Well obviously I was sleeping when Prince returned from the ball. My main aim was to keep an eye on Agnes since she seemed my only relation to future right now or I could just wake up from a really long bad dream.

"I almost died because you were not there." He complained as soon as he saw me.

"But you are alive and well," I said in a bored tone.

"A princess saved me." He said a little shocked at the situation.

Chauvinist much?

"So does it hurt your ego, your highness?" This made him chuckle.

"Not really. It was just that she was really beautiful."

"And all the others you met at the ball." He was definitely a playboy and I should not be swayed by his words.

Subconsciously he started changing clothes talking about the girl, I mean me.

"So what was her name?" I was enjoying this a little.

"She wouldn't tell." Suddenly he turned to look at me with a look in his eyes that said he had an idea.

"We need to find her. We know her Kingdom, where else she could be?"

"Excuse me, who is we?"

"You and I, she challenged me and I will find her." He looked all excited over this treasure hunt kind of thing.

"Listen, your highness, you have duties to fulfil. We can't just leave the palace." I tried to put some reason in his head.

"You are right, Then what else can we do?" At least he accepted he had duties.

"Attack the place and take over." I offered an idea half-heartedly.

"She will hate me forever." He was talking about me in third person which felt weird.

"Then you also arrange a ball like in Cinderella."

"Like in what?" He asked with a frown.

"Just a story, you could have a ball and invite princess from all over."

"My father will never listen to me." I knew that much that is why suggested the idea.

"So forget about her," I said those words but I felt a little sad as i said them.

He thought for a moment

"No, I don't think I could do that." He sounded hopeless and I felt my heart flutter for some reason.

"Okay, we can have a Tournament and call all minor kingdoms. My father thinks I am bad with weapons and he will allow this since this will show my weakness. Not only I can make a mark in front of other kingdoms, I can lure her here."

This sounded dangerous.

"How is that?"

"Well, she said her father is a warrior himself and she fights as well. I can invite the father and then send an invitation to their family as well."

"She has not shown herself till now. Why do you think she will come now?"

I sighed mentally when this put him jeopardy.

And then he smirked scaring me a bit.

"Because I will put a wedding rumour as well so most of the Kings come with their daughter." Damn, that was wise.

I will be caught or not caught since that Princess doesn't exist.

***

Next day I was again in the library since Elias and Norman were out to personally check the market area and what needed to be changed. Usually, these two made a lot of secret trips to ministers and soldiers. He was constantly trying to plan and improve but I was worried that Norman might be after all his father's son.

I was in girl form right now since I can't have Agnes asking for Prince's bodyguard. I stole a maid's outfit and went to get the book authorised by her. She lifted her face to look at me but I kept my head down.

"Very few girls come in to read." She said with appraisal in her tone.

I just gave her a grateful smile and sat down somewhere I can look at her while she is here and see what she does. She behaved normally and it was quite boring to be there. I just randomly flipped through the pages carefully looking at her. Suddenly she got up and walked towards me.

I immediately pretended to read carefully. She just passed me and I swear I could feel her gaze on me. After a torturous two-hour exercise I left the library gaining nothing but when I was about to leave Agnes said, "Come tomorrow as well."

I nodded curtly and rushed to change my clothes.

When I met the Prince after the weekly Council meeting, he looked kind of happy.

"What did you accomplish today?"

"Well, firstly I managed to build houses for homeless down the market and instead they will be working in building it so it will balance the cost and they will have a home."

I felt kind of proud of him.

"Secondly, I caught some evil conspirator among us. No evidence but I am pretty sure who those two-faced ministers are."

I nodded encouraging him as he smiled the widest now.

"And we managed to pursue the King for the tournament." So he did manage to get me a death warrant.

"We?"

"Me and Norman. And we also made it so that rumours said that this is a secret lookout for a strong kingdom and their daughters."

"What if she already likes someone else?" I tried discouraging him now that political stuff was not involved.

He looked a little worried now.

"Yes, what will I do then Arthur." He asked another guy for opinion but in this case, I was the girl.

"Well, you are a Prince. Find someone else." I suggested calmly but his expression said he was not pleased with this option.

"No."

"Well, you are just after her because she is a challenge. That's all." I pretended to talk like a guy who knows such stuff.

"Maybe I am but I have to win. I hate losing." So as expected he was just looking for me because I was a challenge.

"When is the tournament starting?" I asked feeling worried.

"One week from now." So I just had a week to either run away or I can always fake my death.

"So you need to help me with the practice and I can win the tournament." He said the dreaded words.

I have never worked this much in my lifetime.

"Fine. If I get enough sleep I can try." Sleep was above everything for me.

He smiled and nodded.

"We will be away from the palace for practices. I don't want to be here with several hawk-like eyes."

"Where are we going?"

"To the mountains and to my old teacher." Great, now I have to handle an old teacher as well.

***

It took us whole day by horse to reach the mountain area. We stopped outside a wooden door with protection measures. I noticed the almost unnoticeable wire that was connected to two bows that shot arrows if we stepped on those wires.

I stopped the Prince who seemed unaware of this. He was brains and all but his observing was bad.

I cut the wires from a distance by throwing a dagger releasing many arrows. The wooden gate opened to reveal a porch and a very humble cottage. In the porch sat an old man cooking something on open fire. His face crinkled with a smile as he looked at Prince who bowed towards him.

"You have grown into a handsome man Eli." He complimented the Prince.

And then he turned to look at me with his storm-grey eyes that startled me. He looked at me really carefully and then smiled a bit.

"And who is this young lady?" I choked on air as my heart stopped beating all together at his words.