Lianne walked as fast as she could along the hallway with Erza.
Her eyes were cast downward, her thoughts filled to the brim as she recollected her memories about the two men in her life.
The first one was her childhood with Cain; from the first time they met to the present situation they were into.
She cared for him and she felt at fault by the choices that he had to make in order to keep their relationship intact, but in the end, the shock of finding out the truth made it difficult for her to forgive him.
The second memory however dove too deep in her mind, and the reality of it made her head spin.
‘Ruen… is not Garlow’s real son?!’ her mind shouted.
This time, she felt even more a fool. If it was the truth, then there was a possibility that everyone in the Regaleria mansion kept it from her. Lady Faye too, whom she considered to be her confidant and almost like a mother.
And the same goes to Ruen who was the bearer of truth. Why had he not told her about it was something she couldn’t understand.
Instantly, she remembered his haunting words, ‘You don’t even know what you are saying, Lianne.’
How many times had he said that. He had been giving her crumbs of clues all this time, yet she had been blind to it due to her hatred towards him.
She cringed.
Just by the thought of this made her heart ache real good.
Erza tried hard to keep up with the pace of the princess’ walking.
It was plain to see that the royal was thoroughly distressed, but the maidservant kept her observations to herself. She stayed quiet throughout the length of the hallway, obedient as she should be until the princess suddenly paused from walking and announced, “I want to leave now, Erza.”
The maid servant’s eyelids fluttered. She moved in front of the princess so she could see her face and once she did, she nodded in agreement, seeing the determination in Lianne’s eyes.
“Then, shall I prepare a carriage for a ride back to Regaleria Princess?”
“No.” Lianne shook her head and gnashed her teeth. “I want out of this kingdom. I want to be as far away from here as possible.”
“But Princess?” Erza protested, realizing what Lianne meant.
From where they stood, they were just a few meters away from the three adjoining hallways; one towards the ballroom, one to the study room, and one to the guests’ quarters. Three areas. Three choices that would lead to her future.
Lianne saw the objection in Erza’s eyes. She knew her decision seemed rather crazy but it was already final.
No one.
Not her, not Cain, not Lady Faye, not even the King could make her change her decision.
“Erza…” she started, hauling in a deep breath to calm her nerves. “I’m confused. I’m unsure what to believe anymore. I’m done with all… the lies around me.” Her voice faltered for a bit, so she cleared her throat. “I just can’t take so much more. Please understand. I need your help.”
Concern filled the maid servant’s expression. She had seen the princess go through a lot of difficulties inside the Regaleria mansion, both with the King and the crown prince then, but she believed strongly that the prince meant no harm towards the princess. It was even difficult on her part to be asked to promise not to reveal the truth of his birth, but now that the princess has asked for her help, how could she refuse?
Erza met Lianne’s desperate gaze and immediately felt a surge of mixed emotions on her part. She tensed as she felt the pressure pushing heavily down on her.
She frantically searched for an area to calm her battered thoughts. The light fixtures on the ceilings, the landscape paintings on the wall, or anything at all would be useful, but as her gaze rested into a room with a paneled glass wall just a few feet away from them, she instantly stilled and her breath was caught on her throat.
Through the paneled glass wall, she saw Sir Jared enter the small waiting room. Her intuition concluded that if Sir Jared was here, then maybe the King was present also.
The princess was confused with the maid’s sudden surprised reaction.
“Erza?” she voiced out.
She followed where Erza’s gaze drifted and saw, to her amazement, the King now entering the small room. Without delay, their eyes collided through the glass wall and a downpour of alarm began to fill her.
Ruen, amazed by the spontaneity of the event, was frozen on his feet. He hadn’t expected to see her so soon, more so in an area such as this. He was tongue-tied for a moment, his mind still processing what to do.
They had stayed like that for a good few seconds, looking at each other, searching each other’s eyes and the emotion inside it, until one broke the contact and it was the princess.
Lianne, with lips trembling, quickly rushed to the hallway where the guests’ quarters were.
Upon seeing her running away, Ruen heard the alarm bells ring in his mind and hastily ran out of the small receiving room.
Sir Jared was taken aback but followed him from behind.
“Your Majesty!” Erza exclaimed meeting the King at the adjoining hallway towards the guests’ quarters.
“Where is she going?” Ruen asked in haste, looking past the servant and staring at Lianne’s retreating back.
Erza bowed her head low and routed her gaze to the floor.
“Your Majesty, please don’t follow her!” she cried out. “She is upset right now and I feel your presence could aggravate it all the more. Please let me talk to her. She is confused right now. If you care for her, please give her time! Please!”
Ruen looked down at the maid and saw her hands tremble like a scared thief ready to be executed. She was insolent to behave in such a way in front of him, but he saw her resolve in protecting the Princess’ welfare and he appreciated it.
Sir Jared tried to whisk Erza away from his path, but Ruen motioned a hand to stop him.
“Go and take care of the princess,” he commanded.
The maid, happy with his words, bowed low again and rushed to follow the princess.
“Your Highness, why?” the majordomo asked whilst giving the King a quizzical look.
Ruen released a sigh.
“I’m giving Lianne time Jared because I care, and I care rather deeply for her even if this waiting torments me all the more.”
***
Lianne was sitting at the foot of her bed when Erza entered. She found that the princess was speedily packing her belongings with tears already dripping down her cheeks.
“Your Highness, no.” Erza, shaking her head, knelt in her front and pleaded. “Please reconsider. Do not be too hasty with your decision. I’m sure you and the King can work it out.”
Lianne paused from packing and went to look at the maid.
