Prologue
Lexa was an orphan, only 16 years old, nevertheless, leading a small gang of thieves. But, they only stole from the rich and didn't keep everything they scam for themselves, simply what they needed to live. The rest was for helpless and even poorer people. Moreover, they never stayed long at one place – it was saver that way, especially due to the risk of being caught.
But Lexa was greedy. She was reckless, always looking for big adventures and so her “victims” were the richest people she could find. This time, she planned to steal from king Jake Griffin, right out of his palace, where he gave a ball for his only daughter Clarke Griffin. Which meant that many rich people would be there.
Lexa set everything up into the tiniest detail, spying on the royal family and made her team familiar with the location. She might be reckless by picking her victims but she always made sure that everything would went smoothly. This time it couldn't be easier to wrangle her people in, giving, that it was a masked ball. Nothing could go wrong!
- - -
>>Mom, Dad, please! I do not want a ball! Why can't I just have a normal sleepover with my friends?<>Because, Clarke, we need to find you a handsome consort and a ball is the perfect opportunity!<< Queen Abigail, Clarke's mother, was very eager to find her only daughter a suitable man to marry one day – rather sooner than later.
>>But mom, I'm 16! I have enough time to find myself a boyfriend! Dad, please! Tell Mom that I'll still have plenty of time without this stupid ball!<< She looked at her Dad, hopeful. But king Jake was with his wife. >>I'm sorry, Clarke. You know I love you, but this ball will happen! Everything is already set and your guests are invited. How would it look, if we cancel everything on short hand only because you don't want to celebrate your birthday...?<<
>>But I want to celebrate it! Just not like this! And you wouldn't cancel the ball without a reason: you would cancel because you respect your daughter's feelings!<< Clarke was angry. Why was her Dad on her mother's side?
She groaned quietly. This was helpless. She had no other choice than to prepare herself for this stupid ball.
- - -
Lexa felt sorry for the three boys they knocked unconscious. They traveled all the way to see the princess, now they would spent the night tided up on a tree until the sun raises again, mugged. Not only of their jewelry but their cloth as well.
Lexa tried to have the cloth made in the camp once but they stood out and everybody starred at them, that day it had been impossible for them to steal anything. From that day on, Lexa decided to “borrow” the cloth and dress their victims in cloth they didn't need anymore.
>>Linc, Nyko, remember to avoid the princess as much as possible. We don't want her attention! Only the boys' jewelry<>We know<>We won't come near Clarke<>Let's go, then.<<
- - -
Since the first noblemen arrived, Clarke hadn't had a second to herself. She was surrounded by them, and they wanted to talk to her, impress her, please her and save themselves a chance on the throne. Clarke's nerves were on edge. Even though, the princes somehow stood in lines, waiting for their opportunity to talk to her, they all talked at once and everybody only about themselves or why they are so much better than anyone else. She sighed internally. She had to get rid of them – NOW!
She set her hope on a classic. >>I'm really sorry, but I need to go to the bathroom. But I'll be back soon.<<
She dug her way out of the crowd, and whereas she thought that needing to go to the bathroom, was reason enough to be left alone, some blue bloods were following her. Annoyed, she rolled her eyes. >>Guys, please. I want to go to the bathroom – alone!<<
The nobles hesitated, but excused themselves, before leaving her eventually.
She smiled relieved. She was finally alone! If she could now get some fresh air, she'd be even happier. Therefore, she decided to go to the balcony. Carefully she sneaked out, hoping that no one would be out there.
- - -
When Lexa set foot in the huge ball room, filled with the royal family, their guards and all these wannabe suitors, she was tempted to turn back around and flee. She hadn't been surrounded by so many people in a long time. She had been on crowded marketplaces and public festivities, but these have been open spaces, from where she could have escaped easily – where she wasn't as exposed as she was now.
But Lexa was here because she wanted an adventure, a challenge, and it wouldn't be the first time she had to escape a closed room.
Moreover, had it been her own idea... And this wasn't even the most difficult part of her plan – Gustus and Echo had. They were the ones to steal the “hidden” crown, which was in the king and queen's bedroom, while an imitation was lying on the king's throne. To show the princes, what would be theirs one day if they'd be lucky enough to be chosen by the princess. But the king was vain so he didn't want his crown touched by all these strangers. He couldn't have foreseen that Lexa had her people spying on the royal family, therefore, it was easy for her to steal the real crown.
