The Prodigal Prince - vanish into fiction

Through the window, which reflected like a mirror, she could see his every move clearly. She had been sneaking glances, only to be caught when her gaze ended up within the reflection’s line of sight.

Louis tilted his head conspicuously and looked at her. The deliberately slow curve of his lips was sly. It didn’t quite match the subtly flirtatious mood that made her heart flutter.

He lightly clinked his nearly empty glass against Enze’s barely touched one, as if expecting a reaction. She could have just set the glass down without drinking, but unable to resist the mood, she took another sip and savored the taste of the liquor.

Maybe he just needed someone to talk to before bed. If that were the case, it wasn’t difficult. Enze casually shrugged her shoulders.

“I have something else to say.”

“Go ahead. As long as it’s not more thank-yous.”

She had been about to say thank you for letting her stay, but he caught her right away. Thinking quickly, she changed the subject.

“Objectively speaking… Your Highness’s features resemble the Creator God depicted on the ceiling of Sessia Cathedral.”

He smiled charmingly. She had tested the waters, suspecting he might enjoy a bit of teasing—and it worked. She wasn’t good at jokes, but if her silly comment had managed to amuse this man, then that was a win.

The only downside was that she now became overly aware of his face, so striking it practically glowed. She was embarrassed, having complimented him so openly.

“Well, I’ll get going now… Have a good night.” Enze gave a slight nod and turned away.

“You’re just going to leave after that attempt at seduction?”

His sultry voice caught her just a few steps later. Like a cello playing a solo late at night, it made her knees twitch.

“I only said the truth.”

“Come here.”

He reached for her wrist and pulled her closer. She felt like the quick pulse in her veins would give her away. Sitting beside him on the sofa, with their long and short legs lined up side by side, made her oddly self-conscious.

Enze froze in tension. She couldn’t figure out what Louis intended when he stopped her from leaving, and it made her stomach tighten. Her mind wandered, imagining what might come next—and her ears burned red.

Louis pulled a white box from the table. It seemed to be room service, filled with various first aid supplies. He searched for wound ointment and dabbed it expertly onto some cotton.

He gestured at the cut under her chin.

“Closer.”

She’d been tricked. So it was for treating her wound.

Just hearing his low, suggestive voice had made her fall for it.

Realizing too late, she scowled slightly. In response, he teasingly curled his fingers, beckoning her like a show-off.

Enze moved closer to where he had indicated. Determined not to lose, she lifted her chin proudly. His gentle touch cupped her cheek, and the cotton dabbed at the shallow cut—so light it almost made her forget she was injured.

“If that pretty chin scars, your boyfriend won’t be happy.”

Mentioning a nonexistent boyfriend, she quickly fired back:

“I’ll keep it a secret from your girlfriend, then, that you applied ointment for me.”

He let out a light chuckle and playfully pinched her nose before letting go. Then, pretending to be strict, he sighed exaggeratedly.

“What a shame. That there’s no woman who’ll storm in and slap you across the face right now.”

“Now I understand why I have so many scars. It’s because I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“You should get one soon.”

“You too, Your Highness.”

“None in the army?”

“I’m too picky.”

Their playful banter went back and forth naturally. The sparks flying in their exchanged glances felt almost dangerous.

Then, as if to end the quarrel, Louis pressed his lips to the back of Enze’s hand. His head bowed, eyes lifted in a gaze so sensual it left her breathless. The spot where his lips touched broke out in goosebumps.

When Louis reached for another drink, she followed suit and held out her glass. She blamed the burning in her chest on the liquor. The growing intensity of his presence made her nervous. That’s why she was almost relieved when he changed the subject.

“I heard earlier that you nearly fainted after seeing the missing person notice.”

“Anya told you that?”

He slowly blinked in affirmation.

Come to think of it, Anya had been among Louis’s men in that rainy alley. Whether she delivered the news or not, the end result was the same—Louis had come to save her.

It felt like the time had come to reveal her painful story. But it wasn’t easy to start. Enze wriggled her toes into the carpet.

“Actually… my father’s the one who put out the missing person ad.”

“Is your family worried about you?”

“No… it’s not like that at all. My father… he’s trying to kill me.”