I cried.
I cried.
And, I cried. My wails were loud and dreadful. And, Yet I never stopped crying because for some reason, I felt a giant rock slowly shed out of my chest. It was so relieving. I looked around and noticed the maids and the servants join me.
They were crying too. I never thought they would. I guess, deep down everyone did love my mother. They knew, she never yelled at them without a reason but, were just too proud to accept that. But, when the most proudest person of them all, her daughter pours out her feelings they just couldn't help but join her.
A gentle rain soon showered on us from the dark clouds as though it wanted to share our pain and I wrapped my arms around Prince Zeno's neck.
I sobbed..
"My red thread of fate. It is the same. It is always the same. No matter how many times I have been reincarnated. My mother, the stepmother gets killed.. the step sisters are punished by her death and...and.. In this life.. Even Cinderella doesn't get a happy ending... I hate it! My red thread of destiny. It's always haunting us. My family! Why.. Why.. Can't it be different? Why can't I be just an ordinary mob character or a simple peasant. Why must I be born a dorky villainess!? "
I said softly lamenting when Prince Zeno unwrapped his embrace and slowly pulled off his tight hug.
"Lady Rottenstein.." He called as I blinked.
"Huh..? "
"Do you know why I always call you a princess...?" he asked suddenly as I shook my head in denial.
"It's because..." He took in a deep breath. Just, what is he saying..? I cannot understand it. That term..? Is just supposed to be a special nick name for me.. doesn't it..? I thought when he smiled.
"....You strongly remind me about a lovely character, I have read from a novel that belongs to The Other World. He said as I blinked in bafflement.
"..What..?"
"Haha.." He chuckled. "Do you know, what your name means, Lady Rottenstein ..?" he asked.
"... You mean, the name Rottenstein..? "
"...No-No, your first name.. Anastasia..!? Do you know what that special name means..?"
I looked away and softly mumbled.
"...The name that denotes that I was destined to be born as Cinderella's step sister... "
"No-No, stop being so pessimistic in almost everything, Lady Rottenstein. Cuz, It does not." He grinned as I pouted. Is he seriously gonna tease me, now?
"It means.. " I pretended to avert my eyes away from him as though I was annoyed, but slowly peeked at his lips curious to know what he meant to say.
"It means.. "
Stop dragging you, stupid prince!
"It means, you will be born again,.." he grinned as I blinked.
"What..? "
"It was actually first named to a popular peasant from The Other World in a country.. called Russia to be accurate. She was born as a poor orphan. Confused and amnesia-tic to what her past was, who were her real parents were and.. She thought, she was destined live as a lonely peasant the rest of her life... Unknown of what her future lies..As her true identity was.. " he winked.
"So, how is that peasant related with you calling me as a princess. Prince Zeno.." I interrupted.. "This is stupid.. "
".. a princess ..." he continued his story without getting distracted by my interruption.. "..born to lead the Entire kingdom of Russia, from our Alternate Universe.. "
"What..?" I was confused.
But, my little sister having been eavesdropping our entire conversation, quickly placed her little hands over my knelt knees and interrupted.
"Ah, I know! She always thought she was a lonely peasant, so she never knew that she was actually destined to be a true princess.. " she squeaked as Prince Zeno abruptly rubbed her dark hair.
"Righto, Sugar-cute ♥.. " he encouraged, the two broken hearted sisters.
My sister grinned finally, after long hours of endless tears.
"It's exactly as she said. The Princess Anastasia Romanov of Russia, was born to be raised again from the ashes.
True, she wasn't talented. True, she failed repeatedly and True, she thought herself as just an ordinary peasant. But, only when she was brave enough bear it and walk the rest of her life did, she realize that she is a princess, born to rule her kingdom. And, That was her true destiny.."
"It's just like the people always say princess, .. " He winked at me and stretched his finger. "..Our destiny lies within us and is definitely not what we predict it to be.. But,.. We just have to be brave enough to face it.."
He suddenly clasped my two hands and pulled me closer towards him as I blushed and tried to pull him off.
"I believe you are a princess like that too, Princess Anastasia.. But, the question is.. Do you..? " He grinned as my heart abruptly starts throbbing loud on my rib cage at the close contact. I looked away blushing my eyes weren't able to escape his clear blue gazes.
H-His s-stares.. The-They are so... captivating..
I blushed more as he laughed at my expressions.
"L-like.. An Ugly D-Duckling..? you mean..." I mumbled to myself not expecting him to understand me. But..
"Of Course! Like an Ugly Duckling.. "
I got an instant reply.
True, she wasn't talented. True, she failed repeatedly and True, she thought herself as just an ordinary peasant. But, only when she was brave enough bear it and walk the rest of her life did, she realize that she is a princess, born to rule her kingdom. And, That was her true destiny.."
"It's just like the people always say princess, .. " He winked at me and stretched his finger. "..Our destiny lies within us and is definitely not what we predict it to be.. But,.. We just have to be brave enough to face it.."
He suddenly clasped my two hands and pulled me closer towards him as I blushed and tried to pull him off.
"I believe you are a princess like that too, Princess Anastasia.. But, the question is.. Do you..? " He grinned as my heart abruptly starts throbbing loud on my rib cage at the close contact. I looked away blushing my eyes weren't able to escape his clear blue gazes.
H-His s-stares.. The-They are so... captivating..
I blushed more as he laughed at my expressions.
"L-like.. An Ugly D-Duckling..? you mean..." I mumbled to myself not expecting him to understand me. But..
"Of Course! Like an Ugly Duckling.. "
I got an instant reply.
I looked at him abruptly. He was slowly getting up from the grass, as I and my sister, do the same.
H-How?.. Does he know about that.. A.. Foreign story..? I know, about it...causeI own this magical Grim-tale book but.. Him..? No one knows about this story.. Except.. Sir Nozen, my childhood best friend.. Could it be..? He.. ?..
"Prince Zenon..?"
"Hmm..? "
" ..How do you know about the story of the Ugly Duckling..?" I asked when he suddenly stared at me simply for no reason.
But, slowly a sly smirk replaced his usual refreshing smile he always wears on his face.
"It. Is. A. Secret." he said gently placing his finger on his lips as I raised my eyebrows and put my palms over my hips.
"Really? "
He chuckled lightly and quickly leaned closer to my ears. He whispered. "I will tell you, if you come in, to the bed with me.. "
"Whaaaaaattt! " He teased as my cheeks immediately flushed and burst with embarrassment.
"P-P-PERVERT!! Y-You a-are such a. P-pervert!! Stupid, I am out of here.."
I declared irritated, and walked out of the area abruptly. Uggh, that bastard prince, why is he flirting like this to m...
Ah, he tossed the question.
I observed.