Few days had passed after the straight forward words Audelia threw at the crown prince of Rozenkrenzt Kingdom, Prince Jonathan and during those few days, Audelia found how annoying and frustrating a person could be.
Her hope that the crown prince would maintain proper distance or at least became cold because of her words, was crumbled into dust.
Why?
Because the crown prince made many excuses to spend more time with Audelia more than she had to.
Usually Audelia spent her time with the crown prince only at noon when she was having an afternoon tea. However, the time she spent with him increased gradually.
Starting when she was strolling and helping at garden, then when she was spending time alone in the library even the crown prince going as far joining Adelia in her study. Because of that, Audelia's patience slowly running thin, so much that she sulked at her room, didn't want to go out.
Just like.. now...
"Young miss, Don't you feel bored locking yourself in your room?"
Natalie stared at Audelia who was sitting in the receiving room in her chamber. Her elbow was resting on the table and her chin resting on the palm of her hand. It would be the picture of beauty IF the person was not scowling so bad that it similar to a certain pirate king of a certain anime.
"I AM bored!" Audelia said with a huff, her scowl grew deeper that Natalie broke a cold sweat and showed please-don't-ruin-your-beautiful-face-even-more expression on her face.
With a sigh, Natalie spoke "Then you should go out, how about going to the capital town?"
"Not today. I don't have the mood." Audelia said, still wearing a scowl expression on her face.
"Young Miss, May I ask a question?" Natalie asked as her expression became serious.
"You may."
"Why do you dislike the crown prince so?"
Silence instantly descended after the question escaped Natalie's lips. At that moment, the scowl expression on Audelia's face turned to blank for a while.
"...Looks like I make it too obvious, huh?"Audelia commented as she wore a difficult expression on her face. The expression made Audelia looked much older than her actual age.
"Indeed."
Sighing softly, Audelia spoke "Well.. in term of like or dislike.. It's true that I dislike the crown prince but there is a reason for it."
"Is it because of what you said before?" Natalie asked, referring to what Audelia said at the garden that time.
"Yes. I just don't want to tangle myself with the Royal Family."
"May I ask the reason behind it, Young Miss?"
Audelia sighed deeply once again and turned her head toward the window, "...Natalie.."
"Yes."
"...Do you believe in reincarnation..?"
-----
"Does she still lock herself in her room?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Prince Jonathan was sitting on the sofa when he asked the question to his aide, Caius. In his hand was a book that he purposely ordered from a merchant. Since Audelia loved reading, he wanted to get closer to her by sharing this book but..
'I make her dislike me even more..'
During these few days, Prince Jonathan was trying to get closer with the youngest lady of Grand Duke, Audelia. He tried to at least find a common ground where they could get along but the more he tried, the more Audelia became irritated. The result was, she locked herself in her room for two days straight and refused to meet any guest, including him.
"That young lady is so rude."
Caius voice brought Prince Jonathan back from his own deep thoughts. His words brought a bitter smile to Jonathan's face.
"You can't blame her, Caius." Jonathan said, "She already stated that she doesn't want to get closer with me more than necessary."
"But..!"
"It's fine. I won't give up." Jonathan said, his voice filled with determination.
"..Your highness.." Caius was taken aback by the determination that Jonathan showed, "..You.. Do you like Lady Audelia?"
"..I don't know.. but I DO want to get closer to her.." Jonathan said, "..I don't know why though.."
Yes..
Jonathan,himself, didn't know the reason behind his own feeling..
The first time he saw her, standing at the entrance of the palace, Jonathan admitted that her beauty was dazzling. She was a beautiful little lady. However he was taken aback by the coldness of her eyes when she gazed at him, it was something Jonathan didn't understand.
As they strolled at the garden that day, Jonathan felt a feeling of closeness. It as if they had done this before and it caused his mind plunged into confusion. More over the indifference Audelia showed him made the uncomfortable feeling inside him grew. Hence so many questions appeared in his mind but revolved around the word 'WHY'.
Thus he asked one of the question that was swirling in his mind and her answer surprised him even more. It was so straight forward that it caught Jonathan off guard. Despite the warning Caius gave her, Audelia just shrugged it off and said that this was who she was.
She thought that being near the royal family was troublesome. The meaning behind those words was that she wanted freedom more than anything else. That girl even warned Jonathan for keeping a proper distance with her, right to his face!
Hearing such bold words, there was nothing Jonathan could do other than to retreat a step before taking a few steps forward. It annoyed Jonathan seeing the eager expression on her face when she suggested that it was better for him to return to his room. His annoyance grew even more when he watched Audelia's back as she merrily walked away from him.
'I want to be closer..'
Such was his thought as he watched the girl's back disappeared in the distance. Thus, he tried taking one step at a time. At first, Audelia didn't react too much when he tried to get closer slowly but her irritation was shown on her face lately due to Jonathan's impatience.
The reason for that impatience was..
Jonathan once again recalled the dream he had these days. It was the same dream everyday.
------
"Here!"
A young boy showed a flower ring to a young girl with a big grin on his face. The young girl had a violet hair and ruby eyes while the young boy had a golden hair and sapphire eyes.
Yes..
They were Audelia and Jonathan..
"Uwaaah, such pretty ring!" Audelia said as her ruby eyes sparkled upon seeing the ring that Jonathan showed her.
"Right? It's for you!" Jonathan said with a happy expression on his face but if one paid attention carefully, there was a slight pinkish color on his cheeks.
"Eh? for me?!" Audelia asked in disbelief.
"Yes. I.." Jonathan was struggling to say the next words, "...I.. I.. want to marry Elia in the future.."
Audelia's eyes widened in surprised, "..Marry me?"
"Mn! I.. I will make Elia my Queen!" Jonathan said as he slid the flower ring to her finger.
"Lemy's Queen.." Audelia muttered the words and her face was brimming with happiness. "Mn! I will become Lemy's Queen!"
"Then this ring is a sign of promise! Elia can't marry anyone but me!" Jonathan said while holding Audelia's hand.
"I promise I will only like Lemy in this world." Audelia made such vow as she stared at Jonathan with a dazzling smile on her face.
"And I promise I will only like Elia in this world." Jonathan made the same vow as his grin grew wider.
It was the vow that Jonathan soon forgot when he met Seraphina...
And the cause of Audelia's madness...
------
"Your highness?"
Once again Caius's voice brought Jonathan from his reverie. Worries could be seen on the young man's face and Jonathan smiled and shook his head.
"I am fine. Just thinking of something."
"Is it about Lady Audelia?" Caius asked cautiously, "..If so, why don't we discuss it with the Grand Duke?"
"It is fine. If I push too hard, Audelia will hate me even more." Jonathan said with a grimace.
"Let's take as a challenge, I want to try harder to get closer to her."
'Yes.. just like in that dream..'
Such was Jonathan's declaration as he stared at the window, gazing at the view outside.