Free Princess of the Damned by Dahlia Lu Page B

exaggerate, Princess.”
    “ I find it strange that of all the things I’ve heard about you, they forgot to mention that you are a very handsome man.” She flashed a smile to reveal two rows of flawless white teeth. “I suppose a better quality is what you are known for. They say the battlefield is your playground.”
    He took the hand she offered and escorted her into the palace. His general took the liberty to escort the Western Princess.
    “ War is not child’s play, Princess. Every soldier risks his life on the battlefield. I am no different.”
    “ Then you are truly blessed by the gods to have survived so many.” She leaned in a little closer. “Secret between us, I’ve always been an admirer of your feats, although it is not seemly for a Princess to have an idol.”
    “ I’m flattered.” Sayan let go of her hand when they had arrived in front of the throne room.
    “ I must have a conversation with you, Prince Sayan.” The Western Prince requested.
    “ My King awaits his guests. I cannot detain you any longer.”
    “ It cannot wait.”
    “ Then I am all ears.”
    “ I must clear things up with you.” The Western Prince placed both hands on Sayan’s shoulders. It disturbed his wound, but the pain wasn’t severe enough for him to change his facial expression. “I sincerely ask that you return my bride-to-be. For the sake of our kingdoms, for the sake of our alliances, for the sake of… whatever is important to you, please return her to me.”
    Sayan leaned in closer so that his whisper could be heard. “Why would I return to you what was originally mine?” Sayan brushed the Western Prince’s hands off of his shoulders.
    “ I thought I could reason with you.”
    Sayan clapped his hand together to signal for the servants to open the doors to the throne room. “My king is waiting for your audiences.”

Chapter Nine
     
    “ The king has taken a liking to the Eastern Princess, as expected. Although she is young, her tongue is awfully sharp. I would hate to see what she is like a few years from now.”
    The music stopped. The beautiful woman moved away from the harp and came to sit next to the General. He took her hand and kissed her.
    “ It is rare to hear you talk about anything other than war tactics. Is this princess truly as beautiful as they say she is?”
    General Malin laughed at the question. “Are you jealous?”
    “ Jealousy is taboo for a courtesan.” She replied dryly.
    The General nodded. “She’s very beautiful, but a woman like her is more trouble than what she is worth.”
    “ What do you mean?”
    “ Although she is a princess, her kingdom is in a desperate state. Her citizens are dying on the streets from starvation, yet she parades herself with enough diamonds to feed half a kingdom. That woman gives me the chills. I pray Prince Sayan doesn’t fall for her theatrics.”
    “ What does Prince Sayan have to do with this?” A confused expression chased away the smile her face. “She is after the King, is she not?”
    “ I think she is throwing her net and seeing what she can pull in. Prince Sayan has a good head on his shoulders, so I am not that worried.”
    “ I don’t know about that. Men are such fools when it comes to beautiful women.”
    “ We are, aren’t we?”
    The image of the girl he met in the garden came to mind. He let out a long sigh. Men are truly fools when it comes to beautiful women. He didn’t know how long he stood there blank, but when he snapped out of it, there was already half an inch of snow on his armor. There was a strange beauty about those pale green eyes that captivated him.
     
    “ We haven’t seen each other in a while, have we?” The North King placed a hand on the Western Prince’s shoulder. “We didn’t get a chance to talk at the court.”
    “ I’m honored that you still remember me, your majesty. We were only children then.”
    “ I have very few friends in my life, Ce.”
    “ You have a brother now.”
    The King