“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,” and then she did with her face showing disappointment.
The carriage began to move continuing its way to the Astoria Mansion and this made her heart pound hard against her ribcage.
“What about our agreement?!” she clarified. Her expression was that of a betrayed maiden; angry and frustrated; but amidst this, Ruen could still see how she looked beautiful on the stunning gown.
He smiled his debonair signature smile that proved for Lianne too irritating. She knew he was toying with her again, and on this very important night especially.
“It is still binding,” Ruen replied.
Lianne let out a mocking laugh. “You must be joking. How can our agreement still be binding when you are the one here, not Lady Faye?”
He stared at her with depth, unspoken words swimming inside the beautiful pools of his eyes.
Upon seeing this, Lianne read through the very thing on his mind. Her eyes widened with the realization that hit her like an arrow. Oh my God, how could she be so oblivious all this time?!
“Wait, you planned this all along did you?! You can’t really accompany me to the ball!”
“Why not? I am invited also,” Ruen retorted.
“But you said so yourself Lady Faye is to accompany me! That was the reason why I agreed!”
Her hands formed into a tight fist because of the tension that was amassing inside her. She wanted to punch this man so badly, but she couldn’t as he was the crown prince.
“Lianne…” He spoke her name with care as he leaned closer to her, placing his elbows onto his knees. “I did have some accomplices,” he plainly added, again observing the immediate look of displeasure on the princess’ face.
“No, Lady Faye wouldn’t…” she countered quickly. “She…”
It was as if the events that had passed began to flash in her mind that she was left speechless upon realizing every bit of detail. How could she have fallen onto his own well-laid trap?! And to top it all, both Lady Faye and Lord Jared were also his pawns!
“Arghh! How could you!” she shouted with all her strength. “Stop the carriage now!”
“Tsk.” Ruen’s smirk was evident. “I am truly amazed. Had it dawned on you how absurd your request is Lianne?”
The princess only gave him a cold glare and continued to shout to stop the carriage but with no progress. It was like Arthur was either deaf or was acting like one. Either way, it was possible that the coachman was also under Ruen’s command.
“I’m getting out of this carriage! Order the coachman to stop now!” Lianne commanded. She gripped the neck of her pelisse readying herself to exit, but Ruen had plans of his own. Though he was on a guarded position, he was calm and composed amidst her fuming rage and it irritated her all the more.
“Stop this nonsense, Lianne. I won’t allow you to go out,” he said.
Her brow flinched as she tightly held onto a part of her gown crumpling it in the process. “No! To hell I’ll stop! I won’t stay here with you!”
This time, the prince did show a hint of intolerance against her persistence.
“You’re so stubborn,” he spoke. His hand flew towards the stained windowpane of the carriage near him and then pointed with clenched teeth. “Think before you act won’t you?!” he said. “Just look at the environment outside! Do you think you’d last an hour in this kind of place wearing a dress like that?!” He ran his gaze throughout the length of her never missing his point. “You’d be mobbed if not by the wild hounds but by dangerous men wanting to have a piece of a virgin like you!”
“You’re despicable!” Lianne quickly rebuked, stung by the words he had used. How could he had plainly revealed that fact in such a vulgar manner! “You’re the one who brought this problem to me! You should have thought first before stepping inside the carriage!”
It was true. Ruen knew he was the one to blame once again for her present dilemma. But either way, the princess was a woman whose stubbornness was beyond measure, especially on his regard. All things considered though, he still had the upper hand.
“Lianne, if it would help, you can at least call it a truce, just for tonight,” Ruen declared. “I want you to understand that I won’t let you out of this carriage. So, it is either that or we could go on and on about this problem the whole night without reaching the Astoria Mansion.”
Lianne slightly shook her head, restrained by the choices that were available. He definitely hasn’t changed. He was still the person she knew him to be, someone who would make sure everything would work to his advantage. The same as his father indeed.
“If you can stop being so contemptible, I could bear it,” she replied in jest.
Ruen gave a clever smile who was still leaning on his knees. “Consider it done, Princess.”
With that, she immediately scoffed in amusement. “Aren’t you arrogant? Like you could actually change your personality in just one night.”
“Hmm, is that a challenge I hear?” the prince asked lightening the mood they were in.
“Hardly. It doesn’t interest me,” Lianne replied, averting her eyes away from him to the scenery outside the window pane. Ruen was right. The environment outside was too gloomy for her to take. With darkness covering the vast forest they were passing, she immediately felt thankful for the comfort and safety inside the carriage.
It was a minute past before Ruen could finally recommend her the best option she had.
