Lianne was silent throughout her lunch date with the Duchess. She only said a few comments when asked by both the women with her, but overall, she kept a reserved smile.
Lady Faye and the Duchess sensed that the princess was troubled over something. Though they asked what was the matter, they didn’t push through with the conversation when Lianne only managed to say that everything was fine.
The princess, however, told them of the gathering being held at the Soulisse Mansion the next day. The Duchess refused the invitation thinking that a three-day gathering would be unfit for her age.
Lady Faye was surprised to find out that the princess has accepted the general’s invitation. She immediately concluded that another argument with the King over the invitation was the main reason for her gloomy disposition.
If it was Cain, Lady Faye knew that the King would vehemently refuse, but it was a matter for the princess to decide for herself. She was, after all, free to do whatever she wants.
It was late afternoon the same day when Lord Jared softly knocked on the door of the King’s study room. It was the first time that Ruen used the place after his father had passed.
The room was intended to be a king’s place of peace when not in the throne room doing kingly duties and signing paper works. Ruen was sitting at the marble edge of the window with his right leg leaning against the window sill, while the other dangling on the floor. In his left hand, he held a flute of sparkling wine. He was intently looking at the main portico outside when Lord Jared entered.
“Your Majesty, it is already confirmed. There will be a carriage that will take the princess to the Soulisse Mansion,” he obediently informed.
Ruen’s brows cringed upon hearing it. “Then that means she’ll go. Tell me everything, Jared. Tell me everything about this so-called three-day gathering of Cain.”
Of course, the king didn’t believe the general. He can bet his crown that this was just his alibi to get the princess out of the mansion. Out of his care. And maybe, it would be for good.
But like he’d let that happen.
Lord Jared obliged. He summarized every schedule that was to happen in the Soulisse Mansion the next day. He observed the King rather calm while drinking his red wine, but he sensed a wave of amassing anger within the royal, that for now, still within the boundaries of control.
By the time the majordomo finished explaining, Ruen’s hands curled into a tight fist and his jaw clenched.
A carriage from the Soulisse Mansion came into his view. It had just entered the mansion’s gates.
Then, a few moments later, he saw the princess and the maidservant, Erza stand at the base of the stairs in the front portico, waiting for the carriage to stop.
His heart sank when he saw Lianne walk towards the carriage. He wanted to shout, he wanted to run to her and tell her to stay, but he couldn’t in his right mind contain her within the mansion’s grounds again.
There was no telling if she will come back to the mansion. Come back to… him. But if she will, he was sure as hell would never want to let her go again.
So in the end, he watched with painstaking control as the carriage left with the princess inside.
***
The sky had a mixture of black and orange when the transport arrived at the white mansion an hour later.
Lianne felt some trepidation as she stepped down the carriage with Lord Cain assisting her, but she quenched her worries away as she produced a greeting smile towards his way.
‘Everything will be fine,’ she chanted to herself.
Earlier that afternoon, when Lianne was still in Regaleria, Lady Faye begged her to reconsider coming to Soulisse, but her decision was final. However, to keep the governess from becoming worried, Lianne took Erza with her and promised that wherever she will go, the maid was to accompany her.
The mentioned maidservant was now at the back of the carriage, helping the Soulisse maids unload the baggage that they took with them.
Cain, noticing this, was surprised by the scarcity of the princess’ belongings considering she was to stay for the whole three days and even to extend her stay if wanted.
“Planning to go home early, Your Highness?” he queried, eyes twinkling with curiosity, as they entered the main foyer.
Lianne glanced at him with some slight confusion and then replied with a shake of her head.
“Oh no My Lord. I just prefer to travel light. And well… you know every well my belongings are not that extensive. I hardly wear gowns remember?”
“Yes, I certainly remember.” Cain nodded. “Then let me bring you to town first thing tomorrow morning to buy you as many clothes, accessories, and jewelry as you want, Lianne.”
The princess shook her head again and smiled timidly at him. “No, you don’t have to do that, Cain. I have Erza to assist me on that matter and besides, Lady Faye has promised me her wardrobe when she was but a young lady herself.”
