“Princess Lianne!”
Erza exclaimed as she placed a hand on the princess’ shoulder.
It was already late afternoon when she and the princess headed back to the mansion from the greenhouse. The sky was gloomy and it looked like it was about to rain.
“Erza? Why are you looking so anxious?” Lianne replied, perplexed by the maid’s unusual behavior.
“Uhm, princess, the Duke of Olga is here,” she voiced out as she stared with worry directly to the exit of the east garden’s rose bush.
“What?” Lianne quickly exclaimed.
Her senses began to numb as she saw the old man standing right at the exit of the garden a few meters away from them.
She wanted to avoid him stat, but the fact that the Duke had already blocked the exit made it difficult.
She hastily looked for other pathways to leave but to her horror, it was already blocked by guards of what looked like his own.
Both ladies saw the Duke closing in on them, and as he drew nearer he motioned Erza to leave.
The servant was reluctant but the possibility of being reprimanded by a duke was a definite fear. She went ahead, but not without whispering to the princess that she will call Lady Faye as soon as possible.
“Such a fine afternoon for gardening isn’t it Princess Lianne?” Duke Conrad stated as he grew closer to the princess who was standing nervously beside a bush of yellow roses.
“It was a while ago until you came,” she replied with sarcasm.
“Oh! Such venom in your words my dear.”
Lianne’s brow arched in amazement on the endearment he called her. The Duke began to extend his most welcoming but sly smile while staring at her as if she was food.
“Why are you here?” Lianne asked, frowning. His nearness made her remember the first night in her room of his deliberate attempt on kissing her.
She thought in her mind that staying away from him would be the best plan she would have to do now.
“I’m here for some business my dear. Why? Do I see concern in your eyes? ”
Lianne scoffed. “What an absurd idea.”
“You never fail to mystify me, Princess,” he spoke as he eyed the rose bush beside the princess. He plucked a rose from its stem and lifted it to smell the petals touching it with his still grossly unshaven jaw; the look of it made Lianne feel nauseated. “This flower reminds me of you,” he started, “truly beautiful; although with thorns; but worth it, a rare treasure indeed. It’s amazing how my patience betrays me when I am near you, my dear.”
“Don’t you even dare,” Lianne rebuked as she instantly knew what he meant.
At the periphery of her vision, she saw the perfect timing of her escape. The exit of the garden was wide open for her, and that there was no guard watching them near.
Without a second thought, she sprinted, passing at his side, hoping that she’d be able to escape successfully, but then the Duke, quick as a mouse, caught her at the waist, consequently stopping her.
He then shook his head and tsked.
“Don’t be too obvious my dear. I know you’re unwelcoming of me here but don’t you think I deserve to be treated properly considering I especially came here to get you?”
Lianne pulled her wrist out of his hold and managed to step back away from him, displeased by the contact of their skin.
“Why would I?! You are too overconfident to even think of me as some object to collect!” Lianne hissed, her anger already at its peak. “I’m sure I made it clear to you that I’m not under Garlow’s dictate! I’d rather die before I marry you!”
“Hmff!” He snorted. “I believe your ways will change soon after our wedding, you can certainly count on that!”
Lianne’s eyes widened.
She couldn’t have mistaken hearing it.
What about a wedding? It was impossible when she was confident it wouldn’t happen.
Days had passed by after the ball that she had thought nothing more of its memories than a passing occurrence without significance. However, Ruen’s promise was so clearly instilled in her mind. She trusted him! But, why is the Duke claiming this now? Was all of Ruen’s promise useless then?
“Ahh… I see that you’re speechless!” the Duke exclaimed as he observed her unmistakable surprise.
“Then let me enlighten you, my dear,” he continued, his eyes ogling on the now frustrated princess. “You will come with me to the City of Olga. There, you will be my wife. No man shall come between me and Garlow’s agreement, not even your precious prince.”
“No!” Lianne protested quickly. “You will never take me! I will never be your wife! That, I can assure you!” She could feel her hands tremble at that very moment, wanting to slap the Duke right on his useless face, but then there was the sudden downfall of rain.
