The Prince's Runaway Bride

"Young miss, the man that I told you before left with another man. I did not see the husband and wife send him off." The maidservant quickly informed Verone who was sipping tea at the moment.

"Did you check if they are still here? They could've left already at daybreak." Verone just sat there idly. She was fond of looking at the busy street from her bedroom window.

"I will ask around, young miss." The maidservant was about to leave when Verone stopped her.

"No need. For all we know, they are not here anymore. We don't even know if they are from Tissuria. Lots of people from other kingdoms go here to seek opportunities."

Verone continued sipping her tea and enjoying the view. She received a message telling her to set off at an earlier time. It was the Ninth Prince's man who delivered the message. They received an intelligence report that Renaria and Ovid may reach Tissuria sooner than expected. Zenia Anisen could be together with them.

Verone thought about the things that the man's wife had told her. What if the Crown Prince was a hideous beast who would cut off the head of anyone who annoyed him? He might find her annoying and just suddenly cut off her head. Verone massaged her neck as if she wouldn't be able to touch it again.

She thought about that enchanting yet hateful man. Was she fascinated because he treated her indifferently? Compared to the Ninth Prince in terms of looks, that man was a bit inferior. But, his imposing and majestic aura was far superior to that of the Ninth Prince. She wondered if he could be a prince.

* * * * *

"My lord, you're back!" Redivo greeted Vaughn as soon as he reached his palace.

"The Left Minister's niece, who is she?"

"Her name is Verone Rocca. Her mother is the Left Minister's half-sister. She belongs to a well-to-do family, and it seems that they are the ones who have been funding some of Left Minister's activities." Redivo suddenly stopped talking and thought of something.

"What is it?"

"If they have money, they don't need their daughter to be married off to you. So, why? Does the Left Minister want to plant a spy in the Crown Prince's palace?"

"Exactly! I already met this lady, and she's rather haughty and stupid. In fact, she was the one who told me that she's going to be my second wife. She also said that I will be marrying her ahead of Zenia."

Redivo's eyes widened and could not believe that the message they just sent was a bit late. He began to sweat profusely and pictured Vaughn's dark face when he received the late message.

'It looks like we are going to spend our days on the training ground.'

"What did the king say? Is he going to make me marry someone ahead of Zenia?"

"King Tarendino did not say anything."

Bang!

Everyone was startled when someone came rushing in.

"Brother, you've returned!" The man wearing a mask suddenly ran to Vaughn and gave him a hug.

"It's good to see you too Ruvin." Only Redivo's younger brother had the gall to do such a thing to Vaughn.

They grew up together, and it was Ruvin who had been with Vaughn during his training. They had the same built and stance – he was the perfect double for Vaughn. Among Vaughn's body doubles, Ruvin was the only one who could impersonate him flawlessly. He knew Vaughn's penmanship down to Vaughn's quirks and mannerisms. If there was anyone who should pose as Ruvin's double, Vaughn could do it without being detected.

"You don't know what my Big Brother plans to do to me. I hope I will never again be your double."

Vaughn creased his brows. "What did he say to you?"

"He wants me to marry that second wife of yours if the king suddenly declares it. Good thing that you have returned before your father does something stupid." Ruvin was not polite when talking about the king in front of Vaughn. He knew that Vaughn had never put his father in his eyes.

A menacing aura could be felt from Vaughn. Everyone turned silent as they tried to guess their Crown Prince's next command.

"Go check what the king wants to do next. This marriage with Verone Rocca must never happen even if Zenia is here. No woman should be in my palace but Zenia."

Vaughn smirked and it gave goosebumps to his subordinates. He remembered how Zenia slapped Verone in Solaria. His wife was not a soft persimmon that anyone could bully. In fact, those who wanted to bully her might ended up beaten beyond recognition.

"Redivo, send someone to Solaria and monitor Zenia's movements. I'm afraid she may still go to Lunaria although I've told her that it's dangerous."

"Why would she go there?" Redivo received a glare from Vaughn. "I will assign one right now." He left in a hurry.

Vaughn shook his head and feared that it was too late. Zenia could be on her way to Lunaria as he spoke with Redivo.

* * * * *

It was already late in the afternoon when Zenia and Elliot reached Lunaria. It was a desolate place that gave off a depressing feeling. Zenia knew that Lunaria would have a dark, eerie atmosphere but she did not expect that the place was totally devoid of sunlight. The air was cold and damp.

"Sir Von, you need to be careful and hold on to your horse. The ground here is always slippery. It will get better once we passed this path." Elliot warned her as they slowly move.

"I understand."

Zenia studied the surroundings. There was really nothing good to see. She wondered about the kind of life that the inhabitants of Lunaria were having.

'Are there people living here?'

It was too dark and gloomy. It felt like something would pounce on her at any given time.

"We are near the Luna Inn, sir. I have some business to attend there. You can book a room a take rest, and I will take you to places to find your raw material." Elliot promised her.

When they reached a clearing, the ground was no longer slippery, and it was not as dark as before. They traveled for another hour before they reached the town of Luna. Zenia saw some shops, and the whole place was buzzing. It got a bit lively but not as lively as the town in Solaria.

When they reached Luna Inn, Elliot got down from his horse and Zenia had followed suit. Elliot opened the door and the fierce-looking men were the first group of people that Zenia had seen. Zenia tried not to look at the men to avoid causing trouble.

"Good afternoon gentlemen, what can I do for you today?" An old man greeted them.

In Zenia's opinion, the old man could be in his sixties or seventies. He seemed lively and healthy for his age. Even though the place was cold, the old man greeted them with so much warmth that it made Zenia feel at ease. In all her travels, that was the first time that she experienced being greeted warmly.

"I'd like to book two rooms, please," Zenia informed the old man who seemed to give her a feeling of familiarity.

"You only need to book one room, kind sir. I will join my comrades over there." Elliot pointed to a group of burly men not far from them. "I will come back here in the morning."

Zenia looked on as Elliot joined the men. 'These men could be assassins.'

"You're right, kind sir." The old man suddenly uttered the words that puzzled Zenia.

"Come again, grandpa?"

"Ah, grandpa, I want the sound of that." The old man gave her a warm, dazzling smile.

That smile was somewhat familiar, but Zenia could not remember where she had seen it.