"It seems that you asked the wrong question, Mother. I apologize, Your Highness."
Caesar smiled after his sarcastic comment. In my horror I didn't even have the time to chew the tart im currently eating. Does he want to end his life? Because he is doing a great job at it.
Zairon tilts his head, wondering what my brother meant.
"Caesar... mind your manners," Mother whispered to avoid Zairon's hearing before looking back to Zairon.
"The duke has gone to the borders to attend an urgent matter"
Borders? Uncle Galan looked at my mother in surprise, "Did something happen?"
"Yes, there are some reports that came in yesterday... " Mother didn't finish his sentence before looking at us.
In a split second, She is beaming as she stood up.
"You're all finished? Why don't you kids go and play before going to bed? Uncle and I were going to talk something important"
Yep. She doesn't want us to hear what they were talking about and I am not yet done with my pudding.
"Wren, Wren! Let's explore the mansion!" Yessenia tugs my hand, pulling me away from the table.
"Don't push." Brother Caesar seems to forget me as he placed himself in the middle of Astreia and Azi.
Both kids are the same age and because of it they formed a hate-relationship since I woke up. They exchange insults now and then.
"I will accompany you." He said as he pushed the door
"Come on Wren! Before I feel sleepy!"
'Yes, Yes, this girl is coming' I sigh and looked behind me.
"..."
I wonder why he did not decline mother's suggestion. I couldn't figure out the 3rd Prince. Despite him being forced to tag along, he seems to be managing himself.
Before we closed the door, I caught a glimpse of my mother's gaze. It is terrifying.
*****
"No fair! Why does Astreia always win!!"
I yawned and turned the next page of the book I'm reading. The two kids are still bantering after they changed into their sleepwear.
"Idiot"
"Aacckk!" Azi looks like he was hit by a storm. They are playing some board game like monopoly in my past life and Guess what? Astreia has the upper hand in this round.
"Wren, Why is his highness in the corner?" Yessenia leaned in to whisper while looking at Zairon.
Honestly, they shouldn't asked me. Because I have no idea why he's also here. Alone in the corner of the room.
"Hey, Hey why don't you talk to him?"
I felt a cold chill run in my body as I looked at Yessenia, "Why?" Yessenia pondered with open mouth when something jump in between us.
"Bwecause he's lonely swister"
"Yes! His Highness looks sad!"
Which part of his appearance seems lonely to these kids? Hahaha, No Azi, Astreia. That is his face saying 'Don't come close'
My breath hitched when his gaze slowly turned to us and boy I wished Yessenia didn't look at him.
"Wren close your mouth," I glared at her and replied, "Yessenia! I AM NOT!!!"
She grinned and patted my shoulders and I bet the next thing she will say is no good.
"Wren, Don't worry. Mommy said it's fine to feel shy in front of the you like"
Just what is she teaching to this kid?
"I am not being shy. I was... startled!"
Please, Just shut up and play with Azi.
"Swister, His Highness is stwill lwooking awt yu"
no need to tell me since I can feel his gaze behind me. "Be quiet," I said and sigh.
"Sister Wren just talk to his highness. It's not like he is going to eat you," I am older than him and he acts like he's older than me...
Azi looks at me with a disappointed sigh then added, "Besides, Are...."
Why? Why did I let this happen? Those kids... they even pretend to play tea time while in fact they are eavesdropping on us.
"Hmmm..." I don't know what to do in this situation.
If the original Wren was in my place I could already imagine what she's saying in front of this boy.
"Your Highness! Please Marry Me!"
ABSOLUTELY EMBARRASSING FEMALE LEAD! I am horrified just thinking of it.
If only those last sentence of Azi... How dare he called me weak once again?!
("Besides, Are you that weak to not face a boy?")
("what?")
("He said you are weak for not talking to his highness")
("I WILL TALK TO HIM OKAY?!?!!")
Seriously... I hate myself. Im older than them for 17 years (Mentally) but, I let those kids manipulate me. The word weak keeps repeating in my head. It irritates me. The fact that I let those words affect me. This is seriously stupid and it seems that it will be hard for me to avoid Prince Zairon.
Just now I find myself sitting on the same table with Prince Zairon. None of us are really speaking and I do not wish to disturb his reading. I heard he closed the book and put it down on the table.
"Wren"
Feeling Startled I fixed my posture, "Yes, your highness?"
Zairon looks at me with an unreadable look, This is what I hate the most because I felt like he was reading me, like Caesar.
"Are you not going to ask me to marry you?"
.....
"Ah, What?" Did I hear him right and with that straight face?
He didn't move an inch and keep staring at me. Why would I even ask such a suicidal thing. Does he think that I still want to be with him? Just how much damage did I do to Zairon to make him ask me that?
"I was just wondering... you did not pester me today"
Is that why he's being quiet during Dinner?
"How could I..." I chuckled nervously and avert my gaze.
"Everytime you see me. You chased me like a predator hunting its prey"
He is starting to talk and excuse me, Im the rabbit here and you're the lion. I'm so saddened to think that this rabbit might die in the future. How could he think I am the predator in this situation.
Fxxk, In my past life I died at the age of 19 and in this life if I don't change my destiny I will die at the age of 20. Seriously, only a year difference between my deaths.
"You irritate me every time I see you."
I felt cold. It came out completely out of the blue. But I don't have the energy to refute it nor to question it.
Im going to die before I even reach 10 years old, I think. Cause of death: Pent up Stress.
"Im sorry... It will never happen again. Please forget it, Your Highness"
Even if you stare at me it won't kill me! Especially when I am complimenting that face of his.
"Do you know why im annoyed at you?"
Of course... I don't. I only have a gist of my relationship with the 3rd Prince after collecting small information. The prince has low reputation, support and charisma among the nobles and commoners.
Because of that he is the lowest threat to the Crown Prince.
My family, Vacarella has great reputation since the foundation of the empire. If one member Vacarella, like me is linked with someone especially with High Status like Prince Zairon. His reputation will sky rocketed, having his right to fight for succession. But... did I do something wrong except the embarrassing parts... which doesn't exactly answering his question!
He let out a tired sigh and crosses his legs while shooting daggers to me. Wait, he doesn't mean...
"Im annoyed because new annoying things keeps coming at me. How tiring."
A-annoying? Surely... I look at him and hoping that whatever im thinking is false.
"Then, his highness doesn't wan—" he cut me off instantly and said,
"Of course, I don't want the throne. Even Brother Aster hates doing his office papers"
Im right. What should I say? Im too surprised and this is the first time I seen a Prince who doesn't have an ounce of interest on the throne. The novels I read, most of the princes are greedy or have motivation to be a ruler. They would even kill each other to be the ruler.
"Your Highness, Is it all right for you to say that?"
"Why? I'm a Prince. I can say what I want."
And there it is! The very start of all Tyrants in history.
"Ever since you nag me about marrying you, My grandfather is making a fuss about it. Accept—"
"NEVER. ACCEPT IT." I pound the table, making it shake violently. I stared at Zairon.
I mean it! I don't want to be tied with him this early!
"I will not accept it even if you cry and beg for it. You are not even pretty"
What? What? Did this kid just insult me? Hahaha, Surely I am mistaken.
I smiled and clenched my fists, "Your Highness you are rude for your jokes." I calmly said in this state of anger.
The fxxker did not even flinch, he even stood up, picked up the book. Leaving me with a sentence that made my blood boil
"Im merely spitting facts, my lady"