Chapter Three: Youth's Sweetness
1535 Words
“Arusei!” A harsh voice called my name, “Arusei, I am calling you! stop this instant!!”
The rushed steps grew more audible, and before I could descend the external palace steps that led to the front gardens and unsurprisingly to the Alpensa carriage, a firm hand pulled my frame.
“Arusei, that is not what we discussed!”
“Yes, father, I understand your concerns; however, how do you expect me, of less than commoner blood, to become the crown princess??”
“That is not the point!!” he seethed, squeezing my arm tighter, “That is not the point, Arusei!”
“The Emperor is not a man you can deny!”
“I did no such thing! I merely asked what a person of my calibre would.”
“Of your cali-…are you insulting me?” he frowned, “Have I not taken you into our household, have I not given you a name.”
“And while I am eternally grateful, it changes nothing, father.” I frowned, then placed my hand on his, causing his grip on me to lessen, “My blood cannot…it cannot be…here.”
“I see your love for me; I see their interest in me; however, I am bound by much more than my abilities. And if I were to truly confess, the solution to the war was in the library; I did not come up with it on my own.”
“It takes intelligence to piece one and two together, Arusei!!” his voice dropped to a whisper, “Arusei, my sweet Arusei.”
His words contradicted the force he held me in.
“This is an opportunity to inspire those who feel like you, think about it this way.” He began, “You are a pioneer? I mean, who would not follow a brave Empress, one who overturned the functionings of society?”
“Arusei, your blood matters not; lead with your heart.”
‘Crafty.’
“But father, that is not what I wish for; I have no desire to be a ‘pioneer’ a ‘role model’ or to rule an Empire? I have no interest in carrying burdens that I-,”
“Child!”
I flinched at the curtness of his tone.
“There…” he sighed, dropping his grip on my upper hand to rake his light brown and curly hair. “There are some things that, as a child, you cannot understand.”
“Look, for now, we shall seek the Emperor out before the day ends tomorrow; the acceptance might get delayed, so we will still keep the schedule of having you in school come early the day after tomorrow. Please, while there, apologise to the Prince.”
‘Even though I did no wrong?’
How dare he say blood matters not when he would have me apologise for…for nothing?
‘Whatever.’
If I remember correctly, the imperial family spend their weekends outside school walls due to their duties, so there is a high chance that we will meet at the school entrance if I delay my departure time as I usually do.
In my previous life, our meeting at the gate and his walking me in was what gave our engagement away. I mean, it didn’t last long, not the rumours, his attentions on me. Approximately six days later, Regina made her appearance.
Fully, f*****g, healed.
The crown prince wanted to make a good impression on me, so he stood by my side even when Regina glued herself to me with the flimsy defence of having no friends at school.
Is it not obvious that a pure-blooded noble would have an easier time than well, I.
I wasn’t jealous, okay, I was, because I thought, foolishly might I add, that Étienne liked me. I mean, his acting was phenomenal.
So much so that I nearly confessed I was a being from another world.
I know the story; I've played the cliché game.
So when the game events went as planned, I focused on my survival rather than my early heartbreak because, after all, I had to be nice to survive. Be nice to the heroine, be nice to her harem, be nice, be nice, be nice be…
I licked my lips then turned harshly away from the Marquis.
“Arusei!!”
“Father, it is cold, and I do not have a jacket. I have to plan for school as well, shopping and such.”
“You are smarter than this.”
‘That, I am.’
“I comprehend that, father. Hence, I shall take your advice.”
He sighed out of relief, then smiled.
“Good. Good.” He nodded.
“We should go home now,” I said.
“You know I adore you, do you not, child.”
The wind blew harshly the moment he completed his question, and I was left staring at the blue-green of his eyes. An oceanic shade that much resembled Regina’s.
“Of course, that, I know all too well.” I smiled.
The Marquis flinched at my words but said nothing else on the matter; instead, he turned his attention to departure arrangements.
“I have a few matters to attend to with the council here. If you are in a hurry to leave, send the coachman back after you arrive.”
“I understand.”
*
*
*
The coachman opened the doors for me.
He was the same, only younger. By the same, I mean the very same one that had set fire to the flower shop gifted to me by the Marquis.
Well, to be fair, they were orders from the Marquis because his name could not be tainted with an association to that of a treasonous traitor’s.
‘Cute.’
“Is the prince not handsome?”
A boyish voice asked when I was one step into the carriage.
I did not need to turn to know whose voice it was, but I need not pretend to know him, need I? We hardly ever spoke at the academy, though I suppose that would change soon.
“Not particularly.”
“I find your sentiments heartbreaking. I have only ever received compliments about my appearance.” The voice responded, and on cue, I turned to face him before gasping in mock surprise.
“Your imperial highness?” I began, then bowed, “I greet the crown prince of-,”
“None of that; today is a day that honours you.” He smiled then gave me his hand, “I wish to give you a tour of the imperial gardens, will you permit me?”
I lifted my gaze to meet his light sapphire blue eyes that matched strikingly beautifully to the sheen of his silver hair.
He was handsome, truly.
“Unfortunately, your highness, I find myself short of time.”
“Oh? Are you perhaps attending another event?”
“No such thing, your majesty.”
“Then?”
“Pardon me, your imperial highness, then what?”
“That is what I ask. What is it that is stopping you from accompanying me for a walk.”
‘Have…have I never said ‘no’ to you before?’
“Your Imperial Highness-,”
“Étienne.”
He insisted.
“I dare not utter the crown prince’s name so shamelessly-,”
“I am giving you permission to address me by my name.”
I turned my gaze from his to the grey brick tiles, then back to the glow in his gaze.
“Your imperial highness, pardon my rudeness, but I must away.”
“Will you really grant me no favours? Even one as simple and intangible as the utterance of my name?”
“Nonesuch thing, this humble civil servant is always at your command.” I smiled.
“Do you mean that, or is that something you are supposed to say?”
Perhaps my smile clued him in on my next move because he slid his hands tenderly in mine, as though one step from dragging me to the walk or was it tour, regardless of my active rejection.
Shit, I forgot that his highness did not handle defiance well.
He did, however, have a soft spot for the wretched.
“Neither, your highness.” I saddened my gaze, “Rather, they are words I have grown accustomed to saying.”
I tugged my hand from his grip, which, as expected, did not hold, then smiled and curtsied.
“I bid the crown prince farewell; may blessings and honour follow your path.”
I slid into the carriage before he said more, but the coachman was not as quick as I was; rather, he was not as willing to dismiss the Prince.
“I shall escort you home since you are so clearly short of time.”
‘Son of a b*tch!!’
“An unmarried man and woman are not permitted to be alone.”
“Surely you foresee our status changing?” he smiled as he slid into the cramped space, “Plus, we will not be alone.”
His Knight, Gaston, entered the small space and plopped himself next to the crown prince.
- Writer