“Is it a truce then?” he said.
Lianne only gave her a slight nod while still looking outside, but a few moments later, she turned to look at him showing a very stern face wanting to send him a message that if he were to mess their agreement this time, she wouldn’t be so lenient. “Just for this night,” she stated.
“Good.”
***
The travel to the Astoria Mansion never became livelier twenty minutes past since the prince boarded the carriage. Every minute inside the confined space, Lianne couldn’t dismiss the fact that he was truly enjoying himself staring at her and it definitely made her feel more conscious. She tried so hard to restrain herself from starting a conversation with him, even if it was to reproach him of his oh-so evident perusal.
“Your dress suits you very well. It is beyond my imagination,” Ruen proclaimed in a gentlemanly way. The princess only frowned in annoyance. If it was a compliment he meant, she sure wouldn’t want such coming from him.
“Now you’re a critic of clothing?” Lianne managed to reply, mellowing the spite of her voice.
“Only to those I cherish most,” Ruen said, smiling at the same time. He leaned forward and peaked at the windowpane in his side.
Lianne cared less of what he was doing and only responded with a raised brow. “Aren’t you flamboyant.”
“But, your dress is lacking,” he quickly countered as he settled himself back to a guarded position.
“Of course. It is lacking a lengthy shawl to cover my chest,” Lianne retorted as she covered herself up with the pelisse. She was relieved Malerna gave the coat to her because if it weren’t for it, a perfect view of her top would be a much more pleasurable thing for him.
The prince only mumbled low as if thinking deeply. “Hmmm, close enough,” he said, “but not appropriate for the occasion.”
“Ha! Your perversion fails to surprise me, Your Highness,” Lianne stated, as a look of displeasure crossed her face. She was now beginning to wonder how far the Astoria Mansion was, that their carriage was taking so long to arrive.
He glimpsed at the windowpane again and this time gave out a pleased expression and continued his delight of commenting her overall appearance, “Your gown would match perfectly with a necklace.”
“Huh, again, another critic of jewelry,” she said as she crossed her arms to her chest.
The small panel at the back of the coachman then opened slightly and from that, both of the occupants inside heard the coachman informing them that they were near the House of Astoria.
“Just in time,” said the prince who started buttoning his jacket.
Lianne proceeded to peek at the window and saw to her amazement the facade of the whole estate which boasted a number of tall marble towers lined in each side of the cobblestone road towards the main entrance of the mansion.
She noticed that most of the area was covered with brick walls, seemingly a barrier from the outside nearby village that the carriage had just passed.
“Is this the Mansion of Astoria?” Lianne asked curiously. Her eyes twinkled in wonder as she took in all of the scenery that greeted them when they entered the courtyard.
“Breathtaking isn’t it?” Ruen responded in a convincing manner. He kept a close watch on the princess observing her inquisitiveness. He then pulled out an object from his coat’s under-pocket, secured it in his right hand, and hid it from her view.
She went back to comfortably sit on the couch and clasped both of her hands, hiding her disappointment under the shadow of the lamp.
“It’s different,” she abruptly said pointing to the scenery outside.
Ruen was confused with her ambiguous answer. He positioned the lamp properly to disperse the shadow that hid her face and carried on to ask her a clearer answer, “Different? Care to expound it, Princess?”
Her eyes flickered and her face glowed in the spotlight. It was such a breathtaking view.
“It has too many walls surrounding the mansion and only a few trees on sight. It is a shame. Seems like the Duke and Duchess cared little of nature.”
“Ah, so you like the Regaleria Mansion more because of its closeness to nature,” Ruen stated matter-of-a-factly, catching Lianne’s instant frown.
She then added in a tart description, “The Regaleria Mansion is magnificent, and it would have been a great place to live if it weren’t for its owners.”
“Hmmm…” Ruen smirked in response. “True. You never fail to highlight that Lianne.”
The carriage halted at the foot of the receiving stairs, right in front of the main foyer. The footmen did not waste time setting the adjustable stairs and opening the door for the royals to descend.
The prince was the first to go out like any gentleman would; however, amidst the princess’ wishes, he stood just near the opening and waited for her to come out, offering his own hand for her support.
She ignored his gesture and went to help herself out of the carriage to the footman’s surprise, but when she was standing just a few inches in front of the prince, she immediately felt a tug from her pelisse and realized that he was taking the coat out from her shoulders.
She wanted to protest but then noticed an old man wearing an unusual-looking suit of black and maroon color hastily approaching them.
