The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

For the umpteenth time that morning, Alvin found himself standing in front of Susan, who was raising an eyebrow at him. She stood inside her chamber, holding the door while he stood outside.

"You know people will talk if they see the two of us several times in a day?" she pointed out to him, while he looked at her like she had lost it.

"You have been the one following me around," he reminded her before going straight to the point.

"Prince Harold wants you to help Princess Amber get dressed. They are leaving the palace."

Susan was about to retort to what he had said about her following him around, but the other statement he made piqued her interest.

"Leaving the palace? Why? Where are they heading to? Is she awake?"

She asked at once before stepping out of her chamber and closing the door behind her.

"She is awake. And she wants to leave the palace for a while," he informed her, making Susan frown in confusion as she wondered if that was a good thing to do at this point.

"Does she remember anything now? What of Prince Harold? Why is he leaving the palace? Won't everyone run away if he leaves the palace?"

Alvin almost massaged his temples. Why were all the women inside the palace abnormal? He didn't want to talk about Prince Harold's very strange bride. What about Paulina that could cry a river at any slightest thing and then a busybody like Susan? He just hoped she wouldn't get into trouble one day. Of course, he doubted that. And it wasn't his business if she fell into trouble because of her busybody.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" she asked impatiently.

"Would you run away after Prince Harold ordered everyone to stay back?" he asked her calmly.

Susan looked like she was pondering it before she hesitantly said, "Uhm... no?"

"Good. Stop asking questions and follow me." Alvin said coldly before he turned and began to walk ahead.

"If Prince Harold asked you to send for me, it means he trusts me, right?" she asked hopefully as she followed him.

That question made Alvin stop walking and turn to look at her.

"Are you planning to betray us?" He didn't wait for her to say anything before he reminded her, "You already swore on your life."

Susan could not help but roll her eyes. "Hold it! You are too suspicious. How do you live? And do not think I have forgotten how you hurt my palm earlier. Williams asked me to forgive you since you act insane when you're before a woman. That's why I--"

"What?" Alvin asked, frowning. "I act in..." He couldn't bring himself to complete the sentence as he glared daggers at her.

"Why are you glaring at me? Williams said that not me!" she reminded him as she began to walk ahead, leaving him behind.

"With this attitude, you are never going to get married," she said as she continued walking.

"I don't care about pointless things like that. You should be worried about yourself. No one would marry you." Alvin retorted, causing her to stop and look at him in disbelief.

Her abrupt stop in front of him also made him stop abruptly before he almost bumped into her. As usual, he frowned.

"Do I need to remind you about who I am? I am Susan. Not only am I a part of the royal family, but I am also so beautiful that all the young men in this kingdom would fall flat at my feet, asking me to marry them." She said smugly.

All Alvin said in response was a bland "Okay," before he moved to the side and walked past her, leaving her to stare at his back in disbelief. Why was he so abnormal and difficult? She fumed.

Unfortunately, she seemed to like how serious he always was. She wondered what he would turn into when he had a lady he truly loved.

Before she snapped out of her thoughts, they had already gotten to Harold's chamber, and as soon as Alvin knocked, the door was opened from inside.

Harold looked at Alvin before his gaze settled on the shorter person beside him.

"Be careful," he said to Susan in a warning tone before he stepped out with his change of clothing, while Alvin also gave her a warning look before he followed after Harold.

"I got the largest carriage ready for Princess Amber. Bane is also in front of the palace."

Harold nodded his gratitude before he went to one of his secret chambers to change.

Meanwhile, when Susan entered the room, she found Alicia looking frightened and quickly went to sit down beside her on the bed.

As usual, Susan asked several questions until she realized Alicia wasn't in the right state of mind, and then she stopped.

She did what she was supposed to do there, but she was surprised to find the outfit she was supposed to assist Princess Amber in changing into.

This seemed to remind her of what the king had said the other time about a woman wearing men's clothing and how Princess Amber had been interested in that topic. It makes sense now.

Another thing that surprised her was how nice it was on Princess Amber. She had never considered dressing like that before, but seeing it now, she was eager to try it out. Unfortunately, Williams was a lot bigger than her and she wasn't sure any store would agree to sell that to her even though she was a noble woman. Maybe she could plead with Williams to help her without their parents finding out?

A few minutes later, Harold was carrying Alicia in his arms out of the room to outside the palace doors, where the carriage was waiting. Her entire body, including her head, was covered with a quilt.

Susan followed and tried to catch up with Harold's long strides.

"Paulina. She has to come," Alicia said as soon as she was inside the carriage.