Born As The Emperor's Daughter

"So kindly explain everything from the start?" Gilbert said as he was sitting on the couch with Alexandra in front of him and Harrison beside him. He separated the two of them as seeing them seating together side by side was making his head hurt and making him feel something. He was leaning against the couch with his legs crossed, a serious look on his face while his gaze kept on switching from Alexandra to Harrison.

Yeah, we're definitely dead.

"Can I sit on that couch instead, your majesty?"

"No."

How does Harrison look calm and nonchalant in a situation like this? He doesn't even look bothered at all which is what Alexandra wishes that she is.

On the outside, she looks fine and calm but on the inside, she isn't. She mentally screamed and panicking, banging her head against the wall. Alexandra could only laugh awkwardly, averting her gaze while scratching her cheek with her index finger not knowing what to say.

"Don't laugh."

Alexandra flinched when she heard Gilbert's tone of voice. It sounded calm and nonchalant, it sounded cold in her ears. It sent a chill down her spine and she looked at Harrison's direction, he was also looking at her. Their gazes met in the process and it feels like they were communicating through their eyes.

[What to do now?]

She asked him through the mind, sending him messages and speaking to him through telepathy. She doesn't know if she should tell her brother the truth or just avoid it completely. If she tries to avoid it, her brother would be suspicious of their relationship and might even go through great lengths just to investigate and know everything.

If she tells him everything, the truth and such, she doesn't know how he will react. I mean, Gilbert looks like an unpredictable person, it's hard to tell what is in his mind especially that he doesn't show that much expression and he's always quiet. There are pros and cons on each decision and she's fine with either but she doesn't know what to pick.

Harrison took a while to respond to her, sensing the sudden sensation of fear and confusion within her. As a person who has spent years with her, either in her past life or her current life, it was quite easy to tell what she is really feeling on the inside even when she has an expressionless look on her face.

He sighed before responding to her, [Let me handle this]. Alexandra only nodded her head at him as a response before looking back at Gilbert. Somehow, there was an expression on his face that tells or indicates that he was confused as to why they were staring at each other for a minute or two without saying anything at all. She smiled at her brother, thinking that it will go well.

Harrison cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak and what came out of his mouth made Alexandra's eyes go wide and made her jaw drop.

"I b.a.r.e feelings for her majesty, the princess."

No, she wasn't shocked by what he said. I mean what he said was true but rather she was speechless. She was expecting for him to handle it in the most useful way that will make them escape this situation easily, however, he didn't and instead, he declared it with a confident and calm tone of voice while his chin was raised slightly and a serious look plastered on his face that he likes her.

Gilbert looks like he is trying to be calm, the expression on his face cold. Alexandra senses danger from this just because of what Harrison said.

Oh, the woes of being the only girl in your family, she thought to herself and felt her soul ascend to heaven itself. In addition to that, I'm also a princess and a daughter of the ruthless emperor having cold-blooded and scary siblings.

Even though he didn't mention her also having feelings for him and them being in a relationship, it's still bad. It's not like she hates it, if possible, she could tell everyone and scream to the world how much she loves the man and brags about how they're in a sweet and wholesome relationship.

But her circ.u.mstances and situation are different. Her being a member of the royal family and the first crowned princess of this empire while Harrison only being known as a palace wizard because he was hiding his real identity. There was a high risk but she still eventually took it as she loves him.

"And? Is this the first time that you heard this, Alexa? What's your response?"

Gilbert asked her in a calm tone of voice. She gulped before responding to him, surrendering herself and planning on telling him everything. Oh, it wouldn't be long until her other brothers would learn about this.

"We're in a relationship. Almost 5 months. I was the one that confessed," Alexandra has averted her gaze and looked down, not wanting to look at the expression plastered on her brother's face. She was fidgeting, playing with her hands. She was resisting the urge to bite her nails because of how nervous she is. Her heart was beating fast and loud, it feels like they could hear it and going to escape her ribcage.

She sensed some movement, a person approaching her, and then they sat down beside her. This grabbed her attention and made her lift her head to look at who was it. It was Harrison, seating close to her. Although Gilbert strictly told him to not leave his side and just remained there, he still went and sat down beside Alexandra. She could only see his side profile but she could tell that the blank look on his face has been tainted with some emotion.

"Alexa, he's a palace wizard and not some sort of royalty. How come you fell in love with him? He can't give you everything. If you get married to him or your relationship would get leaked, you know how the public would react. I don't like him for you. Find another man."

