A/N: I've decided to post chapter 9 because I'm not getting a single review as of late. Please, please review. I'm terribly addicted to them and I really want feed backs. I would be happy to read them so thank you anyways if you took the time to read this. I'll update again soon-in a week or so maybe.

Chapter 9: A Leap of Trust

Three days. It's been three days since she last spoke to Kadaj. He wasn't being approachable either. After that not so grand spat in the library seventy-two hours ago, she'd been avoiding him. She had one quick glance of the prince and she would turn to the opposite direction. Sometimes, it really helped that you were living in a palace. She had tons of excuses. And inwardly, she wondered if she could avoid him forever for two months. That little argument was already proof enough that they wouldn't get along...at all. It was a problem she hoped that would be resolved once she was married to his brother. Although he did eat dinner with her family, he was mostly occupied with her dad's conversations. It was good that she was pretty busy these days too. There were a number of things to be done, meetings to attend, and studying for college in the future to be considered. Yes, she was a busy body indeed.

So it definitely helps when once in a while you get a day off and that is how our dignified princess found herself in the entertainment wing of the palace. She was currently lounging in the den, watching a musical in the flat TV screen built into the walls, while enjoying a pristinely made club sandwich. The classical movie she was currently watching came with the new set that had arrived last week, and it was one of the many in the ten boxes of DVDs that she hadn't had the chance to watch yet. As far as she knew, today was her only free day and she resolved to her version of a movie marathon. And to say the least, the Von Trapp family of singers was pretty amusing.

And she was practically singing along to the second chorus of the song, about to get to her feet and imitate the motions being displayed on screen when the door suddenly opened and she instantly clamped her mouth shut and took a small bite of her sandwich sitting on the plate on the coffee table. The intruder had to be no other than Kadaj of course. He stood frozen in the doorway, contemplating if he should go or stay. Because from what he'd seen, Natalie had been pretty mad, and he didn't want to tick her off. Unknown to him, Natalie also felt extremely awkward all of a sudden. So much for ignoring him for two months.

"My apologies princess. I never meant to intrude in your privacy. I shall be on my way..." He managed through clenched teeth, taking a step back with one hand already wrapped around the doorknob.

She sighed heavily. "Please... stay. Some company would be nice, and...I wanted to discuss a few things with you. If it is fine with my lord..." She spoke, ignoring the film, her hands frozen on the popcorn bowl, and resolving to formal talk since he initiated it.

"He would be much obliged," he replied, releasing his grasp on the door knob but staying rooted to his spot, arms folded across his chest expectantly.

"Have a seat..." Natalie nodded at the spare couch adjacent to the one she occupied.

Without hesitation, our royal troublemaker casually took his seat to his directed place. Both were silent for a while and Kadaj just stared at the blonde as she continued to stare at the TV screen, looking almost transfixed but not really paying attention to the movie anymore. Kadaj's presence was overly distracting—not to mention awkward.

"So what brings you here?" Natalie asked, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Boredom..." He murmured.

She turned her head to him, seeing his expectant face. "You didn't have the interests to play one of those online games again?"

He sighed. "Surprisingly, yes..."

Her lips twitched a bit when she realized that he was still staring at her intensely, like she was going to melt into goop. And by now, the film was entirely forgotten as they stared at each other, both wondering who was going to apologize first. Unknown to Natalie, Kadaj didn't even think about apologizing. It would seriously hurt his pride. And besides, the argument wasn't his fault. Wasn't she the one who misinterpreted his choice of words? It wasn't his fault that she was too damn innocent and naïve. Though, he was seriously considering changing her naïveté. It was totally ridiculous to keep a human being in a bubble of lies and illusions that the planet was their happy playground where kids injure each other and say their sorry and everything would be alright—playmates again.

If he were allowed to have his way, he would openly tell Frederick that his idea of safety and protection was plain stupid. How was all this cooping up gonna make Natalie safe? She would be so dumb that she wouldn't know a guy was trying to steal something from her. Worse, she wasn't having any fun. He doubt she even stepped inside a mall, considering as she didn't to since everything she wanted was available within reach, but still...

Natalie had apparently broken his reverie when she began to stutter. "I-I... I wanted to..." She coughed, and then cleared her throat. "I'm sorry... for yelling that day."

Despite her regal upbringing, she was still a teenage girl, and she had the right to feel embarrassed especially if the situation made her feel that way. And now, was definitely one of those moments. Kadaj was a gorgeous guy, albeit a bit of a troublemaker—scratch that; a huge troublemaker, but he was a prince and he was supposed to know how to control himself... right?

