He left a kiss on our first meeting

Five years ago.

The Kingdom of Milanos.

Autumn has arrived on the mainland, but her heart is as cold as ice.

She has been living alone for the past ten years when a group of soldiers stormed into her house this morning and announced that she is the missing princess that King Aulus, the reigning king, has been searching for.

Isa Madrigal doubts the edict, but she has no right to refuse the king's summons to the palace. So she finds herself riding a luxurious car out of the Altera highlands where she grew up.

"Princess, we'll shop at Obando and let you dress a little more impressive before presenting yourself in front of the king," said the maid who stays with her since the group of soldiers left.

Isa nods, her gaze fixating on the scenery outside the window. Soon after, the car come to a halt in front of an opulent boutique in Obando's town center.

"Don't worry, Princess. The Duke of Obando has prepared a boutique for you to choose your dress from and ordered that no one shall disturb you inside."

A sarcastic smile appears on her lips as she follows the maid inside. She simply tossed a casual blue dress to the woman and the maid lead her to the dressing room. Isa undress with a blank expression but when she turn around, her eyes has caught someone staring at her wide-eyed.

On the corner of the dressing room stood a strange man who wears silk on a cold autumn day. He has his bloody colored hair tied at top of his head and a little cowlicks sticking out on his forehead which makes him look like a playful nobleman.

Their gazes lock to each other for a moment. He wears something presentable while she wear nothing but a pair of underwear, a kind of scene that every girl in the Kingdom will avoid. Isa wants to frown and scold the man but she hold herself back. The person in front of her is too handsome for a mere scolding.

She leans over to him, looking up as she smiles. "Like what you see?" she ask, her eyes both hold a promise of sinister methods to deal with him if he will nod his head.

The man looks at her from head to toe and smiles back. "Not bad."

It is Isa's turn to go speechless. He doesn't agree nor refute her question? Such eloquent tongue!

Shaking her head, she reach for the blue dress and put it on in front of the man. She sometimes give that weird man a sidelong glance and she will always catch him smiling brightly at her like an idiot so she ends up saying nothing at all.

She used to work as a photography model in the neighboring kingdom so it's not her first time to undress and display her skin to other people. The man's presence in the dressing room does not bother her but his unwavering stare does.

"You're brave to sneak into the ladies' room, aren't you?" she says, combing her messy hair with fingers.

The man chuckles and folds his arms in front of him, leaning against the wall and staring at her. "You will not tell anyone."

"Are you certain?" she ask.

Isa glance at the full-body mirror and notice that her outfit is appropriate. She turns around to leave the dressing room but the man take hold of her wrist and pulls her back. Isa yelp as her back presses against his warm chest. His breath is fanning her neck. Isa feels her mouth dries up and her heart tightening in shock.

"Will you tell them how I hold you like this?" The man tighten his hold on her waist and she gasp "If your answer is yes, I have to warn you. I like to spank naughty piglets, sweetheart," he warns in a playful tone.

"P-Piglet?" she whispers in disbelief. Her scalp go numb and black lines appear on her forehead. "How dare you say I'm a piglet? Damn you!"

Her head sways forward and she yanks her head back - hitting the man's pointed nose with her secret technique: reverse headbutt!

His hand loosen its hold so she escape fast but before she can take a step outside the door, the man pulls her back -- again! What kind of luck does she have? This freaking flaminggo guy won't leave her be!

"You dare to hurt this young master?" he snarls and hiss in pain.

Unlike his earlier playful demeanor, the man's tone is full of unmistakable threat. Her entire body shivers. She once heard that powerful men can make anyone submit at the sound of their voice. And the man behind her is no exception.

"Who are you?" she ask.

He ask her back instead, "Are you Isa Madrigal, the so-called Altera Highlands princess?"

Isa blinks her eyes open, and she jolts back to reality. She tries to step back but the man squints his eyes to warn her not to do anything stupid. Her lips pursed and stay still, looking away. "What do you want?"

The Duke of Obando has ordered that no one shall enter the boutique until she left the establishment. Unless this weird man know that she will visit this boutique and purposely hid inside to wait for her?

"Is your head made of coconut? That blow can knock off an elephant!" he complain as he clip the bridge of his nose with two fingers, ignoring her question earlier.

"First piglet, and now coconut? Can you speak like a human?"

His gaze darken. "Are you saying I'm an animal?"

"Yes! I mean, no! But at least use proper words! I am a princess-to-be for freaking sake and you're telling me I'm a pig and my head's like a coconut!"

"You said it yourself. What are you complaining about?" he ask and curse under his breath.

"Huh?" When she realize what he means, Isa's anger issues can't take it anymore. "How dare you! Tell me who you are, or I'll inform the Duke of your daring actions!"

"Oh?" The man looks at her again. "How should I be punished, my princess?" he ask with his mocking gaze.

Isa clench her fists. "Do you not realize that disrespecting a noble will put you into a death row?" she ask, clearly reminding the man of his place.

But he only smiles as if he did not take her warnings to heart. Isa frowns at him. "Are you testing my patience?"

"You're free to do what you want, Princess Isa." The corner of his lips curls up, creating a lovely image in her eyes.

Baah! What lovely image? This man is not taking her seriously at all!

She really wants to teach this young man a lesson but she is contemplating whether it's worth the risk or not. It's her first time to the capital so she is not familiar with the nobles yet. And the man before her is giving her that dangerous vibes of someone from higher position.

Not to mention, his aura is more terrifying than a king should have!

"Who are you?" she ask again in a calm manner.

The man arch his eyebrow and curl the corner of his lips. He raise a hand for a handshake. "I admire your bravery and beauty, Princess."

Isa choke in her saliva and she grimace, not accepting his outstretch hand. The man put his hand down. "Just call me Isa," she says and sighs in defeat. "What are you doing here? Just tell me the truth."

The h*ll with upholding the 'royal family's pride and reputation'? She just wants to get the answer she needs and be over it.

Looking at her who looks like she lost a million, the man grins. It's fun teasing Isa whose face will go red at a slightest jump of her emotion. And this woman dare to ignore his handshake? "Well..." he trails off, a little lost for words.

Isa realize that the man has no intention to state his reason for hiding inside the ladies room so she plan to get out, only to be held back again for the third time.

Her anger issues rise as she raise her hand and slaps the man's face -- hard. "You damned flamingo! How dare you stop this princess? Guards!" she yells.

What good reputation if that man won't stop pestering her?

The royals uphold their reputation so much so the maid ask her not to do anything stupid while on their way to the palace, but she doesn't care. Either way, she doesn't believe that this whole ordeal of bringing her back to the palace is a fairytale come true. For all she know, she might face ridicule after stepping into the majestic palace.

Isa jumps in shock when the man left a kiss on her cheek before jumping down on the open window nearby.

"Remember my name. Charles Kaizen Domingo!" She heard him say before the guards break into the dressing room.

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