Chapter 11

I have to say that I quite regret what I did in Seleste's banquet. Since the day after that, another dozens of invitation cards arrived with notice that they actually heard what happened.

I'm having a headache because of these cards I'm seeing, it would be really hard to deny their invitations since they already heard about me, attending the banquet of Seleste. 

"Fara, have you heard about Hades?" I asked curiously. 

"No your Highness," she answered. 

I barely have enough sleep and now I'm having a hard time seeing Hades in the palace. I was about to ask about these invitations to stop the palace from accepting. 

How can I even meet all of them? All of the invitations are all about tea parties, I don't know if I can even socialize with those little girls. 

I bit my lower lip before I slapped my forehead, this is too much of a headache. 

"How about hosting a banquet your Highness?" 

I stopped after hearing what she said. "Hosting a banquet? Who? Me?" I asked while pointing my self. 

"Yes your Highness." She nodded. 

I clapped my hands when my mind approved the idea of Fara, it would be an easy solution to meet all of those nobles if I'm going to host a banquet. 

"Lead me to his Highness," I ordered before leaving my room together with Fara. 

We arrived inside the Imperial Palace. I can say that it becomes too busy especially when I am seeing knights walking in and out inside the Palace. 

My head turned on the left side while walking straight on the path to the area where Hades is staying. 

I can see the knights with their naked upper bodies while sparring with each other. 

My eyes found Pursues talking with the unfamiliar knight. Well, he's not naked but I can already see his masculine body far from here. Is that even a body of a sixteen years old? 

I immediately avoid my eyes when his head turned in my direction. That was too close, I was staring too much.

When we arrived, I took a deep breath and pressed my pulse to stop myself from feeling the suffocation. 

Fara knocked the door three times before it opened, Butler Gavin was the one who welcomed us. 

"I need to have a talk with his Highness," I said when he looked at me. 

He opened the door widely and lowered his head slightly. "It's a pleasure my lady."

When I entered the room, I can feel the sudden tension when I saw Hades sitting on his chair while writing something. His right arm was resting on the table while his left hand was moving together with the pen on his hand. 

He stopped before raising his head and looked at me. "You're here Talia, have a seat." He ordered the Butler to prepare a chair for me.

"It's okay your Highness, I'm just here to tell you that I want to host a banquet in my Palace. I was having a hard time accepting the invitations from the noble so maybe I should host a banquet and invite all of them. How's it?" 

He snapped his fingers before giving me a smile. "That's fine, do whatever you want. Just tell me what you want and I'll do it," he said before his eyes went back to the papers.

If I asked you to cut your head, will you even do it?

I bowed before giving my farewell. "Thank you, your Highness."

I turned around and walked straight to the door and before I left, I plastered a bright smile when the Butler led me outside. 

After the door was closed, I can already see myself making a dark expression. I clenched my fist before flipping my hair, I need the wind to blow the disgusting feeling inside my body. 

I can't believe I was like a rat standing in a Tiger's den, I felt how small I am when I entered that suffocating room. 

I chuckled before wiping the sweat coming out from my temple. 

Fara was beside me, walking silently in the palace hall where I can see different statues.

My mind was blank when we exit the Imperial Palace, it was such a suffocating scene which I don't know if I can even act normal in front of him when we meet again. 

"My Lady."

I can already hear myself shouting for Pursues name when I heard his voice. I stopped and turned around, seeing him on his white thin long sleeve with his upper button opened. 

Remember Talia, you're still twelve right now. A child like you can't flirt too much, stop thinking about him. 

"Hey," I greeted and waved my hand. 

I can already see the reaction of Fara beside me, I know Fara. I don't even know why I am acting like this, just stop minding me. 

He held my left hand and kissed it before he gave me a glint of smile. "It's been awhile my lady," he says with his fingers scrubbing my hand as if telling me something that I do not understand. 

I laughed awkwardly before pulling my hand from him. That was too close, is he playing with me? 

"Oh, It's nice to see you again your Highness. You've grown quite taller than the last time I've seen you," I said and looked at him from head to toe. 

"Gladly to catch your interest my lady, I'm happy that you're giving me your time just to compliment me."

I can already see his white teeth when he smiled brightly. Really... He's playing with me. 

But it's my first time seeing him like that. He was always making a serious or emotionless face unlike today, is he doing that on purpose?

"I'm always like this your Highness, since I love complimenting others especially when they caught my interest." I crossed my fingers and happily gave him a warm smile. 

His expression changed, did I say something wrong? 

"That's too bad, I like woman with loyalty though. Then, see you my lady." 

I can feel my heart throbbing with coldness because of what he said. I can only see his back walking far from us, is he telling me that I'm not his type? 

I panicked with horror, is he going to breached our contract with each other? 

"Fara," I called. 

"Yes your Highness?"

"What would be the best attack against the word loyalty?" I asked, I feel like I lost my soul right now. 

"I don't know my lady, maybe you should break up with him," she answered making me stopped and looked at her with my strange expression. 

"Are you kidding me?" 

She shook her head before she bowed. I can only see her serious expression, she's not helping me. 

I giggled in annoyance before I walked out. 

I thought he doesn't like any particular woman but why is he telling me that he likes a woman with loyalty? 

I thought we're going to break the word 'adultery'?

Am I being dumped by him? 

Yeah I guess that's it. He likes a loyal woman and that's not me, okay. That's fine! I can find a better partner for my plan, I don't need him.

I don't need...

Wait, I can still ask him about it right? Maybe it's a misunderstanding, we can still talk about it. 

I bit my thumb nail while thinking of how am I going to talk with him. I'm going to be busy starting tomorrow since I'm going to host a banquet. 

He's invited though, maybe I can invite him for a dance just like in the past and talk about it. 

I snapped my finger before I grinned. Right, there's still chance.