Remaking Of Lady Cruel

Chapter Ten: Noxious Tea Party

‘Dear Lady Cruel,

Last night was extremely fun with you being with me. Why wont you come here in the imperial palace and have tea together this afternoon? If you’re worrying about your probation, I send a letter along with this letter to your brother to give his approval to you. I expect you to come with your bright face. Don’t make me wait.

- Aleiandro Damian Valliaña’

Her mind is in chaos that she cant think straight. The letter is extremely life-threatening and can lead to misunderstandings. While she’s trying to fix her ruined mind, the door suddenly opened. Arthur entered the room with a very furious expression that could freeze someone to death.

“Viviene!”

“Please let me explain.” She answered in a calm tone.

He tried to calm his head but ended up glaring at her fiercely. She can feel that he’s making a hole through her head with those frightening gaze but she ignore it.

“Finnian, get out.” Arthur ordered.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Finnian left the room without a word. Arthur recalled the letter from the crown prince and he cant help but feel angry. The letter goes as this:

‘Dear Little Duke,

I’m writing this letter to command you to let Lady Cruel come here in the imperial palace for she trespassed a private property that I owned. I know that you’re aware of the punishment of someone who trespassed a royal property, especially to ‘my’ property. Yet, I planned to let this incident slide however, the lady must come see me this afternoon for tea. Its not so bad isn’t it?

P.s.

I had a great time with her last night.

- Aleiandro Damian Valliaña

His mind is in shambles as he tried to guess what happened between Viviene and the crown prince last night without his knowledge. His glare towards Viviene grow even colder than before. Viviene swallowed her saliva as she started to speak nervously.

“Its not what you think it is, big brother.”

“It’s not? You trespassed a property owned by the Crown Prince, you even spend time with him! I thought you changed but it turns out I’m wrong. You’re still that desperate girl who seeks attention from that bastard.”

His words were harsh but what can she expect from him? He sided easily to Eliza, of course he’ll side to the crown prince as well.

‘I’m unimportant anyway.’ She thought.

He notice her sad expression while accepting his crude words without talking back to him. He sighed and massage his temple as he tried to calm his temper.

“What, happened?”

She raise her head with a shock expression displayed on her face. She was surprised by his question. She thought that something’s wrong with her brother but its surprisingly not that bad in her part. Her mouth is gaping open and she can sense her idiotic expression very well.

“W-Well, first I didn’t know it was a private property and if I had, then I wouldn’t have met the dem— crown prince.” She explained like a child confessing her sins.

“And I swear nothing happened between us except talking. That’s it.” She added.

Arthur is not satisfied of her explanation and continued looking at her with an obscure face. She sigh and decided to let him think what he wants to think. She’s having a hard time analyzing the fact that the prince just invite her to the imperial palace and she doesn’t have a spare time to clarify things to his brother. She was in a good mood earlier until the letter from hell arrived from the Crown Prince.

‘Oh gosh! Why am I experiencing these kind of shits in life.’ She thought while mentally sobbing for her fate later.

Arthur notice her crestfallen aura around her so he cant help but speak to lessen the heavy atmosphere.

“I’m coming with you.”

Viviene turns her head, startled of what he said.

“Pardon?”

“I’m going with you. I’ll, help you clear this mess.”

His tone is cold yet his eyes were gentle and reassuring. Somehow, she felt like he’s siding to her? Whatever it is, it felt nice and calmed her nervous heart for a moment. She smiled at him brightly.

“Yes, thank you brother.”

Not long after their conversation, they rode a carriage going to the imperial palace with the symbol of the great Cruel dukedom. Viviene is looking good with her green dress with her hair down. At first glance you’ll never thought that she’s a villainess rather a celestial being. What can everyone expect from one of the goddesses in the empire? They arrived at the palace on time and a servant lead them to the garden. Viviene is truly amazed by how splendid and fabulous the imperial palace is. It shows how great and majestic the emperor was and how he ruled the country. Finally, they saw the crown prince and familiar people with him. Viviene’s face pallid due to nervousness. Three pairs of eyes met her gaze and it gave her a very unpleasant feeling, especially the pair of violet pupils looking at her.

“Lady Cruel! Oh, and Sir Cruel as well. I did not expect you to be here.”

