"Your… highness?"
As Lucretia stood by the entrance, with a look of despair, she had unconsciously let go of the door handle.
Interrupting the two in the room, Dominic's red eyes contrasted with the chilling look he gave Lucretia. On the other hand, Charlotte's widened with surprise, but her body quickly pushed the prince away from her, before taking a step toward Lucretia.
"Lucretia! It's not what you think!—"
"Not… what I think?"
Lucretia's eyes dimmed as her downturned face was masked from view. Taking a step in the room, approaching Charlotte as she spoke, Lucretia stopped a few feet away in front of her.
"Are you still trying to keep up this fake act of yours? Do you believe I'm blind? What else could this be?
Showing a face of disbelief, with a smile of contempt, Lucretia couldn't believe that Charlotte was actually trying to defend herself.
"I—"
"You… Are you happy now that you've taken everything away from me?"
"No! This wasn't what I wanted—"
"Stop lying!!"
Lucretia's confusing calm behavior soon broke, as she couldn't hide her emotions anymore. This wretched feeling she had been experiencing since Charlotte had appeared, mixed with the anger she couldn't suppress, rose to the surface easily on her face.
"Ever since you've arrived, you've stolen everything that has belonged to me! My family! My status! And even my fiancé! How dare you even try to defend yourself! Just how shameless are you?!"
"No, I—"
Before Charlotte could say another word, she was blocked by the previously bystander prince, who stood between the two as his arm guarded her. His hostile and cold demeanor could not be hidden as he glared at Lucretia.
"Shameless? Aren't you the one that's shameless?"
"Wha.."
Lucretia was taken aback by Dominic stepping in, as her body momentarily froze.
"Lucretia, are you really this dull? How can you not hear yourself? Lady Charlotte had not taken anything from you. It had always belonged to her. You're the one that had stolen her life from her. Did you forget who the true daughter was?"
His frigid and belligerent tone carried with his voice, hitting Lucretia like a stake being pounded into her body.
"When will you wake up from this delusional charade you've created. Neither your family nor your status ever belonged to you."
"I… I know that my engagement with you definitely belonged to me. If I hadn't asked father for it, it would've never happened. Not even Charlotte had the power to do that!"
As if she was grasping at straws, Lucretia was like a small animal backed into a corner, lashing out the best she could. However, all that was returned to her was a scoff from the man in front of her.
"Yes. You were the one who created this engagement, by pleading to your father. You were also the one who created the tensions in the nobility to become more tempestuous. And, you were the one that caused a third of the Adallindus assets to be transferred over to the Imperial family. This will be the only thing I will ever thank you for in my life, as you were the reason why the imperial family could finally have something to hold over the Adallindus family. Though, I can't understand how you can so confidently brag about this fact?"
With each point he said, Lucretia took a step back, as he took a step forward. She had never known exactly what had happened for the engagement to go through, and she had never cared enough to listen. However, being faced with the realities of the situation, she felt as though something was trapped in her throat.
"In the end, all that was left from the sacrifices your family had made for you, which you so easily disregarded, was an empty engagement."
With her body trembling, she couldn't take her eyes off his, no matter how much she wanted to. Her clenched hands tightened, as Lucretia tried to respond with a quivering voice.
"W-why must it be my wrongdoing! It wasn't my fault! I just love you. Is it so wrong to love you?!"
The emotions and passion in her voice did not deliver to Dominic at all, as he only met her gaze with a cold glare.
"Lucretia. I will never ever love you in this life."
Eyes widening, Lucretia stilled for a moment, as she looked to the man in front of her, as if she was trying to find any hint of hope in this situation. However, she only realized that she had long since grown used to the apathetic and bellicose gaze he would direct at her.
"Stop!"
The voice that rang out within the silent room caught the attention of the two, as Charlotte took a step toward them.
"Please stop, your highness!"
Lucretia saw how her words were the only one that could break Dominic's overbearing glare.
"Lucretia! Please! I think we really need to talk once more. I didn't want an outcome like this!"
Trying to approach Lucretia, she was stopped, as Dominic pulled her to his side in a tight embrace. His guarded appearance clearly showed that he didn't want Lucretia to be near Charlotte. Was that why he had taken those steps earlier to widen the distance between them?
Seeing this, Lucretia's expression contorted in sorrow, as she faced her head to the ground. Grasping tightly to the fabric of her dress, her trembling figure didn't show a sign of the haughty and spoiled daughter of the Adallindus family.
"Why…"
As Lucretia's head raised, Charlotte's eyes widened, seeing the tears rolling down Lucretia's face. With the moonlight seeping into the room, it was as if jewels were escaping her eyes and sliding down her cheeks. Biting her lips, the crimson red of blood tainted the rose pink color. Her eyes showed only desperation, anguish, and heartbreak.
"Why is it always you?"
Just as Charlotte was about to raise her voice, Lucretia had already turned her body, running out the door.
"Lucretia! Wait!"
Pushing the prince away, she quickly ran after Lucretia, down the corridor.
…
The rushing sound of footsteps reverberated throughout the hall. Despite her heels digging into the back of her feet, the only pain Lucretia could feel was in her heart.
She wanted to run away.
Get away from here.
Anywhere would do.
As her body moved with only her thoughts in mind, she had not even noticed that she had wandered into a forest in the estate. Pausing, she looked around, as the rustling of leaves followed the path of the wind. The only sound escaping into the night was of the trees and her own bated breath.
'How peaceful…'
As if trying to betray her turmoils, the atmosphere in the forest felt serene. A conflicting feeling arose, as she wondered what it would be like to just disappear.
"Lucretia?"
A sickeningly familiar voice broke that tranquil silence, as Lucretia turned her head behind her. The person she had wanted to see the least at the moment, stood by a tree, her breath heavy from running.
Why was she the one that chased after her?
What else did she want to take?
"Why are you here."
"I… I wanted to talk."
"Leave."
Lucretia's face sent a chilly gaze as it contorted into a look of pure hatred.
"I have nothing I wish to talk about with you! Leave me alone!"
Before Charlotte could utter another word, Lucretia had already turned away and gone deeper into the forest with quick steps. Although the forest was dark, the light of the moon reflected off of Lucretia's platinum hair, which allowed for Charlotte to give chase.
"I truly have no ill will towards you!"
"Stop trying to keep up with this act of yours! If you aren't a thieving snake, than I am not Lucretia Adallindus!"
As Lucretia picked up her pace, she had to slow her momentum when she approached a steep cliff. Charlotte noticed as well, but continued to follow after her.
"Lucretia! Let's head back! It's dangerous here!"
Lucretia gripped her dress tightly. Why is she still following her? What type of scheme is she planning? Who was she putting on this act for? Why won't she just leave?
She just wanted to be by herself!
"If you want to leave, then do so yourself!"
"But…"
Seeing Lucretia begin to leave again, Charlotte quickly tried to grab hold of Lucretia's wrist. The latter felt more irked, as she slapped away Charlotte's hand.
"Don't touch me!"
As she turned her body with the momentum, Lucretia's eyes widened.
Their eyes met one another, not losing each other's gaze, as Charlotte lost her footing by the cliff. Her body falling backwards, it's as if time stood still.
By the time Lucretia could move again, her sister's gaze was long since out of her sight.