Sold to a Prince!

Frederick Akhekh strolled out of the library engrossed deeply in his thoughts. However, his expression suddenly stiffened and his pace quickened.

Not long after, an old man's booming voice sounded in the empty corridor. "Did you go see my granddaughter?"

The King's footsteps paused and when he turned around, he was back to his arrogant and domineering self. 

"Hmmm? Do I look like her handmaid? Why are you asking me?" He scoffed twisting his lips.

"Brat. You should treat that child better. What do you think she did first after coming to the castle?"

"Again… why do I care?"

"She is studying! She is studying, you unfilial brat! Such a good child. You should treat such a precious child better, damned brat." The old man harrumphed.

"Heh, really now?" He cocked his head to the side and mockingly chuckled. "I wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions. Maybe she is putting on a show just for you. Her mother was good at that after all."

Grandpa Cadmus did not respond to his taunt and stared at him squinting his eyes, his arms crossed.

Frederick stared back at him with equal intensity, the father and son duo once again at odds with each other.

After a couple of seconds, neither of them said anything and the King was the first to make a move, muttering something inaudible under his breath.

The loud clacking sounds of his boots echoed in the silent hall as he briskly walked away without turning back.

"Sigh... What an arrogant prick! I should have disciplined him more." Watching the tall figure storming away, the old man shook his head helplessly.

However, he suddenly paused, running his fingers through his beard. "Hmmm… Wasn't he walking in that direction? Now he is leaving in the opposite way?"

Cadmus looked at his son's figure which soon disappeared somewhere inside the castle. It almost looked as if he was running away. "Where is he heading to in such a hurry?"

"Well… whatever…" He shook his head and walked into the library, looking for Sylvia.

He saw her slender figure sitting in a corner and peering into the books in front of her obliviously.

His heart ached.

"Sigh… Wish I had found you sooner, my dear." The old man replaced the sadness on his face with a bright smile and walked towards Sylvia.

"Pumpkin, what are you studying with such an interest?" He patted her on her back and leaned over her shoulders.

Ah… Sylvia turned abruptly as the elder's sudden appearance startled her. 

Maybe because she was reading things that seemed as if they were ancient secrets, her heart was racing and she was already at the edge of her seat.

"Umm. I… Nothing. I was just… "

Cadmus chuckled at the flustered sight of the girl and quickly helped her out. "Oh… I see… You must be curious about our land and  ways, right?"

Sylvia nodded.

"What a coincidence! Aha ha ha. I was just coming over to talk to you about this exact same matter."

The old man pulled up a chair next to Sylvia and sat down. "You don't have to stand for this grandpa. Sit, child."

Sylvia nodded and sat down. 

Cadmus flipped through the books on the table, his eyes coming to rest on two specific books.

"Ha ha ha. You have good eyes, pumpkin. In this big library, you have astutely picked the books that could be the most helpful to you."

"Good. Good. Young women should be bright like you." He patted her, while Sylvia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 

She didn't really pick out those two books but it felt petty to correct him on such a small thing. So she continued to silently listen to him.

"Let me get straight to the point. As a princess of our family, there are a lot of things you need to know and should be aware of."

"Some of it for your own safety and some of it because… well its good to know about our history."

"So what do you think about a tutor, pumpkin?"

"Your sisters and brothers also learned from capable tutors when they were young. Would you like someone to tutor you in the same manner?"

Sylvia gazed at the loving smile on the old man's face, her frozen heart slightly moved. 

This was something she really needed right now and he offered her exactly that. 

He could have simply given her a few more maids or more books or talked about other comforts and riches, but he genuinely thought about her needs.

"I would immensely appreciate that, your highness." Sylvia bowed and muttered.

"Ah! You are still not calling me Grandpa??? You are even treating me so formally? You must really hate this old man." He frowned sadly and turned his head to the side.

Seeing such a powerful patriarch pout like a young girl, Sylvia awkwardly opened and closed her mouth.

She then hesitantly called out to him. "Thank you, Grand… Grandfather."

Cadmus immediately whipped his head back to look at her, the bright smile again returning to his face.

"Ah ha ha ha. See, doesn't that sound better?" He chuckled.

"After having traveled so much, you must still be tired. Why don't you go back to your room and rest for a while?"

"Your tutor will be here in the evening and then you can start learning? Does that sound to your liking, pumpkin?"

Sylvia nodded. "Yes, grandfather." The words sounded so alien and strange, coming from her mouth, but she didn't hate it.

"Alright then, Grandpa will stop nagging you. Make sure to rest well, child, and don't force yourself." 

"It doesn't matter even if you don't want to learn anything. All I want for you is to be happy and cheerful. Don't push yourself." He patted her and then got up to leave. 

Sylvia watched the old man's back that was slightly hunched. The image of a white wolf floated into her mind and she wondered just sort of a beast her new grandfather was.

Her gaze then shifted, falling on her own slender hands and long fingers.

"What am I… "