章 38: Hand over my love Ch. 38

Overwhelmed would be an underwhelming word I could convey. It was not senseless thoughts nor rash action's done by this delicate person handling me. Though, I've deceived myself into thinking that all that I've have suffered in this foreign world was alone… deep down, all along I knew, she's been right here infront of me.

"… Enlighten me, what are your intention here?" I asked Irene. Her heartfelt declaration of the possession of someone as unworthy such as myself shouldn't be something to brag about. It is mind-boggling to me.

" Do you not like it that I want you to belong to me?" Irene said as she crouched down in this moldy corner of a wine cellar. In a castle full of riches, a heaven sent goddess is here caressing my cheeks and her lips, smothered by peaches from that devastating, gut-wrenching love she's given me.

"…That doesn't make any sense. Why do you even want me?" I asked.

" Why not?—" Irene replied.

I grunted and continued- " Because—!" I paused as her pair of violets looked through my soul.

Because I'm a villainess and a villainess shouldn't be with the heroine. We can't. That's what I wanted to say, but could only respond back with silence.

"..Are you afraid?" Irene asked.

Absolutely. I'm terrified. Terrified of what might happen if we're together. Will we be alright? Can we pave a way full of happiness for the both of us?

I curled up, putting all my weight onto her body.

" … I'm a scorned bird with a tendency to run into trouble. Even then, do you think you want me?" I muttered, burrowing my face into her chest. I wanted to hear it, her affirmation, her reassurance, her pride.

Irene smiled then gently kissed my head- " Someone who's as carefree and unbound such as you? I can't fathom how thrilled my days would be to have you all to myself in these governed world."

Is that how she think of me? I can't say that I agree much with it, but at this point, I'll be just whatever she wanted me to be.

"… How about it, miss? Tonight, let us go to the night fair we've talked about a while ago. Just you and me, we can ride on a gondola carried by a Muckie, cruising around town, enjoy street sweets and watch the firework's show at the riverfront? Then, I'll tell you all that you wanted to know about how I feel." Irene said as she pulled me back to look me in the eyes.

Tomorrow would be the start of the colosseum's tournament, wouldn't it?.. or rather the start of a catastrophe... I felt that the story has progressed way too quickly, and someone at my caliber won't be of any help. Plus, all the time the heroine should be spending with the male leads haven't occurred that much either. Will the storyline change? Or will there be consequences?

"Well.. what do you say, miss?" Irene asked again. Her eagered eyes were anticipating for the green light, like when your pet, kept begged you to take them out for walk. I swear there's a tail wagging behind her back right now.

I let out a sighed and replied- ".. Yeah, why not. Be my guide, will ya?"

But then, Irene shaked her head in contradictory and placed her finger, vertically against her lips like a hush, wiggled side to side as if I've gotten something wrong. In that moment, she formed a mischievous smile and said to me- " Not a guide, Miss. We're date partners, right?"

Wha.. this cheeky brat.

I thrashed up, and strolled past her to the door, feeling as if my head would explode of embarrassment of that moment. She's way too cute..- I thought to myself.

I creaked the door open, and turned over my shoulder to tell her one last thing.

" Wait for me at the plaza. I'll be there before the moon rises." I said and quickly ran off, trying to let myself cool down.

Never once did I glance back, in fear that she might witness that my face is deforming into a tomato, perhaps she would even be satisfied about it, wouldn't she?

While I was sprinting back through the hall, I stumbled upon Cercis who had a wearied loook on his face. Oof I can't avoid not talking to this one.

"My lady." Cercis called out to me.

"Your highness." I said back.

We looked at each other awkwardly, not one another can make proper eyes' contact. Both of us knew we did each other dirty and are stubborn rouges who don't like admitting guilty. But at last, Cercis spoke up first because he might have gotten an earful from his parents, didn't he?

"Mmph! You're heading back to the Academy, Kannavis?" Cercis asked.

" Yes, I am, your grace." I responded.

