I followed Nathaniel upstairs. He was walking too fast as if he wished to leave the place immediately. Well after what had happened I couldn't blame him.

His parents were awful. I mean, my parents aren't perfect either but his parents were too much. If they were that kind of people, then they shouldn't have kids in the first place. And I thought that Ace has a nasty personality, but the king and queen of Vertez took that title easily.

In their eyes, they see Nate as a good for nothing.

Then I saw that Nate went inside one of the rooms. I would assume that it is his room. I paused in front of it. Suddenly there was a scream. It sounded angry, painful even. Then there was a loud crash.

I knocked hesitantly. "Nate?" No one answered. "Nate, you there?" I asked and knocked a little louder this time.

"Go away, Rose." Came his reply.

I paused. Then, like an idiot, I asked, "You....you wanna talk about it?"

"No." Came his reply. "Just leave me alone, Rose. Please."

I sighed. "Alright then," I said and was about to leave when I thought of something. Before coming to Thalia, had Nate always lived like this? Every day being harassed by the words of his parents. He gets along with his brother, but he doesn't try to exactly console him at all.

I can't just leave this vampire prince in here sulking.

With a frown, I turned back and knocked even louder at his door. "NATE!! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME I WILL BREAK IT OPEN!!!" I demanded.

He didn't answer.

"I know you can clearly hear me, Nathaniel!"

Now he was pretending to snore.

Does he take me for a fool?

Alright then. Enough games. Pretty dress or not, I lifted my skirt and started kicking on the door. When the heel broke, I started pounding on it with my fist. My hands were already sore from pounding too much, but I didn't even think of giving up.

"Ow!" My fist landed on something soft that I had to pause and look. I saw Nate gripping his nose as he glared down at me. I hid my hands behind my back and gave him a sheepish grin.

"Uh...hehe. Didn't see you there."

"What do you want, Rose?"

"I...I-uh....." I stuttered while looking at the ground. I actually hadn't thought of what I was going to say to be honest. But then something in his room caught my gaze. "What the?" Without his permission, I went past him and into his room. "What happened here?" I ask, looking at the mess on the floor.

"Yeah sure. You can come in. No problem at all." Nate rolled my eyes as I closed the door. "Rose, you can't just go barging in on a guy's room. Especially since you're a girl."

"I'm gonna pretend that I didn't hear sexism in that statement." I turned to him. "But wow, Nate. That's a lot of anger in there." I pointed at the mess on the floor. "And you know what I think?"

He averted his gaze from me and looked at the ground. "I don't really care at the moment." He mumbled, which earned a glare from me as a response. "I-I mean go on."

"Nate, I think you are handling it all wrong. You are keeping that anger all to yourself and you are expressing it physically."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Talk."

He scoffed. "Sorry, love. Not really the sharing-your-emotion type of person." He said. I narrowed my eyes on him. I marched up to him and pinched his ear.

"Ow! What do you think you are doing!?"

"It's for your own good." I dragged him to a couch and made him sat beside me. He tried to get up but I placed my hand on his shoulder and forced him down again. "Nate! I'm trying to help you as a friend," I said calmly.

"Babe, I thought we were more than that!"

I cracked my knuckles. I was getting impatient at how uncooperative he was.

"Alright fine!" He said tiredly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I want you to talk to me about...who.....Kascada is." That person must have been important to him. I remember back at the ball that the fairy princess mentioned a name and Nate had the same reaction.

Nate winced. "Why would you want to know?"

Seeing his reaction, I was debating on whether or not I should even be asking this, but I think it's the main cause of his problems. "Well," I started. "I figured she must....be the source of your.....current predicament."

Nate was quiet for a moment. It was as if he was either preparing himself or he just doesn't want to say it. "Just one question." He said. "If I say no you will still force me to speak, won't you?"

My response was quick. "Yep."

He gave me a small smile. "Alright then. I'll tell you." He fiddled with his hands as he looked at the ceiling. "Two years ago, I met a beautiful lady who stole my heart. Lady Kascada Starling."

