~…X…~

I didn't want to see Prince Keith, but father had to attend the Christmas Eve party at Nobel Michel. He didn't attend last year, so he's going this year to make up for his absence. He asked me if I wanted to go with him and Aiden. I really didn't want to, but I ended up saying yes to father. This is the first time again that father will be spending Christmas Eve with me, and I don't want to ruin it for him.

I decided to wear a plain white, strapless dress that went down to my knees. I'm not in the mood to wear fancy dresses, though, Aiden wanted me to wear one. The only thing that I regret wearing a strapless dress is that it's snowing and it's freezing cold.

"Are you sure you don't want to change to a warmer dress?" Aiden asked, staring at me with worried eyes. "I don't want to get sick later on. You know how dad gets when you get sick. He goes crazy and you don't want that, do you?"

"I'm fine." I snuggled closer to Aiden, getting comfortable in his as I gazed through the glass window of the car. "We're almost to Nobel Michel's castle, anyway."

"You say you're fine, but your body says the opposite." Aiden said as he wrap his right arms around my shoulder. "You're body feels like ice, dummy."

"I'm fine. I'm used to this kind of weather." I said. I'm accustomed to cold weather ever since I was a kid. I have lived in Sanct Sybil, in the country side and it wasn't that bad. But the cold in that country is colder than Aracelis.

"When we get to the Nobel Michel's castle, you're heading straight to your room. I'll prepare you some warm sweaters for tonight. You can pick what you like." Aiden said.

"Oh right." I looked back to Aiden. "I won't be staying long at the party. I already told father."

"Oh, really?" Aiden raised an eyebrow as he looked down at me. "Where are you going?"

"To a small orphanage that I saw a few months ago. It's out in the city." I said. "I met the caretaker of the orphanage, and she's really nice. I want to give presents to the children living there."

"That's nice."

"I'll be going alone."

That's when Aiden's expression changed. The small smile on his face fell, and was replaced with a frown. "Ah, no. You're not going to go there by yourself."

"Don't worry, I'll bring some bodyguards with me."

"Am I not your bodyguard?" Aiden asked. "It's my job to make sure you're safe anywhere you go. Have you forgotten who you are? You're a princess, not a normal person."

"I'm giving you a break. Have fun with the other butlers in the castle." I said. It's not that I don't want Aiden to come with me. I just want him to enjoy his Christmas Eve. He's been working a lot and barely taking any break.

There was a moment of silent before Aiden spoke again. "Fine. But if anything happens, call me immediately and I'll be there."

"Thanks." I smiled and kissed Aiden's on the cheek. "We can spend Christmas together with father tomorrow."

"You better keep that promise." Aiden said and he pinched my cheek with his fingers.

~…X…~

When Aiden and I got to Nobel Michel, we were greeted by Zain. "Good afternoon, Princess Lucian, and to you as well, Aiden." Zain smiled kindly as he bowed his head down.

"Hello, Zain." I smiled and bowed my head as well. Zain is older than me, so it's only right for me to show my respect to the butler of Mike.

"Hey." Aiden greeted Zain, nodding his head a bit. "Sorry if you had to wait out here while it's snowing. There was traffic on our way here."

"It's not a problem at all." Zain smiled. "Shall we going inside." He gestured his hand towards the gate, leading inside the castle. Father went ahead of us since he needed to talk to Mike.

I wonder if the princes are here already, and I can't help but think about Prince Keith. He'll probably ignore me when he sees me. I haven't answered his call since that day. I know I'm overreacting, but I just can't help it. Besides, our relationship wasn't doing well to begin with. Prince Keith barely had time with me ever since he asked me to be his girlfriend. He's always working and I understand him. He's a prince, while I'm just starting in my princess training that I've forgotten. I'll blame myself too, for not trying hard enough in our relationship.

I was so into my thought that I didn't notice that I was already in front of my room, and both Aiden and Zain were looking at me. "What?" I asked.

"…nothing." Aiden said, turning his head towards Zain. "Thanks for escorting me and Lucian, Zain. I'll take care of the rest from here."

"Okay." Zain nodded his head before walking out of the room. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call me, Princess Lucian."

"Thank you." I smiled and waved goodbye to Zain. Once the door closes, I looked back to Aiden, who was already laying on the bed. "Geez. You said to take care of the rest, but you immediately went to bed."

"I'm tired." Aiden mumbled as he close his eyes. "And there's nothing to take care. You're all ready for the party tonight."

"I thought you said that you were going to get sweaters for me." I grinned. "Was that also a lie?"

"….no." Aiden lazily sat back up and brushed his fingers on his raven hair. "I'll get that right now." He got up on his feet and made his way over to the walk in closet. "What type of sweater do you want to wear?" He asked as he rummaged through the many clothes in the closet.

"A hooded one." I said.

"Okay." Aiden said as he walked out of the closet, holding a white, hooded sweater that matches the dress I'm wearing. "Will this do?" He asked, raising the sweater up for me to see.

"Perfect!"

