Chapter 22：An Exception

"What happened, did you get pricked?" Cedric worriedly asked. Brione nodded and bit her lower lip as she looked at the plant. Her eyes widened, realizing what kind of plant pricked her. She must have unknowingly touched it since it was in between the beautiful plants she wanted to touch.

"That plant is poisonous! Why are you careless?!" Cedric scolded as he quickly pulled her and started walking back to the tree where they left Blaze.

'It's your fault!' she wanted to retort as she got distracted because he was so straightforward that she was often left speechless due to his unexpected lines!

Cedric's face was still dark while he lifted Brione up and placed her on his horse before he immediately went up to sit behind her. Brione pursed her lips as she grunted, "Are you mad? It's not like I intentionally pricked myself! Why is your face so dark?"

Cedric exhaled loudly before he reigned Blaze to move.

"You should have been more careful. Didn't you see that it had thorns? You shouldn't touch it. And from next time make sure to ask me if it's safe before you touch anything," he declared near her ear.

"I didn't notice touching it okay?! I was too distracted by your frankness. Anyway, it's not like I will die because of it since you already sucked out the poison. I know that plant is not deadly." Brione justified. Then with a pout, she murmured, "Nagger."

She was familiar with that plant. It was called 'kiss me not' or commonly known as 'crown of thorns'. (E/N: It actually exists! You can Google it)

"That plant is so much like you. Crown of thorns! You are also full of thorns and must be avoided," Brione scoffed in annoyance, making Cedric chuckle.

"If that plant is like me, then I can now understand why you let yourself get pricked," he replied and before she could fire more words against him, he reigned Blaze to move faster.

Instead of talking, she ended up hugging Cedric's arms on her waist tightly. Blaze only slowed down when they were almost near the stone gate they entered. Cedric pressed a stone on the wall and the gate opened for them.

"There's a lot more to see here. There are many waterfalls and caves here that you will be amazed to see. So if you still want to tour the forest tell me and I will bring you right away," Cedric said as they went out of the gate. Well, even if Brione would not ask him, he was planning to bring her again since there was a lot more for her to see.

"For now, let's have lunch together with your crew and staff," Cedric added before he howled and signaled his two wolves not to go out with him from the forest. All this while, Brione did not notice that Shadow and Moon were still following them.

Realizing what Cedric had said before he shooed his wolves, Brione suddenly shouted, "Wait. You mean you will eat with my crew and staff? Do you want them to die of shock?!! Don't you know that Gavin is very famous in our country? I'm sure they will all think Gavin woke up from the dead if they see you!"

"Don't worry about it, sweetheart. Manager Ruth has handled everything so they are already aware of me. Also, they have signed a non-disclosure agreement to protect my identity and not to compare me with Gavin. They're not even allowed to mention Gavin's name in front of me.

I think you should also sign that non-disclosure agreement along with them. Ohhh wait, I forgot that I have a special agreement prepared for you," Cedric commented. Ruth had messaged him about how everyone agreed and signed the documents while they were in the forest.

Brione ended up pouting her lips in response. For sure she had a lot of explaining to do to Mitch and Berry. When Blaze stopped, Cedric jumped down first and Brione was about to follow him and jump, but she halted seeing Cedric opening his arms to help her.

"Come," Cedric said with a smile.

'Oh my God,' she thought as a sense of deja vu hit her when the same scene of Gavin opening his arms to help her while teaching her horse-riding flashed before her eyes. Gavin pampered her too much, reasoning that he could not afford to get scolded by Mitch if she ended up getting hurt under his watch. So Gavin would make sure she was held cautiously even while getting down the horse.

As she was reminded of him, she accepted Cedric's gesture and let him hold her on her waist as he slowly brought her down to the level of his face. Their faces were very close and her gaze was met with his intense eyes. He gulped when his eyes seductively went down to her parted lips.

"You can't kiss me so don't even think about it!" she scoffed and quickly freed herself from him. She was flustered so she turned around and walked back to the car that was waiting for them without looking back at him.

Cedric had a roguish grin as he stared at Brione's back.

"I will definitely kiss you soon sweetheart," he whispered with a naughty smile. Brione was making his dull life so colorful that he did not want to part with her at all. But he knew that he could not force things according to his own will.

He ran towards Brione and signaled the driver who was about to open the door for Brione to stop. He passed by Brione and opened the car door for her instead.

"After you sweetheart…" he said with a smile and bowed like a chauffeur.

Brione's eyes widened as she scolded, "Don't you dare call me like that in front of my staff or else I will kill you even if you are a Prince!"

Cedric's face became serious as he whispered, "No one dares to curse me like this. But since you are my woman and I like you a lot, I will make an exception for you."

Brione, who was rendered speechless once again, immediately went inside the car to hide her flushed face.