**Nathaniel**

"Prince Nathaniel, we are almost at Duke Frank's home." Announce one of the guards beside me. I nodded at him in acknowledgment as I petted Ryde, my horse. Most of the time, I enjoy riding with him, but today was different. I hate it. Not because I was being escorted by our castle guards but because this trip will be my very last ride of freedom.

All because of the arranged marriage that my father and the king of Fae made. According to him, I am supposed to marry that whinny and spoiled fairy princess named Camille. At first, I didn't mind the fact that my future was being decided for me by my father, but after meeting my so-called future wife, it makes me want to kill myself. As I have said - she's bossy, spoiled, rude, and very...attached to me. Most of the time if I might add. Among the both of us, she was the only one who's happy about the arrangement.

Princess Camille and I were each given a contract that we must take to each Duke and Duchess of our kingdom for them to sign as witnesses. According to the rule, all the Duchess and Dukes should sign the contract for the proposal to commence. So far, everyone has signed the contract and is congratulating me on my marriage. I, of course, gave them my thanks and pretended that I was as thrilled as them. Sometimes even faking to be in love with the witch. According to my father, princess Camille already finished getting the signatures for her contract - I'm not even surprised.

As for me, I only have one signature left to fetch before my fate is sealed with Camille: Frank Starling's signature. To be honest, I could just throw the contract away and pretend that a wolf ate it or something, but I won't. It was the decision of my father and I must respect it.

Finally - or should I say, unfortunately - we arrive at Duke Frank's home. After one of the guards announced our arrival, a servant came and ushered me in. She told me to sit on the couch and wait while she called for her master. I didn't complain, just sat there as I counted the seconds that passed by.

A few minutes later and I heard footsteps going down the stairs. I immediately stood up when I thought that it was him, but it wasn't. A tall, slim, and a dark-haired girl descended from the stairs. She was so beautiful that I had to watch in awe as she made her way to me. Her light grey eyes locked into mine as she smiled and curtsied. "Prince Nathaniel Denver, we are honored for your arrival. My father will arrive any minute now and has sent me here to tell you out of respect." She said and started to fidget nervously.

I gulped. "I - uh" I stuttered and quickly looked away as I cleared my throat. What are you doing, Nate? Focus!! "Um...Your father?....Er..what's your name?" I stuttered.

She blushed at my question. "Oh no! I am so sorry! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kascada Starling, daughter of Frank Starling. My apologies for my rudeness, your highness."

"Oh no no no!!" I quickly said feeling embarrassed myself. "Please, do not apologize. It was a simple mistake, lady Kascada." Her name sounded so beautiful that I want to repeat it over and over again.

Lady Kascada paused and looked at me. Then she caught me off guard when she smiled. "Thank you, Prince Nathaniel." She said softly that it almost made me forget the whole reason why I was here in the first place. As if reading my mind, she asked me, "If you don't mind me asking, my prince, what assistance do you need my father for?"

My throat went dry and I quickly hid the contract behind me. I don't know why but for some reason I don't want her to know of it. Her gaze followed my movement and I feared that she'd find out what I really came for so I acted fast. "Uhhh....I was just....gonna ask how your father has been. Yes. You see, with the large cases of undead lurking around in the neighborhood I was worried about his safety. You haven't seen any undead around here, right?"

Lady Kascada tilted her head to the side. "Uhhh....no."

"Excellent!! That's all I needed to hear. Send your father my regards, alright? I must get going. Nice meeting you, lady Kascada." I said hurriedly before I made my way to the exit with an unsigned contract. It was the first time that I disobeyed my father's orders.

The next day, I hid the contract in one of my drawers. It wasn't needed until Camille turns 18 next year. My father did ask if I had the contract signed in which I had to lie and say yes. Lucky for me that he didn't ask me to see it.

As of now, I was lurking in the trees and looking out at Duke Frank's house in hopes of seeing that girl again - Kascada. For some reason, I have this sudden urge that I wanted to see her again. To see her beautiful face and those gorgeous gray orbs of hers.

I felt like a stalker.

Ryde let out a whine and nudged me at the back. "Not now, Ryde," I told him without looking as I continued to have a lookout for a certain beauty.

"So. Ryde is his name, huh?"