The crown prince, Aleiandro, showed a mocking smile while looking at Arthur.

“I apologize, Your Highness. I cant just let this misunderstanding remain while my father is away.”

He said coldly with his expressionless face. Viviene’s eyes went to the knight and the lady sitting on the chair.

‘Gosh! Of all people, why Eliza and Sir Valor? The four death flags are present in the table. I feel like dying.’ She thought frustrated of the whole event.

“Misunderstanding? I clearly wrote what happened between us last night.”

Eliza and Alexander’s eyes widen as they both look at Aleiandro’s smirking face. Viviene felt worse than before.

“Good day Your Highness. Of course, you clearly wrote what happened yet causes a little bit of misunderstanding.” She force a smile as she explain the situation.

Her heart is beating wildly yet she cant help but remain smiling. The prince’s smirk turned into a wicked grin.

“Lets drink our tea first and continue our fun conversation.”

They sit on a chair with teas in front of them. She’s sitting across to Eliza while Arthur is sitting across to the Crown Prince. Sir Valor is standing near the crown prince strictly looking at Viviene’s direction. Again, she ignore it like how she respond to the rude stares she always encounter. Eliza and Viviene’s eyes met, Eliza smiled at her yet she didn’t respond at all. She’s being rude to her but she cant help it. Maybe its an advantage for her having the title ‘villainess’.

‘Oh, she’s looking good at her baby-blue dress.’ She complimented as she examine her whole being.

“So, Lady Cruel, how’s your foot?” The prince asked while looking at her.

“Its fine now Your Majesty. Thank you for healing me.”

“Good. However, I don’t accept verbal gratitude. Why don’t you pay it by having tea with me?”

“I certainly not approve it Your Majesty. Viviene had a lot of things to do.” Arthur interrupted.

The atmosphere becomes heavy again due to their unwavering glares at each other. Viviene, who’s the root of the mess, drink her tea leisurely. Eliza throw her a confused face while Sir Valor glare like he’s killing her.

‘I cant even relax.’ She thought as she sigh.

“I apologize for intruding but, may I ask why? Its clear as the day that I am not welcome here. I cant even drink tea comfortably how much more, drinking tea with you everyday, Your Majesty?” She blurted without hesitating. The crown prince frown before smirking.

“Then, shall I make people leave? You want to be just the two of us?” He asked in a mocking tone. Eliza and the others widen their eyes as they heard him.

‘Then I’ll die miserably! No way!’ She screamed inside while still smiling at the prince.

“No. I’m not saying to Your Majesty to make them leave. I just want to know.” She muttered honestly as she stare at his eyes.

The Crown Prince, who’s looking back at her cant contain his chuckle as he stood up. Arthur became alert of his next move but he can sense someone who’s already behind him, its Sir Valor, the prince’s loyal knight. Eliza is unable to move nor speak as she look at the scene. Its like someone cast a spell at her without her awareness. The prince touch her chin and make her look at him as he put his other hand on the table, he lean on her closer as he look at her eyes intensely. His lips lifted to a dark smile and his eyes shine like madness.

“Because I like how you stare at my eyes.” He answered.

She can see how frightening his smile is, like a psycho who’s ready to increase his victim yet his violet eyes say something different.

‘His eyes, its like the dark night, its cold and lonely.’ She realized as she keep on staring at him. She nervously laugh as she speak.

“U-Uhm, Your Majesty? They’re looking!”

The prince look at them and frown. He move away without saying a word and went back to his seat.

“Lets resume our tea.” He said as he drink the tea in front of him.

Viviene sigh and resume drinking her tea when she notice how dreadful the knight is while looking at her direction. She look at him for a while with a bored expression and look back away. That caught him off guard, he thought she’ll fight back but she didn’t.

Sir Alexander William Valor, the loyal knight of the crown prince and the general of the imperial knights. He had a messy chocolate-brown hair and a pair breathtaking hazel eyes. He had thick eyebrows, long eyelashes and his skin is perfectly tan. Like Arthur and the Crown Prince, his features were gorgeous and stunning. They are the fantasies of every ladies in the empire but these three were deeply attached to the kind-hearted Eliza. When Eliza is around, the three of them would show up. That’s the scene the past Viviene would always see which made her even more jealous and furious towards Eliza. She’s always the center of attention, she received too much affection when in fact, she doesn’t even need them at all yet, Viviene who’s always thirsty of love and care cant help but to feel the bitterness of loneliness and hatred.

