Lianne wasn’t comfortable staying in her new room.
Half an hour after Prince Ruen left, she hastily went back to her own servant quarter only to her disappointment.
She had found that it was already occupied by three male servants of the palace.
It would seem that Garlow had made it sure she will not be able to go back to her old room, and because of it, she didn’t have any choice but to stay at the new chamber that night. Surely, on the morrow, she will be able to persuade Erza or the other servants to let them share their own rooms for her.
Her first night inside the chamber however wasn’t as bad as she had thought to be, but it was a definite change of her comfort.
The gown she had worn at the ball was hung at a nearby sofa chair. Truly, it was a beautiful dress. If not only for the man who gave it, she would have wanted to keep such a masterpiece. Now, she would have to find a way again to make sure she’ll be able to give the gowns back to him without causing another talk around the servants.
For some reason, the events earlier that night kept coming back to her, but not the moment when the Duke had tried to molest her, but the time when Ruen had held her in his arms.
Sprawling her whole body under the comfort of the peach damask bed cover, she recalled what he had said about their rooms close to each other. She quickly stood up and for the first time, went to see the outside of her balcony to assess how it was likely for his claim to be true.
Upon coming out, the view immediately boasted the entire west royal garden and the hilly mountains of Regaleria. It was positively a breathtaking sight, but upon scanning the area more, to her surprise, meters apart from the left side of her own; on the third floor; was a different balcony. It had a much grander architecture with cast-iron balustrade supported by heavy limestone columns attached to the main wall.
What brought her attention was not the balcony itself, but the one who was standing at the front edge of it.
The prince was leaning against the balustrade, both his hands clasped together and somewhat looking like he was thinking intently.
The breeze was cold and when the gush of wind hit his fine dark strands of hair, he looked almost a God under the moonlit night.
He was about to head back inside his chamber when he noticed the princess standing at her own balcony looking at his way. He gave out a pristine but rather reserved smile to her, and then slightly bowed his head low as if greeting a goodnight.
Her heart seemed to leap upon seeing it and even though she was just with him a moment ago, she felt as though it was their first meeting.
She blushed at the sight of that same naked chest he was so confident on showing, and with that, she quickly went inside her bedroom hiding behind the curtains.
Ruen let out a sigh when he saw her reaction. What a temptation it was for him though, the fact that the silhouette of her body could readily be seen behind those curtains. Now that he made such a promise to her, he was determined to make sure that that marriage to the Duke wouldn’t happen, even if it meant defying his father.
***
A good knock on the door that morning woke up Lianne’s dream-like sleep. She peeked under the cover of the bed and saw Lady Faye already standing just a few inches away from her.
She was reminded then that it was the right time to talk to her all about last night’s event and also the matter of the gowns.
“Have you slept well my dear?” the governess calmly spoke.
“Hmm, yes, Lady Faye. It was good, thank you,” the princess replied, yawning at the same time.
Lady Faye lightly chuckled in return. “I think it is rather the opposite. Though I can understand it, considering what happened last night, it might have given you one or two nightmares the least.”
Lianne didn’t miss out on what the Head Servant was pertaining to. Last night was definitely a traumatic memory for her.
“I am grateful that you were able to call for help though. If it wasn’t for you, Lady Faye, I would have been molested that time,” Lianne exclaimed as she straightened from her bed and walked past the old woman towards the gown that was hung on the sofa chair.
Lady Faye turned to follow the princess and began to reveal the truth with her eyes twinkling.
“Actually, my dear, I was on my way to the prince’s chamber to ask for help, but I already saw His Highness hastily running down the stairs into your room. I realized that he already knew what was happening before I even told it to him.”
“Huh?!” Lianne’s shoulders stiffened. “How was that even possible? How did he know?”
She gave Lady Faye a wide questioning look. The governess in response shrugged her shoulder in confusion. It was certainly a big wonder as to how the prince found out about her current situation at that time, but she could only feel relieved by the fact that he did save her.
“Anyway, I am quite sure that you know about this gown, right?” Lianne said as she neatly lifted the gown she had worn last night.