“Hmmm…” A low grumble was heard on the general in reply to this.
Maybe, for now, the matter was solved, but Lianne felt that Lord Cain wouldn’t just let it slip easily.
Both of them entered the main foyer and immediately, she noticed some guests lounging on the receiving area.
Two couples quickly stood up from their seat and bowed in acknowledgment of her presence.
Lianne was taken aback but managed to bow to them in return.
Cain then led her to her assigned room on the first floor, while Erza followed them from behind.
In the hallway to her room, the ceiling boasted a wide array of landscape paintings and still artworks. The princess was awe-struck upon staring at the paintings, realizing she had only seen a few of such creations other than the ones in the throne room of the Regaleria Mansion.
“Beautiful aren’t they?” Cain commented with a proud lift of his head.
Lianne nodded in response, still looking at the ceiling. “They are exquisite works of art.”
Cain smiled and replied with warm eyes locking at the princess, “True, but not as exquisite as your beauty, Lianne.”
The latter, stunned by his abrupt comment, turned to face him.
He looked at her like she was an artwork herself; being inspected, being examined stroke by stroke of the brush.
She blushed under his gaze, but Erza immediately interrupted, “Your Highness, your baggage has arrived.”
Quickly, Lianne broke out a small cough. Then, Cain continued to walk whilst saying, “Uhm, this way princess. Your room is just behind this corner.”
They continued to their destination with no more hints from Cain to Lianne’s relief. They had been civil the whole walk and when it was time to say a temporary goodbye, the general just planted a kiss at the back of her hand.
As soon as Lord Cain left, the princess took the chance to examine her room.
It was much like the one she had at Regaleria except for the designs of the furniture and the color theme of the walls. They were mint green.
Though she didn’t dislike the color, she felt uncomfortable with it. It didn’t feel like home to her.
***
The evening meal was attended by all the available guests of the Soulisse Estate. It was just a simple dinner with the Master of the House as the formal party would start tomorrow.
Lianne sat between the two royal councils of Regaleria; the gentle Lord Rendom and the wise Lord Choursevt, both of old age and with tall gray beards under their chin.
She managed to make a conversation with them while the rest of the guests took their seats, but the majordomo of the mansion approached the princess and whispered a message in her ear.
Upon hearing Cain’s name, she glanced at his way who was already holding a glass of champagne on his hand and staring back at her. He slightly tilted his head on her way, making her realize that he truly did want her to sit beside him.
He was at the head of the table, rightly being the host of the dinner. Though she was reluctant, Lianne decided to change seats only because he vacated the seat on his right side solely for her.
She was wearing a gown given to her by Lady Faye before leaving the Regaleria Mansion. It was one of the four gowns she gave, but the most flattering one.
It was a black empire cut gown in chiffon cloth, with pleats across the waistline. The neckline to the chest area was completely open, showing a small amount of cleavage and small drapes at the back and front to the foot accentuating the whole dress.
The gown looked light and airy overall, making the princess feel comfortable but completely vulnerable under the observations of men inside the dining room and more so to Lord Cain.
There were not many accessories worn. No necklace or bracelet that added her beauty, but only a small hexagon-shaped diamond earring.
Her simplicity was a complete opposite of the women present who had excessively adorned themselves with accessories of different sorts and lavish gowns with ruffles and ribbons everywhere.
It was a complete blow to them, however, as the general only seemed to focus his attention on only the princess, not even noticing the efforts that they made and that, as a result, Lianne felt hostile glares as she sat next to the general.
“You look beautiful, princess. Don’t get intimidated by them,” Cain whispered to her.
Lianne looked at the floor and ghosted a small smile. “How observant of you, My Lord.”
“Just relax and enjoy the night.” He lifted his wine flute up and gave her a knowing smile. Then, he stood up and cleared his throat to catch all of the guests’ attention.
“I’d like to make a toast to all of you for coming to my humble abode and celebrate with me. And to the Princess of Regaleria, Princess Lianne, for accepting my invitation. Truly, I am honored to be next to you, Your Highness.”
He looked down at Lianne and gave her a smile.
