บท 9: 9. Mask
A woman with long, flowing pink hair that reached her waist and emerald green eyes as green as the spring leaves was arranging flowers. She sat in front of a table, holding scissors.
When she heard a knock on her room door, she turned and called out, "Come in."
Her voice was soft, almost like singing a lullaby. One of her servants entered and said, "Miss, Prince Lucas is waiting for you in the parlor."
Upon hearing Lucas's name, she hurriedly stood up, removing her luxurious dress and extravagant jewelry, replacing them with a simple gown.
As she opened the door to the room, Lucas stood and welcomed her, "Ava..."
Ava bent her knee to greet him, but Lucas quickly approached and stopped her.
"You don't need to be formal with me when we're alone."
"But I can't do that, Crown Prince Lucas. I'm just–"
"Luke."
"Sorry?"
"Call me Luke when it's just the two of us, Ava."
Ava blushed, her face turning red, and she smiled shyly.
"Alright, Luke."
The first time he met Ava was when he rescued her from a group of bandits. In his eyes, Ava was a splash of color in his otherwise gray life.
Ava was a fragile and vulnerable woman who needed protection, and Lucas enjoyed feeling needed by someone else.
Throughout his life, he had only met noble women who were nothing more than powder, lipstick, and beautiful dresses without any personality.
Perhaps they were pleasing to the eye, and Lucas had even slept and played with some of them.
However, it was only superficial. There was no woman who could capture his heart.
But Ava was different. Her beauty was natural, and she didn't like everything extravagant. Lucas had bought her a luxurious dress, but she hadn't worn it yet and said,
"This dress is too much for me, Crown Prince. I think I'll wear it when I really need to, like for a formal occasion."
She also had a very kind personality. During their journey to an inn, they were pickpocketed by two little children. The knights accompanying Lucas intended to punish the children, but Ava stopped them and instead invited the children to eat and gave them some money.
After that incident, Lucas decided to bring Ava to live in his mansion because the outside world was unsafe, especially for a kind and beautiful girl like her.
To him, Ava was perfect. The more time he spent with her, the more peaceful his heart became. He could forget his father's nagging, the letters from his fiancée, and even the fact that he was a Crown Prince.
Being with Ava was enjoyable. He felt like a normal man falling in love with a normal girl, not a prince.
And what he loved most was her beautiful face. He had never seen such beauty among noblewomen.
Compared to his fiancée, Ava was like a beautiful sky, and Eleanor was the dirty earth.
Thinking of Eleanor made him furrow his brow. He couldn't wait to share this good news with Ava.
"Ava, I came here to tell you something."
"Yes?"
"The Emperor has canceled my engagement with my fiancée," Lucas replied with a wide smile.
"Oh no! Is it because of me, Luke? What should we do..."
"No, Ava. It has nothing to do with you. The Emperor finally realized that she wasn't the right woman for me."
"But still... I feel guilty, Luke. I think I should apologize to your fiancée."
"Ex-fiancée. And besides, why should you apologize to her? You didn't do anything wrong."
"But still, she might be angry if you bring a woman of unknown origin who lives in your mansion. If I may ask, what is your fiancée's name, Luke?"
"Never mind, don't think about that girl. Because I've ended my engagement, I will propose to you in the future."
"Propose...? But I'm just a Baron's daughter, my father has no influence, Luke."
"I am not a weak prince who needs support from my woman's family. That's why I could easily end my relationship with the Ashford Duchy."
"Ashford Duchy? Duke Alexander Ashford? Is his daughter your fiancée?"
"Do you know Duke Ashford?" Lucas asked suspiciously.
Sensing suspicion in Lucas' eyes, Ava quickly corrected her words.
"Oh, because I went to the capital to meet Duke Ashford, Luke. He's the one I told you about."
When Lucas asked about Ava's purpose for going to the capital alone and carrying only a few belongings, she said that she wanted to find her late mother's friend. When her mother was still alive, she often talked about her friend who had helped her a lot in life.
"One day, her friend sent a letter to my mother. Ah... Wait, let me get the letter."
Shortly after, Ava returned with a letter that had turned brown with age.
Lucas received it and began reading. The contents read, ("Isolde, my friend, it's been a long time since I heard from you. I heard shocking news. It is said that your parents have passed away. My condolences. I apologize for just hearing the news and not being able to visit them. Although they were like my own parents, I failed to show my gratitude to them. If you need anything or require assistance, don't hesitate to come to Ashford Duchy. The Duchy is always open to you and your family. Warm regards, Alexander Ashford.")
Lucas folded the letter again in his hand and asked, "Ava, what was the relationship between your mother's parents and Duke Ashford? From what I read, their relationship seemed very close."
"My mother said that her father was Duke Ashford's sword instructor since he was young, and her mother was Duke Ashford's nanny. Naturally, their relationship became as close as that between parent and child. Duke Ashford's father was busy with work, and his mother was a socialite who rarely came home," Ava answered, her eyes seemingly reminiscing about the past.
Ava's father was a nobleman no different from a commoner. He was a drunkard, a gambler, and liked to beat Ava and her mother. Until one day, he beat Ava's mother so severely that she was on the brink of death.
After her mother passed away, Ava found the letter mixed with her mother's belongings and immediately ran away, leaving her father who was planning to sell her.
She went to the capital hoping to ask Duke Ashford for a job, but on her way, she met Crown Prince Lucas.
"Oh, he was close to your mother?"
Then Lucas suddenly had an idea.
If Duke Ashford truly cares about Ava's grandparents, it seems like he can use that to establish new diplomatic relations with the Ashford Duchy aside from marriage.
"What are your plans after arriving at the Ashford Duchy?"
Ava answered shyly, her cheeks glowing, "I plan to ask Duke Ashford for a job," She replied proudly.
'Oh my... look at my woman, isn't she sweet and innocent.'
As Lucas gazed at Ava's radiant face, he felt his throat dry. He swallowed his nonexistent saliva and felt the urge to kiss and embrace her right then and there.
"Ava, you know that you're mine, right?"
"Yo-yours..."
"Yes, a few days ago, I told you that I fell in love with you, didn't I? And you rejected me when you found out I had a fiancée? So, what's your answer now? Do you still want to reject me?" Lucas asked confidently.
He was sure Ava wouldn't reject him, considering she didn't have anyone in the capital.
"Actually... I like you too, Luke. But I'm aware of myself, especially after I found out your identity as a crown prince. It's impossible for a girl like me to stand beside you."
Ava's face grew even redder.
"How many times do I have to say it? I'm not a weak prince. So, now you are my lover."
"I guess... yes."
"And a Crown Prince's lover shouldn't work under another noble."
"But, Luke–"
"I have a better plan for you than working there."
"...?"
"Aren't you an herbalist? I've seen you reading books about herbal plants."
"Yes! In my village, I'm a physician. I often treat people who can't afford to call a doctor," she replied innocently.
Lucas held back the urge to bite her lip.
"In that case, you can ask Duke Ashford to sponsor you to learn more about herbal plants, and once you meet the requirements, you'll become the physician of the Ashford Duchy."
"Can I ask for that?" Ava asked with sparkling eyes.
"Of course, my love."
"Alright, Luke! Thank you for suggesting it to me."
Ava jumped into Lucas' embrace. Lucas smiled satisfactorily and hugged Ava tightly in return.
But one thing Lucas didn't know was that Ava's previously radiant eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp.
ของขวัญ
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