“I can’t,” she voiced out weakly. “I… I don’t have the strength to face him again Erza! I don’t have the courage to stand in front of him and look into his eyes. I am done with all of these. I just want to forget everything!”
“Princess, just hear me out,” Erza exclaimed. “His Majesty is just protecting you! He is only doing it because he wants you safe. He doesn’t want to-”
“Stop it!” Lianne butted in. “I don’t want to hear anymore. Please, just let me be. Help me out of this place, Erza, please.”
The young maid didn’t fully understand what the princess’ felt. She wanted to explain more. Maybe tell her what she thought of the King who she thinks was in love with her, but who was she to tell the princess that? It was impossible to persuade her now, especially how broken and downhearted Lianne appeared to be.
And so, despite against her will, the maid helped the princess escape.
It only took them just five minutes avoiding and dodging Cain, the two butlers, and the King.
They were out of the main kitchen and into the courtyard when a familiar female voice called the princess’ name out. Luckily, there was no guard stationed on the area at that time. The two women felt alarmed but as the female approached them, Lianne recognized immediately who she was.
“Lenora!”
“Your Highness! Oh?” The young maiden stood still with her face painted with surprise and confusion. “How… how have you been? And uh… why are you wearing a cloak in a party?”
Lianne sighed with great relief and embraced her tightly.
“Yo… Your Highness? Why are you-”
“Lenora, please help me,” Lianne exclaimed as she released the baker’s daughter. “I need to get out of the mansion quick!”
The two women’s eyes meet and Lenora instantly knew the princess was in a dire situation. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the maid.
“Your Highness, you can use that wagon if you like,” Erza suggested, pointing to the simple transport parked a few steps away from where they stood.
“But the owner?” the princess’ cried out in concern. “He’ll be devastated to find out that his wagon was stolen!”
“Not to worry, Your Highness!” Lenora placed a reassuring hand on Lianne’s shoulder. “It is my father’s wagon, and my grandfather is the one who is using it for today’s party.”
The princess stared at the young girl with sincerity and gratitude, but it pricked her heart to know that she was asking too much of a young girl without even telling why she wanted to leave the Soulisse Estate.
“I apologize Lenora. I know this is too much to ask of you, but I need to leave.”
Lenora shook her head and beamed up a smile. “No problem, Princess! I am at your service and besides, my grandfather and I are actually on our way back to town.”
Lianne took the young girl’s hands and squeezed it tight. “Thank you so much,” she said.
***
“Your Majesty, what a surprise to see you here,” Cain greeted with ease just as he stepped inside the waiting room. He acted calm and composed as if his blood wasn’t boiling with disappointment.
From facing the glass wall, Ruen quickly turned to look at the general with an expression that of a King to his servant.
“You don’t seem to expect me, General Cain. Am I not welcomed?”
The two men squared at each other, standing at the middle of the small receiving room.
It didn’t have much furnishings as to the other rooms on the mansion. It however has a set of two sofa chairs and a tea table with fine wood carvings. Across the table was a small fireplace, unlit, with two candelabras placed on top of it. The chandelier wasn’t too much of a boast, but it provided the two men a light that clearly showed the tension building up.
The Lord huffed slightly in response and sauntered towards the edge of the fireplace. He carefully brushed the top of the fireplace with one finger and inspected it of dust.
Ruen only observed him throughout the entire action and waited diligently for his answer.
“I am aware that you are not fond of such gatherings. Therefore, I didn’t anticipate it, Your Majesty,” Cain, at last, replied, not looking at him.
Ruen flinched a brow with Cain’s remark and then continued on with his intent.
“Hmmm… I’m sure you are wondering why I’m here though right?” he said. “Let me be straight with you Cain. I’m here to take her back.”
The general clenched his fists tightly and gazed at the King like a predator ready for a kill. He couldn’t confine his anger. He couldn’t keep his irritation anymore after hearing Ruen’s audacious statement.
“I’m sure you are not so bold as to take the princess away when the hunting contest has just begun.”
“She is not used to such things,” Ruen retorted. “Don’t force her into it, Cain.”
“How can you be so sure then, Your Majesty?” the general rebutted.
A slight sardonic smile appeared on Ruen’s lips. He was in deep thought as he stared gravely at the burned wood on the fireplace. The ashes were a bright gray and still fresh.
“Leaving her all alone in the middle of the forest this morning wasn’t a good idea. Maybe, you should think twice before you place her in a dangerous situation,” he replied.
Cain crossed his arms and puffed out his chest.
“I believe that is for me to decide, Your Majesty. I do care for her safety above all else. That is something I… only have control over.”
Ruen didn’t overlook the way Cain stressed his statement, but he was adamant himself to make his point known.
“I’ll take the Princess back to Regaleria now,” he announced without qualms.
This aroused the general’s anger even more but he stayed as composed as he could.
“That, I’m afraid, is her choice,” he said. “You can ask that yourself if she would like to return to the palace or not. However, the night is still young. For the time being, would you enjoy the party then?”
Cain didn’t want for the King to come to his host gathering, but this was the only way to create an emergent diversion. He didn’t want them to meet yet. With the recent argument he had with the princess, there was a great possibility she would go with him back to Regaleria. Stalling time and deferring their meeting would be a better way.
The two men had a staring battle for what seemed like an eternity, each one wanting to make their point across and each one trying to intimidate the other.
If it was Ruen, he would have wanted to bolt out of the room and look for the princess himself, but their recent meeting stopped him otherwise. He still had no idea what the princess was undergoing as of the moment. The maidservant said so herself that Lianne was troubled over something.
To wait for Erza’s update would be the wisest thing to do, so he had to choose to accept Cain’s offer.