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Chapter four.

I slowly opened my eyes again, but closed them immediately after the bright light burned in my eyes. Why was it so warm here? And I was lying across something so soft… I slowly started to panic. It was the trader. Or that one creepy man that worked in the bar. They must've pulled me from the snow and put me into a warm bed. But they always wanted something in return.

Suddenly, I felt something warm on my forehead. I opened my eyes again and stared at the white ceiling above me. ''Please don't hurt me'', I whispered and tightly closed my eyes again; waiting for the things they would do to me. ''I am not going to hurt you, but you have to be really quiet. No one can know that you're here, except Carmen.'' A familiar male voice said to me. I opened my eyes again and looked at the man sitting next to me. So, now I knew where I was, but how in hell did I get here?

The Prince – Edward – put some warm hot-water bottles around me, so I would be a little warmer and he put a tray with food on the nightstand, while he sat down on the bed next to me. ''Thank you, Carmen. I'll take it from here'', he said to someone – Carmen, I guess. ''Can you sit up a little? I have some soup and bread for you'', Edward said to me and I nodded. He helped me sit up and I pulled the warm blanket tighter around my body.

Edward sat the tray on my lap and smiled at me. ''Eat. You'll feel better'', he said softly to me. I nodded slowly and grabbed the spoon and took a bite of the soup. I closed my eyes when I swallowed and tried really hard not to break into tears. It had been so cold outside… and I was positive that I wasn't going to survive, but it was okay. But here I was, someone was taking care of me. I was safe here. I was warm here. And while I ate, the tears streamed down my face.

Edward never said anything, but he picked up the tray after I ate all the food on it. He placed it on a writing desk and he sat next to me again. ''Do you think you can stand up?'' he asked and I bit my lip, nodding slowly. ''I'll draw you a bath. You'll be warm in no-time'', Edward said smiling.

''How did I get here? Where's Alice?'' I asked him and he frowned. ''I'm sorry for not telling you. Alice is next door, with my brother. She's safe, I promise you'', he said to me and I nodded again, believing him. ''She was in the dungeon. My brother fucked up, about the bottle he gave you two. But we got her out again and went looking for you. We found you, thank god, just in time. You were really cold and sleeping. I think, if we were ten minutes later, you wouldn't be here right now''.

I took a deep breath and looked at him. ''I remember trying not to fall asleep. Apparently, it didn't work'', I said, smiling. ''Thank you'', I said to the prince. ''I don't know how I'll ever thank you enough'', I whispered and I hung my head. I had nothing to offer him, nothing to show him how thankful I was. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive.

He chuckled and I looked up at him. ''Please thank me by treating me like a normal person.'' He said and I nodded. ''Okay''. He smiled and gave me a long nightgown. ''I'll help you to the bathroom'', he said and picked me up, bridal style. My stomach fluttered and I bit my lip. He sat me down on the toilet and filled the tub with hot water.

When it was full, he looked at me, and then at the tub and bit his lip, looking all kinds of conflicted. ''Uhm… do I need to get Carmen for you?'' he asked me and I smiled. ''No, I can take care of myself'', I said softly and he nodded, looking relieved. ''The towels are over there. Just yell if you need something'', he said. ''Sure''.

He left me to myself, closing the door and I looked around. It was all so… expensive. I stood up and pulled the dirty clothes from my body and when I was naked, I stepped into the hot bath water. I exhaled slowly when I lowered myself into the bath tub and I closed my eyes.

After a while, I started washing my body and my hair. When my body was clean, the water was pretty dirty, so I stepped out and let the water drain away. I pulled a big, soft towel around my body and one around my hair. I dried myself and put on the nightgown. I dried my hair and looked around for a comb, and after a while, I found one. I untangled my hair and looked at myself in the big, full length mirror. I didn't look like a fourteen year old anymore…

I went back to the bedroom and saw Edward on his bed, in a pajama himself. I smiled and he opened his eyes and looked at me. It was as if he saw me for the first time now. His eyes bulged and I bit my lip. ''Will you sit on the bed with me?'' he asked me and I nodded and sat down next to him. ''Will you tell me your name?''

I looked at him. ''My name is Isabella. But everyone just says Bella'', I said to him and he nodded. ''Okay, Bella, how old are you? Since when do you roam the streets? Why do you roam the streets? Is it difficult?'' It was as if everything spilled out of his mouth at once. I saw him blushing and I laughed softly. ''Sorry...'' he mumbled and I shook my head. ''It's okay'', I said to him. I was glad to answer his questions. I could do something in return for him.

