Straight Forward Confrontation

After so much struggle, Audelia manage to calm Rugbert and made him promised to not make the stupid 'Declaration' come to life.

How Audelia managed to persuade the overly doting Grand Duke from making such stupid Declaration you asked?

Well..

Audelia persuaded him by making a simple threat that she would leave the Grand Duchy right away if the Grand Duke made such declaration.

It was simple.. but deadly..

Well.. at least for the Grand Duke..

Audelia who managed to be free from becoming the main star(?) of Leonhart Grand Duchy, walked at the garden with the Crown Prince, Jonathan. As they walked together with Caius and Natalie followed them from behind, there were no words spoken from both children. It caused awkwardness between the aide and the maid as they watched both children' back.

"The garden is beautiful." Prince Jonathan finally decided to open the conversation to end the awkward silence that had been hanging between them.

"Yes, your highness. Our gardener, Tom, has been working hard for many years. If he hears your highness' words, I am sure he will be happy." Audelia replied with a polite smile but one could hear indifference in the tone she used, making one felt distant.

Prince Jonathan frowned slightly at the tone Audelia used as he felt displeasure slowly growing in his heart. He felt uncomfortable hearing it. It as if the girl beside him had drawn a line between the two of them, making sure they were in an accurate distance.

'Why..?'

The question kept repeating in his mind. Jonathan never met a girl named Audelia, he only heard by rumors about how she was like an angel, kind and friendly to anyone. How she was deeply loved and being doted on by her family and everyone in Leonhart Palace. How she was smart and hardworking.

Yet why?

Why this girl called Audelia showed that kind of attitude towards him?

Even though both of them had never met before...

"That.."

Prince Jonathan who couldn't contain his curiosity anymore so he opened his mouth to speak, "Have we met somewhere before?" The boy asked in a tone full of curiosity.

Audelia stopped walking and turned her head to face the boy, "No, we haven't."

"Then.." Prince Jonathan was struggling for a while before continuing, "..Why are you being so distant?"

The ruby eyes calmly stared at the blue eyes and the corner of Audelia's lips curled slightly, forming a cold yet still polite smile. "Because I don't plan on getting closer to Rozenkrenzt Royal Family."

"Eh?"

Prince Jonathan was caught off guard by Audelia's words. Not only the crown prince, Caius and Natalie were also surprised. Those words were too straight forward! Natalie broke a cold sweat as she watched how her little lady said those daring words with the calmness that wasn't like a six years old child.

"Miss Audelia, those words are too straight forward." Caius said with tone full of warning, hoping that the little girl knew that her words could be interpreted as something else by other people who had wicked intention towards the Royal Family or the Grand Duke's.

The smile in Audelia's face grew slightly wider as she replied without facing Caius, "I just said what I think, this is who I am."

"But those words can bring--"

"Enough Caius." Prince Jonathan cut Caius words while keeping his eyes at Audelia's face, "..I am sure Audelia has a reason.."

"Oh I have." Audelia said, "I just don't want to be bind by getting closer to royal family members, you know."

"It's troublesome." Audelia added with a childlike tone.

"Trouble...some..?" Prince Jonathan asked in confusion.

"Yes. If I am getting closer to royal family, then there will be a big chance that I have to get married to you in the future. I don't want that." Audelia explained.

"Miss.. Where did you learn something like that..?" Natalie couldn't help but asking the question.

"Sophia Sensei told me that!" Audelia answered the question with an honest attitude of a child.

Rather.. she had to act that way because she was in a body of a seven year old child. Being too mature would arouse suspicions after all.

"Aah.. I see.." Natalie accepted it right away after hearing the name 'Sophia'.

Audelia smiled inwardly while maintaining the childlike smile on her face as she saw Natalie's reaction. Sophia, her full name was Sophia Evelyn De Lawrence. She was the wife of Viscount Lawrence and a woman who was famous for etiquette and manner. In daily life, she usually had a warm and motherly attitude but when she taught mannerism, she became a strict forty two years old teacher.

Students always called her Lawrence Sensei but that didn't apply to Audelia. Because Audelia was so good in her manners and etiquette, Lady Sophia told Audelia to call her by her name. So Audelia called her by the name 'Sophia Sensei' instead of 'Lawrence Sensei'.

One thing that people didn't know, Sophia Sensei was a romantic lady. She was very pleased with Audelia during the lesson that she often said that if she continued being good and working hard, she would get closer to Royal Family. Of course Audelia knew the reason for such words but she asked the reason nonetheless. Thus, Sophia Sensei gave the answer Audelia expected to come. She could marry into the royal family.

Sophia Sensei thought that marrying into the royal family was every maiden's dream however little did she knew that Audelia never had that intention in her mind at all. For her, the farther she was from the Rozenkrenzt Royal Family, the better it was.

"I.. See.."

Prince Jonathan's words brought Audelia back from her reverie. Seeing that he was struggling with something, Audelia planned to strike while the iron was hot.

"Yes, so please Prince Jonathan to maintain a proper distance from me." Audelia spoke, once again threw a polite smile at the boy.

'The farther the better.'

Audelia added in her mind. "Now then, shall we continue our stroll at the garden, your highness? Or you rather return to your room perhaps?" Audelia suggested such options to the crown prince. Despite the polite expression on her face, her eyes, however, exposed her real feelings.

'Just return to your room already!'

'I don't want to talk to you more than I have to!'

What was in Audelia's mind was clearly seen in the depth of her ruby eyes. Prince Jonathan, even though he was an honest and pure boy, he still noticed it and deep down the displeasure in his heart grew. However he didn't want to make the relationship, if there is any, between them became more strained. After all, the girl was chosen as his playmate, he wanted to get closer even though the other person didn't want to. So..

"I am a little bit tired, I think I am going to return to my room instead." Prince Jonathan said with a slightly bitter smile.

Hearing the words she wanted to hear, Audelia's eyes lit up with happiness as it sparkled like stars. Seeing her sparkling ruby eyes, Prince Jonathan was in a daze but soon he returned to his senses by Audelia's next words.

"Natalie, please escort the crown prince back to his room." Audelia ordered and curtsied at Prince Jonathan.

"Then I shall bid the crown prince goodbye. Please do have a good rest, I shall return to my room as well."

Audelia left while Prince Jonathan's eyes never left her back until it couldn't be seen anymore.

What was left after...

It was something only the crown prince knew...