~…X…~

The Christmas Eve party started and when I got to the ball room, there were already a lot of invited guests. Father was talking to Nobel Michel in the middle of the room, and he seems to be having a wonderful time. My attention move towards the six princes, all of them were greeting the guests.

I tried to ignore a certain prince as I walked over to father and Nobel Michel. It looks like I'll have to shorten my time here.

After saying hello to Nobel Michel, I went over to the food table. If I'm going to stay here, I might as well feel myself up. Just when I was about to take a bite of my chocolate cookies, I felt a hand over my shoulder. "Huh?" I turned back, to see Prince Edward. "Big brother Edward."

"You look amazing with that dress, my dear." Prince Edward softly said.

"Oh, this?" I looked down at my dress. "It's only a plain a dress. It's nothing especial." I said as I look back up to Prince Edward.

"It's especial to me."

"Thanks." Just then, I saw Prince Keith looking at my direction from across the room, and he was…glaring at me.

"Would you like to dance?" Prince Edward asked, reaching his right hand out for me to take.

"You know I suck at dancing, Ed." I said. "I might step on you."

Prince Edward softly laughed. "That's okay. I just want to dance with you."

"Hope you don't regret it." I smiled and took his hand.

Prince Edward brought me to the middle of the room. As the music began to play in the background, I placed my hand on his shoulder as he held onto my other hand.

I really hate dancing.

I tried my best not to step onto Prince Edward's feet as we dance. I don't want to embarrass him in front of all these people. I was too concentrated in my steps until Prince Edward spoke to me.

"How are you doing?" Prince Edward asked.

"…." I looked up at Prince Edward and forced myself to smile. "You know?" I asked.

"I'm sorry." Prince Edward said apologetically. "The other princes also know."

"Oh…"

"I wanted to call you, but I figured that you needed some time alone."

To think that Prince Keith and my problem would be heard by the other princes, I'm a little surprised. I should apologize to them for having to worry about me. "I'm sorry for having to make you worry about me, Ed."

"Don't be." Prince Edward shook his head.

The music ended and I could hear the applauses around me and Prince Edward.

"Thank you for dancing with me, Lucian." Prince Edward smiled and he lifted my hand up to his lips, kissing them softly. "If you need to talk to anyone, you can always call me."

"Thanks, Ed."

After that little conversation with Prince Edward, I decided to dance with father before leaving to the orphanage. I'll have to remember to talk to the other princes before I leave, too.

"Will you be leaving now?" Father asked as he led me out of the dance floor, holding my hand with his.

"Yeah." I nodded my head. "I'll have to talk to princes first."

Father stopped and turned his head to me. "What about…"

"Don't worry about Keith, father. I can handle this."

"Okay." Father smiled and kissed me on the forehead. "Don't be late when you come home. Aiden and I will be waiting for you back home."

"Okay." I smiled and nodded my head.

After apologizing to the princes, except for Prince Keith, for making them worry about me, I quickly left the ball room, and outside of the room was Aiden, waiting for me. I didn't look back to the ball room, and I didn't see Prince Keith looking at me with longing eyes.

"Are you ready to go?" Aiden asked as he hands me a new set of clothing.

"Yeah. Thanks for bringing this." I said.

"No problem. Get change and I'll walk you out."

"Okay."

~…X…~

Prince Keith stood silently next to the food table, thinking about Lucian. She didn't even say hello to him. It hurts him to be ignore by the woman he loves. Well, he couldn't blame her, it's his fault for losing her. He wanted to apologize to her for letting his big pride take over him. He also wanted to ask her to give him a second chance, but he never got to ask her due to Lucian ignoring him since the party started.

He didn't like Prince Edward dancing with Lucian. He wonders what the two were talking about while dancing. He wanted to know. He doesn't like being kept in the dark; it pisses him off.

"You know, this was your only chance to talk to Lucian." A voice said from behind.

Prince Keith frowned and turned his body to the person. "What do you want, Prince Wilfred?" He asked annoyingly.

"The only thing I want is Lucian to be happy." Prince Wilfred said. "You know how difficult it is for Lucian to forgive a person. She's a stubborn one, Prince Keith. We both don't want Lucian to ignore you and treat you as nothing more than a man with a title. Lucian is your friend, Prince Keith, and I'm sure that you don't want to be treated as nothing."

"…I know that." Prince Keith gritted his teeth, his hands turning into a pair of fists.

"Also….I'm serious when I said that I want to make Lucian happy." Prince Wilfred's expression turned serious and cold. "You are not the only who loves Lucian. I will take her away from you if you don't get your act together."

"!" Prince Keith's eyes grew wide open. He's not going to let another prince take Lucian away. That's his job and nobody else. But looking at Prince Wilfred, he knew that he had to act fast, and get Lucian back as soon as possible.

"So please," Prince Wilfred's cold expression slowly changed into a sad smile. "Make up with Lucian." Lucian means a lot to Prince Wilfred, but he knew that her hearts belong to the arrogant prince, standing in front of him. The only thing he could do is support the two. "If you leave now, you may be able to catch Lucian, wherever she's going. You might want to talk to Aiden, too. I'm sure he knows where our dear Lucian is going."

~…X…~