Their ride back to the Regaleria mansion was a silent one.
Lady Faye had already suspicions of what had occurred during Cain’s time with the princess and it surely was unacceptable.
Though the two oil lamps had produced a low light, Lady Faye could see the worry in Lianne’s eyes. She had been looking at the darkness of the road outside the small stained window since they left Soulisse, looking obviously distressed.
Her hands were clasped together resting on her lap, but Lady Faye could clearly see it trembling. She was greatly concerned about her.
She remembered the princess’s hair neatly tied to the back before they left the Regaleria mansion. Now, it was a bit tousled to the sides, making her curls covering partially her neck - the neck that no doubt housed the kiss mark Cain had created.
She waited for a few minutes hoping that Lianne would initiate a talk, b
Lianne’s body dropped hard on her mattress after she had managed to undress out of the gown she had worn at the party.She was wearing her chemise now with no brassiere. The thick cotton sheet provided her with a decent amount of warmth as the cold breeze of the night began to tickle her skin.There were so many emotions that played on her mind. This night had proved to be too inauspicious indeed.She had wondered how would she be able to face Lord Cain after such an incident, and to make matters worse, the prince has now returned. She was sure as hell that he didn’t believe her alibi. But it was only a matter of time though, because tomorrow, Lady Faye would tell him everything about the party. Hopefully, she wouldn’t divulge the particular event that left the princess frantically lying all about.Lianne knew that tomorrow and the days afterward would never be the same again. If on
The following two days ensued as if nothing happened.Lianne had her same routine every day helping Lady Faye of the kitchen chores, gardening, reading, and avoiding the prince as much as she could. She heard from the other servants that he was always staying in the library and that annoyed her.By the third day, early morning, Erza was frantically running down the hallway to everyone’s confusion. Apparently, she was looking for the princess and there she saw her washing a saddle in a large trough just beside the entrance of the royal stable.“Princess...” she stopped as she gasped for air after a good run. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”Lianne turned to the servant with a questioning look on her face. “Why are looking for me?” she asked in a calm manner dropping the sponge she was holding and began to walk towards the exhausted maid.&n
“You?!” Lianne’s eyes rounded at the sight of the man.On reflex, she moved, pressing herself against the carriage window as much as she could as if he had some kind of communicable disease.“Yes, me,” was the crown prince’s cool reply. He continued to settle himself inside the carriage, claiming a seat in front of Lianne and acting disinterested in her obvious show of frustration. He was handsomely dressed wearing a black one-button tuxedo suit, his hair brushed up to the back, and his boots scrubbed into perfection. Clearly, he looked like someone who had planned to attend a ball for years.Their knees almost touched and with this, she immediately felt the interior of the carriage too small for two people.Ruen sat proudly with his arms crossed waiting for the princess’ expected hostile reaction.“I can’t believe this,&rdquo
The party went on gaily and like any other gathering, men from every table were beginning to feel the kick of the wine, while the women were forming sociable groups of their own according to age.The dance floor was filled as the musicians played their harmonious tune of various kinds of music, be it a tender waltz or a quick foxtrot. It seemed as though the highlight of the party’s royal presence wore down as time progressed, but even so, a number of reputable bachelors of the kingdom asked the princess for a dance one after another to which she dutifully accepted for one sole reason only, and it was to be away from the prince who was sitting beside her in the royal table reserved by Duke Perdunn with the other royal councilors.The prince did however had a share of his own admirers. Although these pureblood maidens giggled and flirted on his sight, the prince only proved to them that the rumors of his insensitive nature were true. Ei
For some reason, as opposed to what they had agreed last night, General Cain wasn’t able to visit the princess the next day. She only heard then from Erza that the general was hastily being sent back to the City of Olga again.She admitted that she had expected him to come to visit her, but the urgency of his mission was a relief for her. At least for now, she wouldn’t have to worry about their awkward relationship and how she would answer his confession.Weeks had passed uneventfully, but there was not a day when letters of invitation were sent to the mansion in a request for the royals' appearance with the princess in special mention. She however declined every invitation amidst being given the freedom by King Garlow to attend.It was purely a temptation for her, but if the prince would still be the man to accompany her, then she might as well decline.Being inside the mansion also was
Lianne was at the greenhouse the next day when Malerna began to express her excitement on the coming ball of the Regaleria Mansion. Apparently, King Garlow decided to host a ball in welcome of his son back to the Regaleria Kingdom, but surely, for the princess, it wasn’t the only reason.“This would be a wondrous occasion! It has been quite a few years since we had a big party like this!” Malerna, with gleaming eyes, announced to the other maids in attendance. They were picking fresh tomatoes and lettuce for a salad later tonight and the princess requested to come along with them in hopes of killing her boredom inside the mansion.“It’s all the same for me,” Princess Lianne commented, frowning. “This ball would be the same as others, largely extravagant in order to fit Garlow’s whims.” She pulled a perfectly ripe tomato from its branch and threw it to her basket with a little bit less car
Lianne’s eyes widened with the realization of Lord Jared’s request. Surely, she heard it all wrong.“Lord Cain?” She stared at the general with questioning eyes who in turn nodded, although reluctantly.“I didn’t expect for this to happen, Lianne. Tell me now and without a doubt, I will escort you out of this party right away,” Cain stated without any hesitation.She looked at Lord Jared with the same amount of surprise she gave to the general. Her thoughts battled between staying or leaving. Her plan for this night would be to avoid the man as much as possible but to be requested by him no less to join their table was somewhat of a surprise for her. She knew his request would yield to dire consequences, but to refuse a king in public would mean to refuse her freedom.But all this time.For all this time.She had neve
Lianne stood at the edge of the railing on a balcony outside the grand hall. Her right hand gripped the railing tightly feeling vexed by something she thought was inferior.Why was she feeling annoyed with the woman’s presence? Much more, why did it cause a strong emotion seeing the prince talk to another woman other than herself?Surely, she must have gone mad.Continuing to cool herself down, it was then that she realized she had inadvertently stomped her foot when she caught a glimpse of the two walking towards the center of the dance floor.“That lewd woman!” Lianne turned her back quickly away from them and began to take deep breaths.“And what was he claiming about? Thinking about me the whole time when he was in Versailles?! Huh! Go fool others!” she shouted, unaware that Lord Cain had just arrived in the balcony.“W