Chapter 199
“Close by,” she warned.
“I am Marco,” he introduced himself.
“I know who you are,” Princess Anse said, recognizing him from church.
“I thought you didn’t notice me,” Marco said his deep brown eyes lighting up.
“You are hard not to notice,” Princess Anse said.
“Thank you for the compliment,” Marco said, smiling.
“I didn’t mean it as a compliment,” Princess Anse said walking off.
“Anse, wait,” Marco walked after her, “What do you mean then?”
“You are loud and always a jokester, taking nothing seriously,” Princess Anse said.
“I take you seriously,” Marco said making her come to a standstill.
“You don’t even know me,” Princess Anse said.
“I know enough to know that you are unhappy,” Marco accused.
“I am not unhappy,” Princess Anse said, turning to walk off again.
“Well, you are doing a really bad job showing your happiness then,” Marco laughed.
“What do you know about happiness?” Anse said, looking at him before walking faster.
“I know it does not look like you,” Marco said, coming to a standstill as her bodyguards step into sight.
“Same place next month,” Marco called after her.
‘He has been watching me every time?’ Princess Anse thought, feeling her face go hot.
“Should I take care of him?” one of her bodyguards asked.
“Are you insane? This is the real world, you cannot just go around, taking care of people.
Over the next few months princess Anse would blush every Sunday in church when she came face to face with Marco and with the next full moon, she told her guards and father that she won't be trying to shift anymore, “It is clear I did not get the wolf gene.”
“You can’t give up, just keep on trying,” Prince Vasili encouraged her, but she told her father off.
At the sound of the first snoring of the guards' princess Anse sneaked out and went to her usual spot but this time she did not get undressed.
“Keeping your clothes on now?” Marco asked, standing next to her.
“How long have you been watching me?” Princess Anse asked.
“A few minutes,” Marco said.
“I mean before tonight,” Princess Anse said.
“About a year but I noticed you the first time when you just arrived here,” Marco said.
“How come you never spoke to me before?” Princess Anse asked, looking over at him.
“You are not really approachable,” Marco said, laughing.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Princess Anse asked.
“You are always surrounded by your guards. Why do you have guards? Are you some sort of important person? A Princess?” Marco asked.
“Something like that,” Princess Anse chuckled.
“Really? From which country?” Marco wondered as he has never heard of a princess named Anse.
“You won’t believe me if I tell you,” Princess Anse said, smiling, looking down at her feet.
“Try me,” Marco puts his finger under her chin and lifted her face so that her eyes met his.
“Perhaps one day when I get to know you, I will tell you my secret,” Princess Anse said, stepping away from him, putting a little bit of distance between them, not wanting to allow herself to fall in love with Mr. Popular.
Marco started to unbutton his shirt and frightened princess Anse, making her give a step backward, “What are you doing?”
“I have seen you in your birthday suit, so it is only fair you see me in mine,” Marco said, taking his shirt off and reaching for his trousers.
“No, stop,” Princess Anse leaped forward and grabbed his hands.
“What? You want to tell me you have never seen a naked man?” Marco laughed, stepping away from her hands and dropping his pants, wearing no underwear.
“Put your clothes back on,” Princess Anse demanded, looking away, her cheeks flushed.
“Come on, have a look,” Marco said, laughing.
Princess Anse turned her head to him, but her eyes were still shut.
“You know you want to,” Marco encouraged her.
By the time princess Anse opened her eyes, Marco already got his shoes off and stepped out of his pants.
Princess Anse lets her eyes sweep over him slowly, looking at every part of him.
“Now we are even,” Marco laughed turning around to show his rear end.
Princess Anse smiled and dashed for his clothing before running off, laughing.
“Hey! Come back here!” Marco laughed, chasing after her.
Marco came to a halt when he notices princess Anse has come to a halt, facing her father.
“What do you think you are doing?” Prince Vasili asked, looking at the male clothing in her hands.
“Nothing,” Princess Anse said out of breath, dropping the clothing at her feet.
“Who does that belong to?” Prince Vasili asked, looking around.
“Nobody,” Princess Anse said, blushing.
“Please tell me you are not,” Prince Vasili started but she interrupted him.
“Pappa!” Princess Anse yelled, her face turning a deeper red under the moonlight.
“Why are you out here without your guards?” Prince Vasili asked, grabbing her by her arm and walking her back to their house.
“You don’t have to pull me, I can walk perfectly fine on my own,” Princess Anse said, trying to pull away from him.
***
Prince Vasili never did find out what princess Anse was doing with a man’s clothing in her hands and chose to leave it at that, he did however grounded her indefinitely.
Every Sunday princess Anse will steal glances over at Marco who became less loud and retreated away from his friends to have silent moments of stares at princess Anse.
One Sunday after church while prince Vasili was held up by some of the church members, princess Anse took the opportunity to sneak off.
Princess Anse got a fright when she got pulled into a dark corner inside the church but when she caught the scent of Marco she was at ease. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust and find his.
Unexpectantly Marco’s lips landed on hers. Marco retreated his lips, thinking that perhaps he has read her wrong but then princess Anse put her lips on his. Marco parted her lips with his tongue and kisses her softly. Princess Anse did not shy away from his tongue and allowed herself to explore his mouth as well.
They both get pulled out of the moment, freezing with their lips still locked when prince Vasili cleared his throat.
Princess Anse turned around slowly to face her father.
“Marco,” Marco stepped forward, hand extended.
“I know who you are,” Prince Vasili said, ignoring his hand, “Stay away from my daughter.”
Prince Vasili's one hand was behind his back and with his other hand he showed princess Anse to walk, “After you.”
With her head hanging and her eyes on the ground, princess Anse walked out of the church and towards their car.
Just as Marco stepped out of the church a few of princess Anse’s bodyguards stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
“Next time you won’t be so lucky,” the biggest build of the bodyguards warned, his arms folded over his chest.
“What are you going to do big guy?” Marco stepped into a boxing stance, swinging his fist.
The bodyguards started to laugh at him and the big one extended his hand to smack Marco down but Marco manage to dodge it only for his face to meet the big one’s other hand.
The bodyguard smacked him so hard that he lost his footing. The bodyguards left him there, walking away and laughing.
