THE Knight’s Hidden Princess

It was a long and awkward journey, not to mention lonely. Though it was something I was used to, the loneliness I mean but I thought everything would be different since I left the palace, it wasn't. I sat still, the book I was reading spread open on my laps. I was grateful I managed to at least grab a book from my palace with me to the house when I got married.

I never had access to the library here, it was no secret the Hawthorne do not trust me, especially with the library which was known to hold lot of history and knowledge. So I grabbed my books with me when I got married it was the only valuable property I owned and the only thing I needed to escape reality when it gets too much for me.

Heaving out a sigh, I turned to look at the shuttered windows. I reached out with a gloved hand and lightly pulled the shutters to the side. The evening sun bathed the landscape in molten gold, its rays spilling over the fires like liquid fire. The trays swayed gently, their leaves dancing in the glow, a stark contrast to the stillness inside of me.

For a moment, I let myself imagine that I was elsewhere, somewhere far from the weight of expectation, far from the Hawthorne name and it is suffocating walls. In another life I would be on a horse, racing through the forest feeling the evening wind on my face and in my hair as I race without any weight of responsibilities on my shoulders.

"You shouldn't open the shutters like that."

And just like that, I was yanked back into my harsh reality! Unable to hide it, I glared at the man riding beside me, sitting on his dark mare with an air of arrogance about him that seem to cling to him like a second skin.

"Is that so?" I asked and I saw Reagan's subtly turn to look at me, "I wasn't aware of the fact fresh air was forbidden."

Reagan heaved out an exasperated sigh as if I was nothing more than an annoyance to him. "Forbidden, no? Impossibly reckless, then yes." He said, "You never know who might be watching."

"Well good thing I have the bravest knight in the kingdom watching over me." I said in a breathy sigh as I bat my eyelash at him.

"Close the shutters Dahlia!" Reagan said in a stern tone before he turned to look at me with a piercing gaze in those dark eyes of his, "Do as I say for your own safety and quit being a whiny princess." With that he rode off.

"I'll quit being whiny when you remove that stick up your ass." I muttered under my breath, knowing he was too far to hear but I still snapped the shutters shut despite my irritation.

The carriage's interior darkened and I leaned back against the cushioned seat, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I picked up my book allowing the words to pull me into another world, one removed from the tension outside of a carriage.

When I was almost to the end of the chapter where the heroine finally found her happily ever after with the duke, the carriage rolled to a stop. I opened the shutters again just to see familiar stone walls.

We've arrived! I thought to myself feeling a familiar weight start to press against my chest as I glanced out of the carriage window, catching my first glimpse of the estate. The doors to my carriage suddenly opened revealing Reagan who stood with an arm stretched towards me with the effortless confidence of a man who never doubted he would be obeyed.

And so our charade begins.

Slipping a hand into his large calloused warm hand. With a subtle almost possessive tug, he pulled me down from the carriage. Reagan's dark gaze slowly roamed up and down my body and as if satisfied by what he sees, he pulled me and led me towards the front gate where I saw my brother Bjorn and his family waiting for us.

I tried to contain the bubble of emotions I felt within me at the sight of my brother. It seems so long since I've seen him and I honestly was just so happy, I wanted to run to go and hug him but I knew we had to maintain protocol. He may be my brother but he is a prince, heir to the throne so there were rules to follow, appearances to maintain and a charade to uphold.

Reagan and I took careful measured steps towards my family waiting for me, Miguel followed behind closely, puffing out his chest to seem more intimidating but all it did was make him look ridiculous. My brother's piercing eyes met mine, a flicker of warmth softening his otherwise stoic expression.

When we finally reached them Reagan inclined his head in a gesture of respect, "Prince Bjorn," He said his voice steady and polite.

Bjorn nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Sir Reagan." He greeted, his tone deep and filled with an air of arrogance only a royal should have. His blue eyes then moved to look at me, filled with warmth before he nodded his head once. "It's good to have you home princess."

Once again, I was filled with the urge to throw myself around him. "Thank you your highness." I said choosing to curtsy instead.

Miguel cleared his throat awkwardly behind us, seeking acknowledgement from the prince no doubt. Bjorn's gaze landed on Miguel, a tight smile forming on his lips as he nodded towards him. "Miguel."

I nearly snorted in response at what Bjorn did. Just Miguel. No title, no grand acknowledgment—just his name, served plainly and without flourish.

Lady Amelia, Bjorn's wife stepped forward, her face blank of all emotion as she stared at me, her sharp eyes assessing me as if I was nothing more than an unwelcome guests in her domain. "I'll see to it your servants take your luggage to your room."

"Thank you." I said with a small smile which she didn't return and instead, she turned briskly to issue instructions to the servants hovering behind her.

Amelia and I didn't exactly see eye to eye. She doesn't like me and I can say the feeling was mutual. The distance between us wasn't due to animosity though. Our duties to our respective households was what kept us apart and maybe that was for the best.

"Father will see you in his study tomorrow morning as matters of the state are busy keeping him awake this night." Bjorn suddenly announced.

My heart skipped a bit but I managed a smile already anticipating what laid ahead. I could feel eyes on me and I saw Reagan staring down at me. His expression was intense, his dark eyes brimming with curiosity, though he made no effort to voice his thoughts.

Swallowing I nodded my head at Bjorn before anyone could ask any questions. "Of course," I said ignoring the tightness in my throat. "I guess I better go get some sleep, so I'll get ready."

Bjorn gazed at me with an expression on his face, one I didn't want to decipher. He looked like he was about to say something but decided against it. Instead he nodded his head at me with a look of understanding on his face, "But of course, have a goodnight rest, the both of you."

Reagan and I nodded our head, then entered inside the castle. I headed towards the guest room I know has already been prepared for us and as I walked the familiar halls which stretched ahead, dimly lit by flickering sconces I tried not to think about what laid ahead for me tomorrow.