The Crown's Entrapment

At the Kingdom of Ebodia Territory

Two days had passed since Calypso and Aurelia began their journey in searching for Princess Katelina.

Along their journey, Aurelia gave Calypso a brief summary of details about her encounter with Princess Katelina during summer in the wilderness near Ebodia's border. According to her, the Princess was wearing a disguise and was currently on the run despite being hurt badly. Aurelia helped the princess, nursing Katelina back to health, and in the process, the two of them became close enough that Katelina told her her true identity.

Hearing about Aurelia's time with the princess, Calypso scoffed at the lack of details he got in regards to the Princess herself. She didn't even describe what Princess Katelina looked like, and they could only hope that the Princess was still there in the small safe house where Aurelia had left her to hide in.

Currently, they were inside the Kingdom of Ebodia's borders. They went through strict security, but both of them, along with the rest of their convoy, managed to enter Ebodia without too much fuss with the help of Jayra preemptively informing the King of Ebodia regarding their entrance for an important mission.

Somewhere along the way, Calypso let out a loud sigh. For some reason, he had this bothersome feeling throughout the entire journey merely because of how Lady Aurelia had been treating him so coldly.

Lady Aurelia seemed to be avoiding him at all costs, with her traveling with two of the female warrior servants Gideon insisted to send with her instead of relying on Calypso's strength alone.

Tonight they had their second stopover for this journey at an inn so the ladies could have a proper rest. He couldn't sleep, so he went down to the tavern attached to the inn they were currently occupying to have some beer.

Walking along, he started wondering just when did he lose touch with women. Even making small talk with Lady Aurelia seemed so complicated since she traveled inside the carriage with her female warrior servants flanking her on both sides as they rode along with their horses.

Damn... Gideon probably took it seriously when he was instructing those servants not to leave Lady Aurelia alone at all costs.

Calypso shook his head as he finished his goblet of beer. Gideon's protectiveness was apparent, and the man even threatened him not to mess with his sister throughout their journey.

"Did he really have to give his sister this many guards to keep her safe?" Calypso scoffed.

[You can't blame him though...] his wolf, Axel, commented. [You do have a bad reputation with women, and any brother will become protective of their sister if they had to spend some time with you...]

[Right... And not to mention that scene with Bella...] Calypso stated, unconsciously touching his cheek where Bella had last slapped him. [I didn't expect much in my arrival, but I guess it's partly my fault for assuming she won't take things seriously at that age. I mean, she's like a persistent kid by having this crush on me, following me around everywhere like a lost puppy. I told her to stop, but she didn't, so I had no other means to stop her except saying those words instead...]

Admittedly, Bella was someone dear to him. He couldn't help but grow fond of her, admiring how feisty and direct she was at her young age during those times they spent together back when he was still at Castle Cordon. She was a very funny and bubbly little girl in his eyes... acting more like a sister to him like Freya had.

Honestly, he was surprised when Bella started sticking to him like glue while also declaring her so-called love for him out of the blue. She was persistent in her efforts even when he told her that he wasn't the man for her.

Then again, maybe he was the one at fault for taking her feelings too lightly at the time.... Maybe he should've been more direct with her. He could've done a more serious approach to cutting her off, like telling her that he wouldn't like her back the way she expected.

Absently, he tried to recall the exact words he used on Bella during that time... If he wasn't mistaken, he had told her that he wasn't the man for her, which Bella might've interpreted as a challenge more than a detterence.

[Ah, I should stop thinking about this for now. What's done is done, and I can no longer go back in time to undo things,] Calypso inwardly sighed in resignation as he continued to massage his cheek. It wasn't red anymore, but it was as if he could still feel Bella's strong palm landing against his face. [But damn... She can slap really hard...]

[Well, you deserved that slap, maybe even more than that on behalf of all the women that you didn't take seriously,] Axel scoffed. [I told you more than enough time that you've had more than enough already. It's not like all women are the same like our Mother...]

[Stop mentioning her!] Calypso suddenly barked at Axel.

His face darkened as he clenched his jaw, downing his newly refilled cup of beer in one straight gulp.

Just the mere mention of the woman who abandoned him and his father for another was making his blood boil! That woman was the reason his father died, and he vowed once that he would not end up like his father. He would never surrender his heart and lose himself just for that poisonous word and feeling called... LOVE.

Axel let out a breath and pointed out, [Fine. Just stop playing around if you want me not to mention her again. If you keep this up, you might just end up losing in your own game in the end.]

[Hah! And do you want us to die like our father then?] Calypso hissed. [For us to die miserably?!]

There was a bout of silence before Axel diverted the topic. [I feel that Aurelia will give us a hard time, not to mention how her brother clearly let you know that he doesn't like you,] his wolf pointed out. [She's boldly ignoring you as well, seeing as she's showing you just how disinterested she was in you.]

His wolf let out a long deep sigh as if he was being more problematic than he was as he added, [I bet Chancellor Talon and Lady Livia would try and lobby against you once we pursue her.]

Calypso closed his eyes as he filled his lungs with that delicate sweet smell of floral, herbal, and evergreen woods that suddenly lingered inside his nose. With just one breath, his bad mood instantly left in his system, replaced with this unexplainable feeling he only felt for the first time his eyes landed on her. Curling his lips, he whispered, "Our mate is here..."