"Please have a seat Gianna. I've been longing to meet you. I won't take much of your time.
Please have a seat? Tsk, she had already pushed her back to her seat.
How rude!
Gianna stared at Vana impatiently.
"What do you want?" She could no longer hide her annoyance for being disrespected by the two.
"What do I want? That's a broad question. I just want to know you better Gianna. Kyler is like a son to me you know, and as such I ought to know his wife well." She said taking a sip from her glass of water .
Gianna was careful with the answers she provided. Vana was especially curious about her family and how Gianna learnt her healing skills.
"So you learned all your healing skills from your grandma and father? That's absurdly impressive; learning the whole art of healing from apprenticeship." She rolled her eyes.
"Of course I also read a lot of healbooks and got to practise my skills on the sick prisoners in Acrewood." Gianna explained.
"Prisoners in Acrewood? How on earth did you gain access to the dungeon? From what I've gathered, you're but a common girl masquerading as a noble healer."
Gianna swallowed hard. Her hands were firmly clasped under the table, anger like fire leaping from her green eyes.
"I don't discriminate any of my patients Lady Vana!I don't treat noblemen only,and about my access to the dungeon, my friends' father is the Earl of Acrewood."
"I see, who would have thought you had a place among nobility." Vana wasn't about to stop.
Gianna knew Vana was only trying to make her angry. She had been quite successful so far, but Gianna wasn't going to let her win, at least not so easily. Smiling;
"Maybe you should stop insulting someone just because you think you hail from a higher social class than theirs, especially if that someone is now your countess!" She emphasized the last word and she could see the annoyance on Vana's slightly wrinkled face. Gianna stood up and excused herself.
"I haven't insulted you, I was just describing you!" Vana shouted behind her.
She quickened her steps out of the garden.
She had just made a turn to head for the manor's doors when she bumped hard into someone and lost her balance. Her hands clamored wildly for non-existent handles, closing her eyes as she anticipated for the seemingly inevitable fall.
Gianna stiffened as a strong arm came around her waist preventing her from falling.
She was scared to lift her gaze and meet his eyes. But she had to! She wanted to apologize for the mishap.She opened her eyes slowly.
His face was so close to hers and she could feel the warm air he had breathed out caressing her face.For an odd reason, it brought a relaxing sensation.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a deep voice.
His almond shaped dark brown eyes were expressive, where you could get lost if you stared long enough. He had thick briskly eyebrows and defined cheekbones, his aquiline nose complimented his prominently defined cheekbones, the lineaments of his face in perfect proportion to each other.
Her gaze traveled further down to the hands on her waist. His skin which was lacquered and enameled by the sun, radiated energy and brio.
"Why are you staring . Have you seen me before maybe?"
The deep voice startled her kicking her back right into her senses.
Staring? Had she been staring?The situation made her voice tremble. Her knees buckled and now there was a lump in her throat.She wanted to get out of there soonest possible. This wasn't her at all, she had never felt so embarrassed.
Heat rushed to her cheeks exhibiting dimples as she felt mortified for making a fool of herself. She averted her gaze from him and pushed him back with all her strength yet he didn't move an inch.
"Get out of my way!" She ordered.
"You don't seem grateful at all."
"Why should I be?" She was being really rude. But in truth, Gianna was just angry with herself, getting lost in his... whatever it was. He touch was improper for a married lady like her.
"You've quite an attitude." There was a hint of a smile on his lips.
"I will be honored to tame you."He smirked.
Tame? She wasn't an animal to be tamed. She suppressed the urgent need to slap him across the face.
Did he think he could really scare her? But yes,she should be scared if not terrified,if only she knew who he was!
"Who are you?" Gianna asked instead. She was now the lady of the house. It was her responsibility to receive guests, even if some had questionable behaviours like the one before her, he was still blocking her way!
He cleared his throat .
"I am Prince Ian. The first prince of Ailton. You must be Countess Gianna. I am here to collect last month's taxes. You may be so as kind to show me the way to Earl Kyler."
Prince Ian? Good Lord! This had to be a dream. No, not just a dream, but a bad dream, a nightmare!. She couldn't just have been so rude to the prince.No lady wanted to get close to him despite the fact of him being the first in line to the Ailtonian throne and very good looking! The heavens knew the reason for all women avoiding him like the plague.
How did he know her? She was sure he hadn't attended their wedding.
She cleared her throat too. What had happened to her wanting to apologize to him earlier on? She just hoped it wasn't too late either.
"Your Highness! It's a ...a pleasure to have you here. I apologize for not watching my steps."She stopped to look up at him.
His gaze was inscrutable. Receiving no response, she continued.
"About the taxes, Earl Kyler is not present. I am now in charge and..."
His chuckle interrupted her. Had she said anything funny? She felt like he was mocking her.
"Did you just ...chuckle Your Highness?"
"Yes I did My Lady." He smirked
And he could say that! He was definitely mocking her. As a royal he didn't have to address her as 'My Lady', only those lower in status and rank than her were to call her that.She decided to ignore his remark and continued once again.
"I will provide you with last month's taxes and the corresponding records. Please follow me."
Having handed the legal share of the taxes to Prince Ian, she decided to open the letter he had given her. It was from the Kingshill Citadel, Ailton's royal castle. It was from Princess Fiona, what she did she want from her now?