41 KIND LADY

''Rowan said that you were engaged in court matters,'' Duchess Flora said, noticing the smile on the man's face when he looked at Esme. Young people. She sighed, despite her astonishment for the Prince had never been like this towards anyone. 

''It is done,'' Aleister nodded at her before pulling a chair for Esme. 

Rowan, who just reached there, almost stumbled on the way. Done? The man dropped all his work to come here when he heard that the Princess was invited by his family for breakfast. 

Initially, she was sitting towards the King's right but he pulled the chair next to it. 

Esme glanced at him confusion but she settled on the seat while the man took a seat next to his father. 

Alexander raised an eyebrow in amusement. He even changed her seat, quite possessively and glanced at him with a 'Don't scare her' look before looking back at her.

But alas, he was the father here. ''When did you both meet?" Alexander asked, eyeing his son who had his eyes fixated on the girl since he stepped here.

Esme quietly focused on her food as she believed that Aleister will talk with his family to clear their misunderstandings about them. 

''When she saved my life at my most vulnerable time,'' Aleister let out a deep sigh. 

Esme choked on the water she just drank. 

Aleister stroked her back, ''Slow down, love.''

She kicked him under the table without holding back. 

He placed a hand on her knees and her eyes widened in disbelief. 

"What happened?" His Uncle and Aunt glanced at him in concern. 

''Well…she saved me from an assassination years ago. That was the day when I knew she was mine,'' Aleister drawled out, slowly lazily twirling the glass of water in front of his eyes. 

Rowan held the urge to roll his eyes but he was speechless at his friends' antics. Vulnerable? When was this man ever vulnerable? 

The King glanced at both of them, ''It seems like you know each other from a long time.''

''Since a few lifetimes,'' Aleister smiled. 

Esme pursed her lips swatting away the man's indecent hand from her knee. At times, he was so desperate to irk her that he forgot that he was a man and she was a woman. 

''Is it true?" Duke Maverick glanced at her questioningly, not quite believing that his nephew needed anyone to save him but then he did not seem to be lying. Perhaps it was a half truth and the rest half of the truth might be revealed by this little lady. 

''I just saw a poor boy in tattered clothes and saved him out of pity,'' Esme smiled politely but her words tried to throw some knives at the man. Had I known who he was, I might not have saved him. And it is known to everyone that the Prince of Visteria is born with extraordinary powers. 

Instead of being offended, Aleister smiled instead, ''My dear is so kind hearted. Always thinking about others.''

Esme pursed her lips. What was he trying to do? 

Duke Maverick, Duchess Flora and King Alexander exchanged meaningful glances. Their Prince seemed to have gone too deep in it this time. 

''Little Lady, what are your thoughts about the Prince?" Duchess Flora glanced at her. They had to get her opinion on this too so that they can take a step ahead. 

''I don't-''

"Yes, Princess?" Aleister interrupted her.

Esme glanced at him. Others might think he was calling her Princess out of love but she knew he what he meant by it. He was threatening to reveal her identity to them. ''I don't think I can imagine my life without him," Esme indifferently said without taking her gaze off him. 

The King cleared his throat. 

Duchess Flora and Duke Maverick exchanged shy glances. Children these days… are not quite reserved as before. 

…

''You look bothered," Aleister remarked as they walked in the empty hallway. 

''You were not supposed to do that,'' Esme tilted her head upwards to look at him.

"What did I do?" Aleister asked, playing with the long strands of her hair. 

Esme grabbed her hair from him, "You threatened me there and kept lying to them. I don't want to be a part of this anymore.''

"Oh well, what would you like to do then?"

"Tell them the truth,'' They are so kind and good people that her conscience was pricking for doing this. 

"Well Well, then I don't want to be the part of your secrets. Just let them know who you are and we will see how well they treat you, a person who disguised herself to sneak inside the dungeon and has hidden her identity from everyone," He whispered the latter part beside her ear such that only she could hear him. 

She grabbed his hand when he stepped forward, ''You…''

He turned around and twirled his hand slightly, grabbing the delicate hand that was holding his wrist, "Lady, do you see how inappropriate is this?'' He raised an eyebrow as he intertwined their fingers, ''You also do this most of the time. No matter how much you desire to take advantage of me, you should restrain yourself. More so when you have asked me to stay away from you. So, kind 'LADY', you keep my secret safe and yours will be treasured by me. You let the cat out of the bag…." He leaned closer, "Then, I won't hesitate doing the same. Have a nice day, LADY," He emphasized on his last word and let go of her hand, his eyes savored the sight of her as she stood there looking at him blankly, her small mouth opening and closing again and again, her tongue wetting her bottom lips. 

His gaze darkened slightly but the corner of his lips tugged up in a satisfied smirk as he turned around and left. 

''A-Advantage?'' Esme whispered as she pointed her finger at herself, ''Lady?!" Disbelief marred her face.