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Even though they were suppose to be relaxing, Damien had his eyes fixated on Maxim, watching his every move like a hawk.

“Prince Damien,” the elf spoke, breaking the silence that seemed to be lingering among them. “You look like you have something to say, you’ve been staring daggers at me the entire evening.”

“It’s nothing,” the red haired man responded and took a large gulp of his ale. “I observed you’re not drinking much, are you trying to avoid getting intoxicated for some reason?”

“Well it would be rather embarrassing if I started drunkenly blabbing in front of my possible future in laws.” Maxim responded with a broad smile. “I imagine you would disapprove of me as Eira’s possible husband.”

“Speaking of Eira,” Damien added on, “are you okay with all of this? Marrying someone you only just met? I mean do you think it’s right for you be forced into a lifelong relationship with a total stranger?”

“Damien,” Zhelimir scolded his cousin, “are you really going to bring up such a topic now? This isn’t very good bar talk.”

“It’s alright Sir Zhelimir,” Maxim responded, “I’m more than happy to tend to his curiosity.” He turned back to Damien, who he could tell was getting a little drunk, might explain why he was being even more direct than he usually was. “I in fact feel it is a little unfair, especially considering how free spirited Eira is, she should not be shackled down by a man.”

“Even if that man is you?” Damien added on. “Are you honestly telling me that if a decree was passed right now that you should be the man to wed princess Eira, you would turn it down because she should not be shackled down by a man?”

.....

“If the princess would have me,” Maxim responded, “whole heartedly and with open arms, I would be honored to wed her. But if it is against her will, I would not force her into anything she does not want.”

The elf downed all the ale on his cup before continuing to speak. “I care for Eira enough to let her be happy, even if it means I will not be in the picture. In the beginning, I suppose you can say all I wanted was the title of being the crowned princess’ husband, but in the few days I have gotten to know her, it has turned into someone more. At this point, I would even settle for being her friend, as long I can be by her side, watching her live life happily the way she sees fit.”

The words that had left Maxim’s mouth shocked him, he had practically confessed his feelings about Eira to her cousins. Maybe he had had more to drink than he initially thought.

“Maxim...” Zhelimir looked at the elf with a shocked expression. “Are you in love with the princess?”

Almost immediately, the elf’s cheeks flushed, looking even redder than they already were from all the ale he had been taking.

“You sly fox!” Zhelimir yelled and burst into laughter. “You have a thing for her don’t you?! No wonder you behave a little odd around her, you have a little crush.”

Damien looked at Maxim who was covering his face in embarrassment. Was that really the reason why he acted so odd? Because he had devastated feelings for Eira? Had Damien read him wrong all this time? Maybe, but maybe not. He would still keep an eye on him just in case this was all an act.

*

After their moment at the bar, Maxim could feel that Damien had become a little less intrusive about who he was and what his background was, which was great because Maxim knew if the man looked hard enough, he would eventually start seeing the cracks in his mask

Even as the days went by, training with Eira got a lot more easier and a lot more fun for the elf. It reached a point where Maxim couldn’t deny the fact that he like Eira a little more than he cared to admit. He enjoyed being around her, making her laugh, and making the slightest contact with her. Gods, Ronda should never find out about this, otherwise it would be a disaster.

After another day of archery training, of which Eira was getting very good at, in fact, she was excellent at it he was being honest, Maxim bowed and gave her a smile.

“Well, my work for today is done,” the elf commented. “Tomorrow will be our last day, we’ll use it to try and go hunting, see how your skills will works on a moving target. Though honestly Eira, you’re already pretty good-”

The elf was surprised when Eira took a step forward and gave him a hug. For a few seconds, he didn’t know how to respond. His heart was racing and he immediately broke into a sweat. Should he hug her back? Yes of course he should! But she was the princess and-

“Thank you Maxim,” Eira mumbled while still embracing the elven man. “I would have never done this without you.”

Maxim slowly and gently wrapped his arms around Eira as well, and instinctively buried his face in her hair. She smelled so good, like lavender and fruit.

“You’re most welcome, Eira” the elf responded, subtly inhaling her sweet smell.

Eira broke the hug and smiled at the green eyed man in front of her, “as payment, I promise not to be too hard on you during the battle.”

With a laugh, Maxim nodded his head and picked up a few of his belongings. “I will hold you to that.” He bowed a second time before bidding the princess farewell. “Enjoy your evening princess, I will be on my way now.”

“Sad you couldn’t join us for dinner, my mother seems to like having you around.”

“Let’s not get her hopes up now shall we?” Maxim scoffed before waving Damien and Zhelimir, and turning to leave.

Maxim was well aware that the queen enjoyed seeing him around Eira, and maybe, just maybe she hopped that they would end up together, but Maxim knew better. Looking at the reason why he was here in the first place, he really did not deserve to be with Eira, and in a way he was starting to make peace with that.

The least he could do was to help her in anyway that he could while he was here and then leave. He would deal with whatever punishment from Ronda, he just could not bring himself to hurt Eira, or her family.

When the elven man existed the palace doors, his attention was drawn by a bit of a racket that was occurring near the palace gates.

An elven man with dark hair tied in a ponytail, was yelling and pulling on the collar of one of the gaurds.

“Do you have any idea who I am?!” The man screamed. “I am to be Eira’s husband soon, and when I am, I will make sure to throw you out of here!”

Jacob shook the gaurd violently, making him drop some items that he was holding.

Maxim rushed to the scene and picked up the items, before using his magic to grow a large root from the ground that coiled itself around Jacob and subdues him.

“Let go of me!” Jacob yelled. “Who are you?! Who gives you the right to treat me in such a way.”

Maxim ignored Jacob and walked over to the gaurd who he asked if he was okay.

“I’m fine lord Maxim,” the gaurd responded with a quick bow of the head. “Thank you for the help, I hope I did not pull you away from your session with the princess?”

Upon hearing mention of the princess, Jacob stopped straggling and glared at the elven man. This was the same guy he has met at a bar not too long ago, why was he having ‘sessions’ with Eira?! What was the relationship between them?

“Do not worry,” Maxim responded. “I was on my way home you are not interrupting anything.” He then handed the man the items which he had picked off the ground. “These belong to you?”

“Oh yes,” the guard received the items and bowed. “Thank you lord maxim, see you again tomorrow.”

Jacob, with his teeth gnashed in fury watched the elf and the gaurd walk away from him. It was not until Maxim had disappeared from sight did the vines bonding him wither away. Jacob was about ready to chase after Maxim when he noticed something laying on the ground in front of him. It was a letter, had Maxim dropped it?

When Jacob picked it up, he frowned when he saw it was addressed to Eira. It definitely had to be from Maxim.