CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 175 STAYING

His expression tightened. "You think this is the solution? Hiding away in a house with three strangers and a man you barely know hanging off your shoulder like a lost dog?"

Rhydian clenched his fist as his eyes moved to Mr.Green eyes, then Mr. Four eyes, and finally to Damon.

I followed his line of sight... Okay, it kinda looks awkward now, they are all strangers to me. How can I spend a night with strangers who are also men... as a princess this is not proper and not only that, I’m the only female in their midst.

"No," I shook my head. "I’m going to pay for a room."

He looked at me for a long time. "You’re not thinking straight..." He sighed, "I’ll go and get a room for you."

Rhydian’s gaze swept over Damon one last time before he turned on his heel and disappeared through the door.

I sighed, then I turned to Damon who had covered his face with his arms.

"So you are going to leave me? You don’t care for me...." Damon sniffled.

"Are you crying?" I was perplexed.

"No... It’s just that I have never meant someone like you before..."

"What about Ember?" I folded my arms across my chest.

"Ember is Ember and you are you... I know you are royalty and it is wrong to spend the night in a man’s home. But I know you don’t want to get married, you can spend the night with me... then you can easily break off the marriage arrangement." He sat up sluggishly... his dark eyes flickered with something I could not explain.

’That is an amazing plan... but then I will not be able to fulfil my purpose as the princess of my kingdom.’

"I won’t abandon my duty, Damon... anyway thank you for the suggestion," I muttered under my breath.

Damon didn’t say anything, he curled up on the chair, and he had the expression of a lost puppy. I sighed, before walking closer to him. I bend, my hand ruffling his raven black hair. "I believe we are going to meet again... someday."

Before he could reply to me, the door creaked open. Rhydian entered with a dejected look. "Princess, unfortunately, there is no room available." He said with a small bow.

I parted my lips, a little hesitant. "Then I’ll spend the night here... we can’t look for another cabin tonight."

Rhydian ran a hand through his hair and turned away briefly, pacing toward the wall before stopping abruptly. When he turned back, something had changed in his expression.

"Can I talk you out of it?" He asked, and his eyes met mine.

"No."

"Then I’m staying too," Rhydian said in the span of a heartbeat.

My eyes widened. "You don’t have to..."

"I’m not leaving you alone here, Princess." His voice was quiet now. "Even if you don’t want to return tonight, I’ll stay. I’ll make sure no one lays a finger on you."

I blinked, surprised at the sudden gentleness. "Thank you."

Behind me, Mr. Green Eyes let out a low whistle. "Ooh. He’s staying the night too? This is getting better by the minute."

Mr. Four Eyes didn’t even look up. "They better keep their drama down. I’m planning to sleep."

Damon finally stirred from his curled position and peeked up at me through his lashes.

"Do you want me to die tonight?" he asked faintly.

"You’ll survive," I said, then rolled my eyes.

His lips twitched. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, princess."

Rhydian groaned under his breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "We’re going to need room assignments."

I raised a brow. "How many rooms do you have?"

"Two:" Mr. Green eyes lazily said.

"There is not enough space princess, why don’t we send him home? He is not needed here... and I don’t feel safe in his presence." Damon held the hem of my dress.

"I am going nowhere, who knows what you are planning?" Rhydian snapped at him.

Damon’s eyes narrowed. "Planning? I’m barely alive."

"You were fine enough to cling to her like a leech."

"Because I’m dying!"

"You’re not dying, you’re dramatic," Rhydian snapped.

"I am both!" Damon cried, clutching his chest like a tragic poet from a second-rate play.

My hand flew up. "Enough! Both of you, stop acting like spoiled children."

They fell silent, but the air between them crackled like fire meeting oil.

I turned to Damon. "You’re not going to die, and no one is going to murder you. You are going to sit down and behave."

He blinked at me, lashes fluttering with exaggerated pain. "So you really don’t care?"

I blinked back. "Of course I care. But I also care about keeping my sanity for the next twelve hours."

He sagged into the couch, looking like I’d stabbed him through the heart. "You’re cruel," he whispered.

"I’m practical."

Mr. Green Eyes popped another fruit into his mouth. "She’s got a point."

Mr. Four Eyes nodded. "I don’t get paid enough for this."

"You’re not even getting paid," Mr. Green Eyes said.

"Exactly."

Rhydian exhaled sharply. "There are only two bedrooms, princess, you will take one... and the rest of us will sleep in the other."

"Four men in one room?" Damon frowned. "How is that fair? I’m injured."

"You are not injured."

"I’m emotionally injured, and my pride is bruised."

"I can bruise more if you like," Rhydian offered.

I rubbed my temples. "I am going to bed, and I expect not a single sound from that room tonight. I need my beauty sleep."

"Wait!" Damon suddenly stood, wincing dramatically as he held his side. "What if I... what if something happens in my sleep? Who’s going to check on me?"

I rubbed my temple. "Damon, sleep and I’ll check on you tomorrow morning."

"But that is a long time... a lot of things can happen between those spans." His lips turned downward.

"Princess, have a good night’s sleep. I’ll take him to the room and watch over him, you don’t need to worry about him." Rhydian held his arms, leading Damon to the room.

"No... Don’t touch me!"