"Ahh!"
I was startled by it!
But then relaxed when I found that it was just a lowly maid who was merely sweeping the dirt of the red carpet.
"Huh? "
My brows twitched at her words.
"The Cursed Prince.."
The old lady continued sweeping and avoided eye contact. The silver haired wrinkle faced woman, was a simple maid, a mob character but yet I know, the mysterious knowledge she has about this particular painting was not to be taken as simple.
So, my ears automatically turned towards her to listen her words.
"... He's a tragic hero of his story. A foreign prince, whose story plot's too miserable that many don't even prefer to learn of his true identity. But, still he is respected by the few who know of his presence out of pity, him being the only fairytale character without a happily ever after in almost every single reincarnation
And, that's the reason he is often called as 'cursed'. Ah-h....Oh my.., I must have talked a lot! I must get going child..." said the Grandma when I abruptly caught hold of her wrist.
"W-Wait! C-Can you.. Can you tell who is that prince in this reincarnation, Grandma?" I asked anxiously.
"Ah.. Young girl.." The lady hesitated when suddenly I heard a familiar voice call me from behind.
"Lady Rottenstein.. Where are you? How long will you keep your sister waiting for you..? "
"P-Prince Zenon..." I squeaked and slowly turned to the old lady only to find her smirking in a weird way.
"Grandma.. Can you please tell me who the.. A-A.. " I started when the image of the woman suddenly started glimmering and popped into thin air making me fall down from the intense pressure I was grabbing her hand with.
I landed on the floor with the old lady completely vanishing from my sight.
She's gone...
"Lady Rottenstein! " I slowly looked up and saw the blurry image of Prince Zeno slowly zooming up towards my direction.
He quickly rushed towards me looking concerned.
"What happened? Are you alright..?" he said slowly lifting me up from the floor.
"Hmm, Yes...thanks for worrying about me, Your highness.. " I said formally when a playful smirk replaced the prince's smile.
"W-What's wrong with your usual manners? You're scaring me, Lady Rottenstein? Why are you suddenly acting as though you were brought up like a Nobel lady? " he teased me.
"I was brought up like a Nobel lady, you basta*d prince!"
"Ah, and then she swears again." Prince Zenon chuckled in response as I deliberately rolled my eyes at his lack in humor.
"Oh.. Pardon my rudeness. Your royal highness, the little sun of the kingdom. I must be out of my mind to behave like this." I chuckled elegantly hiding my lips behind my kerchief.
"You are mocking me right..? Even after I helped you stay at the palace..? Oh. I am hurt."
He feigned innocence with his baby face.
This brat!
I clenched my fists and yelled back stalking closer to him.
"How many times should I tell you? I did not ask for your favor! Just why do you keep doing this? What do you want..?"
"
Prince Zenon laughed as though he thought I looked like an angry cock that had to be pampered.
"Well, that's because I want to hear you say, thank you 'Prince Zeno' like all the others in your sweet voice. . And, not as Prince Zenon.."
He smiled refreshingly.
Hearing that, I immediately looked at him like he was a clown.
"My.. What a disrespectful reaction. I am positive you are the only person who treats me this way.. "
Prince Zenon looked genuinely applauded by my expression.
"Gosh, what do you mean, Prince Zenon..?"
I laughed deliberately and immediately changed our topic.
"Well, forget it. What are you doing over here, Prince Zenon? If it is for escorting me.. You know, I could ask a butler for it.. It's not that necessary for you, yourself to come here searching me. I don't want to burden you after all you have already done for us... "
And, it's embarrassing too.. I added in my mind.
"No, I came because I wanted to Lady Rottenstein. I was just feeling a little uncomfortable about having you hanging out with my brother alone for a long time..." Prince Zenon said frankly.
"E-Eh..? " Was my only response.
"Especially...when I know you had been crushing on him for a long while.." he explained as I blinked in confutation.
My mind turn blank when I heard this.
Eh.. ? Eh..!? What!?! ...Wait a minute?.. This situation.. Could this be the golden day where, I finally make Prince Zenon feel 'flustered' by making him admit that he was just bring jealous!
My mind had already started getting distorted on an utterly vain fantasy yet again..