>This was easyPoor girlBut she's the best distraction I've ever worked with.<
But after a while the main attraction left. Lexa couldn't blame her, she expected it – she even would have done it much earlier. Unfortunately, the princess took the boys' distraction with her and so Lexa was forced to distract herself otherwise. She wandered around, ate some of the offered finger food. But all in all it made her nervous. Some aristocrats even tied to talk to her – about kingdoms and the king's daughter of course.
Soon, Lexa couldn't stand it anymore, whereas Nyko and Lincoln seemed to get along quite well: They stood opposite each other one at one end of the room, a drink in hand, talking to the princess' admirers and taking a bite every now and then, while keeping an eye on the king and his wife. This gave Lexa a good enough conscience to leave the room. She needed to calm her nerves, for which cool air would be of best and fastest help. Therefore, the balcony was her destination.
It was once again of advantage for her to be able to get lost in a crowd and so, she left the ball room without being seen. It was quiet and peaceful out there, the air was fresh but not cold. Lexa breathed in deeply, bathing in her new found freedom. With a contend smile, she walked up to the balustrade, from where she enjoyed the view onto the town. It was dark already, therefore she couldn't see much, only the lights inside the houses. But even if it would have been daylight, she hardly could have seen more, given that the palace was outlying, which made Lexa's endeavor even easier. Consequently, she couldn't imagine anything not going according to plan.
That's when she heard a little click behind her.
- - -
Clarke opened the door to the balcony, carefully, tempted to be as quiet as possible. She didn't want to draw anyone's attention to her. But it was all done for nothing. She wasn't alone. A young man was leaning against the balustrade, looking over his shoulder right into her eyes! Damn! These blue bloods were even more clingy, when they were alone with her. Therefore, she needed to go. As soon as possible!
>>Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you.<< Clarke hoped her voice didn't mirror her disappointment. All she wanted was some quiet, along with fresh air to calm her nerves. But here it was the evidence that she couldn't escape.
She was about to open the door again, when a voice stopped her. >>Please stay. Let me go.<<
Startled, she looked back at the young man, right in his beautiful green eyes. >>What?<<
>>Stay here<>Calm your nerves. This heard of guests must annoy the hell out of you. Therefore, you deserve to be here more than I. Besides, I have been lucky already, being outside here alone. Now, it is your time. Stay as long as you like. I'll be inside, not telling anyone that you are out here.<<
- - -
Lexa pitied the girl, she had seen the sad look in the princess' ocean blue eyes, when she realized that she wasn't going to be alone out here. But Lexa would change that. >>See ya<>That's very chivalrous of you, but it needs more to win my heart. I...<< However, Lexa's laughter silenced her. >>Oh please. I'm not here to win your heart!<<
Oh damn, she just blew her own cover! Unless, she could take advantage of the princess' own feelings. >>I don't even want to be here! My parents made me...<<
The highborn looked at her with raised eyebrows, surprised, that she isn't alone in her fate.
>>Well, ironically, this makes you the first person I like tonight<>I'm glad my presence has at least one good thing to offer for you tonight<>I'm glad, too. But if you really want to make me happy, you have to tell me your name.<<
Lexa swallowed. The noble wanted to know her name! She had to come up with one fast or her cover will be blown after all. Her head blanked and the expression the other girl gave her wasn't helping either. It was a mixture of questioning and desire – Lexa knew that she would never be able to resist that look.
>>Alex. I'm Alex.<< She had used that name a few times already and so far, it had always worked.
>>Clarke<>But you...<< >>Yeah, I already knew<>I'm honored, my princess.<< Clarke raised an eyebrow, chuckling. >>My princess?! Where does that came from?<<
Lexa blushed. She didn't know herself and she couldn't think of a good explanation, therefore, she decided to just go with the truth, knowing Clarke wouldn't mind. >>I honestly don't know.<<
>>Good<>'Cause Clarke works just fine.<<
- - -
Alex opened his mouth in order to say something, but the hoot of an owl prevented him from speaking. Or maybe it was the opening of the door, that captured his attention, it definitely captured Clarke's. She was sad that their privacy was disturbed, and disappointed that it wasn't one of her parents, but a tall, dark skinned young man, who most likely wouldn't leave so soon again. >>Princess, I'm glad I found you. Your parents are looking for you.<< That was even worse than being forced to deal with a third wheel. Because now she had to deal with her parents and she couldn't talk to Alex any longer for the time being.
>>Well, sorry, Al...<< Clarke started, turning back to face Alex. Whereas, she was cut off by the empty space next to her. She spun around, but Alex was gone. He had vanished. All that was left of him was a golden ring with a beautiful emerald stone embedded in its middle. The stone had the color of Alex's eyes.