The Head Servant wasn’t surprised by her question. She knew already that sooner or later, the princess would find out about it. She only chuckled some more as she began to walk towards the door to the shower room.
“I guess I need not say anything about that. His Highness could expound more of the reasons if you want to.”
“I won’t,” Lianne replied quickly, her arms crossed to her chest. “It is only enough to give these gowns back to him. I don’t need any explanation.”
Lady Faye meekly nodded in agreement. She stayed silent while the princess complained about everything last night. However, when Lianne brought up the issue of sharing a room with Erza, she opposed and said that the other servant maids weren’t allowed to share their bedrooms with her.
Lianne was downhearted with this, but in the end, accepted defeat.
During the day onward, it was evident that even her daily duties have been changed aside from her room. King Garlow had apparently made it specific not to let the princess do any physical duties. She was after all formally announced as the princess of Regaleria, and any servant duties were prohibited.
While staying at the kitchen, she heard gossips about Lord Jared’s niece, Lady Kathrine, who was trying so hard to catch the prince’s attention.
Apparently, she was permitted a two-day stay by the King and left Lady Faye to take care of her while in the mansion.
Lianne saw her the next day with Lord Jared at the royal stables, unintentionally hearing the woman complain about the prince’s absence.
Aside from the gossips about Lady Kathrine, rumors had also been circulating about the general’s obvious fascination with the princess. At least, the rumors left the son of King Garlow out of the subject considering that the princess and the crown prince were both seen together for the entire remainder of the ball and their most unforgettable trance-like dance.
Prince Ruen kept himself at the library the days right after the ball that he didn’t care much of the rumors. With his promise to the princess in mind, he was able to voice out his discontent regarding the betrothal to his father, but he only received an unfathomable scowl from him. It made him realize that the King was deadly serious about the marriage.
The next day, however, he received bad news from Lord Jared.
The King suddenly fell ill of fever and he was now bedridden.
Prince Ruen went quickly to the King’s chamber and when he arrived there, he saw an oddly-dressed man coming out of the main door.
The mysterious man looked like a priest or a monk because his entire body was covered with a red robe, and his face unseen under the hood. He was holding a tall metal staff with a head which looked like a crescent moon, and on its center, an inverted sign of the constellation Libra.
The mysterious man passed by the prince’s front without halting or even bowing, much to the prince’s suspicion.
Upon seeing his father lying on the canopied bed, Prince Ruen immediately knew that he was gravely ill.
Garlow was wearing a silk dark blue robe with the bed sheet covering half of his body. He was feverish and sweating profusely. What considerably took the prince’s attention was a single necklace around his father’s hand with an emerald pendant dangling on its center.
He was surprised. Without a doubt, he instantly remembered when he had seen the necklace in the past.
“Father,” Ruen spoke, sitting at a delicately-carved golden chair near the edge of the bed on his father’s right side.
He leaned closer to the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasping together, and his expression blank.
It was not long ago that the mysterious man had also sat on the same chair alone, speaking with the King rather earnestly.
“What do you need of me?” the prince spoke again, this time his tone stern as he stared coldly at his father.
Garlow managed to turn his head slightly towards the prince and then gave a grin as he looked at the young man’s cold stare. “Exactly as I had taught you…” he weakly uttered.
“I was wondering who was that man with you awhile ago. The one who was wearing a red cloak?” Ruen voiced out managing to release the suspicion he was collecting within himself.
“Hmmm…” The King grumbled within his throat. “Ruen, I have seen the way you look at her. The way you have changed since we brought the princess of Vhillana here,” Garlow proceeded to speak, ignoring his son’s question. “You are not to feel emotions. You are my shadow. Leave her be.”
Ruen’s expression changed quickly to anger. Though he would have wanted to argue with his father, he controlled his words instead and then replied, “Nothing will change.”
Lord Jared was waiting, standing at the receiving room when the bed chamber door opened.
The prince looked irritated as he stepped outside of the bedroom. He headed directly to the main door without saying a word.
The Head Butler, although confused, quickly followed him.
Whatever it was that the King and the prince had discussed, it surely wasn’t good.