Zion, Dorian and the rest were already on their way.
" I still don't get why I have to go with him" Zion thought
" you could stop staring you know, kind of making me think you're admiring me" Dorian said to Zion without losing focus of the road
" admiring you?, you wish" Zion said
" I've forgotten your heart has been taken, is that a farewell gift from her " Dorian asked referring to the mini bag around tied around his pocket
" just mind your business" Zion said
" you're lucky to have someone who cares you know" Dorian said
" what part of mind your business don't you understand" he said
" I envy you, you have a caring best friend and a loving girlfriend" Dorian said and he halt
" okay, can you stop trying to make a conversation... cause it will never happen" Zion said going faster and Dorian sighed
" how am I meant to make peace with this guy, he so hot headed. I can't even stand him" Dorian thought trying to catch up with him
" what is it?" Zion asked stopping his horse as he noticed Dorian was following him behind
" listen, I don't really know what is it you have against me but you need to put that hatred aside for this to work. I mean we need to co-operate to achieve His majesty request" Dorian said
" for the time being, we can try to get along or even act as if we do get along" Dorian said and he rode off
" get along my foot, I don't take orders from you" Zion said
cyma sat down on her bed eating snacks, as she thought about everything that was happening when the Queen mother came in
" lost in thought huh?" the Queen mother said knocking
" grandmother, you're here" she said getting up
" sit back, I'm here to talk to you"
" talk to me?"
" yes"
" about?"
" I heard what his majesty said about you taking princess lessons"
" oh, that's not fair you know"
" yeah, it's not. so I decided instead of princess lesson, you'll get to be a royal inspector"
" what?"
" yes, you will get to mix with the villagers and know the situation of our people but not as the princess. You'll be disguised as a royal inspector"
" all inspector are male"
" yeah, you disguise yourself as a male any time you want to sneak out of the palace"
" you know?"
" of course I know, I see and hear everything" she said winking
" well, you won't carry out this mission on your own. You will have some bodyguards watching you from a far and you will have a partner you'll be working with"
" A partner?"
" yeah, it's someone you know actually"
" someone I know?,.. pls don't tell me it's my brother"
" no, your brother has a different assignment."
" what's his?"
" he was assigned to be the minister of public affairs"
" Quentin?"
" yes, he would be seeing it the affairs of the activities going on in the city and outside as well. He will start his training by tommorow, he needs to assist the crown prince when he's ruling"
" It's a good thing you're not making him completely useless but what will Quiana be doing"
" well, we are putting all the royal youth to work. Quiana will leading the young noble ladies of the land"
" oh, she will be having tea and snacks while I work under the sun" cyma thought
" you should start preparing to get to work, your partner should be available very soon" She said getting up to leave
" but who is this partner?"
" don't worry, you'll like him"
" him?, my partner is a he?"
" yeah, any problem?"
" no, no. I mean I'm someone fiance, and I'll be spending time with a he"
" someone's fiance huh?, when did you accept that title. The last time I checked you didn't like him one bit"
" yeah, I kind of got to know him and he's a good guy."
" hmmm?, so you now like him"
" yeah, I mean as a friend.. nothing more"
" so why are you worried about spending time with another guy"
" I mean won't people talk, you know how fast rumors spread"
" but you're disguised as a male, it won't be a problem. But if you're not still fine with it, I can ask your maid to go with you"
" yeah, sure"
" Alright, get some rest then" she said leaving
Prince Quentin went out with young master Ravi as usual. They sat by the stream side fishing but they caught no fish
" You know we won't get to be doing all these anymore" Ravi said
" And why is that?" Quentin asked
" you will be a minister soon"
" so?"
" so, you won't have time for me again"
" we would, infact we will be together most times now"
" huh?"
" I told Queen mother to make you a scholar, so we'll be working hand in hand in the future"
" you got me a job?"
" what were you thinking, that I'll be working my ass off and you'll be here chilling as you like... not possible"
" you're the best"
" whatever"
" what will you do about young mistress acacia?"
" what do you mean?"
" you've forgotten all of a sudden?"
" forgotten what?"
" what happened last two nights"
" what happened"
*******
Grand prince Quentin and young master Ravi were at the inn drinking when they heard some commotion going on outside.
" what's that?" Quentin asked
" let's go check it out" Ravi said and they both went outside
They saw the owner of the inn shouting at a lady and causing a scene
" what's going on here?" Quentin asked and the lady on the floor froze
" that's Q..Quentin's voice.... oh no, I'm cooked" she thought
" we caught this lady peeping in some other men's room"
" I thought that was the room Quentin was" the lady thought
" peeping?" Ravi asked
" yes, she was spying on them and now she doesn't want to tell us the reason why" another lady said
" that doesn't still mean you should treat a pretty lady like this, you pushed her to the ground" Quentin said bending to her level
" oh no, please don't let him recognize me" the lady thought as she covered her face more with the scarf on her head
" wait a minute, I know this necklace" Quentin thought before peeping through the scarf and to his surprise..
" young mistress Acacia?" he said surprised
" mistress Acacia?" Ravi said shocked and everyone was shocked as well as she took off her scarf
" why would a noble lady like you be peeping in a man's room?" some said from the crowd and it got everyone to start murmuring
" Enough!, you all have done enough. How dare you insult my woman like this?" Quentin yelled
" your woman?" Ravi asked as surprised as everyone else even Acacia was shocked
" yes, you heard me. Cacia is my woman and who so ever dares to disobey her is as well disobeying me." he said and acacia was looking at him dumbfounded
" we would never do such a thing" some one said
" apologize to her" Quentin said
" I'm so sorry my lady" the owner said bowing down slightly
" from now on, you all should respect my lady."
he said
" when did she turn to your lady?, we never heard of it" someone else said
" she is and we will be getting married soon so put some respect in her name" Quentin said as Ravi was tapping him to kept mute but he kept on going about him and Acacia being together for ever
" okay, I think it's time to go" Ravi said dragging Quentin along
" what was that?"
" what was what?"
" you just called Acacia your woman, do you know what that means"
" yes"
" Grand prince" Acacia said catching up to them
" thank you for standing up for me" she said
" it's no big deal"
" by the way, do you really meant what you said.. about me being your woman?"
" yeah, I meant it a hundred percent"
" he's drunk" Ravi said
" no, I'm not.. infact I'll talk to his majesty about our marriage soon"
" he doesn't know what he's saying, he needs to think with a cool head" Ravi said dragging him away
" be expecting my proposal soon" he said as they left
*****
" OMG, I said all that" Quentin asked
" yes, and now acacia is all over the town spreading the good news. it won't take long before the news gets to the palace" Ravi said
" we got to stop the news from spreading"
" why?, weren't you the one who made her your woman publicly"
" I was drunk, I wasn't thinking straight"
" well, as the saying goes.. the drunk always says his mind and besides this is a you problem not we.. I tried my best to stop you but you didn't listen"
" I need to find a way to speak to acacia in private"
" wouldn't that complicate things, if people see you guys"
" speaking in public is way worse, the news will spread faster"
" very fast if you're caught in private"
" so, we must not get caught then. But, how will we deliver the message to acacia to come see me...." "leave that to me"
" what are you thinking of?"
" you'll see" Ravi said