Hey guys!
So I finally decided to stop being a jerk and update. I am so sorry the late updates. Honestly, I am updating after like four months. So sorry!

Summary:

Marina, the Princess of Torrentice marries Prince Nathaniel Verdirosi, the heir of the Kingdom of Alves, due to a series of events involving Nathan's half brother Prince Alfredo Verdirosi, who happens to be an exact replica of his father - King Vladimir Verdirosi (a complete womanizer). After their marriage the newly wed couple decide to go to Mystic Falls with Ally (Marina's bodyguard & friends), Brialle (Marina's dog) and Lucca (Nathan's best friend).

During their journey they discover the hidden land - The Benedizione, inhabitated by the some of the out casted knights by Nathan's grandfather. The land is ruled by Carl Esposito. After a series of events it turns out Carl's son - Lucio Esposito is Marina's childhood best friend. They call each other Mari & Lui, much to Nathan's dismay. Lui owns a bird of the species "Messagerio Dio" , whom he calls Zitto.

So, Carl allows the royalties to leave only if they allow Lucio to accompany to them. That is how Lucio accompanies them. During their journey, Nathan's jealously towards Lucio & his unintended comparisons of Princess Charlotte with Marina along with Lucca and Nathan's inner voice's snarky remarks makes him realize his feelings for his blue eyed Princess, who hates drinking tonics and sings the poem "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear".

So, this chapter starts with everyone's ( Mari, Lui, Ally, Lucca, Brialle & Nathan) arrival to mystic falls.
I hope I was able to summarize the events properly, if anyone is still confused, feel free to ask.😊😊😊

At present :
(Mystic Falls)

Marina and Nathan entered the royal palace of Mystic Falls together, followed by Lucio and Lucca, behind whom Ally walked, trying their best to control Brialle from leaping forward and starting his own exploration trip.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. We all happily welcome you back in the Mystic Falls, sire," Sir Greenrough, the Mayor of Mystic Falls, greeted Nathan.

"Thank you Sir Greenrough. I appreciate your hospitality. Please ask the servants to escort my friends and Princess Marina to their respective rooms. I'll meet you all in a while," Nathan said before going off with Sir Greenrough.

"Did he say my room?" Marina wondered to herself as Lucca and Lucio along with Ally departed towards their respective rooms.

"Your Highness, this is your room," the maid said guiding Marina into what was 'her' room.

"Thank you," Marina replied to the maid before dismissing her.

As weird as it was, initially when Marina wanted her own room, she was forced to share it with Nathan and now when she had her own room, it just felt weird not having Nathan's things around her or the existence himself.

Shaking off those thoughts, Marina looked around her room. It had beautiful blue wallpapered walls with small silver flowers articulately made on it. On one side laid a bed, two drawers while on the other side laid a pair of armchairs. A big golden chandler hung as a centrepiece of the room.

Marina walked to the other side of the room, opening the blue curtains of the window and allowing the sunlight to lit the room.

While looking out, her gaze landed onto Nathan who was busy talking with Sir Greenrough. Fortunately, for Marina, Nathan's back faced her and so she continued to secretly peek at her husband, trying to figure out the puzzle Prince Nathaniel was.

But the Lady Luck wasn't on her side as Nathan turned around all of a sudden, feeling someone's gaze on his back. Marina could have moved away, but as soon as Nathan's eyes found hers, she couldn't move. She wanted to talk, scream, shout at Nathan but even before she could smile, Nathan turned back walking away from Marina's sight.

Marina angrily slid back the curtains. This had become a routine for Nathan. Either he was avoiding her at all costs or just blankly staring at her and giving her a cold shoulder.

Marina stomped her feet to her bed. She really couldn't figure out the cause of change in Nathan's behavior. She had tried to ask Lucca, but being the ever loyal best friend, he had simply smiled at her and walked away.

This was not the only weird thing happening around her. Since the time, Nathan had returned from the market visit, he had been very friendly to Lucio, too much friendly for Marina's liking. It felt like he was a totally different person, going all brother-brother with Lucio.

Even Lucio felt his behaviour was a bit out of place. He, too like Marina, could not digest this newly awakened friendliness of Nathan. Not to mention Nathan was the same person who ardently wanted to have nothing to do with Lucio.