With this, Lianne decided to run and run as fast as she could away from the man. Twice she looked back in her path, making it sure that he or any of his goons weren’t following her.
Her clothes were damp by the rain when she reached the east entrance of the mansion.
She leaned beside a large column in order to stabilize herself but minutes had passed, the trembling of her hands didn’t stop, and that her breathing still didn’t calm down.
She swallowed hard as if there was a small lump obstructing her throat, and then felt as if her chest was heavy inside.
Her hair was slightly wet and she could feel the dripping of the water beads from her face. That was when she realized, that the beads of water weren’t coming from the rain, but from her eyes.
The truth was too much for her to handle. She had trusted the prince but now look where that trust had brought her.
She decided that she’ll place her fate in her own hands. She will not be a pawn by the prince, the King, the Duke, or by anyone. No. She’ll never trust anyone again.
This time, she’ll not stay still and wait.
***
It was early in the evening when the news of Garlow’s illness reached Lianne’s chamber.
Lady Faye noticed no reaction from the princess upon hearing it. She left the tray of food for her to consume later and then bid herself to leave.
It wasn’t unusual for Lady Faye to see the princess that way though, but this night was rather different. Seeing Lianne sulking under the bed covers, she sensed there was something wrong, but she decided to delay her questioning later upon retiring.
Erza approached the governess that afternoon when the Duke arrived and informed her of the princess’ threatened safety, but she wasn’t able to call for Prince Ruen’s help considering he was at the King’s bed chamber that time.
It surprised Lady Faye thereafter when she saw the princess already in her bedroom sulking.
She was also speechless when she found out about the princess’s betrothal to the Duke.
Lianne never did inform her about it and the prince was the same.
Lord Jared however confirmed the betrothal when she inquired about it. She immediately concluded this was probably the reason why the princess was sulking in her bedroom.
***
“Lady Faye!” a nervous voice of the prince was heard loudly at the kitchen door.
The governess, who was sitting near the bread oven, didn’t miss his demand for attention.
“Where is she?!” Ruen exclaimed, looking like he was out of breath.
“Your Highness! Ah, Princess Lianne is in her chamber right now. She-”
“She’s not there!” the prince cried out, his brows furrowing hard.
“Oh, I see, but she was there lying on her bed when I left her chamber. Maybe she is in the library, Your Highness,” Lady Faye explained, but she herself was uncertain as to her whereabouts.
“She’s not there also,” the prince replied again, this time with a concerned voice. Lady Faye could see the worry in the prince’s eyes and sensed that there was something wrong about this night.
She knew it was a heavy burden for him to hear of his father’s illness, but now, his own composure was disrupted due to the missing princess.
“Lady Faye, I know the princess being missing is not new to you; that she could be anywhere in the garden or even in the stables, but knowing that Duke Conrad is here and considering my father and his agreement about the princess’ betrothal, I cannot gamble any chances!”
“Yes, I know of your concern, Your Highness,” she replied. “I can definitely understand your worry. Then, we must find her as soon as possible.”
“Uhm, my apologies for interrupting Your Highness,” a gruff voice came on the other side of the kitchen door connected to the ale room.
“Paul, what is it?” the governess asked, turning her face to him.
The head stableman stood warily beside the door frame clasping his torn hat against his chest.
“Your Highness, a few hours ago, Princess Lianne took her horse down the north side of the mansion. She told me it will be just a little ride and that she would be back quickly. I didn’t mind it so I let her be on her way, but…”
“But what Paul?” Ruen clarified, a trickling of sweat began to run down his temples.
“She looked like she was terrified of something,” Paul continued as he deeply stared at the royal prince who was dumbfounded himself.
“Damn it!” he swore under his breath, “Get my horse, NOW!”
“Yes, Your Highness, right away!” Paul replied as he hurriedly ran out of the kitchen to the stables.
“Lady Faye! Let my father not hear any of this, and find Duke Conrad! I want that man confined until I see the princess safe!” the prince commanded as he swiftly took off out of the kitchen.