Chapter 8:

Lucas was walking like a drunken man towards his house. He had this smile on his face that would just make you laugh. He came in and saw his parents smiling at him while they were sitting by the fire. He looked at them with a 'What is it' face. After a few seconds, he couldn't help it anymore, so he started to laugh and so did his parents.

"My child, your luck is unbelievable." The mother said.

"You've made history Lucas." The father said. "It is a first for this place to be entered by royalty. It is also a first for us to see the princess bond with our son. Well, there are many firsts." He said.

Lucas laughed and said, "Peyton is some girl. Did you know that she allowed me to visit the palace anytime? And that we're friends now? And that I should call her Peyton and treat her like any normal person when we're not in the palace?" He said these things one by one, and as he continued, his smile got bigger and bigger.

His parents were touched by the princess' effect on Lucas. "Like I said, your luck is unbelievable." The mother said again.

"Well, this is too much excitement for me, so I'm going to rest now. Thanks mother and father." Lucas said as he went to his room and slept.

NEXT DAY

Peyton woke up and fixed herself. She knocked on Nathan's door because she had some questions. Nathan was already awake, and was reading a book. He opened his door and both were shocked to see each other because Nathan wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Oh dear!" Peyton said as she covered her eyes with her hands. "I'm so sorry." She said trying to contain her smile and laughter.

Nathan was sort of panicking. Then he got his robe and he wore it. "You can open your eyes now. Sorry too. I thought it was my father."

Peyton took her hands off her eyes and smiled at Nathan. "It's ok. There's nothing to be ashamed of either." She giggled as she entered the room.

Nathan watched her enter and he couldn't help but blush. "What brings you here princess?"

"Well…" Peyton sat down on Nathan's chair and felt hesitant to ask.

Nathan was serious now as well. So he sat down on his bed, close to Peyton. "What is it?"

"Ok…I'm just really curious so don't be mad…Yesterday, did you have fun?"

"Of course I did Peyton."

"How come…when we were going back to the palace, you were…I don't know…Quiet. And not just that. When we went to Lucas' house, you just backed out and sat there…I mean, does that have anything to do with why you were so quiet?" She couldn't make eye contact because she was pretty shy.

Nathan couldn't make eye contact too. He bit his lip and started to answer. "Maybe…I don't know. Maybe I was a bit disappointed when you decided to include another guy. Call me jealous, but didn't the king said that it was OUR time to catch up on things? And other than that, he was someone you just met yet you look like you're the best of friends, so tell me…Was I wrong to be silent on our trip home? Because if I was, I will gladly apologize." Nathan said as he held Peyton's hand.

Peyton thought about it and figured that maybe she was too comfortable with Lucas. So, she nodded her head and looked back at Nathan. "I guess you were right to be silent instead of saying all this in front of others." She looked down at her hands, being held by Nathan and smiled slyly. She looked back at Nathan and with a spark of insult and hope asked, "Are you jealous?"

Nathan was pretty stunned by the question and immediately pulled his hand away and tried to laugh. He couldn't see it but Peyton was pretty frustrated and hurt by his 'reply'.

Peyton's smile had been washed away so she continued. "I was joking." Though she lied, she had to break the awkward and embarrassing silence. She just continued. "Although you have to understand…Everyday I'm in this palace where no one calls me by my name and my name only. Also, in the palace, I can't have the freedom I want. I only have two good friends…You and Haley. Outside, there's no one I could call friend. I'm only assuming that the reason I was that close to Lucas at such an early 'stage' would be because he's the first person to treat me like an ORDINARY friend. Imagine…he didn't even know I was a princess and he was that nice to me." Peyton said these same things again. Only this time, he was explaining to Nathan.

Nathan, on the other hand, was silenced and you could say that he was hurt too, but didn't want to show it.

Peyton was hoping he'd be a bit jealous by now. She needed something from Nathan too because she felt that their friendship was starting to feel like something more…At least for her it was. She needed to know about Nathan's view.

Not long after that speech by Peyton, Nathan replied. "Oh…I see." He said as he smiled at Peyton, though it was really jealousy inside. "I'm sorry for being too judgmental. I completely understand."

Peyton smiled at him too but really, she felt frustrated and rejected in a way. She bit her lip and realized, she was getting all teary, so she stood up quickly and once she reached the door, she turned around and said, "I'm gonna go eat breakfast. Thanks." She left immediately and went to her room. She got her handkerchief and wiped the tears that had already fallen on her face when she left Nathan's room. She looked in the mirror to make sure she looked fine. Then, she went downstairs to have breakfast with her mother and father.

Once Peyton left, Nathan fell on his bed, covered his face with a pillow and gave out a big roar-like sound. Then he said to himself. "You are so stupid."

Peyton was silent and ate very slowly. The king and queen looked at each other feeling very worried. Then the mom spoke up. "Peyton, dear are you alright?"

Peyton smiled and said, "I'm fine. I'm just really tired from yesterday."

"Speaking of yesterday, how was it?" King Peter asked.

"It was really fun. Did I mention Lucas already?" Peyton said nervously.

Peter almost choked upon hearing a new name. "Lucas?"

"Oh...Well…It's like this…" Peyton went on with how he saved her and everything that went down in the market and in their place. "So anyway…I gave him permission to enter the palace anytime as long as I wasn't busy. Is that OK?" She asked so worried.

King Peter's expression was not good news. He looked like he was about to be sorry for saying no. Daphne wife/queen looked at him sort of begging to allow it. So, Peter looked down on his food and then smiled at Peyton. "This Lucas Oliverus isn't dangerous?" He joked.

Peyton laughed in relief and said, "He's a good person. Actually…." She stopped because the father might not want to hear it.

"What is it dear?" Queen Daphne said.

"He's like a normal citizen-version of Nathan." She said, not looking at anyone.

The king laughed and Peyton and Daphne were confused. "What's wrong dear?" Daphne said.

"I'm sorry." He said when he looked at the confused ladies. "Like Nathan? That seems quite impossible. If such person existed, I would've known about him. Wait…He's like Nathan you say. Have you seen him in battle?" He asked laughing.

Peyton was a bit offended as she shook her head. Daphne felt sorry for Peyton so he elbowed her husband who was still laughing. Peter noticed he was being completely rude, so he stopped and apologized sincerely.

"It's ok father. I know how much you favor Nathan above any other person." She said as she stood up. She was about to leave when she turned around, "Just so you know, I wasn't planning on marrying Lucas. And did I mention that he looked as built as Nathan…He had complete battle gears at home, and they all looked used. AND…he's still alive. That should tell you something about his battling skills." She said sarcastically as she stormed off. She passed by Nathan who stood there and listened.

AN: Good news! I've made this a LEYTON fic with Naley undertones. But since it's a love triangle, Pathan will appear as often or 2nd to Leyton. 