"That was past. The past is in the past," Marina's inner voice chimed in.

Sighing, Marina got up from the bed and without telling anyone she literally ran away from the castle. Running was easy for Marina. From a very young age, she was a great runner. It helped to clear her thoughts. The cool wind on her face helped her to calm down the emotional turmoil that surfaced inside her and threatened to spill out from her face.

Marina stopped as soon as she crossed the walls and security of the castle. After walking around aimlessly, Marina decided to rest in the forest, which was thickly branched allowing very little sunlight. When she was about to sit down under the big oak tree, she heard a scream.

Tracking down the voice, she came face to face with a honey brown eyed, blonde haired girl, who was screaming for help.

Marina looked around and soon noticed two things. First, was a bow and arrow and the other was the howling sound of a wild boar, who seemed to be moving towards the girl, ready to kill her with his horns.

Not wanting to kill the animal and at the same time wanting to save the poor girl. Marina did the first thing that came to her mind. Quickly picking up the bow and arrow, she aimed it and released the arrow which landed just in between the girl and the boar. As expected, it frightened the boar, who ran away.

Marina quickly ran to the girl and helped her get onto her feet.
The girl was dressed in a black trouser and loose brown tunic with a black long jacket. A rather unusual outfit for a woman.

"Th-Thank you so much for helping me. I really cannot thank you enough," the girl replied in a shaky voice.

"It's okay. I really did not prove to be of much help. Are you alright? What are you doing here alone in this forest?" Marina asked the honey brown eyed girl.

"I am a trained archer and huntress. But, I don't kill animals to skin them or sell them. I do it only to protect people."

"What do you mean?"

"I am a royal huntress. I only kill those animals which Sir Greenrough and others think become a threat to the passerby."

"Wow, you are so brave and it's a great profession," Marina remarked.

"And that explains her whole reason for wearing that outfit. It's easier to move in trousers than gowns."

"Yes, but dangerous too. Like that wild boar, he could have killed me, had you not saved me. Thank you so much. By the way, I am Alicia Deander," Alicia replied, smiling.

"So, what happened? I mean if you are a trained archer why were you lying there ready to be..."

"The lunch or dinner of the boar?" Alicia completed Marina's sentence with a smile as if she was used to talking about death daily.

"Well, she is a huntress, a royal huntress."

"You see I was on that tree," Alicia said pointing to the tree behind her.

"I was trying to trace the wild boar from the tree as I had heard it's sound from the nearby area. But, the animal must have sniffed the smell of a human and hit the tree forcefully out of nowhere. I lost my balance with the sudden tremor, falling right in front of the boar while my bow and arrow went flying away to the opposite direction. *Sigh* I should have been more careful. Underestimating the enemy is the first step in ones downfall. Well, I have learnt a lesson today," Alicia said adjusting the strap of her quiver.

"Anyways, you are safe. That's what matters. By the way, I am Marin--"

"Wait, like the Princess Marina?"

"Ho-How did you know that?"

"Your clothes, skill, confidence gives the royal feel. If you are lost Your Highness, I can help you out."

"Firstly, just call me Marina--"

"But-"

"No buts. Secondly, I am kind of lost, so it'd be really nice of you if you would help me out," Marina said, scratching the back of her neck.

Alicia laughed on hearing this as the two started to walk back to the castle.

"So, Alicia are you a citizen of Mystic Falls?"

"Yes, I was born and raised here and now live here with my husband and family."

"I see. Wait! Are you married?" Marina asked, shock evident in her voice. Alicia seemed so young, around eighteen, and she was already married.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

"No. So, your husband does not have any problem with you being a huntress?" Marina asked hesitantly.

"On the contrary, he actually supports me in this. In fact, we both got trained in archery by the same teacher."

"So, he's an archer too?"

"Yes, but he is not a hunter."

"What does he do? If you don't mind me asking you so many questions. It's just, you are probably the first woman, female I met, besides Ally, who knows how to handle a weapon."

"No, I don't mind it Marina and I get what you are trying to say. Not many women are privileged in Alves to be allowed to be trained or educated or even touch weapons," Alicia muttered the least part to herself but Marina had heard it.

"Anyways, as I was telling you, my husband's not a hunter. He's the commander-in-chief of the army in Mystic Falls," Alicia replied with her usual happy-go-lucky smile.

