Chương 15: Out Of Her Mind
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(3rd Person POV)
While Roxana was standing outside the door, she calmed herself properly and composed her mindset.
Several speculations were roaming in her mind. She didn't know what would happen but instead of just mulling over that, she decided to proceed forward.
It's not like she could do anything about them by contemplating forever.
Her sweet and slightly seductive voice spoke out after knocking at the gate, "May I enter, Your Highness?"
She had trained in voice modulation in her childhood, while she was learning seduction. She could manipulate her voice tone and notes to the tiniest details.
A heavy voice called out, belonging to the crown prince's butler, "Please enter the premises."
When she was opening the door, she had imagined a scenario where the crown prince would be lying in her wait, with blood all over him and with that same nauseating smile that haunted her dreams.
It turned her stomach inside out.
But the sight that greeted her was bizarre, to say the least.
The most esteemed crown prince of this empire had his hands in the air, stretching lazily not showing any usual regality in his actions.
According to the information given to her, opposite to him was the crown prince's newly recruited assistant Panem. However, she didn't expect how such an innocent person could be in the employment of a devil.
Beside them was Edmund standing with a slight smile on his face, which looked odd on his hardened visage.
Aston said in a taunting tone, "Looks like Panem you need to improve your skills..."
Panem said with a stuttering voice, "But Your Highness, how can I defeat you at all? You are the future sun of our empire."
"Panem, you don't have to care much about that. The difference between our ages is two years only. In such informal matters, you don't need to keep up the formalities."
Aston's patient and amiable voice was vastly contrasting to that chilling voice on that night.
When she entered, all eyes looked at her.
Edmund's expression changed into one of seriousness and slight hostility could be seen in his eyes.
Panem had a look of surprise when he saw the famed rose of the Agriches.
The thing that agitated Roxana the most was seeing the crown prince having a welcoming and congenial expression.
If a person had this much control over his personality, then he was truly the most terrifying.
Fear, not the thousand foolish strong men, Fear that one crafty weak man - Sun Tzu, Art of War.
Due to her composed nature, she didn't show any wavering expression. Her tender, rosy lips curled into a smile.
She bowed in front of the crown prince showing her respect.
"Greetings to his highness, the future sun of the empire," said Roxana.
Aston nodded towards her and signalled his butler to bring a chair for her.
She settled the tray down on a table which had his Highness's breakfast.
She asked Aston with a smile though her voice had a tint of nervousness in it, "Do you need anything else, Your Highness?"
"No, Miss Roxana. Thank you for your services. It's a great pleasure to have you as our guide in the esteemed Agriche house."
His affable tone and that warm expression were disconcerting, to say the least.
While she was doing that, Edmund had taken the pack of cards and was shuffling it masterfully.
Aston stroked his chin for a couple of seconds before he called out to Roxana who was leaving the room, "Miss Roxana, would you like to indulge in a game of cards?"
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(Roxana's POV)
I don't know how this happened.
I have no idea.
I can't believe that the person near me is the same person who had killed over a dozen people mercilessly a few days ago
He seems no different from a human being.
Maybe the crown prince isn't like that?
But I can't be deceived by him!
It is definitely a farce. Maybe he is not showing his true nature due to his naive assistant nearby.
Then why am I playing cards with these people?!
We are playing the card game 'Catch The Ten'.
I have been explained all the rules by the crown prince's butler, Edmund.
Speaking about Edmund, it seems like he is hostile towards me.
I am sure that the crown prince must have known that my despicable father was trying to give me to him.
The four people have been divided into two teams.
Unfortunately, I am paired with the crown prince. That's the thing to worry about.
The cards are distributed by Edmund and Panem has been asked by the crown prince to speak the Trump.
Trump refers to either one of the four groups of cards - Heart, Club, Spade and Diamond.
The person who speaks the Trump has to say the Trump when his first batch of five cards landed.
The Trump is Heart...
The crown prince in front of me was managing his pile as he said in a bright tone, "Miss Roxana. I would be depending on you for this game. "
His expression turned taciturn, possibly due to his bad turnout of cards.
"Edmund... How did you shuffle these cards? How can the turnout be so bad?"
It's true. He had a bad turnout.
Then the game proceeded...
I had a turnout of three hearts, four spades, four clubs and two diamonds which was good.
However, my main motive was to analyse the crown prince in front of me and look for his weaknesses.
I don't think he will try to make his move today so I need to look for chinks in his personality so I can use them to my advantage.
.
.
.
Nothing...
Everything that I have seen in him doesn't correlate with his personality that night.
He shows his emotions like a normal person.
Happiness when he won a round...
Disappointment when I didn't have the card that he wanted...
Irritation when Panem won a round...
Was I having hallucinations that night?
Was I wrong to try to kill him?
Why did I try to look for his weaknesses?
*Click*
A sound in front of her stopped her train of thought.
Panem asked in a concerned voice, "Are you fine Miss Roxana?"
I collected myself and said, "Y-Yes, I just had a slight headache."
Albeit, a bit nervously.
Aston said while his gaze was on me, "Then Miss Roxana should go and rest."
"Yes, I believe I should."
Then I went outside the room, though for the first time today, Aston's gaze felt suffocating.
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(End of the Chapter)
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