The white haired girl laid motionless on the silk-covered bed, her breaths we're small and shallow, her lashes trembled with each exhale. The soft moonlight filtered through the tall arched windows of the small and old yet clean room giving it a rather lunar vibe as that was the only thing illuminating the room.
Damian sat on a chair beside her, supporting his cheeks with his palm, resting his elbow on the armrest.
His usually carefree eyes were shadowed in thought as he stared at the sleeping beauty before him.
'She looks so thin...' he thought while clenching his fist. "Those slave traders..." He muttered with a persistent gaze.
Just then, then, a knock came on his door.
"Jeez, I missed when I didn't get much visitors... The knocking is starting to get annoying." he shrugged. "It's open!"
Walking into the room was a young lady dressed in full white apparel lined with golden laces.
"Prince Damian... You called for a healer?"
"Yeah, yeah, could you heal this girl for me?" He asked.
"Yes I... Um... Prince Damian..." She stuttered as she properly saw the girl's face, getting a little flustered. "W-who is this girl?"
"A friend." He replied.
"Okay, a friend..." She exhaled. "I'll begin right away."
The maiden knelt beside the bed and stretched her hands towards Lyra, and in a few moments, Lyra's body began to glow a radiant green.
"She'll be fine..." She assured, still focusing on Lyra. "Her injuries aren't too serious."
"Thank goodness." He sighed, visibly relieved, 'Glad that's taken care of then.'
'...'
Damian then shifted his gaze back to Lyra as his consciousness drifted into his thoughts, where a vivid image laid before him. One he dearly wished he could forget.
Amidst a blinding snow storm, the cruel image seared itself into his mind—a vibrant crimson eyed lady with majestic flowing white hair dancing in the wind as her body was pierced through by countless spears. All he could do was watch helplessly, as a single shove sent him falling down the cliff as she pushed him away in an attempt to save him.
Although her words were trembling and weak, they were filled with love and resolve. The words she spoke continuously echoed in his ears like a cursed lullaby.
"I love you... Damian." She confessed with a smile.
An enraged yet subtle expression spread over his face as he watched the sleeping Lyra, clenching his fists even harder.
'I'll make sure to return the favor... That's a promise...'
But eventually, his thoughts were cut short as Lyra's eyelids slowly fluttered open, revealing her majestic crimson red eyes.
"L–Lyra... Are you alright?" He asked, leaning towards her a bit, visibly worried about her as she smiled in response.
"I'm fine thank you." She replied, trying to sit up.
She wasn't lying though as the healing magic the maiden used left Lyra's skin without so much as a scar.
It was probably even what helped her regain consciousness this fast as when he brought her into his room, she was already out cold.
"Glad to hear that" Damian smiled. "You should rest for now..."
"Damian..." Lyra called out softly, causing the maiden to flinch a bit as she noticed Lyra forgot to add a title to his name.
Even though Damian was regarded as trash, he was still a prince, and with that came a certain level of authority, and normally neglecting that would warrant punishment but...
"Miss-" the maiden was about to correct her before Damian raised a hand.
"It's alright... " He cut in. "Thanks for your help, you can leave now." He smiled.
"O-ok..." The lady replied and quickly left the room.
"..."
"So Lyra, you were saying?"
"Umm... You said this is your home... but I'm curious,... where exactly are we?" She inquired.
"Glad you asked, this is the Royal castle of Blackthorne." He bragged, puffing out his chest a little, "And you're talking to the 7th prince of this Kingdom girl... Hehe"
"The Royal... Castle?!" She shrieked and immediately jumped off the bed, prostrating before Damian. "I-I didn't know we had a seventh prince?"
"Haha, you don't need to do that" he laughed. "Were friends now aren't we?"
'You didn't have to point that one out you know.'
"Friends?" She whispered... "But-"
"No buts" he cut in.
"But I'm just a lowly slave, and I have no right to even be here..." She whispered.
Crouching down and patting her on the head, "I don't care about that" he implored. "You're still a human being and that's all that matters... So let me ask this properly, do you want to be my friend Lyra?"
"I... I..." She stuttered as she got all teary eyed. Ever since she became a slave, she'd never really had any real friends. But here he was, reaching out a hand to her, reaching out to a slave and asking her to be friends.
"I accept." she said with a smile, allowing her tears to fall freely.
