@ragtagrunaways
Ajay wasn't sure what to make of that comment. He knew that for the prince, his presence here was unwelcome. He was here because he was supposed to bring him back home. There was no way back home for him with his honour intact and his head staying on his shoulders if he wouldn't drag him back to the capital and deliver him to his father. The king had made plans, chosen his son's destiny and the bride to give him the heir the dynasty needed. But it was no secret in the castle that the prince was not interested in women, and so the prince's attempt to run away hadn't come as much of a surprise. What had shocked him to his core was the fact that the prince had succeeded. And that was why he had to be the one to bring him back, or he would be condemned, and his family would lose the fragile peace they had bought with the king centuries ago.
"All I do is fulfil my oath and keep you safe", there was still a part of him that hoped the prince would see reason, that he would one day wake up and realise that his privileged position in life came with responsibilities and one of them was to go back home and marry the bride that was chosen for him.
