Olivia's countenance grew hard. She whipped her head in his direction, sending an inquiring look. Why? Was he not happy she decided to do something for herself?
Did he think she was going to brood on the fact he and Madeline were having an 'illegal' affair?
She tsked while a smile appeared on her face. It conveyed mockery, but it was already too dark for him to see that expression.
Olivia never knew why she felt empowered after stepping out today. It was like a doze of drugs she needed to face the two people who were rubbing her face with their bond.
"I did. Today was fun enough to forget about the problems I have. Too bad nothing good lasts forever." Her voice was soft and it sounded detached. They sent a strong emphasis at the beginning before a cold tune added as a spice to the end of her response.
Antonia felt the unfriendly air the Princess wore. She felt it channeling to her master's direction and could only wonder if the both of them had a problem. Maybe it's because she never saw them together.
Zain wanted to retort at her words. But he felt someone sending him a warning look and he was obedient enough to keep shut. When he laid eyes on Olivia during the after-wedding party, he thought she was reserved.
He almost doubted Reginald's words as he recalled them that day. But seeing how she responded to him changed all that.
This was the same man that stood outside in worry because he feared her getting harmed. The same man who chose to turn around and order the guards to be stationed, only to swallow his words when he sighted her silhouette.
For some reason, he was not liking where this was heading to. It was about to sound one-sided.
"Good to know." That was his reply to her. He kept quiet and the air started to turn awkward. He felt Olivia staring at him as though she expected him to speak more.
When he was about to say a word, it was quickly dismissed because she had countered it.
"I'm too tired to keep standing here if you have nothing more to say. Tonia...?" She called out, a crease appeared in between her brows as she cast a look to her maid.
Antonia bowed to Reginald and Zain before she rushed to her Mistress's side. The maid followed Olivia as soon as she resumed her step, not even minding to bid her husband goodbye.
It got Zain riling up again. He was about to step forward and yell at the top of his lungs that she was ungrateful. But a thick hand pressed on his lips, rendering his eyes widening in astoundment.
"There's no need to yell. She wouldn't even mind you." Reginald directed an unfeeling look at his friend who looked at him with a 'are you kidding me?' look.
He peeled his hand away from his mouth before sending a pointed look at his friend. "She doesn't know how much you care –"
"I'm only doing my duty as a husband." He interrupted Zain. This time, the air around him changed. It felt heavy almost as though it would choke Zain. It was too intense, and their surroundings could blaze with fire because of that.
Zain cleared his throat in discomfort while reminding himself that he should never say those words to his friend again. At this moment, he could render the premises ablaze.
The last thing he wanted was to make the always-calm Reginald angry.
********
"You're the worst person to exist!" Adele's chippy voice rang out in the courtyard. The place fell on deaf silence after she made that statement. Her eyes were on the small version of Queen Vanessa who stared at the dead animal in her arms.
It was a puppy with fur that was white as snow. The animal remained motionless in Olivia's lap, while tears fell from her eyes.
It was the first thing she was gifted, and to say the person who gave this to her was anonymous?
Since her Father was too busy to remember her birthday, she got a gift from that unknown person. It served as a consolation to her.
But after six days, the puppy died.
Fat tears fell from her gray eyes as she shook her head and raised it to meet the Consort's gaze.
"I... I didn't mean to –" she choked on her words seeing she couldn't piece them together. It was an overwhelming situation for her because she grew close to the animal, and it helped her ease her loneliness.
"You see this... This is just proof that you will never sustain anything! You will never work hard to keep a bond! You don't even know how to take care of an animal. I'm sure you weren't taught that simply because you killed your mother after your birth!" Adele's gaze on the seven-year-old was intense.
There was an emotion fueling her heart as she stared down at her rival's daughter. The girl still carried an air of elegance even while crying.
Her words were a wreck to the girl's weak emotional state. It was a huge wound to her mindset. It was too much for a person of her age. What made it painful was the way she mentioned her dead mother in this.
It was like a two-edged sword plunged into her small heart only to cause more pain.
"You already lost one friend. Just one friend due to your carelessness. This is proof not to have anyone close to you. It is also a proof that your entire existence... you'll be spending it in sheer loneliness. No one. will ever... be close to a murderer."
Olivia's eyes flew open and were welcomed with darkness. Her eyes started to pool with tears while her insides gripped with something indescribable.
She didn't move an inch on the bed while she stared at nothing. Her chest shook, as she tried her best to muffle her tears.