Chapter 40

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

Then the thing that I dreaded the most suddenly came to light.

"Are you prepared?" the voice that was once like a fire to me became gentle like a calm water. He offered his hands, and I took it without any doubts.

The spotlight that was in the middle of Velm hall came to us and nobles started cheering while the messenger announced our engagement.

Not later at that second, Caliere pulled me closer to him, and his hand was already on my waist. I gasped as I looked at him but he maintained a plastered smile on his face while looking at the nobles cheering at us.

The emperor even guided us to his seat and introduced us to society as crown prince and crown princess. From my peripheral view, I could see Henry going to the balcony. While Claudius was at his table with the rest of my friends and family, he seemed to take his wine seriously so that he couldn't look at me.

I looked at the red carpeted floor and my vision started to blur. I felt this warmth, a gentle warmth that I hoped for my previous life to have but now, it just doesn't feel right to be here.

I felt as if I was in the wrong place with the wrong person and all I ever wanted was to be happy, to be fine, and to protect the ones I cared about. But every time I got to decide for the betterment of the future, it all led back to him, to the young man beside me.

He touched my chin and looked at me in the eyes. I could see how his emotionless eyes wavered for a second before he touched the edges of my soul.

"You don't have to cry, in front of others, you only have to cry on my shoulders from now on," I couldn't think of anything with the words he said.

I don't know what he meant by that.

The moment I was about to ask him, he immediately knelt while offering his hands. All the people stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on me and Caliere.

"My fiancé, can I have your first dance?" I nodded with a smile but I just had to go through this since all eyes were on us

"Yes, you may, Your Highness," then he began to pull me towards the center of the Velm hall as the song became slower, it became more melodic to my ears and my chest felt this hard thumping sound.

Shaking my head, I focused my dance with him like we usually do, but upon dancing for the longest time, he leaned in closer to whisper some words to my ears.

"You look gorgeous as always," he paused but I could feel the hotness of his breath cascading to my ears.

I couldn't help but sigh. The dress I'm currently wearing was Caliere's gift to me for dinner. That's why he took his time waiting for me despite knowing that I would arrive late.

Besides that, his look at Henry and Claudius felt dangerous at that time. I shouldn't have guessed something that I should never since I meant nothing to Caliere and that will never change how much he changed his attitude to me.

In the end, he would still abandon me.

"But Vestia, you can call me Caliere now. If you don't, then I guess I have no choice but to keep the rumors swirling around," he said while we continued to dance.

I gasped as I looked at him.

"Rumors?" I asked him immediately

He never responded immediately as he only chuckled while spinning me for that moment and catching me while I almost fell to the ground. It's all part of our dance but his eyes seemed to be different now than ever.

"Don't you think that there wouldn't be any rumors swirling around when the Vellitas household was looking for their only heir?"

"Your Highness, I thought you promised me..."

"I do, Vestia, but you know that I'm also not a very patient guy, not when there have also been rumors about you with your knight, Vestia..." I could sense the danger in his voice.

The soft melody coinciding with the music's tempo became cold and I couldn't even argue with him, not when I knew his traits well.

"So, are you going to speak my name or let the rumors spread like wildfire?" This is the kind of person Caliere was, he would blackmail the people within his area just to get what he wanted.

But right now, it's me who will end up with a winning card, Caliere.

"C-Caliere," I spoke

"One more time," he asked me but the tone became softer yet it's still low.

"Caliere..." When I spoke his name, the music already stopped and he immediately kissed the back of my hands before tucking some strands of my hair into my ears

"That's my precious fiancé..." he said with his sinister smile and I couldn't help but put my hands to my chest, it made me feel heavy for a reason.

Then like the lights around us sparkled, I couldn't see anything but him and the way he looked at me.

Before I forget about everyone, he tugged my hands and led me somewhere, as he excused us all to the nobles and the emperor and empress.

I know I should ask him, I should stop him and I should say the words I wanted to, but no matter what, even if I tried, I couldn't get the words out from my lips.

"This should do now," he said and when I looked in front of us, my mouth hung open.

"Might fix this habit of yours, Vestia..." he held my chin and put my mouth together but he chuckled in the end.

"Did the Ivy's flowers----"

"They're still blossoming but there are already some tiny hopes that it could shine in the future, right?" Caliere led me closer to the Ivy tree and I couldn't help but feel amazed.

"I hope the Ivy flowers will come one day"

"I also hope for that, Vestia..." his hands suddenly went to mine and he intertwined them. I looked at our hands and I couldn't say anything.

Then I gaze back to him who was gazing peacefully with a sincere smile on his face to the Ivy. I smiled as well.

We already became friends so this must not be something that meant anything to him. Besides, from now on, I will not give up my title to my household while maintaining my engagement with Caliere.

Because in the near future, when Liana would come, I would step down gracefully from our engagement. I guess I would just be fulfilling someone's role for now until the right one comes.

His grip on my hand tightened for a moment before looking at me with a serious face.

"Now tell me Vestia, what is love?"

Even I don't know how to answer his question. Silence bypassed us that time and only the sweet rustling of leaves made their way to our place.

"Love is something that is never logical, Your Highness..." I only blurt what I thought for a second before processing if Caliere would accept my opinion or not.

I have had this kind of experience in the past, what love was.

"Why is it never logical?" He asked

But instead of answering him immediately with words, my hand reached his chest and he just let it happen while looking at my pointing finger.

"Because if you love someone, your heart would beat for them, not knowing who they are. It might be love at first sight, or love throughout the years you've been together but it was never logical to begin with," I paused as I sighed

"Because no words could describe one to be in love with. If there are reasons you fell in love with that person then it's logical but it will never last"

"Why?"

"Because if that person doesn't have any reason to love that individual anymore, he might just fall out of love. If you love a person, even if he's bad or wrong, you would still be blinded to her. That's why love is never logical, there's no reason to love someone, you're heart just starts to beat faster than before..."

"What if I found that person already?"

"As a friend, Caliere, never let that person go. But for now, it's impossible"

"Why is it impossible?"

"Because I know what kind of love you have and it's never for this person right now. You will love someone else in the future, trust me"

"What if I don't and my love for this person now stays the same?"

"There's no love that can never be replaced, Caliere...."

Right after I said those words, the coolest breeze came to meet us swaying both of our hair but my vision became slow when he suddenly pulled me closer to him and enveloped me with this hug

"Can we stay like this for a moment?" He asked and I just nodded while caressing his back

"You can always count on me as a friend, Caliere," but that doesn't mean that I could fall in love with you again even if this heart disobeys my mind, I would still seal these emotions away, because I could never let my love ones suffer now.

***

"Big brother? Vestia? Why are the two of you here in the garden, you're supposed to be in the Velm Hall, right?"

But later did I know, I would be the cause of my friend's heart to be shattered like I have been in my previous life...