Liliana opened her eyes, she was lying on the bed in her chamber.
"My Lady! Thank goodness!" Liliana saw Prita's worried face at the side of the bed.
"Where...am I...?"
"You are in your chamber, My Lady..."
She recalled what has happened. She got emotional when she saw the Arethean woman and she passed out after she cried. She try to stand up and Prita protested.
"My Lady, you shouldn't stand up yet..."
"I'm fine..." she is stunned when she see the blue azalea potted on her side table.
"Who?"
"The gardener said they have some leftover blooming Azalea. It's summer so it's rare. They hope it can make My Lady feel better. Besides Prince Khiv always ask them to send fresh blue azalea to decorate your chamber..."
Prita then realised that mentioning Prince Khiv is a mistake as she saw the change on Liliana's face. She is on the verge of tears again.
"Please forgive me...I will ask them not to send to My Lady's chamber anymore."
"No... Let them... I want to see them there as long as they have them..." her tears are falling down
Liliana will never forget the blue azalea, that's one of the memories she have of Khiv left.
She always love Vrag but after Khiv is gone she felt the loneliness creeping in. She still remember the day where Khiv found out about her favourite flower.
"Oh...I never thought I saw an unwanted here..." a voice with a mocking tone make Liliana look to the back.
"Marsya..." Liliana look at the woman who used to be her friend.
"My Lady, please show respect to our Future Queen." Prita didn't welcome the gesture.
"Prita..." Liliana asked Prita to dismiss what she heard.
"You should teach your little maid to behave properly."
"Please forgive her." Liliana replied.
Liliana is admiring the blooming blue azalea at the Palace Garden accompany by Prita. She wanted to enjoy it in seclusion but of course all other nobility are there too. The ladies are not showing their displeasure openly with her but it seems they all disappointed that Liliana is the one chosen by the Crown Prince Khiv. She is still invited to their tea parties but she knew she was hated. Going to the tea session has tire her as they made subtle comments to insult her. She is the most quiet and passive, they all thought she won't be the chosen one. She is the weakest candidate. Marsya used to take the same lessons with her but since she was chosen as the Future Queen, she showed only hostility towards her. Marsya has entered the Prince Thyr's harem not short after Khiv announced her as His Betrothed and she is there with the other ladies from Thyr's harem.
"I can't believe that you can't fulfill your duty as a betrothed... Even after the Crown Prince chose you." Marsya look at her with glint of hatred in her eyes.
"You!!" Prita wanted to claw this lady's face but Liliana's grip telling her to swallow the insult. Prita's hand shaking with anger.
Liliana knew what she's talking about. The rumour has spreaded that Khiv has taken women to his bed, except her, His Betrothed. She chose to keep silent about it. It's a norm that men can keep their harem in Slothia, it's not something she should fret about.
"Don't you think someone inadequate should know her place well?" Marsya covered her face with her fan but Liliana knew she is mocking her, she is hiding her satisfied smile.
"..."
"Well...I never knew that we are going to get a mute Future Queen." the rest of the ladies giggles. Liliana decided to walk away, she doesn't want to hear further insults.
"Prita, let's..."
"There you are. I have been looking for you, My Betrothed."
Everyone are surprised to see the Crown Prince stand there with a smile. They all immediately hold their gowns and give him their curtsy as a greeting.
"It seems you ladies have a fun conversation, do you all mind if I joined?"
Marsya and the ladies still bowing down and their faces has changed to fear.
They will be more scared if they actually see his eyes when he smile.
"We...we are just leaving, Your Highness.."
Marsya stuttered. She then usher the other ladies to hurry up and they are scurrying away. Words of accusations directed towards Marsya for they could get into trouble should they offended the Crown Prince.
"Then I will excuse myself too, Your Highness..." Liliana gave a bow, it's an awkward situation.
"And left me alone to enjoy the flowers?" Khiv's face has soften and his eyes only show adoration as he looked at Liliana. It takes her words of rejection away, nobody have ever look at her like that.
Khiv smiled as he know Liliana is here to stay, he stretched out his right hand and Liliana took it. They walked side by side in silence. Khiv has instructed Prita to follow them from afar, asking for privacy. Prita nodded with her brightest smile.
