Be my date

Brock walked over to the feminine figure huddled on the ground and knelt to face her. Her doe-like eyes were red from crying, and her hair was disheveled. Strands of hair stuck to her face because of the sweat.

He could feel the fear radiating from her body like the wave of the ocean, her heart heaving up and down with her mouth slightly ajar to let air into her lungs. He knelt facing her while maintaining eye contact, letting her know she was safe with him and that no harm would come to her.

He wondered what she was doing at this place by this time of the day when it clicked in his head. Fredrick had briefed him on her friend, James Pearls, who was in the capital to join the Royal Guards.

Her eyes shook when they came in contact with Brock, who was busy examining the wound at the base of her neck. Brock could feel the anger building up as he saw blood flowing down her throat.  

Brock felt the urge to pick up his sword and behead the guard that had inflicted the wound on his love but refrained himself as this was not the time to act irrationally. Rose Bethmot would be here in a few days and would not hesitate to have Jess killed if she suspected that he was in love with her.

He needed to tread with precaution until he could break off the engagement with Rose Bethmot without involving Jess in the crossfire. He knew that the best way to protect her was to let her go to continue living her simple life, but his heart refused to let her go.

The thought of her with another man infuriated him and made his blood boil; he would find a way for them to be happy and live out their days in peace and harmony. Brock thought.

Without saying a word to Jess, he put his hands around her waist and carried her. Jess gasped as she felt herself lifted like a sack of potatoes and tried wriggling out of his hands, but his stern look made her stay still.

The guards were astonished that they had seen the crown prince even if they could not recognize him as he was in disguise. The guards marveled at how he looked at the girl and carried her in his arms; it made them wonder who the lady was.

They were shivering with fear, and the thought of the crown prince beheading them for their impertinent behavior made them shit their pants in terror.

The crown prince looked at them intensely, making the guards shake and bow their heads, not daring to look at him.

I will not hold this against you because you were only doing your duty, but let it be the last time you make such important decisions without the head of the investigative bureau present.

Your Highness, it would not happen again.

The guards replied in a chant and fell on their faces to the ground to appease the crown prince.

You may rise, came the command from Brock.

The four guards rose to their feet with their eyes lowered.

What happened today should not go beyond the four walls of this training ground. If rumors spread to the villages and cities about what transpired today, then be prepared to die for treason against the crown. Brock threatened.

Whatever transpired here today shall remain buried and shall not leave the four walls of this training ground. The guards reassured Brock as they looked at each other; they were prepared to take the secrets to their graves.

Open the gates, Brock commanded.

Two of the guards pulled the gigantic gate open.

Jess stared at the crown prince and wished he would put her down as her legs were not injured. The terror of death had passed, and her nerves were much calmer. She felt uncomfortable in his arms but dared not move her body to show her discomfort.

She did not want to be at the receiving end of his anger; the way he spoke to the guards made her see him in a different light. He had been patient and tolerated her snide remarks at the ball, but the man carrying her in his arms was not to be toyed with.

Brock gasped as the crown prince walked into the training center with her in his arms, unflinching from the gaze of the people watching them.

Relax, only a few people know my true identity. Jess snapped her head to look at him when she heard his words.

I did not know you were so keen to see where the soldiers of Zaza trained, or are you interested in joining the Royal Guard? Brock asked Jess, taunting her as they came to a room full of medical supplies.

Brock dropped her down, and Jess was grateful to be on her two feet. She watched as the crown prince walked toward the cabinet by the side of the room and pulled out a drawer containing alcohol.

Alarm bells went off in Jess’s mind when he took a bottle and brought it to her. Jess looked at Brock, wondering what he needed the alcohol bottle for.

The crown prince looked at her in amusement before he chuckled and said-

We need to clean your wound before it gets infected. Luckily, the cut is not deep and will not leave a scar when it heals in a few days.

Brock sat down in one of the chairs in the room and pulled Jess to sit on his lap, which made Jess gasped, surprised at such indecent action. Jess scanned the empty room to see if someone saw the king pulling her to himself.  

She could not bring herself to say anything about the near-death experience she encountered a few minutes ago as the fear was still present. The crown prince dabbed his handkerchief in alcohol and used it to clean the blood stain on her neck.

Jess waited to hear if he would ask her what she was doing there, but the deafening silence in the room made Jess wonder if he knew the purpose she was at the training center.

She still found it hard to digest that the man she had bumped into in the market was none other than the crown prince.

But he is supposed to be in the Kingdom of Idu. Daniel had said that his brother would arrive in five days for the ceremonial opening of the Royal Hospital partnership with the kingdom of Idu. How is he back before the five days? Jess thought.

Jess watched as the crown prince disinfected her wound and turned to face her. She quickly stood up from his lap and moved away to put a little distance between them.

The melodious laugh of the crown prince made her look at him in amazement; she was surprised that the fear in her heart had dissipated, but what the crown prince said next rocked her world and left her stunned.

Be my date for the ceremonial opening and partnership of the Royal Hospital with the Kingdom of Idu, and I will arrange for you to see your fiancé, James Pearls. I will also ensure that his entry into the Royal Guard will be smooth. Brock proposed with a sly smile.