‘But why am I the center of attention here?’ She thought feeling all their gazes toward her. She raise her head and met their eyes with confusion.

“Is there anything you want to ask me?” She suddenly asked.

“The empire seems peaceful these past few days, don’t you think so? Lady Cruel?” The prince asked.

‘I cant deny the hidden meaning behind that question.’ She thought and sigh.

“I told you before Your Majesty, I don’t want to cause trouble anymore. I’m trying my best to live as quietly as I can.” She answered.

“But that would be boring.” The prince responded as well.

‘This is so frustrating!’ She thought and sigh again.

“I’m glad to know that, Lady Cruel. I’ll support you the best as I can as well.” Eliza muttered and smile.

“With or without anyone’s support, I can still do that.”

“Ha! You’re quite full of yourself.” The prince muttered with an insulting tone.

“My sister is a strong person for that is in our blood as Cruels. Please respect her decision, Your Majesty.” Arthur said in a low, cold voice.

“I did not ask you, little duke.”

“I can speak whenever I can, Your Majesty.”

The atmosphere becomes heavier and Viviene didn’t want anything bad to happen in front of her so she speak again.

“I think I should leave, my presence seems the root of all this bad omen in front of us. Your Majesty, thank you for the tea.”

She stood up and smiled a little to them before walking away. She doesn’t want dramas in front of her and she wants to avoid them with the best of her abilities however someone block her. She raise her head and met Sir Valor’s frightful eyes. He’s too tall and big that his shadow covered her whole being.

“I did not command you to leave.” The prince muttered dreadfully.

“Y-Your Majesty?” Eliza called nervously as she watch the whole scene.

“No matter what you do, people’s impression towards you will never change. You’ll always be the crazy b***h they knew and labeled as the thorn among the roses. Why are you wasting your time over none sense?” He asked in a low tone as his face darken.

“Your Majesty this is rude—”

“Shut up little duke or do you want me to shut that mouth up?” He asked as his eyes filled with murderous aura no one can describe.

Arthur’s mouth pressed shut due to his dangerous aura. Its like he is under a gruesome curse made by the crown prince himself. Viviene can sense his ambiance and she feared that he’ll kill Arthur in her place.

‘This is why I should avoid all of them in the first place!’ She thought nervously. She sigh and went back to her seat without speaking a word.

“I was just kidding. The t-tea is delicious.” She joked and laugh nervously as she drink the tea in front of her.

“That’s a quick change.” The prince muttered mocking her.

“Of course Your Majesty, I’m a quick thinker.”

The prince’s smile widen as he drink his tea. The dark atmosphere lighten which means that she chose the right decision. She sigh in relief and was about to drink her tea when Eliza suddenly speak.

“You’re majesty, please, lets respect Lady Cruel’s decision. She wants to change might as well we should give her a chance.”

Viviene’s mouth gaping wide open at her sudden speech. She’s just making the atmosphere back to being hellish again!

‘Is she brain missing?’ She thought in disbelief.

“Are you saying I’m disrespectful Lady Walmeir?” The prince growl deadly.

“N-No, Its not what I meant Your Majesty.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m just saying that we should give Lady Cruel a chance to change herself.”

“I appreciate your words, Lady Walmier but you don’t need to do that. I can speak for my own.” She muttered as she stare at Eliza.

“I know but—”

“They can think whatever they like about me, hate whenever they want, say bad things about me however, these things cant stop me. Those things doesn’t matter at me.”

“But, aren’t you tired Lady Cruel?”

She smiled at her and the wind blow gently while swaying her ginger hair. Her eyes shine like gold under the sun as her cheeks blush a little.

“Those bad things were normal for me.”

Silence took over the place. Her eyes turned cold as she stare at their shock expression. She knew they felt pity to her but most of all, it’s the guilt that overpowered that sympathy. She knew it very well because she saw it with her own eyes. She didn’t dare to take those negative emotions in their chests rather, she wants them to take it with their own will. She doesn’t hold their emotions nor the way they think, therefore, its not her business to deal with. She drink her tea calmly as the quietness continue with a gloomy atmosphere between them.