Chapter 4

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Your POV
———

I'm back in my regular clothes again as I flop down onto my bed, ready to hit the sack.

As I try to fall asleep, I can't seem to get Laurance out of my head.

•••

I'm in the barn now, at around six in the morning, just cleaning up.

My eyes sit on the empty stall I noticed yesterday, and panic floods my entire being.

I forgot to tell my step-family about that!

Oh no..I'm definitely going to be in big trouble for that if they find out.

I push the thought away as I involuntarily shiver from what the punishment could be, and I continue sweeping the barn floors.

I can hear the sound of incoming footsteps and horse hooves on the ground coming in my direction, then stop. I look up to the back door, and gasp in surprise as I make eye contact with a pair of familiar blue orbs.

I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down, and Laurance chuckles, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Hey, it's you! From yesterday!"

I nod, looking back at him, "Yeah, it's me. Wait..that's my horse! Why do you have him?"

Laurance laughs nervously, "Well, uh, I had used him to escape from my father. Sorry about that."

"It's..fine," I reply, taking the lead of the horse and putting him up in the stall. "Thank you for bringing him back."

"Well he doesn't belong to me."

"How noble of you," I playfully state, shutting the stall gate and locking it.

I turn to get back to work, when I meet the gaze of Laurance.

We just stare at each other. I study his features and feel my face heat up when he suddenly smirks.

"Is something wrong? Don't tell me you're falling for my looks," Laurance teases.

I look away and roll my eyes in an amused manner, "Think what you want to, your majesty, but you had also been looking at me."

He laughs, "True, true."

He takes a step forward, "My name is Laurance, mind telling me yours now?"

I chuckle at him, "My name is YN."

"YN...cute name for a cute guy such as yourself," he casually flirts.

"Heh, it's nice to meet you as well, your majesty."

"Just call me Laurance."

"Fine then. It's nice to meet you, Laurance."

"It's nice to meet you too, YN."

We talk for a while and I continue cleaning. Laurance jumps in and helps me, despite my protests.

He had said, "A little cleaning never hurt nobody."

Say that to my step-family.

Suddenly, Katelyn runs into view at the front doors of the barn. She ignores Laurance as she locks her panicked gaze on me, "YN! They know!"

I stand straight, setting my broom off to the side and speed walking over to her. Laurance right behind me.

"They know what?" I ask sternly, my voice wavering ever so slightly.

"That you knew a horse went missing but you didn't tell them," Kate replies.

"What? How?" I inquire, my nerves growing stronger.

"The king and queen had stopped by and talked to your step-mother about how the prince went missing and apparently had a horse with him. I overheard their conversation, and when I checked the barn yesterday, the horse was gone. I guess they connected two and two together," Katelyn explains, her gaze flickering to Laurance. "Wait—the prince?!"

"Yes, just—get him out of here while I go deal with this. Everything will be fine, I swear," I reassure her before I run off, giving her a look that tells her not to explain the situation between my step-family and I.

She nods and ushers Laurance away, not answering his questions to a full extent. Telling him to come back later.

And by later, she probably means never.

I slam open the door to the manor, only to be bombarded by my step-family.

"How could you do this to us?" Theresa asks dramatically, shoving me to the ground as Ivy closes the door.

"Do what?" I inquire defensively.

"Lie to us about the horse! You knew it was taken yesterday, and you never told us! Nya!" Michi pitches in.

"It's not that big of a deal..it was returned this morning," I argue, standing up.

"That doesn't change the fact that you kept a secret from us!" Theresa exclaims.

"I was going to tell you—"

"When?!"

"—but I forgot about it until this morning."

Danny steps in with his wife and son, Lily and Harley. Theresa glares at him, "What are you doing back here? How?"

"They just told me that I was free to go, ma'am," Danny lies smoothly, covering for me.

"Fine, just go work in the fields or something," Theresa dismisses them, and they leave.

She turns back on me, "I'll let this one slide, but do not let something like this happen again. Understood?"

I nod and she points to the door. I exit and race back to the barn, where Katelyn paces around anxiously.

"Kate," I state, and she faces me, relief reaching her features.

"Oh, thank God," she rushes over and hugs me.

I wrap my arms around her comfortingly.

"They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"Not very much, no. Just shoved me to the ground, but that's about it," I inform her as we pull apart.

She helps me continue cleaning the barn, being protective.

"So, what happened with Laurance?" I ask.

"Oh, him? After I forced him to leave, he told me to tell you that he wants to see you again sometime and hopes that you're okay. He could tell something was going on, despite not being told anything about the situation."

"Thanks, Katelyn."

"You're welcome, YN."

———

-CastrarWolf

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