"Elyx, I think I have an idea for today"
'As I thought, this lady is pretty much unpredictable as always'
"Alright, Victoria. Since you're always like that then mind as well do me a favor after this day"
'Favor? This is the first time he was asking of a favor from me when he's already the winner of our small game'
Victoria thought, however, later on she only sighed while looking at Xyle with a genuine smile
"Alright, i just hope that this time, you'll say a favor that's within my grasps, Elyx"
"…"
However, after hearing those words, Xyle never bothered to respond immediately as he only looked seriously towards the smiling Victoria. He knew that he'll do something unexplainable to her. He knew it but he just can't control himself anymore knowing that in few days, they'll be leaving the Chutlier household.
'I know that I might be asking too much later on but I guess it's worth it seeing how much of a trouble she's bringing me right now'
Xyle only shook his head and heaved a sigh as he averted his gaze from the lady and looked towards where they were currently heading
'Well, let's just do him some favor Victoria --- after all he had been changing since he met you right now'
Those thoughts made Victoria's smile grew wider for a moment. She didn't know why but in her heart she felt like she had found a genuine friend to begin with
'I'm just glad that I'm slowly changing his character from the plot. However, that doesn't mean that they'll act out of the plot. Maybe if those male leads will see Hersha, they'll eventually be drawn to her and after that happened I'll be able to live the life I'll be comfortable with. I'm already thankful that in this situation --- it will never turn out the way how the original Victoria experienced. It's because I'll be the variable that will change that, one of the variable that will rescue Hersha and even be her friend rather than a foe. In that way, I'll be able to run away from the novel's original plot'
Victoria deeply thought with her growing smiles that she could only imagine what the future will bring to her after running away from the plot
***
"So this is the place, huh?"
"Well, it's the place that you wanted to go in the first place that day"
"Well, I guess I wasn't fazed to see it at all"
'Besides I already seen what I wanted to see from you'
Xyle wanted to say those words, but he only controlled himself. He knew that Victoria was already engaged and he should crossed that line but he can't possibly say or act something out of the ordinary as his feelings were already growing towards Victoria --- and he's not even aware of such things and feelings yet.
"Come on Elyx! If you keep lazing out like that then might as well leave the place or stay outside"
"…"
Xyle again for the second time of the day --- shook his head and heaved a sigh
'What would I ever do to let her understand what I'm thinking right now, because as of the moment, I'm also confused why I'm always thinking at her. This isn't normal anymore'
"Elyx are you alright?"
Upon saying those, Victoria immediately went towards where Xyle was because she's already in the verge of entering the bakeshop when she saw how his cheeks were blooming red as if he was having a fever
'Did he catch any fever because I was asking too much from him? It's not like I wanted to pressure him but because I wanted his help. He's one of the geniuses in the original novel that's why I wanted to borrow his brain for a little but I guess everything will come to another consequences'
Victoria upon seeing how Xyle was acting out of his usual self as well as seeing how red his face was, she immediately went to hold his cheeks. Then, as if it wasn't enough, she went nearer to Xyle's forehead only to fells his forehead on hers
'This is what my mother in my previous life usually do to me whenever she's checking my condition when she noticed that I was acting out of the usual me. Well, I can't blame her --- it's because she had those strict and know-it-all attitude that always made me sigh. However, it seems that she's only doing those because she's always concerned for my well-being. Yet, maybe after seeing my dead body on the spot – if ever, I already knew what she'll act and I don't even want to imagine such things'
Victoria was pre-occupied by her thoughts that her eyes were closed so that she could feel Xyle's temperature. However Xyle, on the other hand, didn't expect such gestures from Victoria. He didn't know it but his eyes unconsciously widened, his cheeks becoming redder as he felt those heat waves went towards his face. He felt such warmth inside his heart as if his heart was beating louder and it was the only sound that he was hearing as of the moment.
He wanted to shoved Victoria who was feeling something out of him, however he can't. He felt that by doing so, he'll hurt Victoria like what he usually does when it comes to ladies that he didn't even wanted to be near with. It's because he knew and realized that Victoria was a very different lady from them.
'Tell me Victoria, if you're suddenly acting like this, if you're also worried about me, then whom can I avert my attention to now? I don't know what I'm feeling right now but I hope time will stop from the both of us'
Unconsciously – that was what Xyle thought for a moment. However, he immediately shrugged those thoughts knowing that he shouldn't think of such things
'Why did I suddenly thought of that? I don't even understand myself anymore, what?'
