Chapter 16

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕭𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓 𝕬𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

"Today's weather had been great," a majestic voice echoed within the softness of the cool breezes, while the gentleness of the rays hitting us under the Ivy tree's silhouette, I knew it wouldn't last long to feel the pain it would give.

It's been days since that invitation was sent and the scheduled date hit the day where I should have seen Claudius trained with his sword.

I looked at the young boy in front of me, his moves spoke elegance from the way he carried imperial clothing, to the way he took his teacup and put it down on the table.

When the cool breeze swayed his crimson hair, his eyes which contained the purest gold closed for a second. I could hear him breathing in the fresh air from the place, and it got me stuck to where he was and what he was doing.

All because the drum within my chest wouldn't let me rest by thinking about other things than him.

This place reminded me of the first time we met and also the first time he made that glare at me, but right now, all I could see was the complete opposite. What made him change so much? I wanted to ask that.

Though I knew I could barely speak as if I would try to corrupt the air surrounding us, I continued to close my mouth and only whispered through my eyes like he wouldn't understand any of my queries.

I took my tea and brought them to my mouth only to widen my eyes. It was brewed delicately and mixed with the sweetness of honey and milk that I almost gulp it in one go.

I heard this familiar tone but instead of speaking another word, the voice became a soft laughter.

"I guess Sebastian made the tea I wanted to drink that day," when he said those words, my eyes wouldn't stop looking in his direction and when I knew that he was gazing at me, I immediately averted mine and put the tea down.

I couldn't even look at a royal blood's eyes directly, so I looked at the Ivy instead.

I could still feel his lingering gazes but I didn't mind not giving it much thought because I only came here in respect for the crown prince's invitation, there should be nothing more to that.

I felt him silently sigh before looking where I was staring.

"I see that you've been fond of this Ivy, ever since you came here," his voice directed to become true. As if the softness from them got removed and replaced by stating the facts.

I smiled when the thought came to mind.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness," I managed to speak while remembering the first time I encountered the place, in my past life.

It was when I was lost, but it was also the time when the emperor was still kind to me that he showed me where I was. He even said about the tree and why Ivy was the name.

Perhaps, he saw me smiling or not but I don't have much perception about that right now, since looking at the tree, made me feel comforted in a situation where I got to share a time with the person who caused everything in my past.

I know I should move on like what Claudius told me, but I couldn't not until I completed all of my plans.

I didn't even realize that I was gripping the he of my dress so tightly that it almost crumpled. However, I couldn't stop holding my breath when a familiar silhouette invaded my front view only to hear his gentle voice again.

"You have a leaf on your hair," the warmth coming from his mouth, the intoxicating smell he would always have, and the way my body shivered like it was delighted by our mere touch, made me feel like I claimed the world to my shoulders.

"You don't have to worry, as I would never do anything to harm you," the way he spoke with elegance and kindness made me feel like I was living in a dream, where the past was only a remnant of a nightmare I was trying to avoid and yet, that was the reality in itself.

I blinked a few times after hearing him chuckle again and when I looked at him, the leaf that was stuck in my hair was still in his hands. But right now, I felt like he wasn't even in his usual self like being composed.

At the moment, he was laughing while holding his stomach and patting the table lightly.

I don't know what face I'm making but perhaps, it was too good for him to laugh since when he stopped his actions, he was already wiping his eyes with a bit of small laughter coming from within his red lips.

"I used to think that ladies would always carry their elegance when facing a noble, but I never thought that you would act natural in front of me," When he said those words, he immediately took one step forward as if caging me and yet giving me enough space.

"You are indeed interesting, Lady Vestia," he held my hair's golden locks and tried to swirl them in a gentle manner. I could see the way he looked at me as if he was trying to gaze at a curious object making him want to discover more of it.

"When I tried to compare you to the other noble ladies, I just couldn't pinpoint why you would be scared of our first meeting," the way he said those words wasn't enough to make this drum even more levitate. I couldn't look at him even though he was looking at me.

His face grew closer to mine and the only thing I could respond to was my gasp when he finally caged his other hand to my chair.

"I don't usually think about any other noble ladies because they were just unimportant to my duties, however..." he paused as I could feel how his eyes narrowed.

I waited for a few more seconds but he only seemed to loosen his hold and gave me the freedom to breathe fresh air again.

His scent was intoxicating but it was enough to make me feel this wasn't a daydream.

"You are different from them, and whenever I think of you, I think about how you were able to express that frightened look," his voice became deeper as time passed by

And when I blinked again, he was already in his seat closing his eyes for a second before looking at me, this time, I felt like I was being investigated now.

His stare became more intense the moment I gulp.

"I just couldn't understand why you did that," his voice now sounded confused. I know I've been repeating to describe his voice but it was the only way I could do to avoid angering him.

In the past, whenever he looked at me, he would always feel angry that he never even considered my existence, but today has been a huge change.

It was different when he came to me first.

"I-I don't know what I-I'm supposed to say b-back then, Y-Your H-Highness," When I thought that my voice had come back, the warmth only stayed for a brief second before fading away after looking at him.

His eyes began to narrow but it only took him a second and now he was already drinking his tea, like a young boy growing to become a worthy adult, he was trying to savor and know the mixes involved.

The gentleness I've felt for the first time wasn't directed at me but it was directed at his curiosity about me.

"Your Highness, even though it was a bad meeting at first, I hope that one day, I will be erased from your mind. I apologize for being frightened at our first meeting, Your Highness."

***

As the sound of the carriage moved, I couldn't help but look out the window. I could see how magnificent the imperial household was from afar, but it also felt like it was an unreachable place for me.

The warmth of the sun's shine hit my skin and I felt delighted but it also pained me afterward. Just like today, Caliere would be curious about me, he would be interested but at the end of the day, when that curiosity was gone and replaced by Liana, I would be left being hurt.

I don't want to depend on him, nor to think that I could change him, because right now, I want to find my goals in life, a path where he wouldn't be involved.

And Henry, as well as Claudius became the establishment of that path as well as the people who loved and supported me all the way.

Without them, I could barely manage if Caliere suddenly changed like this.

"So, if you managed to attack the opponent by swinging your sword while making your body flexible, you could avoid some fetal attacks, got that Claudius," after coming back to my household, I didn't think twice and head to where the knight's training quarters were.

The moment I landed my feet there, I immediately saw Claudius training hard with Sir Francis. I knew he was a top knight because he was my father's personal knight. Yet, I never knew he would be able to teach Claudius fast enough that the young boy would learn this fast

"That's great! You're truly amazing, Claudius!" When Sir Francis uttered that, he couldn't help but lift the young boy after mimicking his actions earlier.

Claudius seemed to be a fast learner and an amazing friend. He would, without a doubt, one day become the strongest knight not only within our duchy but within our empire.

As I was trying to leave in silence, I didn't notice that I stepped on a small branch and when I turned around, Claudius was already behind me.

"C-Claudius, it was such a-a----"

"Milady!" Then he hugged me, Sir Francis was behind him and I could see his smile

I patted his head and hugged him back with a smile

"I'm back and you know what? You are really great at swordsmanship, Claudius"

***

"Mother, did you say that the Greviore and Devinseil Duchy would come to your gathering?"