The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 71. You are beguiling.

Chapter 71: 71. You are beguiling.

"That little traitor!" Neriah slammed her fist on the desk and rose to her feet.

"W_what is the matter? W_what are you going to do?" Aria asked with her eyes wide open.

"What else? I am going to get that little thing!" Neriah retorted.

"Wait, so does that mean you are going out? You will be going up, on deck?" Aria continued.

"Going out? On deck? Is that where I will find her?" Neriah asked and Aria’s face lit up with a smile as she saw the expression on her ladies face. It was that look that she always had when she didn’t want to admit that she was doing something for some certain reason.

That look of feigned ignorance. Aria could tell, Neriah also wanted to go out today!

"Wait a moment my lady, do not go out without your shawl." Aria cried out with utter joy as she ran and picked up the shawl and placed it over Neriah’s shoulders, arranging her long red hair so some parts fell on her right shoulder and the rest remained at her back.

"Alright, let us go and enjoy the view outside, sorry, I mean scold that little traitor." Aria chuckled.

Neriah turned her face to the side with her chin held high, "Well, I guess it will not hurt to actually greet him if I run into him on the way." she said and Aria just held in her laughter and silently escorted her mistress out.

"Your Highness!" A knight almost screamed in shock as he saw Neriah walking toward the stairs that led to the deck of the ship. His head was bowed very low and at his loud greeting, others noticed her and followed suit. Maids and crew members alike.

All who laid eyes on her bowed their head and greeted her and Aria could only scoff at their double-faced actions. They were bad-mouthing her in whispers all this while, but now they bow their heads so politely. They were laughable.

Aria was forever grateful to the crown prince for allowing her come with Neriah, because she could only imagine how hard life would have been for her mistress.

"And I have never been on sea before, you know. I always wanted to go on a long voyage." They could hear her tiny voice. "An adventure like the stories, with a big strong man like Your Highness, but I have never gotten the chance." But she was not in sight. "That is why I am so, so happy to be on this ship. Because you are so big, and strong, it almost seems like the waves of the sea cannot move you." All they could see was a bunch of men gathered in one place, laughing.

"Of course, little red, our prince is indeed strong, even the creatures of the sea stand in awe of him." one of the men gathered together said. Aria heard a low scoff escape from her mistress’s mouth.

"Have ye not heard of all the feats of our great prince!" Another said.

"Oh please do tell." Riri said, "I would love to hear all about the mighty feats of the Almighty and beautiful prince." She said sweetly and Neriah scoffed yet again.

"Oh, Your Highness, little red here seems to be more smitten by you than your princess." Someone said and everyone laughed. Aria stared at Neriah for a reaction but there was nothing. Well, she wasn’t insulted so...

"Aye, how could I not be smitten. Look at the man! I wish I was five feet taller, I would have swapped places with the princess." Riri said again and everyone laughed. Aria could only pray that someone would tell the little fairy to close her running mouth. She knew Riri’s mouth would get her in trouble someday. If the day was today, then it had come later than Aria had expected.

"’Tis only natural little red, every woman desires our prince. You do not know how they throw themselves at his feet. Just he say the word, and they would gladly clean his feet with their hair." And there it was, the scoff Aria knew would come, with a snort in tow.

"Of course they would!" They heard her voice again, "He is soooo charming. And so tall and oh so beautiful. I love the dimple at his chin, and Your highness you have really beautiful chin. Everything about Your Highness is beguiling." The men chuckled delightfully at her words. But it only seemed to irritate Neriah.

"Really?" Now they heard his voice too. They could not see him either.

"Well of course, Riri never lies to a handsome man." Neriah scoffed at the words of her fairy.

"Well, I wish your mistress will also find me beguiling." He spoke again with a chuckle and—

"Ah! M_my Lady! I_ I mean, your highness!!" It was one of those two maids who followed the crazy maid Neriah had punished on her first day aboard the ship.

At the loud voice of the maid, the laughs from the men stopped, and all heads turned around and instantly they scurried, bowing their heads and greeting as they did so.

And as they scattered like a stone had been dropped in the midst of ants, he came to view. Big as always, seated upon a barrel, dressed in a simple tunic, trousers and boots. Apart from the absence of his sword, he was just as he was the night they first met. Golden eyes staring at her, silently, as if stripping her of all thoughts.

And her gaze shifted, upon his shoulder was Riri, and Neriah shot her a death glare and the little fairy jumped and hid behind the big man.

"Now, now, princess," the corner of his lips rose slightly, "Do not scare the poor thing." And the smile on his face was evident, and Aria stared at him, and then at her mistress who seemed to be the only thing he had eyes for. And she thought to herself,

’If not anything, at the very least, he is mesmerized by her.’