"Which flower do you like most, Liliana?" he started the conversation as they strolled the garden.
"Hmm...azaleas."
"Azaleas?" Khiv seemed to be shocked but then he smiled, he think azaleas suited Liliana. Simple but beautiful in it's own way.
"Yes...especially the blue ones. They always look beautiful with the colour of purple around the center...they are rarer than the pink or..."
Liliana stopped, she love plants the most and always blabbering by herself when they asked about it.
"Go on."
Khiv encouraged her. He shifted her hands to hold onto his right arm instead, pulling her closer his side while they walk slowly. People that pass by them looked and greeted the couple.
Liliana didn't want to go back to the awkward silence in the beginning so she keep talking about plants. She told Khiv about the development of glass house where they supposedly can grow plants even in winter. Liliana then realized that there are lesser and lesser people greeting them. Khiv has guided them to the secluded place of the garden. They are hidden by the tall bushes at the corner, where lovers usually do their deeds. That is where they stopped their garden stroll.
"Did my actions has caused you grief, my Love?" Khiv took her hand and placed a kiss on it. He then placed her palm onto his cheek.
"N-No, Your Highness..." she is nervous with his touch especially after realizing where they are.
"Khiv." he look at her deep, Liliana can't comprehend the fire in his eyes.
"I have told you many time that you will call me Khiv."
"Forgive me...Khiv..." she blushed.
"I shall stop taking other woman..."
"Your...Khiv, please do not worry about me..." she felt awkward now, Khiv heard every insults she received from Marsya.
"I'm incapable of that."
"I-it's a normal practise in our country, please do not worry much. I-I am inadequate so please do not mind me. I'm content if Your Highness is happy."
Khiv looked irritated now. Liliana saw the changes and get worried.
"Forgive me...I..." she didn't understand what make Khiv angry though.
"You are much more than adequate. Why do you listen to those women?"
It's a comforting words for Liliana, her tears started to fall down. She was surrounded by friends that make her feel lonely and miserable.
"Don't cry, Liliana..." Khiv can't see her cry.
Liliana felt the lips that had kissed her few years back. He has never done that again after that incident. They met at Royals functions but it was just a formal skinship, a chaste kiss on the cheek as a greeting.
Khiv's kisses become intense and Liliana didn't give any rejection, just the same inexperienced lips like he know.
Vrag is the only one that realized it and him showing his concerns for him just irritated him more. His hunger never been satisfied no matter how many women he took. It frustrate him more actually because they all are not Liliana but he made his promise and he knew the heart of the woman he love still belong to another.
Liliana has lost the strength from the kiss and Khiv carefully seated her by the bench while not breaking their kisses. His tounge is inside her mouth and her breath started to hasten. The hunger inside him take over as his hands seaching for the soft mounds under her dress. He can hear a stifled moan as he caress one of them softly, igniting the buried passion he has for her. His fingers go under her dress, finding and start caressing her pure womanhood. Liliana is savouring all the new sensation that she felt.
She didn't really like the weird new feeling but she didn't hate it either.
It's all blurred for Liliana as she was drowned in Khiv's passion until she heard him whispered.
"Liliana, I can't hold it anymore..."
With a dishevelled dress and her clinging to Khiv in his embrace, she wanted to ask what he meant. She suddenly felt a foreign big intrusion and as fast as she screamed everything turns black for her.
"My Lady?" Prita bring her back to reality.
"Oh I'm sorry...can u bring me some water?"
Prita went to pour water from the middle table. Liliana remembered the meeting with her father and the Queen, and then Vrag's refusal. Her heart ache. They never mentioned it, but with the rumours about her and Khiv and how her father offered her to Vrag, they all think she is still untouched. Now even the Prince Thyr have offered to take her hand too. What should she do now?
"My Lady, are you all right?"
"I'm fine...I just need more rest I think?"
Prita took the glass from her hand and urge her to lay down again. "Please rest well, My Lady."
"Thank you, Prita."
As Prita left the room, Liliana stare at the ceiling.
She can't understand. She do miss Khiv but she wanted to take Vrag away from that foreign woman. She suddenly felt very sleepy and then fell to a deep slumber.