'Stop thinking about him like that!'

'But it's true...'

'Might I remind you darling, that you're getting married to his brother in two months?'

'Yes, but we're not even engaged yet! I'm not wearing a giant diamond ring for that matter, so I'm still free to have crushes. And besides... it's true!'

'Kadaj is a troublemaker; an author of scandals unimaginable for ladies like you; he's a predator, Natalie. Watch out for his trap!'

'I'll be careful... What the heck? I'm talking to myself!'

"I couldn't blame you." His answer took her aback. What did he mean he couldn't blame her? Was he actually insinuating that it was her fault? She wasn't the one who said something insensitive in the first place.

"What do you mean?" She gasped; her dark blue eyes suddenly stormy.

"I can't blame you. You haven't seen the 'outside world' yet so I really shouldn't be surprised."

His answer was still absurd, but Natalie chose not to start another fight. "But aren't you going to apologize?"

"It wasn't my fault. And I don't blame you either. We're even..."

Her jaw dropped at that. How was that supposed to be even? It was bloody tipped at the wrong side! He was totally being an ass, not that she'd tell him that. She never actually cursed; although she sometimes let them slip in her head, and she still felt guilty about it. So Natalie just changed the subject before the matter would get out of hand all over again.

"So, what are you up to these days?" She inquired, taking a tiny bite out of the sandwich again.

"Nothing really," he shrugged, turning to the TV screen. "What are you watching?"

"A musical... I'm sure you're not interested."

"Not like that. I just don't watch it often," he mumbled. "Are you still dead set on following the rules and waiting 'til you're eighteen to see the sights you're currently missing?"

"Yes. Yes I am." She nodded; determination in her grim set face. "I don't exactly want to be the first rule breaking princess in the family."

"Alright... I understand. But my previous offer still stands, so don't hesitate to tell me if you do change your mind," he stated firmly, eyes fixed on the illuminated screen.

"It's a generous offer, so thank you." Natalie nodded once, facing him briefly only to find out that he wasn't even looking at her.

So they sat like that for hours in companionable silence until Natalie had to leave for a meeting three hours later. Kadaj was left inside the spacious den, thinking and rethinking about the possibilities if she ever said yes. He had come to this domain on duty, but there were still selfish wants to be fulfilled, though it got him mad when he started wondering about Natalie's happiness. To be frank, he did pity her. He wanted her to be happy, and free. He'd seen it so many times in her eyes before. She always had these far away thoughts, looking into space, thinking deep thoughts.

He was no mind-reader but it wouldn't take him a second guess to even know that she was mostly thinking about royal matters, family, and herself—the last part largely involved her freedom of choice. And not that he'd admit it to anyone, but he considered her unlucky that she would end up with Sephiroth. Kadaj knew his eldest brother's despicable ways. He knew all about the man's cruelty and attitude of sadism. Sephiroth loved hearing screams from suffering children, and that damned ruler wanted nothing but control of the entire planet. Kadaj didn't really get why his eldest brother was so crazy about Mother. When she was alive, all she ever did was punish him, Yazoo, and Loz. Sephiroth was her avid favorite thus the bitterness, lovesickness, and loneliness lodged deep in Kadaj's heart unconsciously.

Whatever the outcome of this stupid arranged marriage Natalie was in, he knew she didn't want her to end up like any other broken whore Sephiroth had gone out with, but that maniac was bound to stop if he didn't want his reputation spoiled unlike Kadaj who just didn't give a s***. And for the first time in his whole life, Kadaj found himself wondering why the hell did he even care?

vVvVv

"I trust everyone's day was splendidly productive," the queen chirped as they sat around the dining table, eating dinner—like the usual nights.

Frederick and Adriana always found time to squeeze in dinners with their royal guest. They just couldn't afford awful feedback from Kadaj if the thought ever crossed the teen's unpredictable mind.

"Yes, mother! Very productive indeed," Natalie beamed, but the display of pearly whites disappeared as quickly as it had shown.

If her parents noticed that Natalie was a bit reserved, they didn't show it. Kadaj, however, knew what was going on inside her head.

"What about your highness?" King Frederick asked Kadaj who had the same far away look in his eyes.

"It was certainly an interesting day, to say the least."

"I see... I trust you've been in touch with Lord Sephiroth?"

"As a matter of fact, yes I have been your majesty," Kadaj nodded once, a dignified and charming smile pasted on his face.

"Everything must be going smoothly," the king exclaimed.

