Stefan roamed in the forest for what seemed like a long time, he finally got out there was no way he was just going to waste the chance to explore.

The forest was beautiful not short of magical, somehow he fell in love with the forest, and he intended to explore to his heart's content,after all it was part of his inheritance.

'Please hold on Sire do not stray from the group or it would be difficult to find you' said Alaric cautiously looking around their surroundings .

Stefan just laughed at his cautious attendant, not that he blamed him the forest was rumored to be cursed and that whoever ventured shall not return.

Alaric stared at him sternly , the older man who was like a father to him, he looked like he was ready for a heart attack with a tiny scare.Stefan stopped laughing and listened intently as he lectured him 'if anything happened how am I to report to you father'.

' I am sorry just got excited , don't worry I will be careful I am a prince after all' he smirked as the old man snorted ' hmph more like a reckless brat if you ask me' he said as they heard the group behind them laugh.

' How rude I will have you know I am very cautious as well' he defended,the old man folded his arms and stared at him his eyes screamed doubt .

A rattled made them go on high alert, the group encircled the prince as the heard galloping approaching at high pace.Soon the horse came in sight as a figure was riding it.

As it came to a halt, the rider dismounted only to reveal a young lady not older than seventeen.They watched as she walked up to them and curtsied 'I am call Aurora,who might you be and what is your motive for coming here' she asked.

The prince pushed his way out of the crowd as he took a good look at the lady in front of him but her face was veiled but from the little he saw she was a beauty. He bowed ' I am Stefan Von Parish,prince of this kingdom and heir to the throne'.he said.

The lady just stood the stunned for a while as her shoulders shook slightly,Stefan saw and drew closer worried ' um...are you alright miss, are you not feeling well?' he asked.

' I am fine I don't need your concern Prince's she spatted as she kept a good distance from him, her eyes stared at him coldly. ' And what may I ask brings you here prince' she retorted not bothering to hide the irritation in her voice, the prince stared at her confused, the just met yet it felt like he offended her.

' I came here to explore, I didn't know it was inhabited, pardon my intrusion' he said as he saw her watching him with cold intense eyes.' very well, what you do while you are here is of no interest to me however harm even an ant in my forest and you shall answer to me' she cautioned as she mounted her horse with such elegance and grace.

' How rude, how dare you be so arrogant watch your words you are in the presence of a prince' Alaric said. She stared at him ' my apologies I may have been rude yet I wish not show any courtesy to him or any of his kind' she said

' Have I offended you in any way Miss Aurora if so I apologize' Stefan said yet his words only seem to have angered her.'you do not get to speak my name prince' she retorted angrily. ' explore all you want prince but do not cross my path and don't harm my animals,then good day to you' she said and rode away.

The group watched her fade from sight ' hmm .... it seemed that there is finally someone who can resist your charms interesting' Alaric said as the group burst into laughter.' hey not funny,what did I even do to her she was a beauty though' he said still staring into the distance.

*To be continued*

'Exactly how have I offended her, for her to treat me like that' he wondered as he roamed the forest at some point he got separated from them. It's been a week since he started going to the forest and he hadn't met her again since .'I don't even know the lady and now I have mad her mad' he walked through the forest angrily.

He suddenly stopped as he heard someone singing in the distance, the voice was soft yet somehow it calmed him.He began following the sound only to appear by a lake flowing into a waterfall, he listened again and there he saw a young lady, by her side laid a sleeping cub,he stood there mesmerised as he stared at the most beautiful maiden he had ever laid eyes on.

So as not to disturb her he sat down and watched her from a distance he listened as she sang her face soft and a gentle smile,she reminded him of someone he missed dearly, his mother.She stopped singing as she suddenly noticed him and she suddenly went cold.

' I believe I made myself clear not to cross my path prince what brings you by' she asked coldly as he stood up. He walked up to her, up close she looked like a goddess, her eyes were hazel it almost shone gold in the sunlight, raven black hair trailing down to her waist, fair skinned slender build but very shapely. The more he thought and saw her the more his heart raced as he got closer.

'I am sorry miss, I heard your singing and couldn't help draw closer' he replied, yet he still got cold glares from her.' I bid my leave enjoy your stay, won't disturb you' she said and stood she cuddled the sleeping cub in her arms and turned to leave.' Please wait miss' he said as she stopped and turned to him.' We just met and it seems I have offended you.I have not the slightest clue as to why so if you please , tell me how I have offended you.' he said and bowed slightly.

