"So you don't believe in love?" the King asked.
"I've never had the luck to experience a converted love match." She admitted.
"May I ask, Miss Shirlyn, would you renounce love in exchange for your desires being fulfilled?"
Shirlyn cocked her head to the side looking thoughtful, wondering why he would ask such a thing.
"My desires don't even have the privilege to be taken into consideration, your Highness. My mother already imposed that if I don't find a gentleman in one month, she would arrange my marriage with Lord David even against my will." Shirlyn's words came out of her mouth unconsciously. Probably she couldn't fully realize that the man she was confessing to was not only an unknown but also the King itself.
"I'm sorry." He said and for the first time probably in his life, he was being honest about his emotions.
"I always talk a thousand words, the bad vice of mine. Didn't want to bother you with my complaining," she said as she realized how much she shared.
"No need to be sorry, lady Shirlyn. If there's a person who can sympathize with your point of view, that person is me." He smiled emphatically, "now if you excuse me, I have some business to take care of."
He then whistled, turning back, gazing toward Shirlyn's house. His horse ran to him, reaching them in a blink of an eye.
"Can I have the pleasure to accompany you home?" he asked.
"I don't want to waste more of your precious time. You already have been nice enough to hear my infinite talking, your highness." She said, showing an embarrassed smile.
"A gentleman never lets a lady walk home alone. I would be offended if you didn't accept my request," he said, staring at her when she finally nodded. He lifted her with his right hand, taking her from her hips, and sat her on the saddle like if she was a featherweight.
He carried her with his arm while the other was holding the horse's reins as he rode.
When they were in front of their mansion, he helped her to go down carrying her.
"Have a good day, lady Shirlyn. It was a pleasure to chat with you." He bowed, having her do the same.
Then he jumped on the horse once again and left faster than the light.
When she knocked on the door of her home, her sisters went from the windows from which they were watching them to the door waiting for her.
Sharon was looking furious. Her eyes were filled with rage, and her arms were folded.
"I can't believe you did this to me." She spat, sounding quite angry. If she was a character in a cartoon, smoke would come out of her ears.
"I have done nothing," Shirlyn said, trying to think of an excuse, but nothing came out of her mind. She could tell the truth, but it would be too risky and her mother would immediately put it into work to look for another suitor for her.
"What did he feel the urgency to talk to you then?"
"Shirlyn, what do you have in your mind?" Her mother asked, who was glowering at her.
Abigail was the one who looked at her with no anger in her gaze, or if there was, it wasn't perceived. Indeed, when she met her gaze, she smiled supportively. She took a step in front of Shirlyn, who couldn't speak and was trying to come out with some excuses. "It must have been Lord Victor's fault, wasn't it?" Abigail raised her eyebrow to let Shirlyn know she was reaching for a hand to help her.
Shirlyn nodded, so she continued, "I asked him if he could speak with Shirlyn and convince her to change her mind about love."
Sharon glowered, as she was not fully buying it.
"Yes, it is the truth. Indeed, I was very surprised. But then he asked why I have such low esteem toward boys. Then he asked... he asked if I would meet some of his friends but I refused." Shirlyn said, trying to sound as credible as possible.
Sharon's tensed facial expression slowly relaxed, and she breathed out as if she felt relieved. "Why shall he come here just to talk to you?" the wrinkles in her forehead still didn't disappear as she was still frowning from the beginning of the conversation.
"I don't know, Sharon." Shirlyn gasped, rolling her eyes.
"He came to apologize," Abigail added.
"Why do you never reserve kind words about me?!?!" Sharon raised her voice, glowering at Abigail now.
Ginevra stepped between them. "Remember what I taught you during all the years. No one can meddle between you. Prioritize your genuine strong sisters."
But Sharon scoffed at her mother's useless intention of reconciling them and went back to her room, when she entered she slammed the door behind her.
"I am not silly, Shirlyn. A man doesn't ride till here just for such a minor matter. What did you talk about with David earlier? Before you didn't want a man, now you've got two. I hope you haven't put yourself in trouble."
"Miss Ginevra, if I may intervene, we both know Shirlyn very well. I am sure she has nothing in mind besides her usual frenzied ideas." Kathy interjected, allowing Shirlyn to take the courage and speak.
"Yes, I am trying my best to be nice and satisfy your happiness rather than my own to have you suspect and underestimate my efforts."
Her mother yowled, like if those words had a great impact on her, and she lowered her gaze to think. "Truthfully enough, I've been unmannerly. I am just very pressured and my biggest fear is to have an unmarried daughter." She admitted.
After she showed a fake smile as it was all she did to apologize for her unnecessary scolding, "I will go to sleep now." She then vociferously. Shirlyn and Abigail nodded and kissed their mother goodnight. Even if Shirlyn was still touched by the way she was treated, she forced herself to offer a smile of understanding her good intentions and that she just wanted the best for her daughters.
When she climbed the stairs, reaching her room, Shirlyn breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you so much, Abigail." She said,
"Hmmm, now tell me the truth. Is he the reason you always disappear during events? Are you secretly seeing him?" She asked in a voice full of curiosity. Her eyes were wide waiting for answers. Shirlyn took another long breath, as she had to think about another excuse now.