Out of nowhere, he took a step closer, his fists clunges besides his waist, trying to come up with something.

" May I accompany you out, my lady?" Cercis asked. His face looked like he's being forced to do this or something.

"Umm of course, your highness. Please do so." I said politely. There's something he wants to say, isn't it?

The sun was slowly seeping back into the horizon, and the maids started to move through out the castle, lighting the lanterns throughout the hallways. Some passed by and looked at us all flustered as the ex-'couple' were walking along side each other right out in public.

You guys are misunderstanding, can't you see the distasteful look on his face?! Anymore of this, I think I might die out of anxiety right now!!

" Is everything alright, my lady?" Cercis asked.

" Hehe.. Of course, your highness. I'm as contended as ever, right now." I said cheerily, trying to cover up all my sweats from earlier.

" I see.." Cercis said.

Then came silent again through this walk along out. I'm a bit uncomfortable but I think this might be for the best.

" I apologized, my lady." Cercis suddenly spoke up.

" Huh?" I said. What is this all of a sudden.

We were at the lion's fountain, across from the main gate. A carriage from the house of Corvus was waiting for me there on the other side of the bridge.

" I apologized for what I did at the dinner table this afternoon. I should have considered it further before making that proposal in front of everyone, especially you and his lordship." Cercis said looking at me, but his gazed wasn't quite there on me.

"… Is that so, your highness? You have not to worry about such thing. I made my choices and you made yours. We both made a promise and I was the first to abuse it. If anything, it was just karma, so I dare not to be holding a grudge for it." I said.

" Really? Then my lady, didn't it bother you? When I confessed to Irene?" Cercis asked, his tone has risen up for a minute there. What does this have to do with her?

" Why should I? Irene is a nice girl. She's great, I will admit that, but I'm not jealous or anything. Your highness, confessing to anyone is not my business." I replied.

Cercis squinted into a frown like he's trying to instigate something out of me.

" That's not what I meant. It is I. Didn't you feel defensive when I asked her?" Cercis asked.

I tilted my head in confusion. What's he trying to say?

" Are you saying that I—" I tried to speak, but my words sank down to the pit of my stomach as he interrupted.

" I saw you at the front gate of the Academy. With Irene." Cercis said.

Me and Irene? That must be after the selection at the Academy… I thought no one was there, Out of all people, he caught us?

Cercis's face changed immediately after I went frozen on him.

" So it's true, isn't it? Your partner… you're in love with Irene, Isn't it?!" Cercis shouted at me.

" N-no! That's not true!" I tried to deny.

" TELL ME THEN?! WHAT ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER?!!" He yelled out in frustration.

What should I do? I knew it, that's the reason why Irene was invited out here today. He must have his suspicions for awhile now, mustn't he?

I turned away from his gazed, trying my best to deceit Cercis however much I can.

" You've got it all wrong, your highness. Me and that commoner… there's nothing going on between us. Truthfully, she's nothing but an eyesore…" I said, then noticed a shadow loomed over in front me.

His big hand, placing under my chin with his finger's sweeping across my lips and after, lifting my face up to look at his distraught face staring back at me.

"You're a terrible liar, my lady. At least, make sure to remove the evidence before you're up for trial, you know?" Cercis said, his finger that touched my lips earlier was stained with a light red, the color of Irene's lipstick, wasn't it? Sh*ts…

"Ohh won't you look at that, father? They're reconciling, aren't they?" Ficaria said as she watches from the window, high up on the castle.

" Is that so, darling?…huuu I hope that is true." Carya said in relieved, leaning back on to his work chair.

Cercis turned his back away from me and making his way back inside.

"… Irene looked happy. I don't know what's going on, but I will definitely not back down from this. If you're going to mess around, and break her heart, I will have her back, to me." Cercis said.

"WH-wha.." I stuttered in utter shock.

"Farewell, my lady." Then, off he goes…

what? Did I become his love's rival or something?