“Your Highness, welcome to the House of Astoria,” the old man greeted. In haste, h bowed his head low and took the princess’ right hand and kissed it softly.
“Your Highness, Princess Lianne. It is an honor that you have come to my humble abode,” the man said and continued to introduce himself. “I am Duke Perdunn of the House of Astoria, a loyal servant to His Highness’ King Garlow and Crown Prince Ruen, and the head of the royal council in the Regaleria Kingdom, at your service, my Princess.”
This was the first time ever for Lianne to meet a royal councilor of Garlow’s circle. Though surprised by the Duke’s flamboyant appearance, the princess only politely smiled at him and replied, “Thank you, Duke Perdunn for inviting me. It is my honor actually.”
“Oh, Your Highness. Your beauty and grace present in my own party would be such a magnificent thing indeed.”
Duke Perdunn then went on to address the prince standing behind Lianne. “Your Highness, Prince Ruen, a warm welcome to you too. May I escort you now to the hall? Everyone is waiting for your arrival.”
Ruen showed only a slight hint of enjoyment with their conversation. Even if Duke Perdunn was his professor in his younger years, he showed no emotional attachment to him. “Please do so, Professor,” he promptly said, signaling the old man to lead the way.
“Alright then, please follow me Your Highnesses.”
Immediately after the Duke had turned and started leading them, Ruen abruptly stopped the princess from following. He grabbed her left shoulder, leaned close to her ear, and said, “Wait for a second, and stay still.”
“What are you doing?” Lianne hastily questioned, jerking at the same time trying to free herself from his hold.
“I said don’t move or else I won’t let you go until I am done.”
“What?! Just what is it that you are doing!” she complained, not having even a hint of what the prince was doing behind her back.
Her eyes only widened upon seeing his hand swung to her front holding a thick piece of chandelier necklace with an exquisitely cut ruby-red diamond as centerpiece. From the looks of it, he was ready to place it around her neck.
“What’s this?” she asked as she swirled around to face him, just in time the lock of the necklace clicked.
“There, it’s perfect,” the prince declared. He looked at her pleased with his creation. Their eyes met and she began to blush.
“Wait, I’m not going to-” She shook her head, wanting to deny but there was a slight uncertainly in her voice. The necklace was undoubtedly beautiful and she knew it would make a good addition to her gown, but to accept his gift would mean losing her own pride.
“Your Highnesses?” Duke Perdunn approached them once again catching the princess’ attention. He lowered his head and began to speak, “I beg of you. Let us not waste such precious night ahead of us by just standing there.”
She was about to reply when Prince Ruen quickly took a hold of her left hand and proceeded to answer the Duke with eagerness, “We apologize Duke Perdunn. Please, lead the way.”
“Of course, Your Highness. This way.”
Just as Duke Perdunn turned his back, Lianne immediately pulled her hand, jerking her elbow with force but he was rather persistent on not letting her go.
She gave him a sharp look to which the prince only gave a smug smile.
Lianne’s blood boiled with this. Where was his promise now? Would their truce be of any use in the first place?
“I suggest you comport yourself appropriately, Princess. You could at least lower your hostility towards me to a minimum level in front of the council and the guests. You’d land into another headline again if the guests were to know your dislike towards me. I know you hated that the most,” the prince murmured in a low voice, enough that no ears could hear as they trek up the stairs to the main foyer.
“Hmf, you yourself should know better,” Lianne replied in the same volume as they turned in a long blue-carpeted hallway towards the ballroom hall. “I wouldn’t have to behave like this if you could only conduct yourself properly and restrain from touching me as you wish.”
Ruen only smiled in amusement of her words. They were silent for a while as they continued their walk. Duke Perdunn was leading them, walking with his head held high, proud of himself with his present accomplishment.
“That necklace suits you perfectly. It complements your overall appearance Princess,” the prince declared.
“You do realize I am not accepting this gift from you right?”
“Yes, I already expected that,” he admitted.
“Good. Then just for tonight, I’ll wear this necklace.”
“Yes, just for tonight,” the prince replied and smiled in satisfaction on her way.
They were both standing in the front of the oversized portal of the ballroom when the prince’s hold on her hand tightened more.
They almost looked like a heavenly apparition as everyone inside the hall took notice of their presence.
Immediately after the majordomo of the Astoria family announced their arrival, guests from all over the kingdom including the members of the royal council swarmed the couple as they descended the stairs.
It was a rare sight indeed for the prince of the kingdom to come in parties like these, much more with a goddess in his side. Nevertheless, they were honored and a bit awe-struck by the sociability of the prince who was once known to be reserved and indifferent.