The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

"It is done," Alvin told Harold confidently. "You just have to wait patiently and she'll come."

Harold had never doubted Alvin before, so he was certain that whatever Alvin had done was going to work, but he was still curious to know what his plan was all about.

"What did you do?"

"I flooded her room," he said with a sinister snicker, but immediately stopped when he noticed how Harold was looking at him like he was insane.

"That was the brilliant plan you came up with?" Harold asked in disbelief. It seemed Alvin was only good at being his eyes and ears around the palace. Coming up with plans was not his forte. He was even worse than Alicia.

"Isn't that... okay?" Alvin asked hesitantly.

"Goodness!" He massaged his temples in frustration.

How was he going to survive dealing with his wolf, Alicia, and Alvin at the same time?

"Just leave," he said, waving him off.

Alvin left with a crestfallen look. He kept his fingers crossed that she was going to spend the night over at Harold's chamber and prove that his plan made a lot of sense. He had never failed in anything before and doubted he was going to have a bad name now.

After he left Harold's bedroom, Harold paced around his chamber restlessly as he waited for Alicia to come and spend the night with him. Although he knew that what he had made Alvin do was a cheap move, he couldn't help it. He had never felt so desperate until now, and he didn't want to use force on her to do his bidding.

He just needed to confirm all of his suspicions, and the only way he could do that was for her to sleep in his chamber. He had tried to get into someone else's head after he did that with Alvin the other day, but he wasn't able to and had almost sucked out all his energy while trying. Was it also possible that it was because he had been with her?

The only way to confirm all these theories and also his on and off shift was to try it one more time, but she just had to have a coconut head and was not willing to give in to him.

Since she had refused to be reasonable and spend the night with him when he asked politely, he had chosen to give her no other choice but to do what he wanted, and Alvin had offered that he had a bright idea. He still couldn't believe that had been the so-called bright idea. Sighs!

He didn't want to imagine how she would react if she found out that he was indirectly responsible for her flooded chamber. Hopefully, she wouldn't know that he was behind it. It didn't matter, because even if she found out, Alvin would have to take the blame again.

By the time the first bell rang, Harold's brows were furrowed in a frown. Where was she? Why wasn't she in his chamber yet? Or had she not been to her chamber yet to see that she couldn't sleep there? Did something happen to her? These and other thoughts ran through his mind as he quickly exited his chamber and went in search of her.

On his way to her chamber, Alvin appeared from the corner, surprised to see Harold out here at this time when he should be with his wife.

"Where is she?" Harold asked with a slight frown, confusing Alvin.

"She hasn't come to you yet?" Alvin asked in confusion.

The maid he had put in charge had told him she had suggested the princess spend the night with Prince Harold, and she had only flashed them a smile before she went to pick up a few things, including clothes to change into, then she left the chamber after wishing them a good night.

"If she has, would I be asking you?" Harold asked as he resumed walking again. He needed to know if she had stubbornly chosen to spend the night in her chamber or had gone somewhere else. Where could she have possibly gone? He wondered as he neared her chamber, with Alvin walking closely behind him.

Alvin, on the other hand, could not understand the couple. They were legally married, and even though Princess Amber hadn't gotten the blessings of the people to officially identify her as a member of the royal family, she was still Prince Harold's bride, and by now, they should have started the plans for having a family of their own. So why couldn't they just act like other normal couples?

Once Harold stopped outside her chamber, he knocked on the door twice. When he didn't get any response, he pushed the door open and found an empty chamber.

He walked out immediately and looked down the hallway. "She is not inside?" Harold gave Alvin, who was still standing outside the door, a nod.

"I don't think anything would have happened to her. She should be around somewhere." When he noticed the change in Harold's look, Alvin tried to trivialize the issue. He had been seeing that quite a lot lately, and it always appeared whenever he was worried about her.

"Or maybe she lost her way to your chamber?" He offered, but when he noticed he wasn't helping the situation, he turned serious as he said, "I will search around for her," Alvin said as he quickly walked away, and Harold decided to check with his sister to see if she knew where Alicia was.

His pace was two times faster and even increased when he realized the second bell was going to ring soon. This was going to be trouble for both him and her.

What if he shifted inside the palace and still could not find her? He needed to at least confirm her whereabouts before leaving the palace.

Even before he got to the door of Tyra's chamber, he heard the sound of feminine voices and giggles inside, making him slow down his pace and narrow his eyes.

He could hear Tyra's faint voice.

Then Susan.

And lastly, the loudest voice amongst the three belonged to none other than ALICIA.

That little devil was here!

So this was where she came to? How could a married woman leave her husband for her husband's sister?

He banged the door angrily and heard his sister yelp inside from shock as the laughter died down immediately.

"Who is there?" Tyra asked cautiously as she went to the door, but Harold said nothing as he waited for her to open it.

Tyra opened the door tentatively, and once she saw Harold, she looked behind her before looking at him again curiously.

"Is she in there?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer, and before Tyra could say anything, Alicia showed up behind her.

"It was you! Why did you want to give us a heart attack like that?" Alicia asked with her hand on her chest. The invasion had made her imagination run wild, thinking a coup was happening and the traitors were there to capture the royal women.

"What are you doing here?" Harold asked in an unpleasant tone.

"Hanging out with the girls. We are having a sleepover tonight," Alicia said with a sweet smile that made him very suspicious.

"A sleepover?" Harold asked in confusion.

"Yes. It means that all three of us will sleep here in Tyra's room tonight. It's going to be fun," Alicia said excitedly, and Harold turned his gaze to Tyra.

"You're letting her sleep here?"

Not wanting to be in the middle of whatever was happening between the couple, Tyra glanced at Alicia for guidance, and Alicia gave her a nod.

"We are having a sleepover," Tyra repeated timidly.

"Okay then. Have a good night's rest," Harold said, trying to hide his disappointment as he turned around to leave. Maybe he should also send Tyra away after sending off Paulina?

"Harold?" Alicia called, stopping him, and he turned to look at her, trying not to look hopeful.

"Why did you come to find me? Did you want something?" She asked sweetly, and Harold shook his head.

"I just stopped to check on you before going to bed, and I found out that you weren't in your chamber," Harold said, and then he paused when something else occurred to him.

"Let's talk," he said, giving Tyra the eye to excuse them, and immediately Tyra returned inside the chamber and locked the door while Alicia eyed him curiously.

"Is it safe to be outside at this time of the night?" She asked, looking around. She didn't want any wild dogs to attack her here.

"You're with me. You have nothing to worry about," he assured her, and Alicia joined him in the passageway as they moved away from the chamber.

"Did you tell anyone that I... that I spent the night in your bed?" Harold asked, hoping she had not. He wished he had remembered earlier to mention it to her, but he had been too distracted by so many things.

"No. Why?" she asked curiously.

"You must not tell anyone about it. Not even your maid. That has to be kept secret between us."

Alicia looked at his face seriously. His eyes looked like they were pleading with her. She smiled at him and nodded.

"You should go to bed now before those big dogs are released." She advised him with concern.

"Dogs?" He asked, confused.

"Right! You guys said they were wolves. So be careful. The third bell is going to ring soon and I'm not ready to die yet. Good night." She said before running back into the room.

She waved at him before closing the door.

*********

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Dear readers,

Sorry I could not leave any update yesterday because I was sick.

Thanks for staying active with your votes and gifts.