''I am nineteen years old. I live on the street since I am eleven.'' I said to him and looked at my hands. My brother died in The Great War, my mother died a year later from a lung infection and my dad… he died from grief'', I said softly. I wasn't a girl who could do a hard working job. I didn't have any family, so I was destined to be living on the streets.''

Edward looked at me and I shrugged. ''And when did you meet Alice?'' he asked me. I smiled at the mention of her name. I really loved her like she was the sister I never had. ''I met Alice when I just turned seventeen. She saved me from a really bad concussion'', I said, smiling at the memory. ''She made my life a lot better and a lot easier''. Edward smiled softly. ''I am glad you've got each other. How old is Alice then?'' he asked me. ''Alice just turned eighteen'', I said and he nodded again.

''Well, I never thought you would be nineteen'', he mumbled softly and I frowned. ''Of course, I'm not in a corner of the streets now, hoping that no creepy guy will see me and think they have the right to touch me'', I said softly and looked away. Edward was a great guy, but Alice and I were saved, and we would be on the streets again by tomorrow. ''I am sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way'', I said to him and he shook his head. ''No, it's my fault.'' He said and I sighed.

''So, your brother is going to be the King. And what will become of you when you've grown up?'' I said to him, changing the subject. ''I am going to be the highest counselor. The kings right hand, so to speak. Every decision he makes, will be discussed with me and the other counselors. I am also in charge of the army. So, in time of war, I am responsible for our army and defending our country''.

I chuckled. ''I think I would like that job'', I said and Edward softly laughed. ''Maybe'', he said and I looked at him. ''Why? Why do you do this? There were twenty other people lying on the streets tonight. Why me?'' I asked him and he looked at me, frowning. ''I don't know… but something pulled me and my brother to you girls. I don't know what happened'', he said truthfully and I nodded.

''Aren't you going to be in so much trouble if someone is going to find out about me and Alice being here?'' I asked him and he laughed. ''Yeah, if my dad finds out… the four of us will be in the dungeons, I guess'' he laughed and I smiled softly. ''Is it hard… being a prince? Living up to the expectations?'' I was curious and wanted to know more about this beautiful man sitting next to me. I yawned and quickly put my hand on my mouth. ''Sorry'' I mumbled and I felt my face blazing bright red.

He chuckled. ''It's okay. If you want to go to sleep, just say so'', he said to me. ''And to answer your question, it's not that hard for me. For me, it's about training and to be really confident in my decisions because of the army. It's more difficult for Jasper, he really can't make a mistake, because the people will hold everything against him when he'll become King'', Edward said and I listened carefully, absorbing every single word. ''Do you train a lot?'' I asked and he nodded. ''Yes, every time Jasper is with our father talking and learning about our country, I am learning to fight and to handle an army and learning how to defend our country and how to handle if you're in a dangerous situation. And I've got my school lessons in the afternoon''.

I sighed. ''School… I wish I could go to school. Learn about the world.'' I said dreamily. ''Learning how to read and how to write.'' I shrugged. ''Do you feel like it's scary, leading an army? Or is it exciting?'' I couldn't even imagine trying to bring back an army without a scratch. To have that kind of responsibility.

''Both, I think. I think it's scary to have so much responsibility about so many people. But I think it's a great honor to defend our country and try to keep our people safe'', Edward said with a smile on his face. ''And, there won't be a war, I hope. So I'll be here, helping Jasper as good as I can''.

I looked to the window and saw big snowflakes falling down. My heart stuttered a little. Please… don't let there a lot of snow in the morning… I looked around the room again and looked at the soft carpet on the floor. I could sleep well on the floor, it looked kind of comfortable.

Edward looked at me and smiled. ''I think we should get some sleep, don't you agree? Make yourself comfortable in the bed, I'll close the curtains'', he said and got up from the bed. I frowned and looked at him. He wouldn't…. did he really want me to sleep in his bed? With him?

Edward closed the dark curtains and turned around, looking at me. ''What is it?'' he asked me and he popped an eyebrow. I shrugged. ''You really want me to sleep in your bed?'' I asked softly and insecure. He smiled and nodded. ''Of course. Do you mind? I can get a matrass…'' I shook my head. ''No… no, I just didn't think that you would want that'', I explained and he chuckled. ''Just get in the bed, Bella''.

And so I did. I slid into the warm, soft bed and pulled the heavy blankets around my body. I put my head on the pillow and felt like I was floating and it was hard to keep my eyes open. ''Mmm…'' I mumbled.

Edward got in the bed next to me and smiled. ''Goodnight'', he said softly to me. I smiled and nodded drowsy. ''G'night'', I mumbled and fell asleep shortly after. ''Sweet dreams, my Bella'', I heard him say in my dreams.