"Uhh.. B-Bea, I can explain." All I could give her was a nervous smile.
"..." Bea is still staring at me with a blank expression on her face.
After a few moments, she breaks the awkward atmosphere with a smile, which in turn made me feel really angsty.
"Ara?" She called my name while holding my hands.
"Y-Yes?" I responded while trying my best to smile in this situation, in which I feel like getting caught being unfaithful to my wife.
"Do you want to take a bath?" She said while smiling quite cheerfully.
"I-I'm feeling a bit tired due to the sparring session earlier with Cassie so.. m-maybe next time?"
"Taking a bath is very important after an intense activity. No matter how tired you get, you must never neglect your personal hygiene."
"I know but.. I'm planning to rest for a bit and go take a bath later."
"Oh my? But you were just asking Vivian to take a bath with you?"
"Ugh.." I felt a slight pang in my chest. "B-But I said later.."
Bea sighs and looks at me with dead serious eyes, "Your Highness.. Do you want to take a bath?"
"..Y-Yes, I do."
It didn't take long for Bea's face to brighten up again after I agreed to take a bath with her.
.
..
...
After we took a bath, Bea went home with a face showing full of satisfaction whereas she left me and Vivi with a feeling that is almost similar to having our purity tainted.
"Oh.. my.. god, that was too.. exhausting." I pant while speaking in between the words.
Bea just kept on touching me and Vivi the entire time. I never expected for her to have that.. well.. wild and.. dangerous personality. It's like she is the incarnation of lust, and here I thought I was weird enough for having similar thoughts.
Vivi was stiff like a board the moment we entered the bathhouse. And thanks to Bea's.. magical touch, Vivi went ahead to her room to rest after taking a bath. It seems like she wasn't able to handle the fact that two important figures in the kingdom were taking turns washing her back. Well technically not only her back but.. I guess I'm partly to blame for that. I'm sorry Vivi, I'll put more consideration and love the next time we bathe together in order to make up for this time. (Vivian groans while sleeping as if she is responding to her inevitable doom.)
.
..
...
A few weeks later, there was still no sign of Cassie. I'd be lying if I said that I'm not worried for her, this is just so unlike her. If it was her usual self, after we had a spar, I was expecting her to just laugh it off like she always does. I don't understand why would she just disappear like this, especially even after she won the sparring session.
I know I said that I'll give her the time and space she needs, but this won't do at all! There's also another problem besides Cassie. My swordsmanship training is halted for quite some time now ever since the sparring session, I don't have any issues with that but lately, Alex seems to be avoiding me.. I swear if that bastard has to do something with this again, he'll become the god of bastards in my list transcending the number 1.
"Vivi, please make an appointment with the House of Braymont. I'll make a trip to the Braymonts tomorrow to know what really happened with Cassie." I have to at least take care one of my problems right now, if both turns out to be serious, I'm afraid I might lose one of my precious friends in the worst case scenario.
"Um.. Ara, before I do that, Instructor Deuwen told me to bring you to the training grounds."
"Hm? Will the training start again? Perfect, I'll use this chance to relieve some stress."
[Training Grounds]
As I walk towards Miss Deuwen, I see her talking to someone who has a familiar back.
"Cassie?" I carelessly mentioned her name, resulting for her to face my way.
"Ah." Cassie uttered.
Our eyes were locked into each other, along with an awkward silence until Miss Deuwen breaks the ice.
"Good morning Princess. I'd like to introduce you to your fellow apprentice.. Although I've said that, I'm more than sure that you already know your 'future wife'." Miss Deuwen said jokingly.
Miss Deuwen's statement caused me to feel a bit flustered but, Cassie didn't even flinch at that moment but looked serious instead.
What? Is she unhappy with me now? Was there something I've done to make her hate me? Thoughts like this kept on clouding my mind.
I let out a sarcastic laugh.
"It's not like that Miss Deuwen. Cassie is.. Cassandra is just a friend. I don't think she'll like it if you keep teasing us." I smile wryly.
"What?" Cassandra looked at me with great surprise on her face.
"Eh?" I look at her with the same level of surprise as well.
"W-What do you mean by that Ara?" Cassandra says as her eyes start to tear up.
"I mean, isn't the reason why you were avoiding me was because you hated me?" I talk to her in a calm manner as I am technically, older than her so I have to be the one that understands her.
"N-No! You're wrong Ara, you're wrong!" Cassandra yells at me while wiping her tears with her arms. If someone else caught wind of this, it'll be very troublesome as they might think that she is disrespecting a member of the Royal Family.
"Then why were you avoiding me? Bea told me to give you some time and space but you haven't even bothered to come see me at least once, let alone explaining what happened to you." I replied to her in a somehow cold tone.
"I.. I was.." Before she finishes what she's about to say, Cassandra ran off.
"Cassandra wait!" I tried to stop her but to no avail.
Shit. Girls are such a pain in the ass.