and drink on it.

Prince Atticus then retook the scroll to check on the writing on it. It was then he heard his brother asked him.

"Do you remember the green-eyed witch that I told you before?" Prince Celcius asked him, and he nods, "I asked Lord Taros to assign her in my Palace, and my head maidservant put her in the stockroom."

Upon hearing what his younger brother told him, he returned the scroll on the table and asked. "Why you put her in the stockroom?"

"I don't want her seen by Lady Cassie or cause a commotion; else there will be trouble for her. Maybe it will be much better if I let her transfer here so you can take care of any mishap will happen." Prince Celcius told him with a laugh.

Prince Atticus retook his tea for an answer, but after a breath, he said in an apathetic tone," OK, transfer her here. Once I come back from my journey or depends on you when you want," he suggested and then took a sip of his tea before putting down his cup.

There was a knock in the door, and then a guard came in. When Prince Atticus saw him, he got up and walked near him, and they talked in a low voice.

"I had not seen Guilder beside you lately," Prince Celsius commented when Prince Atticus came back.

"I have asked him to do something else." He answered, but his mind is already distracted from the information he just received. As if Celcius noticed his preoccupied mind, he asked to leave.

After his younger brother left, he hurriedly went out.

Meanwhile, Faye is heading to the rose garden area; from there, the Crown Prince palace is located at the far end of it with a bridge to cross. She hurriedly walks while concealing herself in any trees or shaded areas to checked her surroundings, and if no one is around, she will continue her stride. Near the bridge, Faye turned around and made sure that no one can see her crossing it as it is an open area. Then she saw Chubb who turned around and looked at his back too.

"Oh, I told him not to follow me," she muttered.

Hands-on her hip, with a frowning mouth and miffed eyes, she called him to her side. Chubb come to her eagerly, and she bend down on her knees and talked to him," As you are so eager to go with me, be careful that we will not get caught or I will not speak to you," Standing up she let him go first and follows him.

They were able to cross the bridge, and when they reached the corner of the palace wall, she peeks first if there are guards on the gate. She saw two of them; she murmured more on herself than to her pet, "We cannot use the gate to enter his palace."

Then Chubb do some scratching on her skirt, which made her look down on him, he tugged on it, and without hesitation, she followed him. They walked for about thirty steps until they are in front of an oak tree that stands behind a wall. She thought that like before, the first time she went inside the Blue Lake Wood, wherein Chubb touch the wall, and it swallows him too. This time it is different. It seems like her climbing skill that has become rusty will be tested as she saw Chubb climbing on it. When he reaches the branch that overhangs on the wall, he jumps and lands on its top surface. Then he sat down and waited for her.

"I don't have my magic powers to help me in case I misjudge my landing place. What kind of adventure Chubb is into this time?" she murmured to herself.

She scoops her skirt and ties its end and tests her mobility in it and start to climb after she feels that she can still move freely in it. Looking at Chubb earlier when he was climbing seems so easy, but when it is her turn, she finds it difficult. She does the safest way to climb up, hug the tree closer to her body. Just like Chubb had done, when she reached the branch where he leaped over to the wall surface, she did too. Her one foot slipped, she was taken by surprise that a wailing sound escapes from her mouth. Sliding down but was able to grasp the upper edge of the wall, she was left hanging. She was debating to either jump or try to climb the wall when she heard a bored voice said. "What do you think you are doing up there?"

She looked down and saw Draco standing right below her. She became a bit conscious of her position, with her skirt tied on it ends, she is sure he can see her bare legs.

"Loosen your hold from the wall, and I will catch you."

She did as told, and he caught her midway. "What idea entered into your head that left you dangling on the wall?"

She didn't answer him but rather look at his angry eyes as they slowly descend. Once she felt that he is on the ground, she wiggled from his arm, wanting to get down, but Draco tightened his hold on her.

"Draco, can you put me down, please," batting her eyelids at him.

He looked down on her and said in an incensed tone, "Don't you know what will happen if I am not there and you fall?

"I'm used to climbing trees and hills; this is the first time it happens to me. I don't know why I slip my foot," she touched the crease in his brows and then his face, "still, you were there to catch me, and nothing happens."

Draco had forgotten that he was angry as his mind become distracted with the reaction of his body to her caress. She didn't know that her innocent action triggers his brain to be on fire and spreads its heat in all parts of his body. Her creamy white skin that emits glow as if brighten by a light inside tempts him to touch her face to feel its warmth. Adding to the temptation is her bowed lip that looks so luscious as if begging to be kissed.

Faye felt the warmth in Atticus arms, and their eyes meet. The swirl of emotion she saw in there made her nestle her head in his firm chest and heard the rapid thunderous pounding of his heartbeat. Faye hesitantly looks up at him again and says, "May I..." She was not able to say whatever word she needs to utter as his lips covered her with a kiss, softly at first, and then it became a hungry one, parting her trembling lips. Its sensation evokes her nerves to trigger her mind to respond to something which she just discovered she is capable of perceiving, and then she was kissing him back. It seems like magic with sparks scattering in all directions. Then a bark was heard, Faye immediately pushed him away and squirmed in his arm.

"I am sorry, Faye," he said in a choking voice and put her down on the ground.

Touching her lips, she whispered, "It's my first kiss."

Then he hugged her, and she snuggled her head on his torso. When their breathing becomes regular, he said, "come on, I will escort you back to your room."

He took her arm gently to lead the way, avoiding eye contact with her. "What is wrong with her?" Faye asked herself as they walked back. "She should be enraged as he stole the kiss that she should share with her fiance first. She can't help but wonder if Draco shared the feeling of being burned inside or heard her heart beating fast." She stole a glance at him while thinking." He is a distraction from her purpose of coming to the City, so she must stay away from him."