Lara

CHAPTER 5: THE KIND OF WOMAN SHE DESPISES (3)

LARA’S POV

I let out a deep sigh as I controlled myself not to roll my eyes. Of course, this woman has everything up in her sleeve to take the attention all to herself when the spotlight moves away from her. I should have expected this to happen.

Being the high lady of the Sandoval family, I was asked by the queen herself to accompany Crown Prince Rydall for this event. Normally, I would have declined, but I knew this was better than nothing. I know that I will show these women, especially Dandelion, where I stand with the royal family. I want to piss them all off and I know I succeeded until this woman faints and now everyone is all about her.

Crown Prince Rydall needed the publicity of helping his candidates, so, obviously, he was the one to take that woman out of here. Not that I don’t mind. I just hate how the tables have turned once again.

“You really scare me sometimes, Lady Lara.”

I turned to whoever spoke my name and saw Prince Yael. I had to grin because I was very pleased to piss another one for the night. “If it isn’t the crown prince’s cousin.” I gave him a curtsey and smiled. I know how much this man hates being labeled the way I just addressed him and it clearly shows on his displeased face. “How are you this evening, Prince Yael.”

I thought he would walk out like he would always do whenever I address him this way, but, this time, he gives me a smile after looking like I just offended him for the nth time. “I always wonder why you hate everyone, Lady Lara.” He suddenly offers his hand. “The night is still young like what my cousin said, why don’t you dance with me?”

He gives emphasis to the word “cousin” and that made me genuinely chuckle. Now he looks pleased rather than pissed off, and I knew I lost to him. Rolling my eyes, I accepted his hand and he led me to the dance floor.

Like what he said, it has been announced that everyone should continue the party even if it does not have a point now that Prince Rydall himself is gone. The candidates may be disappointed but there really is nothing that they can do, but continue the party as to what the crown prince said.

Guiding my hand to hold on to his shoulder, Prince Yael pulled me closer to have his hand on my back, and held my free hand with his. The music was soft and slow and if I was not the one on this dancefloor, I will surely think that this dance is more intimate than it is.

“Imagine being Lady Lara. You have the crown prince and the Prince Yael all over you. She looks amazing with any of them!”

“I’m honestly torn whether I want to be Lady Lara or I want to be with her because, seriously, who else wouldn’t want to be her even just for a dance?”

“I’ve never really seen her in person like this. She’s really stunning! No wonder she was asked to escort the crown prince.”

I did not pay attention to what everyone was saying, but that is not exactly the point with Prince Yael. He was grinning, exactly knowing and finally catching the real reason why I accepted his hand for this dance. The dance floor was empty and for the both of us who were the first couple to come to the floor, of course, all attention will focus on us just like what is happening now.

When other couples have joined the dancefloor, it is only when Prince Yael broke the silence between us. He spins me around and when I face him again, he makes sure to have me closer to him. “You sure love the attention, don’t you, Lady Lara?”

“Of course,” I confidently admitted with a grin on my lips. “You’re too good at giving me the attention that I want.”

Crown Prince Rydall and Dandelion may not be here right now, but, at least, I am assured that the remaining candidates are pressed on how I can easily have the royal men by side without effort. It is a big reminder to them that I can easily drown them with their jealousy over something they will never have.

When the music finally ends and before I can even move away from him, he leans and says, “you will have to pay for all your evil thoughts and deeds, Lady Lara, and you are aware of it, aren’t you?”

I gave him a smile and did not move away, making sure that I look at his lips then back to his eyes again. “I know, Prince Yael, and it’s none of your business.”

I finally move away from him and give him one last curtsey before walking out of the dance floor.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

“I’m really sorry to call you like this, Lara, but you’re the emergency person Dandelion has.”

I can only plaster a smile and say that this is not a big deal even if it is for me. Damn everything. I did not sign anything to be anyone’s freaking emergency person. Even in my own household, I cannot be called out like this unless it’s a life and death matter. But to be an emergency person? I want to slap someone and slapping Dandelion will be the best one I will ever have.

She should be thankful we are here in the hospital.

When I entered the room, I’m too pissed to pity Dandelion looking like she was dying—she is paler than pale.

“I will leave you two first,” Prince Rydall excused himself and closed the door behind him.

I, on the other hand, sat on the sofa and sighed frustratedly. I do not want to be here any longer and here I am, having no choice but to be here.

After almost an eternity of struggling to sit up, she finally did and looked at me like she was about to cry. I do not f*****g get where this is going nor what this woman wants to happen. I am already ready to drop the issue that she made me her emergency person, but looking like it is my fault that she is here is another damn issue.

“What do you want, Dandelion? I don’t have much time for this kind of bullshit.”

Of course, here they are, her tears. “W-Why d-didn’t you tell me, Lady Lara?”

I almost laughed at how pathetic she looks. “Tell you what?”

She proceeded to tell me how I did not tell her about me “liking” the crown prince. I could not even understand her at first, but it was her point—that I like Crown Prince Rydall despite knowing how much she likes him. I do not know where in the hell did she get that idea from, but what the actual freak? She is crying like this because of something she is not even sure of and it is supposed to piss me off even more…  but an idea suddenly popped into my head.

Oh, Dandelion, you should not be giving me anymore reasons and way to torture your pathetic ass even more.

I let out a very happy laugh and smiled widely after. “Darling, perhaps that you’re forgetting that I don’t owe you anything to tell you what’s happening in my life. Why would I care if you like the crown prince? Does that give the privilege to own him to yourself? Are you actually sick to think that you have a say with my life? Are you out of your mind?”

“W-Why are you doing this, L-Lady Lara?”

Right here, right now, I want to scream at her face how much I loathe her—how I despise her. But, instead, I just laughed again.

“I’ll see you more often, crown princess candidate.”