More random conversation occurred after that, and dinner had ended with a few greetings of farewell and good evening from the king and queen. Both reigning monarchs excused themselves from the youths who were still in the dining room. Natalie was still absorbed with the dessert she hadn't managed to finish yet, and Kadaj was checking his phone for text messages from his brothers and the girls he previously dated that were complaining and demanding valid reasons for his dumping them.

"Kadaj..." Natalie muttered out of nowhere. "I've been thinking..."

"Yes?" He raised an eyebrow, thumb still scrolling across the screen for fifteen more unread messages.

"About your offer..." She dropped her voice to a whisper after the delectable ice cream had melted in her mouth. "Am I really going to be dumb if I wait until I turn eighteen?"

"Well, not really. Like I said, you're just missing out on tons of fun, and various experiences that could be unforgettable in life." He explained in a low voice, still absorbed in reading text messages.

"Is it...dangerous?" She whispered.

"No," he shook his head. "As long as you're careful and alert at all times."

"Would I get in trouble if I went out there?"

Kadaj looked at her incredulously, blinking in surprise. "Um... considering your identity, you need a disguise. And by that, I mean blend in. Wear casual clothes for girls. Why this talk all of a sudden?" He asked, even though he already knew her train of thought.

Natalie bit her lip, a rare thing to happen. "If I say yes to your offer, would you really personally take me there, and... make sure of my safety?" At this, Kadaj grinned. "Honestly, I'm tired of...this. I've been waiting my whole life. I can only take so much confinement."

Kadaj's grin widened even more, morphing into a dreadfully sexy smirk. And with that said by our dear princess, he leaned back, placing his phone smartly back on the table and propped his ankle on his left knee, both arms sprawled across the backs of the chairs next to him.

"Now we're talkin'. Seriously, if you say yes, I'd be more than happy to take you, princess. And of course I would make sure of your safety. We couldn't risk letting the personal security group know, would we? It's practically on my hands." He was still smiling when he spoke again. "Is that a yes?"

"Um... If you swear this to secrecy, and directly take full charge of my safety and my well-being, then, I'll agree."

Kadaj nodded once, face set in a serious expression. "You have my word. What time tomorrow?"

"Three in the afternoon... Is that alright?" She mumbled.

"Sounds good to me..." He smiled again. "But I'm going to provide you a free orientation in the morning."

"Okay... I'll see you in the morning then?" She asked, standing up, leaving her dessert unfinished.

"Yeah, you will."

vVvVv

The Next Day...

"So, all I have to do is avoid formal talk, stop acting like royalty, dress in casual clothes, know the various slangs, avoid being too charming, and... blend in?" Natalie queried, looking straight at the prince grinning on his side of the table. "That's it?"

"Yup, that's pretty much it..." Kadaj replied thoughtfully.

"You gave me like, a ten-minute orientation," she pointed out, a bit stunned.

"Honestly," he raised an eyebrow, "You think I'm gonna give you a full-fledged PowerPoint presentation on this one? Gaia, you could be so clueless sometimes," he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well, that's true, but... still. Ten minutes?"

"Do you want a written down exam to go with it?" He asked, smirking smugly.

Natalie blinked. "Uh... Yes please..."

Kadaj's jaw dropped. For real? For the love of Gaia, he was only joking! She didn't need to ask for a frickin' exam! What the hell? He should really watch more comedy. His sense of humor was starting to get blander the more time he spent away from Cable TV. How he got this conclusion, you ask? Because even an intelligent, highly-educated, home-schooled princess couldn't get the meaning of a simple joke!

It was totally wrong, but it was so damn irresistible. Kadaj face-palmed right in front of her.

"Did I say something wrong?" She inquired, tilting her head to the side curiously.

Kadaj just groaned, shaking his head and mumbling things, slowly dragging his hand down from his face. "You don't need a written exam. As long as you follow my lead, and blend in at all times, you'll be fine," he sighed exasperatedly.

"Oh..."

In all honesty, she was thrilled. If their little escapade did work, then... she would really get to see the outreaches of her domain. You couldn't really stop her from being giddy, and excited, though a bit nervous.

"So, what do I wear?" She inquired in a low voice.

"Hmm... A top, some jeans, and sunglasses will do."

"Can't I just go as myself?" She asked curiously, eyes big.

"Not unless you want to attract a mob of fans or reformists," he deadpanned, ignoring the princess's cute pout.

"What about you?"

"You'll see..." He smirked. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have another private talk with your father. I'll see you in a few, princess."

He winked, getting up from his chair and sauntering out of the room in a cat-like swagger that had Natalie staring in amazement for no particular reason.