“Okay. We should probably head back before it gets too dark, shouldn’t we?” she said and when the girl nodded, Luna called a cab.
She was about to tell the driver to bring them to the orphanage when her eyes fell on the digital clock on the cab’s dashboard.
Her eyes immediately widened. Oh no! Her curfew!!!
Alex’s cold and stem voice saying that he will punish her began playing in her ears and Luna began to panic. It was only her third day and she was already going to break one of his rules!!
Panicking, Luna immediately told the driver a different address, the address to Alex’s house.
She called the orphanage during the taxi ride home and told them that she was going to be dropping Princess off a little late. Of course, the people at the orphanage didn’t mind at all since Luna had been known to even bring little princesses over her house on some weekends.
…
Finally, the car stopped in front of the huge house, keenly aware that darkness had started to set in. She was late. She bit her lips hard and she couldn’t help but feel nervous as she approached the house.
Once the two entered the door, Luna’s eyes immediately flew towards the fireplace. Alexander was right there, sitting like a bored king as always. His fingers were moving, tapping on the couch’s arm, as if he was counting the movement of the clock’s second hand.
Luna was afraid that the man would emit his deadly aura again without warning so she whispered to the little princess to stay by the door and wait for her.
The little girl nodded and Luna finally walked silently towards the man whose back was facing her.
When Luna was just about to reach him, she saw his fingers become still and then his cold, deep voice rang in her ears.
“You’re late, Luna,” were the words that welcomed her. He didn’t even turn to look at her, as Luna expected. She suddenly felt chills the instant his words rang inside the big hall, but she didn’t halt in her tracks; she continued walking towards him until she was right before him.
Alex raised his cold eyes and gazed up at her. The jellyfish was incredibly freezing. His intense gaze was reeking with cold darkness, showing his extreme displeasure.
“Uhm…Alex, I… have someone with me right now so c-can you scold me later? She has a weak heart so I don’t want her to get scared. Please?” she pleaded, cupping her hands together, forcing Alex to close his eyes. This girl… didn’t she feel anything? How could she still speak to him like this when he was already in this state? Did this little lamb really not have any fear in her at all?
Alexander’s urge to punish her intensified. However, Luna misread his gesture. She thought that the man had given in so she quickly called the little princess to come over.
The little girl stood right next to her, clinging onto Luna as if she was her lifeline, and took a quick peek at Alex.
“Alex…this is Princess,” Luna tried to distract him and the man finally looked down and saw something clinging on his little lamb’s legs.
He creased his brows down as he looked at the small little thing blinking at him and Alex’s coldness somehow dissipated a little.
“Princess? Say hi to Alex,” she encouraged the little girl and Princess blinked before she looked at him.
She then slightly bowed at Alex as she spoke. “Hello, Mr. Alex. I’m Princess, nice to meet you.” she smiled and Alex just quietly stared at the little girl for a while before he moved and faced her.
“Nice to meet you too, Little Princess,” he said and Luna’s tense shoulders finally relaxed.
“Are you Luna’s friend?” she asked, slightly tilting her head and Alex’s lips finally curved up.
“What do you think?”
“I think…you might be a new friend because this is the first time I have seen you. I know all of Luna’s friends,” the little girl said proudly.
Alexander chuckled as he leaned back. “Her new friend, huh? Well, your observation isn’t wrong Little Princess, but… ” he leaned forward towards her again. “Are you sure I’m only her new friend?”
“Alex, Uhm… “Luna tried to intervene but…
“Let her answer first, Luna,” Alex told her as his gaze remained locked onto the little girl.
Little Princess looked up to Luna before she answered the man.
“You are new but I think you are also a special friend,” she replied and Luna’s eyes widened as she looked down at the little girl.
“Why would you say that?” Alexander seemed intrigued.
“Because, I think you are the first name friend Luna has. Luna doesn’t have a boyfriend, only a girl. So that’s why I think you are special,” she answered and Alexander smiled. He looked satisfied and it seemed like he liked Little Princess for that.
“Good girl,” was all he said and he finally looked at Luna.
“Alex, can I return her to the orphanage first? I will explain to you once I’m back.
“Why return her? Didn’t you get the permission to take her with you?”
“Of course I did.”
“Then it’s fine. Let her stay here for the night. It’s already dark out, Luna.”
“But…”
“No buts. I won’t permit you to go out,” he said with an absolutely no-nonsense tone and Luna knew that she wouldn’t be able to persuade him anymore.
Without a choice, Luna called the orphanage and thankfully, they agreed.
The two girls then went upstairs to clean up and get changed. As they walked up the staircase, the Little Princess looked at Luna with wide eyes.
“Wshh!! Luna, is this Castle? I feel like I’m inside Castle!” Princess was extremely excited.
Luna let little Princess go first and she went after she finished helping the little girl put on a fresh set of clothes. Luckily for Luna, she had with her a spare set of clothes for Little Princess as she always carried spares with her whenever she went out with any of the children, just in case so this wasn’t an issue. ‘Great forward-thinking, Luna!’ she mentally patted herself on the back.
Once they were ready, they headed back downstairs.