She smiled back and as a courtesy, lifted her flute up and tipped it towards him. “Thank you for inviting me, My Lord.”
Happy with the exchange, Cain’s attention went back to his guests and exclaimed, “Enjoy the night. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow, we will start the hunt.”
Everyone in attendance cheered and clanked their glasses.
The whole evening went on gaily.
Erza made her presence known and kept a close watch on the princess during and after dinner, to the general’s dismay. He would have wanted to be alone with her but the maid was persistent on whisking the princess away.
Lianne was more than relieved to know that Ezra was there to accompany her. In these new surroundings, she was the only person she was comfortable with other than the general.
She had found the maid’s actions quite unusual though but didn’t think much of it. It was even helpful. She was able to free herself from any awkward moment with the Lord.
***
The next day, the start of the hunting competition, everyone gathered in the boundary of the Soulisse garden and the Wellwind forest, located west, stretching across a river and a waterfall to the estate of the Regaleria Mansion.
Cain was standing on a made-up platform in the barracks as he welcomed and formally opened the competition and the festivities. He was wearing his hunting clothes and was holding a heavy metal crossbow to use for the hunt.
Many maidens of noble families invited were squirming at the sight of the general, having highlighted his prominent handsome features clear for everyone to see under the rays of the morning sun, but the princess kept her silence on the matter.
As much as she admitted that he was truly an attractive man, and the way he behaved was that of a regal gentleman, her feelings towards him were nothing more than admiration.
After his speech, he climbed down the platform and walked towards the princess.
Lianne immediately felt the sharp glares of every maiden present just like what she experienced at dinner last night.
Smiling a bright smile, he offered his hand to her and said, “Would you like to come with me, Princess?”
“To where?” she instinctively replied, but with a confused tone of voice.
“To the hunting grounds of course,” he said and then grinned.
Lianne didn’t know how to react. It was a fact that women like herself should be excluded from the affairs of men, and it was clear that he knew of that fact also.
She directly looked at her clothes, noting it to him that she was wearing a sundress, unfit for a haunting situation, but Cain only grinned some more.
“Don’t worry. That is not a problem, Lianne. You are only there to watch me, not to hunt,” he remarked with teasing eyes.
The latter only gave him an unsure look. “I’m sorry, I think I can’t go, Cain. I’m just not-”
But before she could finish, Cain swiftly scooped her out of the ground and carried her, wedding-style, towards his horse.
She shouted in protest, but it was feebly heard. The other generals of the Regaleria Royal Army, a few soldiers, and other bachelors present hooted in teasing enjoyment of his blatant actions.
“There you go, General! You already won!” One man shouted in glee.
“Hahahah! It seems to me that’s his lucky charm!” Another man humorously commented.
Cain gave a lighthearted wave on the men and then jumped up to his stallion with the princess already seated at the front.
With this, Lianne felt his hard chest pressed against her left shoulder and felt his lean thighs touch her own. It was hard not to feel conscious, but she tried her best to divert her attention away.
“Don’t worry, you won’t get bored at all,” Cain whispered, reassuring her.
Lianne frowned in the process, turned to face away from him, and said, “You really didn’t have to do it like that Cain, and besides, I can ride my own horse.”
“No,” he immediately replied. “This way is much better.”
He flipped the reins of his horse and called out, “Hijah!”
And then they took off with Lianne unable to argue anymore.
The assembly followed the general as the hunting drums sounded. Some were left behind as they traveled on foot, some managed to catch up with their horses, but the generals and Lord Cain were the one’s leading the assembly with the golden banner of the Von Cavill crest hanging on his stallion’s saddle.
Lianne felt a rush of adrenaline when everything went blurry. The cold wind collided on her face and her fine hair turned to knots, but she seemed to enjoy every moment of it.
For the first time in her life, she felt like a bird in flight, free of all worries and hesitations, but as Cain enveloped his left arm around her waist, she felt being pulled back to the ground.
She realized this was his plan after all; to take her out of Erza’s sight and keep her to himself for the whole day. No wonder he didn’t let her have her own horse to ride.