Meanwhile, as Cordelia walked her way towards the grounds where their carriages were waiting, the ladies suddenly let out a squeal, making her look in front and saw Liam approaching her.
His face was devoid of emotions, just like what he looked like before. Yet she didn't mind since she was already accustomed to how he would look. Maybe because that's what she kept on seeing whenever she saw him.
Aside from last night where he was capable of showing such an expression on his face whenever he's with Lady Felicia.
Their friendship sure is very close.
"Young Master..." Cordelia greeted, bowing her head but Liam shook his head and gave her the bouquet of flowers, and red roses and then raised his arm to accompany her to which she formed a blush and wrapped her hand on his arm.
"Thank you..." Cordelia responded, smiling as Liam then accompanied her towards the carriage that had the insignia of his family. He's taking her for a ride?
She blushed once more, while others were jealous of her position. Who wouldn't be jealous of her if she's being courted by the one and only young Marquis Liam? That's like reaching a milestone already.
As she sat in the carriage, Liam followed soon after, before closing the carriage door. The silence was loud yet her heart was beating even more louder than it seemed, her cheeks flushed as she held the bouquet of roses in her hands.
"Oh... I suddenly saw Lady Felicia earlier, showing up at the Empress' tea party. She looks so beautiful in person, no?" Cordelia spoke, making Liam's attention look at her with a surprise expression covering the neutral look on her face.
Yet the emotion didn't stay any longer as it disappeared from his face, going back to his neutral expression. However, he couldn't help but think as to why was Felicia there, together with the Empress.
"I asked her to be my friend and she gladly accepted. I'm so glad that I am a friend of the princess. I even invited her to my tea party." She added, smiling as she decided to talk more about Felicia.
While she was talking about her, Liam's heart continued to pound, obviously showing interest in how Cordelia was talking about Felicia, the woman of his dreams. Yet he knew how bad it is to be loving another woman instead of his fiancee.
But what can he do? His stupid heart has set that woman already inside him, unable to remove her image from his head.
—
Meanwhile, Felicia stayed for a moment and started to stroll the garden where it has different variances of flowers being cultivated. She didn't know where she was but she followed her feet, wandering alone as the knights had left her already.
As she was walking, she spotted a flower that reminded her of something that she couldn't even remember. They were big and yellow and were facing the sun. Their large petals almost look like she could shade under them.
It was cute, so she decided to pick one however it was too heavy for her. Even so, she decided to pull it even harder, wanting to grab the flower and bring it home.
However, as soon as she managed to pull the flower, she suddenly lost her balance, making her about to fall on the ground when a pair of strong callous hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her back to standing up straight.
She thought that she had fallen but when she turned around to face the person who saved her, she met the eyes of another member of the royal family.
The bastard child of the Emperor.
"What are you doing here in my castle?" He asked, cold and full of authority. He stared at her like she was some sort of a pest made her step back, nervous because the second prince wasn't happy at all receiving a guest.
"I-I... Uh... Lost my way... Got distracted by the flower... And ended up here..." Felicia muttered, couldn't help but feel fear. She has no idea about the second Prince's identity or has information about him.
Sure there were rumours those rumours just addressed how he was a bastard child of the Emperor who was recognised only when he reached the age of 15 and was sent to fight an ongoing border war with their enemies.
That explains why he was tan and how dirty his blonde hair was. Yet his red eyes stared at her, intensely while being cautious around her. He was after all a giant despite being the second child of the Emperor from some servant.
"Then get lost. Visitors aren't allowed to enter my castle. Scram." He muttered, even growling at her presence as if he was trying to scare her when his eyes then looked down at the flower in her hands.
"You... You know this flower?" He asked as he stared at it. "Why is it in your hand? Did you pluck it out? Who the hell are you for—"
"Wait! I'm really sorry, your Highness...but I couldn't help but admire the flower. It reminds me of something dear in my heart so of course... Even though my actions aren't justifiable, I plucked it out and thought of bringing it back home." She bowed her head, apologizing for her rudeness.
What the hell, he really is scary! Well, the pope is scary but this one is scary in his own way! Who wouldn't be scared of a war-monger prince whose whole existence is basically fighting off with some tribes?
He's basically living his life on the battlefield.
"If you want, u can plant it back—"
"You can't. You already killed it by pulling it from its stem. Have you not learned anything?" He asked, making her head twitch in dissatisfaction and embarrassment. Why does she always meet with people who are mean to her?
She's nothing but a pure angel. And it seems that the Goddess has been sending her people that ruin her angelic look.
"Right, I apologize for sounding so dumb." She informally muttered, rolling her eyes as she was still bowing in his presence. Even though she wanted to open her mouth and defend herself, she didn't want to die this early.
"You mentioned that the flower reminds you of something... Is it perhaps your mother's favourite flower?" He asked, making her flinch. She doesn't even know why it feels familiar to her.
"Yes... It's my mother's favourite... Before she passed away because of me..." She mumbled, sniffing as she played the role of a weak feminine just to escape him. Yet as soon as she raised her eyes tears almost fell down on the edge of her eyes.
The second Prince just stared at her coldly, as if he wasn't eating up the shit that she gave. So instead, she let the tears fall on her cheeks. She has already come to this therefore she must end it.
"I'm sorry for crying, your highness. I didn't mean to cry." She apologized as she wiped her eyes using her hands when all of a sudden, the second prince gave her a handkerchief, signalling her to pick it up and so she did.
"I know the feeling." He mumbled before turning around which made Felicia frown. What does that even mean?
Before she could even call him, he suddenly turned around with the same expression on his face, "Follow this trail and you'll reach back towards the Empress' palace. Don't ever come back here again." The second prince warned and left her alone in the field.
"How ungentle of him. To think he would just leave a lady." She groaned, using his handkerchief to wipe her fake tears before storming out of the field, still the flower in her hand.
He was some sort of a mysterious man with lots of secrets covering his entire being. It's as if he was wrapped up tightly in an invisible wrapper for her not to find his true self.
He was so cold too, much colder than the Duke's cold shoulder. Is it because he's always keen with people always mocking him because of his origin? Because if it was her too, she would turn over time into a cold-hearted man.
Especially since he was sent to a battlefield as soon as he was recognised. What a fucked up father the Emperor is. The second prince is still his son, how cold-blooded.
But anyway, she'll just ask her brother once she reaches the manor. She's curious about him, could it be that there's more to that man's story?
Whatever his story is, she will eventually figure it out. Once she reaches her home that is, she can't just ask anyone about it because that would be rude at all. Plus, who would be in their right mind to ask about the prince's backstory?
She's not in her right mind anyway.
As soon as she reached towards the end, she then found herself surrounded by knights, checking her up if something happened to her. They were pale and guilty for leaving her.
"Relax, i am fine." She said, calming the guards who looked like they were about to die. "Milady, this land is heavily restricted unless the second Prince agreed to invite you inside." The Knight informed her.
"It is?" She asked, looking behind her. Seems like it isn't because there are people walking back and forth.
"Yes... It's the territory of the second Prince. We don't associate ourselves with him. Let's go now, the carriage of the Duke is waiting." The knight replied, forcing her to forget everything that happened.
After all, the second prince is a lunatic who craves blood.