The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

'Blood Moon.'

"Witches are hated in my world.'

Alicia's brows pulled together as she tried to make sense of where she had heard those words. It was a feminine voice. Who said that to her? Was it Amber? Or Queen Anne? She mused.

"Princess?" Harold called softly as he touched her arm, and she looked into his face.

"Did you remember something just now?" Harold asked, and Alicia sighed.

"I'm not sure yet. I feel like I dreamt of Princess Amber. Or maybe it was Queen Anne," Alicia said and Harold nodded.

"I think you might possess their powers," Harold said, and Alicia looked at him curiously.

"Me? Why do you think so?"

"I heard your voice in my head while I was unconscious. You said you would never forgive me if I didn't wake up," Harold said, and Alicia's eyes widened in surprise since she could remember she had said that.

"You... heard that?" She asked, and Harold gave her a nod.

"And while you were asleep, you heard my thoughts and responded," Harold said, and her mouth dropped open as she raised a hand to her chest in disbelief.

"I... did?" She asked, and Harold nodded again.

"You told me you didn't do it, so I'm sure you didn't do it," Harold said, and she looked at him curiously.

"Do you believe in witches? Don't you think it would be a problem for you if truly Princess Amber is a witch?" Alicia asked with concern.

"I don't care about that. All I want is for you to be safe," Harold said, but Alicia remained worried.

"So you left me alone with Harvey?" She asked, returning to their discussion.

"Yes."

"Can I speak with Harvey? I need to know what happened after that," she said, and Harold looked at her for a moment before giving her a nod.

"You can do so later. I brought you out because I wanted you to rest."

"I know. But I cannot rest. You and Tyra were almost killed. Beth was killed while I am being framed for everything and almost got killed! Paulina almost lost her life too. The king is also ill. I can't just pretend like I'm on a high school field trip and live happily." She pointed it out to him and noticed the confusion on his face when she talked about a field trip. She sighed and reached out to hold his hand.

"I just want to know. Otherwise, I won't be comfortable and it wouldn't matter that I am out of the palace. Nothing would change."

Harold sighed and held her hand as he said softly, "After your discussion with Harvey, Alvin escorted you back to your chamber. I suppose you left your chamber and were on your way to find me when you bumped into Lance. I can't tell when you were given the biscuits," Harold said, and Alicia nodded thoughtfully.

"What did we talk about? When I thought I was going to die, I was sad because I couldn't remember our last conversation," Alicia confided, and Harold chuckled, surprising her.

"What is funny?" She asked in confusion.

"It was hardly a pleasant memory. You were upset and yelling at me. You even said you were going to kill me when I carried you on my shoulder back to your chamber," Harold said in amusement as he recalled what transpired between them.

He was about to start narrating to her when something occurred to him, making him furrow his brows.

"Harold?" Alicia called softly when she noticed the thoughtful look in his eyes, and Harold looked at her.

"Are you okay? I asked you why I was upset," Alicia repeated, reminding him that he was supposed to be telling her about what had transpired between them.

Harold's thoughts drifted back to what happened when Alicia joined him and Tyra.

"I was looking for you everywhere," Alicia said breathlessly.

"I will return to my room now," Tyra said politely, bowed, and left the couple without listening to Harold's protest to wait so they could see her off.

"Aren't you supposed to be in your chamber?" He asked Alicia after Tyra left.

Still panting, she reached for his water gourd but found it empty. "No more water?" she asked with displeasure.

"Tyra only brought that. Why are you panting? Did you run?" He asked as he began to walk ahead of her.

"Where are you going to?" she asked.

"To find you some water." He said and tried to keep his pace even so she could catch up.

"I wanted to ask you something," Alicia said breathlessly.

"Don't say anything and try to catch your breath before you speak," Harold cautioned.

"How can I catch my breath when you're still walking?" She asked in annoyance.

"Then wait here while I get you water," Harold said and quickly hurried away from her with his gourd to find her water.

He returned a moment later with a gourd of water, which he handed her, saying, "You should not always run." He advised.

She accepted the gourd from him and took mightly gulps from it, some slipping out and ending up on her face and the side of her mouth.

Harold looked at her with his lips pressed together, "I understand why Harvey easily believes you are not Amber."

"What do you mean by that?" She growled at him, and Harold shook his head in disapproval.

"Your training will resume after the banquet. I have to start from scratch and teach you how to act like a proper lady," Harold said, thinking that she would have to learn to be more gracious as Queen.

"I know how to act like a lady just fine," she hissed in annoyance.

Sensing that they were going to be having a misunderstanding soon if he didn't change the subject, Harold gave her a false smile and said, "You do, Princess. What were you going to ask me?" He asked, and immediately Alicia narrowed her eyes.

"I finally figured out what you're hiding from me. I mean the secret of the Moon Kingdom," Alicia said, and Harold's heart skipped a beat as he wondered if Harvey had told her about it. He was going to behead him if he had done that. But he doubted that. She seemed too relaxed for someone who knew about their kind.

Keeping his face casually blank, he raised a brow, "Tell me about it then."

"Harvey doesn't want to admit it..." she used her hand to gesture for him to come closer.

Curiously, he went closer and even tried to meet her height when she stretched to whisper in his ear, "I know you are witch hunters."

Harold snorted and stepped away from her.

"Witch hunters?"

"Yes. Are you not?" She asked, and Harold shook his head.

"No."

"Then what are you?" She asked with a confused frown, and Harold shook his head.

"I've told you already. I'm not saying anything until you give yourself to me. So if you want to know..."

"WHY?" She yelled at him, surprising Harold, who looked around to be sure no one was watching them.

"Why do I have to give myself to you to know anything? Don't you know that this is called blackmail? How am I even sure that whatever you are going to tell me is even worth it?" She snapped at him, and Harold raised an eyebrow. He wasn't sure he was ever going to get used to being yelled at.

"You know what? Don't tell me anything. Why am I even wasting my time? I'm going to ask the King myself!" She said impatiently and started marching towards the palace, but before she could take a few steps, Harold swept her off her feet and carried her on his shoulder.

"HAROLD!" She shrieked in horror since that had happened so fast.

"Set me down this moment or I'm going to kill you."

Harold ignored her as she kicked and cussed and yelled. He ignored all the eyes that followed them as he took her to her chamber, and once he walked through the door, he threw her on the bed.

"Don't leave your chamber again, and don't go about asking anyone any questions," Harold warned.

"Or what? What are you going to do?" She hissed at him, and Harold smiled at her.

"I don't know what I'm going to do, Princess. But if you want to be safe, you have to stay in your chamber."

"Why? Safe from what? At least tell me something!" She snapped at him in frustration.

"I can't tell you anything until you..." Harold let the rest of his words trail off, and he bit back a chuckle when he saw the flash of anger in her eyes.

"You will be served dinner in your chamber. I might come late, but I will join you before dawn," Harold promised as he headed for the door while Alicia glared at his back.

He paused by the door when he remembered something, and turned to her as he bent to take out a dagger from his boot. "You left it in my chamber. Keep it beside you tonight," he said as he returned to give her the dagger.

"You have some nerve giving a dagger to an angry woman. You remember what happened the last time I was angry with you, and I had a dagger, don't you?" She asked, and Harold smiled.

"I know you won't hurt me again... baby." he said confidently before walking away, leaving Alicia, whose jaw was hanging loose as she kept asking herself in disbelief, "Did he just call me 'BABY!?"

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