Prince Ignis took out something from his pocket and showed it to Anna.
A bracelet with a crescent-shaped diamond.
Anna stared at the crescent-shaped diamond and was stunned by the eerie similarity of what Mister Raven just gave her. It made her wonder whether it was a coincidence, or Mister Raven just gave her the same bracelet that Prince Ignis showed.
'But this is such an expensive bracelet with intricate decoration. How could Mister Raven get this? Did he steal it from Prince Ignis?' Anna thought. But no answer came to her mind because she was unsure whether she should ask Prince Ignis or not.
'Prince Ignis is an aggressive and ruthless man if I told him that I got the same bracelet from a raven…' Anna didn't want to imagine what would happen. But it was certainly not a pretty one.
She really liked that raven and wanted to keep him alive.
'Alright, Anna. It is fine to lie from time to time. Do you want your petty little mouth to be the source of Mister Raven's death?' Anna thought. 'But I do need to find a way to return this bracelet back though. Mister Raven has definitely stolen this from Prince Ignis or other noble ladies.'
Prince Ignis stared at Anna, who was stunned and froze on the spot. He chuckled and held Anna's wrist. He gently put the bracelet on Anna's wrist. He was satisfied with this, knowing that he had put on the bracelet to a woman for the first time.
This bracelet was one of the collections inside his jewellery chest. Which was given by Queen Mother for him and his bastard brother, Prince Corvus.
Although the one he put the bracelet on was not a princess or a noble lady, somehow, he felt assured. He felt the bracelet was finally on a good hand.
"You should be grateful. You are the first one to wear a gift from me!" Prince Ignis said.
Anna looked at the bracelet with crescent diamond on her wrist. She actually wore the same bracelet just now, but it was a different gift.
One was from a raven, and the other was from a prince.
But it was an identical bracelet.
Anna felt complicated. She carefully took off her bracelet and handed it back to Prince Ignis, "Your Highness, I cannot accept this."
Prince Ignis was stupefied when the bracelet that he was so proud of suddenly returned back at him, and the one who rejected his bracelet was a maid. A maid, from all people, he got rejected by a maid!
Prince Ignis didn't want to accept this. He glared at Anna and engulfed his hand behind Anna's waist. He pulled Anna closer to him. With his vermillion gaze, he asked, "Why do you reject me? Is this not enough? Or do you have someone else in your heart?"
Anna was a tad surprised with Prince Ignis' sudden aggression. She sighed and shook her head. She pushed Prince Ignis' chest to separate herself, but Prince Ignis didn't want to let Anna go until she gave him an answer.
"Answer me first," Ignis ordered.
Anna took a deep breath and sighed, "Your Highness, I am just a palace maid, a poor orphan without backing. Do you think a palace maid can go around wearing this kind of expensive jewellery? I will get scorned and bullied by other maids."
"Who bullies you? Tell that bully to come and meet me now!" Prince Ignis raised his voice, even more, he wanted to call the guards to gather all maids, but Anna immediately stopped him.
"No! It's just a probability!" Anna explained. "I just don't want to attract attention. Your Highness, you should've gifted this kind of expensive jewellery to a noble lady. I know the noble ladies will kill to get a gift from your, Your Highness."
Ignis gritted his teeth and grabbed Anna's wrist again, "This bracelet is only for your wrist. I've graced you with my gift. You must accept it!"
"Your Highness, you are illogical! I don't want to get in trouble because you are giving me such precious stuff!" Anna yelled as she struggled to break free from Prince Ignis' embrace.
"Because I only want you to wear this bracelet!"
"But I don't want to get bullied because of your bracelet!"
"Then let me punish whoever dares to bully you!"
"That's not how it works! You have a reputation already!"
…
Knowing there was no way out of this, Prince Ignis had to release Anna from his embrace. But he didn't let her go easy. He yanked Anna's wrist and put the bracelet again on her hand. But before Anna could voice her protest again, Prince Ignis silenced her by saying, "I still don't get why are you so scared that someone will bully you. You can just tell me who dares to bully you, and I will get his or her head cut off."
Anna sulked in front of Ignis, "Your Highness, you have a reputation already. Do you think it is wise to be that reckless over a bracelet? You need to mend your reputation first, so you can rule this kingdom."
"I do not care about that throne," Prince Ignis said lightly. "I am powerful enough without the throne. I can set up my own kingdom quite far from here if I want."
After Ignis put the bracelet again, he held Anna's hand to prevent her from taking off the bracelet again. He said, "You can take off this bracelet after you leave this pavilion. From now on, whenever I summon you to meet me, you need to have this bracelet in your hand, understand?"