"Hmmmm, I guess you don't have any fever Elyx. You made me worried for you!"
Then as if it wasn't yet enough to say those words to Xyle, she immediately let go of her hold from his cheeks and removed her forehead from his and gently patted his chest
"Next time, will you act like your usual self, you're making me worry about you"
"Now, you're that one who's worried about me when if reality – you made me do those tasks that you're mentioning as a favor, Victoria"
Xyle upon hearing what Victoria had said --- immediately heaved a sigh before going back to his old self then speaking to her like the usual
"…"
However, before Victoria could even react, she only smiled shyly towards Xyle that was now looking seriously towards her
"Now, tell me, are we going or not?"
"Oh! Sure we're going!"
"Alright but don't forget tonight, Victoria"
'Tonight?'
"There you go again, I justs aid those words earlier and now you've forgotten about them?"
'What is he even tal----'
Victoria wasn't able to finish what she was thinking when she suddenly remembered about it
"Now, do you remember?"
"Hahahha, of course, Elyx! How can I ever forget such favor! I'll do whatever I can, just make sure it's possible for me to do those"
'Well, it's always possible for you to do anything, Victoria especially the young man named Ger that you're willing to save when he's already dying. It's only a luck that he had survived but those wounds and the way he was being killed by someone is weird enough to raise any suspicions'
Xyle thought as he was now looking seriously towards the place that they'll enter
'Sometimes, Xyle's actions were being unusual than our first meeting. However, who am I kidding? He's bound to be like that in the first place. Yet, I'll continuously change that. I'll have to just sit aside or even look at the view after all of those main characters of the original novel will meet. Besides, George and Xyle had already meet and it turns out right so I'm only hoping for the best towards the others'
***
"Your highness, is it alright to go outside the imperial palace without gaining any permission from the emperor?"
"…"
However, instead of immediately responding to Giovanni, Charles only heaved a sigh and led him towards blind spot where no one usually give any importance to. There, he held both of his shoulders softly and seriously looked at him
"Do you remember why I ask you to be with me on the market, Giovanni?"
Before answering the crown prince, Giovanni only gulped and nodded fearfully towards Charles' serious face
"Alright then say it"
"It's b-b-because of M-Miss H-Hersha, y-your h-highness"
Giovanni was stuttering because the face that Charles was making as of the moment was a very dangerous one. It's only because of Hersha and Giovanni heard it clear from Charles' lips
'When it comes to Miss Hersha, his highness is always serious just like now'
Giovanni could only looked at the ground while Charles was looking seriously at him. however, after a few seconds, Charles immediately let go of his hold from Giovanni's hold and step a meter away from him
"If that so then you don't have to ask permission from the emperor as long as you have me as your employer, Giovanni. All you have to do is follow every order that I'm making. I'm grateful that you've saved Hersha however, refrain from talking too much, Alright?"
"Alright, your highness. I-I apologize your highness"
"It's alright, for now I've said what I have said. Now, shall we?"
"Of course your highness!"
Then Giovanni acted like he wasn't cornered by Charles. It was only because he understood him very well. He understood now that Charles' emotions and love for Hersha was deep that he never thought of. He could only feel pity for the crown prince's fiancée
As he was following the crown prince from behind, his eyes caught onto something and there he unconsciously blurted out
"Well, it seems like those couples near the bakeshop weren't even afraid to show such emotions in front of many people walking by"
That led Charles to instinctively looked to where Giovanni was saying only to have his eyes widened
'Are my eyes playing tricks with me right now or am I seeing the who I thought I'm seeing?'
Charles couldn't believe what he saw on the front of the bakeshop. He thought that he saw his fiancé with another young man. However, when he blinked his eyes, the two had already disappeared from his sight
'No, even though Victoria had changed, it doesn't mean that she could go to the market freely. Maybe, I just unexpectedly thought of her for a moment. Nothing more and nothing else'
"Your highness, did something caught your eyes?"
"No, Giovanni, I just thought I saw someone I knew very well, but I guess it was only my imagination. Now let's go"
"…"
Giovanni wasn't able to respond back as his eyebrows were creased
'Someone that his highness knew well? Maybe the person was some acquaintance of him – probably a noble one'
Then just by thinking of those thoughts, Giovanni immediately nodded and smiled towards the walking figure of Charles
"Yes, your highness"
'At least I'm this close to the crown prince now, then Fahar would only sigh about it if I said these events to him and I wanted to thank Miss Hersha for it, however, the minute that the crown prince had seen her wake up – it's only a second until she went back to sleep'