My first reaction was to run fast without looking back. I heard, however, heavy steps behind me and my nemesis yell, demanding I stop.

Like hell, I will.

It only made me go faster.

I had to find that incompetent aide who left me all alone in the palace at the mercy of my nemesis. The problem was that my stamina, which belonged to a girl from society, was lacking and showed signs of slowing down.

I realized as well that, while cute, my dress was a hazard to my escape, making me lose my step every time I leapt.

Even then, I was confident in accomplishing my goal. I had surprised my enemy and was now reaching the end of the garden near one of the several entrances to the government office, where the aide was supposed to be.

Before I could ask for help, however, someone yanked my arm back with enough force to stop me and for a yelp to escape my lips. I was prepared to scream indignities at the maddening prince, even if he was still a child, when I came across a pair of silver fluffy ears, equally silver hair, and deep amber eyes.

I blinked in disbelief as I watched this well-dressed boy leading me away from the edge of the garden. Unable to process it. "I am sorry, Lady Lucreatia. But we need your help," he said, way too serious for such a young child.

The boy, not much older than me or Prince Cedric, continued to secure my arm while his prince made his way to us. His nails were sharp and I could feel them beneath the layers of fabric. Although it didn't matter, as I was nothing but mesmerized by him,

I knew only of one character with those fluffy ears, and eyes, and in such a close relationship with the Moon Prince. Wolff, the beast aide of Prince Cedric and... my favourite character.

"For a lady, you run unexpectedly fast... Thank you, Wolff!" Said Cedric with a kind smile, while he put a hand on his aide's shoulder. "You can release her."

Seeing Wolff's resistance, Cedric applied some pressure on his friend's shoulder. "It doesn't look like she will run away again. And if she did, it would be easier to catch her now." My nemesis glanced at me and grinned, though instead of a warm face, it was more like a dare.

A dangerous game that, for certain, would have not ended well for me.

Wolff released me and stepped back to allow Cedric full view. He was almost as tall as his friend. His eyes were as nerve-wracking as described in the books, two jewels that trapped light and showed a fierce will. He was exactly what he was meant to be: powerful and intimidating. Child or not. He was the son of the Moon God, sacred to his people, and I was the bastard he was meant to crush.

I could not tell how or why, but I felt it in my bones.

I didn't like this situation at all. Not one bit. It was too soon and hardly an ideal scenario. I knew how Cedric was in the book, and how the moon princes were in general. And they did not take well people who refused them. But more importantly, I knew what happened to those who wronged them. Destruction with a great deal of misery.

And because I knew, I decided it was in my best interest to keep my thoughts to myself. He was no normal child, and only one clear look was enough for me to be sure of it.

The only good thing about this shitty situation was that I was able to meet my favourite character. Or at least his younger self, as he would only take a more prominent role in the book years from now. After my death, to be more precise.

He was a half-beast and a ward of the Moon Emperor. The halflings, as some called them, were part human and part beast. Although most of the time they resembled more humans than beasts. Each was unique, and their "beast" attributes depended on their ancestry. The stronger the lineage, the stronger the half-beast.

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An undeniable fact was that they were stronger and faster than an average human. While some could even transform into a full beast.

And this caused fear.

Unsurprisingly, they found themselves ostracized by both the Sun and the Moon Empire. Even though they were too few to cause any real problems.

The worst offender was the Temple, the enforcers of the Goddess' faith. They called them unholy and aberrations, and for many years pursued them until a decree was passed, stopping such a horrific act.

Because of such vitriol hate, most of the halflings decided to live in a village just outside the Moon Empire border and at the edge of the Beast Land where no one would dare to hunt them.

Wolff was, however, special even within the half-beasts. Although he had yet to know it.

"Hey! Why are you looking at my friend like that?!" Cedric's angry voice slapped me back to reality, making me realize I had been looking a tad too much at Wolff.

And neither was happy about it.

Shit...

I had to think of an excuse, but couldn't think of anything good, so I said the first thing that came to me. "He is so cute and his ears so fluffy... I was thinking of how soft they would feel if I touched them." I tried to look sheepish to convey an embarrassment fitting of a lady in my position.

Even though I did wonder how fluffy were his ears.

To my surprise, Wolff's cheeks grew scarlet and his bushy tail, unseen until then, flapped meekly in between his legs.

The only one pleased with this turn of events was that dammed nemesis of mine. He bent over, laughing as if he had heard the funniest joke, stopping only when our ugly stares turned dangerously intense.

And while I did not pertain myself to be in any way imposing with my figure, Wolff, on the other hand, could match the prince's energy effortlessly.

"Sorry, sorry!" he said, lifting both hands as a peace gesture. "I hadn't expected such a reaction from the prestigious daughter of the Great Duke Mountnero!"

He then turned to his friend, while he threw me a side glance. "Wolff, you have an admirer! And is a Duke's daughter! If you tell your friends at home, no one will believe you. Worry not, my friend. I will vouch for you."

"I don't see the big deal..." I closed my mouth. It was indeed a big deal, not to me but to the boy to whom people always gave distrustful glances and whispered cruel things.

They didn't hear my remark since both were busy with their teasing game, one at the receiving end while the other poking it out. I let out a long breath, glad for it.

"I am sorry, lady Lucreatia, but your wish to touch his ears would have to stay unanswered. Half-beasts only let their lovers touch it." explained Cedric, calmer, yet still carrying the warmth he had shown with his friend.

I didn't know that!!

My lips parted at this interesting piece of news. Though poor Wolff's cheeks became a shade darker.

He was so freaking adorable!! Deadly, but adorable.

"Your Highness, please don't go around saying such things..." said Wolff in the cutest voice ever. Long gone was the serious presence befitting of an aide, substituted by the shyness of the sensible boy beneath it.

My nemesis laughed with gentleness before nodding in agreement. Without a doubt, they were the best of friends. It was nice to see as much as it was sad.

Then the laughter stopped, although my nemesis continued to possess a smile on his face. However, this time, it was directed at me and not at Wolff. It was the kind of wicked smile perfect for a prince who knew he had the upper hand.

"Running from me..." he started, scratching his chin, enjoying his time at the helm of this conversation. "I will assume it was an oversight due to my lack of proper introduction earlier." His voice, like his posture, had turned regal and even though he was only a few inches taller than me, he peered me down as if he were a giant.

I wanted to scoff at his blatant lie and his obvious attempt at intimidating me. But I avoided it by biting on my lower lip. It was not time, yet. He was a royal prince, and I was on the wrong side of the argument. I had, like anyone else, the duty of greeting the prince.

I let him take my hand, expecting some harshness in his touch. Yet he was surprisingly gentle, just like his expression. "My name is Cedric. Royal prince of the Moon Empire. Happy to make your acquaintance, Lady Lucreatia Mountnero." He kissed my knuckles before releasing me.

There was no escaping now. I took a breath and embraced my ill-fated life, giving him a tight smile. "Glad to meet you, your Royal Highness, The Young Moon of our brother Empire." I ended it with a small bow, as etiquette dictated.

Both regarded me with odd looks as if they hadn't expected me to talk. Until Cedric's face morphed again into that wicked smile of his, this time going up to his ruby-like eyes.

I had a bad feeling about it.

"Now that you know who I am, I request your assistance, Lady Lucreatia!" he said, all the charm of a scorpion ready to strike

I realllly didn't like where this was going.

"Please join me and my friend on a quest outside of the palace. To the city market."

Yes... it was a fact... That this idiot would be the death of me.