Chapter 6: Old friends
Kieran went out looking for Mal and when he was about to ask one of the guards he saw her from the balcony talking and laughing with a red-haired girl like young kids. He smiled to himself making the guard shocked but soon his warm smile faded to be replaced with a furious and an outraged look, so it was the guard's sign to run away with his life.
Ray; Malin's childhood and best friend; he was holding her tight and swaying left and right as if she is going leave him soon. Ellie was smiling at them widely and giggling at the boy's joke but in a twinkle of an eye, her face turned stern showing a somber expression to look down immediately.
Malin felt something suspicious, she turned around with Ray throwing his arm on his around her shoulder, to find Kieran staring; his hands inside his pocket with his head up and his unbending regard didn't leave hers.
she rolled her eyes at him and turned back to find that Ray took off his hand and stood next to Ellie with their eyes looking at the ground.
She scoffed at their action and said:
"-I'm very disappointed in you guys.
-Why? Because, they showed respect to their future king. You should probably learn from them some manners, dear." He answered with a playful smile but she looked at him up and down raising an eye brow then explained:
"- I only show my respect to the people who deserv it. And I will never bow or kneel for some arrogant joke who is a big disgrace to his family let only his kingdom." The other two stand there speechless but the prince took two steps decreasing the distance between their bodies.
He tilted his head a little bit down so he could whisper into her right ear, with a dark and deep tone; opposite the soft melody she heard in their first encounter:
"-I advise you to drop the act princess. Because the one who is gonna insult me and disrespect me in my palace wasn't born yet." He stopped for awhile to look with intense at her face to find her unmoved with his words, he then continued with a dead voice:
"-I am very patient with you, but the moment I had enough from your rudeness and discourtesy…you will BEG for your life my lady." He then moved away to see her astonished face, she then said:
"- I'd love to see you try Prince."
He chuckled at her then turn his view to the two friends and showed a wide sincere smile making his cute dimples appear and reassured:
"-no need for all of this protocol we are practically the same age.
-Hypocrite." Mal muttered loud enough for him to hear her clearly by he decided to turn a deaf ear for now, and then Ray said:
"-Thanks for your kindness; your majesty. But we love to keep things professional.
-Does acting professional include hugging and swaying back and forth with each other?" Kieran commented making Ray turn red from embarrassment but Malin answered him back:
"-it's none of your concerns Nox. He is my best friend, more like a brother to me and…
-Does your brother touch you in an intimate way the way he did, without your consent?"He asked raising an eyebrow at her she then shot back:
-"Excuse me. And why are you bothered that much?
-never mind." He said irritated
"-Sorry for the interruption. But when are we going to leave?" asked Ellie quietly but Mal answered her with a huge smile:
"-We are gonna spend the day together and we will leave tomorrow before sunrise.
-No way!" Ray and Ellie shouted in union with disbelief, happiness found her way to their gloomy faces but soon turned back and they both hummed an apology about their act.
But Kieran didn't care, he just told them to act normal around him.
"-But how did the old man let us stay? We were planning to leave immediately the moment you come."Ray asked.
"_what's the big deal though, he will get married soon or later no need to rush."Mal answered him pointing at Kieran.
"-the king is really sick that he could die."Ray said but immediately regret it when he looked at Kieran's burning gaze.
"-I beg your forgiveness your majesty, I didn't mean to interfere in something that doesn't concern me." the brown haired- boy begged.
"-First you don't have to apologize because he inserted his nose in your affair and didn't even bother himself to ask forgiveness. Second thing: WHY NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THE KING'S ILLNESS?"Mal shouted
"_Well because it will create a fuss and big mouthed people like you can't keep a secret safe. Remind me again why did they choose you for the mission?" Kier snapped back at her.
"-Because a pampered and annoying child like you could get killed at any moment and your future as a king is up to me so don't estimate me you toddler." she then turned back to her friends and said :
"-We will leave in 3 hours get ready by then.
_aren't we suppose to spend time together?"Ellie asked with a bit of hope her friend could change her mind.
"-Sorry sweetheart, the situation is more complicated than I thought. I promise we will after everything will get settled; okay."Ellie nodded then left with Ray.
Malin turned to face Kieran and said with a low tone:
"-I am sorry about your father; I hope he get well soon. I think you should spend time with him before we leave.
-Thanks for your concern, but I can't. The doctors are afraid that his illness might be contagious so we are taking strict measures.
_Ohh…Then… I should leave now. I have a lot of things to take care of. See you." Malin left the Prince standing there smiling like an idiot talking with himself:
"-That was unexpected, who knew that the old man could be that helpful. But luck won't be always on my side…Don't worry princess your heart will beat only for me soon....