W-What..is he talking about..?
Silence filled the gaps.
"Y-You.. You.. are not thinking of that Rottenstein girl.. Are you..? " Prince Julian said darkly with seriousness perking on his every syllable. It was completely different from his previous behavior.
'It's... "
They are talking about me..
"I even heard, you had proposed her for a marriage, Zeno.."
"Brother, How did you.."
"I had my sources..."
"..."
"... I know, you are such a flirt and you ask women out on a date all the time.. But.. A proposal.. That's unusual.. "
"Brother Jul.. " Prince Zenon abruptly got up on his seat for arguing back but..
"Let me finish." Prince Julian warned him.
I gulped pretending to search the healing pills again though I had already got them.. The atmosphere has become so tense..
"You know, that she is a villainess, Zeno..The villainess of my own fairytale and you are telling me now that, you are in love with her! That's atrocious! Completely atrocious!! "
"But, brother Jul.."
"Let me finish."
Prince Zenon bit his lips.
"And, She is a prisoner now and you.. the next prince. If I die, who else will succeed the throne?"
"I know, but..
'Let me.. "
"No, I wanna tell you something, brother Jul.. "
Prince Zenon's face suddenly spoke with complete seriousness that forced the First Prince to no longer shut him like before.
"..You know.. " Prince Zenon started in a deep tone..
"I never believed in love at first sight and.. Even this time I assure you, it was nothing like that. It's just that.. I always kinda feel a strong urge to protect her and even when you punished her, Brother Jul, that day.. looking at those haughty hazelnut eyes that struggled to look brave yet was mentally breaking inside.. I just knew she's not a criminal.. "
"Bah! Those are just your delusions, Zeno. You.. "
"No, I swear, it's not.. " He suddenly stopped and smiled softly as though he was reminded of my habit of swearing things often and continued.. "..It's true, I did find her extremely attractive to my eyes and was intended to ask her out on a date like all other women, back in the dungeon..but.. Before I could even think anything else.. I had already proposed her..."
"So, it's a mistake?" The First Prince looked at his brother intently.
Prince Zenon stared at the floor and silence filled in again.
I bit my lips and panicked. My nervous quick breathing will be heard out loud, if the atmosphere continues..
"No..."
"....?"
"No, it's not. I don't think it is. Now, that I put more thought on it, I realise, I really wanna marry her. Brother Jul.. " He confessed to me again unintentionally and I blushed knowing how serious he really was, about his own feelings.
"Then, what about the 'Cinderella' who you claim to have saved you..?"
"It's true and strange that I share the same feelings I have on Anastasia de Rottenstein to this mystery woman, but I can assure you that it is simply for a reason to thank her properly and nothing more. My feelings of love are not that cheap, after all..."
Prince Zenon suddenly plastered a shy, embarrassed yet extremely cute smile on his face --A smile I never imagined Prince Zenon's lips were capable of twisting on his face and said..
"I know, it's crazy but, Just in an instinct...It almost felt like.. We have already been destined by the red thread of fate from the moment we met." He declared in a bold voice as suddenly I felt my arms turn to goose skin.
These.. These were the exact same feelings I felt too...when I clearly looked at his face for the first time in the prison. But, I just ignored those feelings as, I was too obsessed in living a life without depending on a Prince Charming...
And..
I clenched my fists..
..I still do.
"The red thread of fate, Huh?.." Julian Charming shot a mean glare on his step brother but soon turned it into a small smirk.
He let out a sigh.
"Do whatever you want.."
"..What?"
"I said, do whatever you want! But.. I do not know what our father would do if he hear this.. " he said with a placid unemotional face and opened the door. He exited.
Prince Zenon released a deep breath out.
"Man.. That was scary.." He muttered to himself and looked at me.
At the instigation, I quickly packed his pills and gave it to Prince Zenon, when he leaned on bill counter again leaving only few inches of space between us.
I blushed hard, feeling his body's close heat.
"Hey, you're cute.. and really remind me of the girl I was taking about now, you know?"
He flashed an angelic smile.
"Oh really?.. Am I?.. T-that's highly u-unusual.. Ha..ha...."
I said an obvious lie, perfectly knowing I was indeed the girl he was talking about.
"Teehehe.. Yes.. but, can you do me a favour? "
"W-What..? "
"Will you keep this a secret?"
"....."
"About me being in love with a lowly prisoner and.." he whispered something in my ears and I immediately as though it was the end of the world I burst to laughter.
"OK.. Sure.. Don't worry. I won't breath a word."
I smiled brightly.
"..Well, Thank you for your service.. "
He waved his hand after blowing me a flying kiss and winked again as though it was a normal custom this flirt flows.
And, shamelessly I felt my cheeks burn again.
Geez, Anastasia. Why are you still not immune towards his charms?! Even though you clearly know how he is..
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I mentally Hut my self when.. 'Thud!' slammed the door close.
Seconds passed in silence and the next moment I jumped in incredulous delight and hopped around the house laughing.
"Ha..ha... Hahaha..."
I did my iconic evil step sister laugh again and twitched my fingers completely vibrating with red magic aura. Anyone watching me from afar would definitely call me as a real villaness, now...
I twisted my lips with a cheeky smile and rubbed my chin in memory the last sentence Prince Zenon had told me.
'And, Eh.. Please don't mention that.. I am just a kid to any other pretty maiden..Ok? Cause, It's reaaaaally embarrassing.. '
I grinned in delight again.
So, you don't like being called a kid Huh? Prince Zenon..? Though, I do not know what kind of taurma has with women to make that kind of awkward expression.. This!... is still..
Interesting, very interesting..
And, do you know why..?
It is because, This is exactly how I will overthrow you, You Flirty freak! (If.. I ever meet you again i.e.)
HAHAHAHAAAAA!!!
I went off laughing and returned to the shop's counter.
***