She stood there shaking,' you want to know fine, I will tell you.I hate you with every fiber in my being I loathe you and everyone in your family.' she said.Stefan just stared at her and to his surprise, tears fell down her face. He watched as her shoulders shook and her tears fell, feeling the ache in his heart with the strongest urge to hug her in his arms and console her.Yet he remained where he stood feet rooted firm in the ground.

'Miss,please stop crying I was wrong, I shouldn't have asked please forgive me I meant no harm' he said sincerely 'What do you know prince.Have you ever felt the loss of someone dear to you' she asked and for a moment he flinched, his eyes hounded with immense pain, he smiled sadly as though she had said something hurtful.

***To be continued***

"Have you calmed down yet?"Stefan asked after a while.She just stared at him with puffy eyes her cheeks rosy from the tears,he thought she looked so adorable, he wanted to hug her."hmph I don't need your concern prince"she said and turned her head,her nose high in the air,he felt his heart itch.

" You do know I am older than you right? even if you hate me it is still impolite"he said,she lowered her head as he caught her blushing,he smiled."I am sorry but I still hate you so we are even."she replied.Stefan studied her,despite the fact that she hated him, she was quite naive,like a Little girl who hasn't seen the evil of the world.

His face turned solemn as he faced her "Miss I am well aware that you hate me and my family and I know that what I am about to ask will sound shameless but I have to know, why do you hate us so what did we do to you"he asked.She stared at him debating whether to tell him.He looked calm and ready to listen so she sat down by the lake and soon he joined her.He stared at her waiting for her to speak.

"My full name is Aurora Von Michelin and I were the daughter of a merchant in the land. My father was an upright man,he never failed to cater for his wife and children. I was the eldest with a little brother. I grew up in a happy family and I was happy every day was filled with content."she began the story of her past.

"We weren't noble but we were happy,but all good things come to an end at some point.My father's rival in trade was engaged in illegal dealings which when exposed would cause trouble so he reported to the authorities and he got arrested, upon further investigation all his illegal dealings were exposed so all his properties were confiscated and was exiled." she paused and turned to him and asked "Was my father wrong for reporting him?"he saw tears well in her eyes.

"No your father did great it was the right thing to do"he said,she huffed impatiently "then why did your father do that"she asked,tears fell down her face and again,his heart bled.He pulled close to her and pulled her into his arms and consoled her " please stop crying miss I was wrong I shouldn't have made you relive those memories again"he said feeling bad for making her cry for the second time.After a while she calmed down and pulled away from his arms,he felt the loss of contact but hid it well.

"Don't you want to know what happened?" she asked,seeing that she wanted to continue he asked"What happened?"her face turned serious"we thought that was the end of it but we were wrong, the illegal deals were with the high nobles some were even in the king's court"she said and watched as his eyes widened."what did they do" he asked his voice deep as though angry." they were not happy about it and sought to punish my father so they framed us." she said, Stefan frowned

"They spread the word that my father was a spy from a neighbor country and that he had stolen information of the land.They brought guards and searched my father's warehouses we didn't know they had planted the evidence so my father was arrested."she said and turned to him"Your father was there the day of the trail I watched him,prayed that he help prove his innocence but did he!? no the words that left his lips were 'I leave it to you to decide' and he walked away, he gave the power to the very people who want my father dead" she stared at him eyes filled with hatred and despair.He lowered his head not meeting her eye.The whole time he had hoped that it was all a misunderstanding and that his father had noting to do with it.

He rose his head when she spoke again " They wanted us to suffer a fate worse than death so they exiled my father and his family here where they thought we would meet our end.My father who felt in despair fell ill two months later and passed away, my mother who could endure the loss of her husband soon fell ill and also passed away leaving a seven year old girl with an infant to survive alone in a forest filled with wild animals." she stared at him " tell me what would you have done in my stead"she asked"do I have reason enough to hated you and wish for the death of your whole family"she asked again.

He rose and faced her,bowed deeply to her"nothing I say can atone for your pain, I am in no place to ask for forgiveness"he pulled a sword from his waist and knelt on one knee"this life of mine,I give to you to do as you please if it will bring you any consolation I shall not resist." he said and presented the sword to her.She stayed seated ,she was surprised to see the Prince's display." If it would bring my parents back and would restore my family's happiness then I would do so without hesitation but I gain nothing from such actions and my parents wouldn't want that for me so rise"she said.He stared at her surprised.

"Then what do you want"he asked she stared are him

"I......

***To be continued***