He seized the chance to tease her,..."You really do cry a-"
"Nicely done Damian." A voice cut in with a rather mocking clap rhythm.
A vein bulged on Damian's forehead as an annoying clap interrupted him.
'Damn you who ruins a guy's flow like that?! Jeez'
What made Damian even more mad was because he still had some unfinished beef with visitor who actually interrupted him.
"I can see you've already become a playboy Damian." The person spoke up.
"Lucien." said Damian as he managed to squeeze out a smile. "What's that supposed to mean?" He waved off the comment. "She's just a friend."
'What's this guy doing here? And come on bro, some privacy please, at least the other visitors knocked.' he thought.
"A friend you say," Lucien commented while striding towards them. "I suppose you didn't tell this friend of yours that you're going to school pretty soon did you?... Now,... that doesn't sound too friendly if you ask me."
"You're leaving?" Lyra asked Damian.
But Damian didn't reply her just yet as he simply narrowed his gaze at his brother. "What do you want?" He cut straight to the point.
"Oh, what's that supposed to mean now Damian, can't your big brother come to visit you every once in a while?"
"Oh really,... I never knew you shared blood with a commoner oh great and mighty prince." He teased with a mocking bow.
Lucien clicked his tongue in annoyance, but nevertheless he continued walking and came to a stop right in front of them.
"My I get your name goddess?" He asked, referring to Lyra who glanced at Damian mockingly a bit before answering.
"I'm Lyra" she whispered softly.
"You have such a wonderful voice young lady." He commented.
"Thank you... Prince Lucien." She replied with a bow as Lucien shot Damian a smirk.
'Of course she knows who you are.'
"I see, then I guess I don't have to introduce myself..." He spoke out. "I'll cut right to the chase... I want you to be mine." He stated openly, reaching out to her, leaving Damian a bit shocked as he stared at Lyra and clenched his fists.
"So that's why you even bothered to visit me" but Lucien replied with a smile giggle.
'Of course he'll be want to get her... Afterall, no one would let a beauty like her just slip by under their noses.'
"Dammit" he whispered.
"I... uh..." She stuttered.
Noticing this, Lucien giggled a little more.
'Of course she'll say yes... You're the 2nd prince of the entire kingdom afterall...' Damian thought furiously, as reality finally hit him–He just couldn't win in every fight.
Closing his eyes shut, he continued. 'Then there's me...' he scoffed inwardly. 'I guess I lost this roun-'
"I'm sorry but I refuse." Lyra blurted out with her soft adorable voice, closing her eyes shut.
"Haha- huh?" Lucien stammered as he was already prepared to laugh at his younger brother that was getting on his nerves lately.
"Lyra..." Damian whispered below a breath as he too was surprised by her response as well.
"You dare refuse my offer?!" Lucien yelled at her, boiling with rage. 'I can't lose face her... If she doesn't come nicely, then I'll use force if necessary.' he smirked maliciously, though he was still enraged at heart.
"I... I want to be with Damian," She whimpered. "Because... Well because... he's my friend!" she blurted out, leaving Damian even more stunned.
'...'
'I know I'm the one that said it first,... But...' Damian thought with a smile as looked to the ground, causing his hair cover the upper part of his face. "I truly am glad i met you Lyra...' he concluded.
"How dare you you little!--" Lucien threw a heavy slap a the poor Lyra, and judging from its speed, well... It would surely leave a mark on the pretty face.
But to his surprise, his assault was cut off halfway by Damian who made it just in time swat his hand away from her.
"Hey Lucien,..." He whispered with a sinister gaze, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Lucien was clearly baffled and annoyed. To him, it didn't look like Damian even put in much effort to swat away his hand, even though he was supposed to be stronger than Damian.
At least , that's what he thought. In reality, Damian had to really use a lot of force to do that in one quick motion.
'Whoa, well aren't you quite the gentleman big bro, you're really planning on using this kind of force on a lady, a girl to be precise.' thought Damian.
"Out of my way commoner!" Lucien roared
'Your mask is slipping big bro~~' he teased inwardly.
"And why should I do that big brother?..." He grinned, then put his hand over his mouth mockingly. "Oh I guess you didn't know huh, too bad," he added, reaching for Lyra with his palm stretched out. "Lyra's my very first retainer."
"Isn't that right Lyra?" He asked confidently, smiling at her.
"Yeah" she replied, accepting Damian's outstretched hand.