Dante managed to get away from kitanna and took the time to think about what she had just told him. She was in love with him? Was that even possible? He took a good look at his body and shook his head. She had to be mistaken.
Maybe he heard wrong, or she was just trying to play a prank on him. Kitanna was too pretty to fall for him. She was nice to him and all but that didn’t necessarily justify her feelings for him. Maybe she was mistaking her fondness for him for love.
He thought of many other explanations for Kitanna’s confession, but in the end, he knew he couldn’t change her feelings. He should be happy someone actually liked him beyond his looks but he wasn’t. It felt so wrong and he had no idea why.
It wasn’t about him feeling unworthy or anything. It just felt wrong. 
“Dante? Are you here?” He heard her voice and pushed himself further beneath the stairs. She walked past him, ascending the stairs while calling out for him. Dante felt guilty but he knew he had to avoid her for now. He wasn’t sure he could reciprocate her love and didn’t want to hurt her either.
After ensuring that she was completely out of sight, Dante crawled out from the staircase and broke into a run. His clumsy self bumped into Xander.
“Y-Your Highness..” he stuttered, bowing immediately. Xander was quick to catch his sleeve before he could think of running away. 
“I see Kitanna built your confidence. You now walk around without a mask, scaring the good people of Greake,” Xander scowled. Instead of worrying about the horrible comment, Dante was more bothered about the fact that he mistook Almira for Kitanna.
He wouldn’t say he had gained confidence. He only knew that he was free to be himself around her. She often went out of her way to make him feel comfortable and that made him feel safe and happy. 
Until now.
The sad reality that she was going to be married to his… Prince Xander. 
"I'm sorry. She couldn't stand me wearing a mask around her and when I left…"
"I'm not interested in listening to your stupid excuses. I don't want you anywhere around the Princess or her friend. Even if they summon you, I want you to ignore them. You are supposed to serve in return for your life and all you have done in the past few weeks is dress, eat and cling to the princess like a handbag even when you are making her uncomfortable," Xander interrupted. 
Dante remained silent. Weeks ago, he would have worried, but now he knew Almira was anything but uncomfortable around him. She was the one who tried to make him comfortable instead. 
Xander wouldn't know that since he was busy dishing out threats, instead of trying to win her heart. 
"I will do so, your highness," Dante humbly replied, hoping Xander would release him. The Prince took a proper look at him and without being told, Dante knew what was coming. 
Xander grip tightened and for a second, Dante thought he would rip the shirt to shreds, instead, Xander released him. 
"It was nice chatting with you, have a lovely day," Xander smiled. 
Dante was dumbfounded as the Prince walked away from him. 
"Dante?" He heard Kitanna's voice from behind and everything made sense. He wanted to maintain his perceived change of character before the princess' friend. 
"I have been looking all over for you?" She said, placing a hand on his shoulder to gain his attention. 
Dante faced her with a skeptical smile. 
"Why did you leave like that? If you wanted time to think about it, you could have just told me instead of running off," she said. 
"I apologize," he bowed and she rolled her eyes. "May I leave now?" 
Kitanna was taken aback by his request. A moment ago, she was confident that he would accept her, now, she had no idea what to expect.
Was there a possibility he would reject her? 
That would be a huge blow to her heart. 
"Why are you suddenly behaving like this? Is it that you don't feel the same way?" She asked. 
Dante looked like a deer caught in headlights. The air between them thickened with tension.
"Dante, do you like me?"
The question hung in the air. 
He gaped at her, like a fish out of water, tongue-tied and flustered. 
Was there a proper way to react to confessions like this? Especially when You're not sure the feeling is mutual? He wondered. 
Kitanna was too sweet. He couldn't afford to break her heart, but then again, it would be cruel to lead her on if he felt nothing for her. 
"I… I don't know…." 
"Oh, I understand," she smiled. 
"You do?"
"Yes. It's your first time, right?" She asked and he nodded. "So you're confused. You don't know if the feeling is mutual or not, true?" He nodded again. 
"Does that upset you?" He asked quietly. 
"Not at all," she chuckled. "You don't have to be afraid or worried, Dante. I'm not in a rush. You can take your time. This is very new to you so I understand you need time to process it. I just don't want you avoiding me."
"Oh," he mumbled. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Can we go back to finishing your braids now?" Kitanna asked.
"Okay."
He was about to go with her when he saw the Prince approaching them again. He groaned inwardly.
"I beg to take my leave," Dante said, quickly but Kitanna caught his wrist before he could run.
"You don't have to be afraid of the prince anymore, he's a changed man now."
Dante almost burst out laughing. Xander? A changed man? As hilarious as it was, he didn't comment.
"Greetings, your highness," Kitanna humbly acknowledged him. Dante bowed his head in greeting as well even though they had met earlier.
"Greetings to you too. I'm sorry for interrupting your time together but I can't seem to find the princess. I ordered the guards to look for her but no one was able to find her," Xander spoke. 
"Oh, that. I'm sorry you weren't informed earlier due to your condition. There was an emergency at home so the princess had to return quickly," Kitanna answered.
"What emergency? She did not inform anyone, not even the King about her return," Xander scowled. 
"Once again, I apologize for your highness. It was an emergency, she had to return home," Kitanna apologized again.
********
Almira's visit back home was not in any way pleasant. All the negative vibes coming from the sea were related to only one person. Ramona.
Ramona was her mother's sister. One of the deadliest sirens in the sea. Unlike others, Ramona didn't kill her victims immediately or fall for them. 
She enjoyed feeding on their trauma, driving them to heights of insanity while coaxing them to take their lives. She could control and torture a victim's mind for years, playing with their emotions and building self-loathe. 
Anyone who thought Almira was cruel knew nothing of Ramona.
It turned out that the woman has returned a few days earlier while she was on land, and assumed control in her stead as the Queen's sister. 
The woman had always wanted her sister's throne and she didn't bother to hide it. It pissed Almira in unimaginable ways. 
"Why are you here, Ramona?" Almira asked, fixing her gaze on the amber orbs. The pretty woman chuckled, running a comb through her long white hair. 
Ramona was one hell of a stunning beauty. Just like her mother.
"I just thought I should pay my niece a condolence visit. You know I haven't been around since the great war. It must be heart-wrenching to have your mother gone for so long," Ramona coyly said.
"Your condolences, unfortunately, are just as insignificant as your person. I have happy you feel the need to visit after twenty-one years, but you shouldn't have bothered, darling aunt. No one noticed your absence," Almira said sweetly. 
Ramona's hands tightened around the brush as she forced a tight-lipped smile. 
"The throne has been empty for too long. You don't seem ready to perform your duties as Queen," Ramon stated. 
"And you are? Come off it, aunt. The throne would rather vanish than let you sit on it."
"This is why you will never make it as Queen! Your pride and insolence will lead to your downfall. By the time the people realize how worthless you are, they will revolt against you and get themselves a more deserving leader!" 
"You don't have to yell to get your point across, dearest aunt. The fact still remains that even if they were to choose a more deserving leader, you wouldn't even be an option. I advise you to go back to playing ship wrecker. It seems to be the only thing you are good at," Almira said calmly.
Ramona stood up with rage. 
"As long as I am alive, I promise you will never sit on this throne," she seethed. 
Almira simply stared, unmoved by the threat.
"Ensure to live long then, aunt."