Day 115

Morning

It's been a week since I've arrived at this place. Concern and longingness was all I could feel. Luca has been keeping me company, I guess it isn't too bad staying here but it's horrible having to sit still while the prince might be in danger.

"You on the other hand seem really glad." I frown. The man sitting opposite of me was grinning while turning through the pages of his book of medicinal herbs. It made me kind of pissed, considering he still wouldn't tell me what's actually going on.

"And you seem grumpy. Is something wrong?"

"Yes!" I lift my arms off the table, into the air. "I've been here for a week without a clue on what's going on."

He simply shrugged me off. And it's pissing me off even more that I can't do anything to disobey him and leave this place. First of all It's my first time in Acullis so I'd just get lost if I escape, and second he can just paralyze my body. Damned mage.

I'm not going to end up growing into an old woman and dying here without ever getting to see the prince again, right?

Luca sighed audibly and closed his book. "The prince will come to take us back to the castle when the time is right. So sit still for now."

It felt somewhat fishy. All of this. I don't want to doubt Luca but Rowan would've told me if something were to happen. Maybe. Or he didn't want to worry me.

"You're lying." I bit my lip.

"And what's your basis?"

"... I don't want to believe this. I don't want to believe the prince is in some sort of battle! He never said of such!" I slam my fists against the table and stand up. Luca seemed so lax, so relaxed being here it just upsets me so much!

His lips curled into a smile. A pretty smile, just like his face. That made me upset too.

"Not so long ago you loathed the prince. Now he's all you think about. Idiot."

"Stop calling me an idiot! I'm not in a good mood!"

"Does it make you want to slap me then? Loathe me? Despise me?" He reached out to grab my hand and held it to his cheek. His eyes narrowed at me and his smile, faded. "You should stop thinking about him."

"What are you talking about?"

"I told myself I'd give up. Support you and your love for the Prince but... I just can't do that."

Oh so Luca has an obsession with me now too? Great.

"Why is it me, Luca. There's so many people in the world for you to be with and you'd be hung up on the simple me. You, Kace, and the prince. I just never understood that."

"What you say doesn't matter now. My feelings aren't going to change." His hand still held onto mine. "I've made my decision. And I won't let the prince have you."

"And so the real reason that we're here isn't because of things happening at the castle." I frown captiously. "It's because you wanted to steal me from Rowan."

Now, I don't know what's worst. "Rowan doesn't know about this place, correct?" It's possible that I'll be stuck here with Luca till I've grown old. Unless I figure something out.

But how to I escape the clutches of Elleris' court mage?

"I guess the idiot has a brain after all. You're right, it'll be just you and me for the rest of our lives. Unless the Prince finds this place, you have no way to escape. But he won't."

I flinched, attempting to pull back my hand but he held onto it too tight, and instead pulled me forward roughly where I flinched again after my ribs hit the table. "Just what is going on with you?! You're acting like a psychopath!"

"The prince is far worst, Riselle. You've seen how he's slaughtered all of house Lunaria."

"Because they abducted me! Sure he really went overboard but he doesn't treat the person he loves like this?"

"Aren't you just comparing him and I now?"

"You're horrible." I growl. "Truly horrible."

"You'll learn to love me too." Luca grimaced. I lifted up my free hand and punched his pretty face.