I jumped in surprise and turned to look at the intruder. I was about to draw my sword when I saw that it was Kascada. I quickly straightened up and cleared my throat. "Lady Kascada!! What a surprise!! Didn't expect to see you here." I said and let out a nervous laugh. What am I saying?

Kascada raised an eyebrow at me. "I live here, Prince Nathaniel." She said. "And if I may ask, what are you doing here?"

"I was just uhh...looking out for rogue undead!! Yes! I just wanted to make sure that this area is safe."

"How noble and brave of you, your highness."

I grinned at the compliment and almost didn't feel bad about lying. I saw her carrying a basket full of flowers. "What's with the flowers?" I asked.

"Oh, these?" She held up her bouquet of flowers to me. "I was just picking up flowers for my father. These are his favorite. He said that it helps lessen out his stress. Here, your highness, I think you should have one too." She handed me one of the flowers that she picked.

"Thank you," I said as I took it and felt myself smile. "You know. I think I understand what your father feels. I don't think that it's the flowers that take away his stress, but the one who's giving it."

She blushed at my words and looked at the ground. "Thank you, your highness."

I smiled. She was so adorable. "Please. Call me Nate."

This time, she looked at me with wide eyes. "But I can't possibly do that, your highness."

"Nate." I held her hand. "My name is Nate." I gave her an encouraging nod.

She looked hesitant at first but eventually, she said it. "N-Nate." Her face was as red as a tomato as of the moment that I just wanted to touch her cheek. "U-um...y-you can also call me Kascada....,Nate."

By now I was grinning like a fool. "Kascada it is."

Kascada and I started to hang out more and more after that. I would sneak out of the castle or pretend that I would take Ryde for a run. The more time I spent with her, the more I found out that we have a lot in common. We both like animals, especially horses. But according to her, her father won't allow her to have a horse of her own because he feared that it would be too dangerous for her, so I took it with me to teach her how to ride.

For the very first time in my life, it felt like I was finally alive, normal, and not a prince of some kingdom. I was happy. I was in love. No one knew of our secret meeting because, during those times, it was our own private world.

"Nate, I-I think we should stop meeting up." She told me this one day and it broke my heart to hear her say it.

"What? Why? Have I done something to offend you?" I asked.

"No....no you haven't." She shook her head. Her face looked pained and it hurts me to see her like that. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"Then why don't you want to see me again?" I was hurt beyond words. I grabbed her shoulder and tried to make her look at me. "Kascada."

"Please, Nate. It's....wrong. Please."

"Wrong? What's so wrong about us meeting each other? Is that a crime now?"

This time I saw tears dripping down her face. "It's wrong when you already have a fiancé and still we are meeting each other!" She screamed. I was taken aback by her words. The moment that I feared finally came about her knowing of my engagement. Kascada looked at me. "It's true, isn't it? That was the reason why you came here two months ago. To have the arrangement be approved by my dad."

When I didn't answer, her face contorted into pain once again and she cried even harder. I want to wrap my arms around her and beg her to stop. It was killing me seeing her like this. I don't want her to hurt. "Gosh, I am so stupid!!" She sniffed and moved away from me. I tried pulling her back but she moved away and let out a laugh.

"Kas..."

"No. NO! Stay away from me, Nate. Please." She started to hug herself. "Don't make this any harder for me. Don't give me nice things or even act nice to me please." She sobbed. "Don't make me fall for you deeper than I already am."

Her words shocked me and despite our current situation, I felt hope. My heart pounded in my chest. "Kas, what did you just say?" I cautiously made my way to her.

"I-I like you, Nate." She said in between sobs. "I might even love you that it hurts so much." And that was it. That was all I needed to hear. I closed the gap between us and kissed her. It was a long one and we broke off, I wiped her tears away and made her look at me.

"Screw my engagement," I told her. "I don't love princess Camille. I love you, Kascada. Since the very first time, I saw you. It's you whom I want to marry and not her. If you will allow me, I will prove myself to you. So please....don't push me away and give us both a chance for whatever life has to give."

"B-but what about your parents?"

"I'll take care of it. I promise." I assured her. "Now, what do you say? My engagement contract is not even official." I grinned.

She hesitated at first but then she smiled at me. A genuine smile. "Yes."