Ah!! Are the gods on my side today!? Can I finally break the prince's refreshing face facade and embarrass him?
Oh, writers, I thank you for making me live till this victorious day!!!
I cleared my throat politely. --I must set my equipment ready before I shoot the gunpowder through my mouth.
I looked at him doubtfully. --It's important for the opposite party to act innocent in order to set the stage more natural.
I pushed my hair to the back of my ears and opened my mouth to utter slowly..
"Prince Zenon could it be you are.. "
But, unfortunately my words were not even allowed to reach him fully because before I even finished my sentence Prince Zeno admitted.
"I was just jealous, someone else might steal you from me, Lady Rottenstein..."
His totally unexpected honest explanation made my face flush red abruptly in contradictory to all my tactful imaginations and fantasies a few seconds back...
"And, I won't want My Cute Lady to still be crushing on the dude who hurt her, would I?.. "
Cute!? Eeeeeek!
My face exploded with the sudden awkwardness that I had deeply anticipated to make prince feel.
He said "My" cute lady, didn't he!!!?!
Why did I become his?!
I belong to no-one and..
A-A-Ahh, W-W-W-Wait..
How the heck did I end up blushing, now!!!?
I blushed harder at the realization
My plans have backfired on me yet again.
Ugh! You'll pay for this Prince Zenon!
Sob* sob*
Overcome with total remorse, I sobbed and mentally cursed him in frustration almost messing up my hair, when the oblivious Prince Zenon suddenly stretched out his hand before me completely innocent to all my thoughts.
".. Come on, let's get you to Drizzella, princess..."
His gorgeous happy grin that almost made it impossible to decipher that he actually suffers from a weak body.
"I really can never make you feel defeated huh..?"
At this, Prince Zenon cocked his head in confution.
"What are you blabbering about Lady Rottenstein..?"
His question suddenly ticked my mind and I exploded my laments to him unintentionally.
"You are so unfair! Ugu-fu! Not only do you tease me so much in a single day but manage to embarrass me simply by feigning ignorance! Aaah, I swear, your room would be overloaded with trophies, if there was a who-embarrasses-the-other-first tournament!"
I accused him guilty!
Prince Zenon looked at me silently for a few seconds before bursting into buckets of laughter.
"Pfft.. Phuahahaha!" He laughed holding his stomach while subconsciously unfolding my pointed finger that was directed towards him at my previous words. "a Tournament.. pfft*..You really have a super unreasonable thinking, Lady Rottenstein.."
Looking at him mocking my words yet again, I puffed my cheeks and pouted but, then he continued.
"Haha.. Damn.. I had guessed it right. Pfft.. I really do laugh a lot when I hangout with you! Whether I tease you or you behave yourself. " He grinned childishly.
"Thank you" ..I responded.
Wait, is that a compliment? I'll better keep that on the line.
I thought when he suddenly said. "Being with you is so much fun and exciting.." winking with a genuine smile that was so beautiful and powerful enough to break all of the insecure thoughts I had with his brother about our relationship.
I looked at him in awe before my lips gently curl up in a smile and let a chuckle escape from it.
'Prince Zenon really likes.. hanging out with me...'
It makes me feel so..
Wait..? I recalled. My previous thoughts of low self esteem and how I never deserve him are completely gone now ..
I smiled again feeling a warm feeling stirring up in my heart.
And, you know what?
I don't really care about how Prince Zenon is, or how different we were from each other or even what others think about us..
Because, Prince Zenon says he really enjoys spending time with me and I guess that's what really matters the most because...
...I feel the same too.
___________
Later that night:
------------------------
"Hey.. You forgot something Lady Rottenstein."
"Huh? "
"You still didn't call me by my casual name..."
"What is it, Prince Zenon?"
"Lady Rottenstein …"
"Did you say something Prince Zenon Altizer Charming?"
"Miss Rottenstein .."
"Haha, Prince Zeno. Did I make you angry..? "Anastasia asked again cocking her head.
"...."
"....?"
"Lady Rottenstein, Don't show me that face.."
"Hehe.. "
The two chuckled as they soon enter the arranged room.