She was offended or hurt by what her brother said. Alexandra was about to open her mouth to speak and say something when Harrison spoke first, interrupting what she was about to say.

"Even if you say that, your majesty, I will not back down or break my relationship with her." She felt his hand interlaced with hers while he spoke, giving it a squeeze as if to reassure her that everything will be fine. Alexandra relaxed in her seat, a tender smile has made its way to her lips as she looked at him lovingly. She felt butterflies in her stomach, fluttering, and giving her a tingling sensation.

"And why is that?" Gilbert arched an eyebrow while asking him. Alexandra squeezed his hand back and held it tightly in her grasp, Gilbert could see their intertwined hands but didn't say anything about it.

"Because I love her, your majesty. As simple as that. Even if everyone turns their back against her, I will still stay by her side. I will give her everything that she deserves. She's all I have, all I want and I don't want to let go of her."

Harrison has a serious look on his face. She recalled the promise that he made with her the night that they saw each other months, the revelation of their past, and learning that they can remember their previous life, the memories that they shared.

Gilbert only remained silent, staring at the two of them without saying anything. It looks like he was in deep thought, thinking of what he should say. Alexandra was completely calm at this point, not panicking inside her head or mentally banging her head against the wall. She took advantage of his silence and decided to speak, telling him what she wants to say.

"I, too, brother, love Harrison. He's not only just one simple and ordinary person in my life, he was something more than that. When I felt alone in my life, he was there to accompany me and make me feel happy. When I was having a hard time or is sad, he was there to cheer me up and help me. He was always there for me. I will not let you interfere with our relationship."

She felt him draw circles at the back of her hand with the use of his thumb, their fingers laced. Gilbert sighed before responding to her, a small smile seen on his lips. All the tension that they have in the air was now gone and Gilbert looked completely relaxed compared to the ominous expression that he has before.

"Okay, you pass. I approve of your relationship."

"What?" Alexandra and Harrison said in unison.

"I was only joking earlier. I was only testing the two of you to see how serious are you with your relationship and the feelings you have," Gilbert said and he uncrossed his legs. Alexandra felt like slapping herself because of what he said. Because of that, she said some embarrassing things that she isn't used to saying. Even Harrison too was fooled.

"Brother, it's not funny."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. What are you going to do now? I already know about your relationship, are you still keeping it as a secret from our other siblings?"

Alexandra took a while to respond. She turned her head to look at Harrison as if asking him for his opinion or answer. The expression on his face and the look that he gave her tells that he is fine with either way and that she will accept whatever her decision is.

"Please keep it a secret from our other siblings and also from father, brother. It's not like I'm not ready to tell them yet but I just want it hidden and lowkey. Aside from that, you do know how they would react, right?"

Gilbert only nodded his head and muttered an 'okay' underneath his breath before standing up from his seat, taking the book with him. "Anyways, I'm going to leave now. I still have to sleep. Rest assured, I won't tell anybody about your relationship."

"I really do appreciate that, brother. Thank you."

"No problem," He said and then he began walking towards the door of the room to leave but before he could, he turned around to look at Harrison. His eyes narrowed down on him, "If you do something to my sister or break her heart, you're dead to me." That's what he said before he completely left. The sound of the door closing was loud and it rang inside their ears.

Once Alexandra was sure that her brother was gone, she tackled Harrison down the couch making him lay back against it while she's laying on top of him. There was a wide grin seen on her face and Harrison stared at her face. "What? Why do you look so happy?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I? Brother Gil approves of your relationship and is willing to keep it a secret from everyone. Aside from that, it's also because of what you said earlier," She let out a giggle by the end of her sentence. Harrison only squished her cheeks before he spoke and rolled his eyes in the process, "Whatever."

A tender eye-smile appeared on her face while she's smiling widely like an idiot.

"Can I ask you something?" He said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

She relaxed in his embrace and hummed before responding to him, "What is it?"

"What do you love about me?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"Just answer."

Alexandra was silent for a while, thinking of what she should say and she spoke after almost 10 seconds.

"I love your eyes. And the rest of you."

Harrison nodded his head multiple times as he spoke, "I see."

"What about me? What do you love about me?"

"Your smile especially if the reason is me." He didn't even hesitate and answered her as soon as she finished speaking. Alexandra only laughed before leaning close to his face, giving his forehead a kiss.

The butterflies in her stomach fluttering wildly as her heartbeat was calm, her mind empty and thinking about the moment they are sharing right now.