"I guess, you had a love marriage?"

"No. Our marriage was arranged by our grandfathers. We had always known each other from a young age, but never liked each other. We hated each other's guts and could not even stay in one room. Our parents were really worried that we might just kill each other on the day of our marriage," Alicia said with a laugh, while the two crossed the canopy and came under the broad sunlight.

"Anyways, reluctantly we were married off and slowly with time, we realized that we just judged each other too quickly and when we actually started talking we weren't that bad. Fast forward, we fell in love and yeah I am madly in love with him and he dare not think I am leaving him ever," Alicia said while trying to hide her flushed cheeks.

"As if I'd let you leave me," someone replied from behind.

Marina turned around to see a soldier seated on a brown horse, coming their way. Instincts kicked in and Marina was about to take out her sword, but Alicia stopped her. Puzzled, she looked at the young huntress.

"He's my husband, silly, not an enemy."

"Oh..." Marina replied as the realization sunk in.

"Alicia, what are you--" the soldier stopped when he noticed who was standing beside his wife.

"Princess Marina? I am so sorry, I wasn't able to recognize you immediately," the young man apologized while getting down from his horse.

"Because you are an idiot," Alicia remarked laughingly.

"Did this idiot trouble you, Your Highness?" the man asked referring to his wife.

"No, she was just helping me out. I was a bit lost in the forest," Marina replied.

"See, I don't trouble people," Alicia said to her husband.

"Yeah, you just kill them."

"But honey, that's your job not mine," Alicia remarked.

When her husband did not reply quickly, she added, "Now who's an idiot?"

"You, my love," Alicia's husband replied sweetly.

"You are idiot-er."

"I don't even think that's a word love. So, this just shows who's a bigger idiot."

"Ha! You admitted you are an idiot-"

"I'll be heading back to the palace," Marina replied interrupting the husband-wife quarrel as she started running back to the palace.

"Marina! Thank you for your help once again. If you ever want to meet me, just come to the forest," Marina heard Alicia's distant voice as she quickened her pace.

Hardly had Marina entered the castle, when Ally came running to her, followed by a tired looking Lucio.

"Where were you?" the three asked in unison.

"I was just exploring the castle," Marina replied, trying her best not to be caught.

"But, we looked for you everywhere," Anne complained.

"Yes, we were really worried and were about to go inform Prince Nathaniel about it," Belle said to Marina.

"Well, I am here now. So, let's go have some rest before lunch."

"But--" Ally started to protest only to be cut off by Marina.

"No buts. Now go and rest. I'll be in my room, I promise."

Reluctantly, Ally agreed, but not before promising to check on Marina in every half an hour.

"Two down, one left," Marina thought as she looked at Lucio, who hadn't moved an inch.

"So, where were you exactly?" Lucio asked, folding his hands over his chest.

"I already told you. I was just exploring the-"

"Tsk, tsk. Liars are bad, Princess don't lie. Was in the forest," Zitto remarked, appearing out of nowhere.

"You went to the forest alone?" Luci asked Marina while Zitto perched on his wrist.

"I-Uh... Yes?"

"Mari, how many times should I tell you to take at least me, if not Ally, with you on your exploration trips. They can be really dangerous."

"I am sorry," Marina mumbled to herself while shuffling her feet with her eyes down casted like a kid who was being punished for her wrong doings.

"Just don't do it again. Anyways how was the forest? Found something interesting?" Lucio asked a guilty looking Marina.

"It was really beautiful covered with several canopy and you know I even met a huntress. Not just any huntress, a royal huntress," Marina replied excitedly.

"A royal huntress in Alves?" Lucio asked, surprise evident in his voice.

"Yes, I was also surprised."

"So, how did you meet her?"

As Marina started to tell the whole forest exploration trip to Lucio, all the anger, guilt that had built up washed away from between the two dear friends - Mari and Lui - the two destined friends.

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Hello readers!
Sorry for the late update.
These days I am busy preparing for entrance exams.

Anyways, what are your thoughts about Alicia?

What did you think of Nathan's changed demeanor towards Marina?

I know this was not a great update. But, did you like it?
No?? Yes???

Please do reply, I would love to hear your thoughts.😊😊

Till the next update, keep shining ;)

- Love Addy :)