"Can you stand up?" Crown Prince Andres asked as he shifted his attention back to her sprained ankle. Nevertheless, all the woman did was staring at his face.
"My Lady," he called out, feeling somewhat confused.
Maybe the woman was finally back to her sense, she quickly looked down at her ankle and tried to get up. However, her attempt was futile and she ended up wincing in pain.
"Let me help you," Andres said and helped her up while Zane held the lady on the other side.
"This is not good," the Crown Prince remarked as he looked down at her ankle. Then he glanced around. "Are you here alone?"
The lady nodded. "I'm here to look around but I happen to trip.."
"It seems like you sprain your ankle," he pointed out. "You cannot walk like that and you have to see a doctor."
The woman glanced down at her ankle with a troubled face as if she was wondering what to do. Then she shifted her gaze back to Andres. "How should I address you?" she suddenly asked.
Zane raised a brow and the Crown Prince was equally surprised. "You don't know me?"
Every Cedorean knew his face. After all, he was their future Emperor.
Confused, the woman shook her head.
"Are you a traveller?"
"Yes," she promptly replied. "I came here with my brother."
"Then do you know where you can see a doctor?"
"I've only been here for 2 days and this is my first time stepping out of the inn where we stayed."
Crown Prince Andres briefly gave a thought and turned to Zane. "Bring the horses. Let's take her to the doctor."
Zane quickly went to comply with the order and the woman looked at the Crown Prince with a perplexed face.
"Don't worry," Andres Francia said to her. "We'll see a doctor and take you back to the inn where you stayed."
"You don't even know me," she pointed out. "Why must you help me?"
"I'm only doing what I should do," he promptly replied. "You don't know me either, My Lady. But if you can trust me, I will help you."
Soon, Zane was back with the horses and the Crown Prince made her sit before him. Then they left to see the doctor.
*
After meeting the doctor, Crown Prince Andres and Zane brought the lady back to the inn as the Crown Prince promised.
"Thank you for your help," the lady said to the Crown Prince with her head bowed. "You don't even tell me how to address you."
"I think it's better this way," Andres responded with a little smile. "Will you be able to walk to your room?"
The lady nodded. "It's better now. Thanks for your concern."
"Then we will leave now," Andres uttered. "Take care."
With that said, he and Zane rode their horses away.
Staring at the two men until they were out of her sight, there was a little smile on the woman's lips when she turned around and walked towards the entrance of the inn with a bit of difficulty.
It wasn't long before one young woman came out of the inn and ran towards her. "My Lady, why did you run off alone? Young Master is very angry! You should come inside soon!"
The words of her attendant and personal maid made the lady frowned. Nevertheless, with the help of the servant, she walked inside the inn and to her room without saying anything.
When she entered her room, the atmosphere was much tense than she thought. Her brother was sitting on the chair behind the desk and... her personal guard, Linus was kneeling a few steps away from the desk.
"What is this?" she inquired, standing still at her place.
Her brother turned to her when he heard her voice. "You sneak out alone again. Linus is supposed to keep you safe but he failed his duty."
"Gus," she sighed. "Shouldn't I be responsible for my own action? Linus is innocent."
One glance of Gus and it was obvious that he was more than angry. However, he narrowed his eyes at his sister and when he saw her bandaged leg, he abruptly rose from his seat. "Ophelia!" he snapped and quickly walked to her. "What happened to your leg?"
"I sprained my ankle. It's nothing much," Ophelia Arille shrugged.
"Don't tell me that you sneak out to see Crown Prince Andres Francia," Augustus Arille said in a somewhat tired voice.
"That's right," the Aederin Princess simply said. "I went to see what kind of person he is. Besides, I'll be marrying him in two weeks."
Crown Prince Augustus stared at his sister for a few seconds and let out a sigh. "How is your ankle? Let me see it."
"The doctor already take a look. It will be fine after a few days."
His sister's thoughtlessness made the Aederin Crown Prince felt so helpless. Then his gaze trailed to the guard Linus and the maid Ava. "If the Princess manage to sneak out alone again, there will be no forgiveness anymore," he stated firmly and added, "Leave us."
With that said, the guard and the maid quickly left the room. Now that the two royals were the only ones in the room now, the Crown Prince gaze softened a bit. However, it's obvious that he was still disappointed.
"Come here," he said and led his sister to the couch. When they settled on the couch, he turned to her. "Did you hurt your leg on purpose?" he inquired.
"What are you -"
"Don't lie to me, Ophel," he snapped yet his voice was still calm. "I'm the one who knows you the best."
Princess Ophelia let a few seconds passed before she eventually nodded. "I told you that I want to see what kind of person he is."
"Must you hurt yourself for that?" Augustus sighed. "What is so special about this Andres Francia?" he asked. "Why must it be him? There are many capable men in our Aederin who will be well-matched with you."
The Crown Prince thought of a few weeks ago when his sister returned to Aederin after attending the gathering in Vialand. Since then, the Princess was determined to marry the Crown Prince of Cedore. He didn't understand why.....
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