Chapter 74: follow you

I wanted to laugh at his surprised face, but my eyes were threatening to well up. Did he need to be so surprised! Had he completely forgotten me? It had been two lifetimes yet I could remember everything as if it was just yesterday.

We had participated together in debates, making projects, we even shared lunch twice in the meeting. I thought we were friends but it looked like everything was my wishful thinking.

"I have seen you there a few times." he finally said, remembering and I laughed.

"A few times, your highness," I asked, mocking, whether him or me, did not know anymore.

He nodded, completely ignorant of how his words were stabbing me, the pain was more than the sword, he used to attack me in the morning.

"Yes, I remember I had shared notes with you for a debate over a meal." I closed my eyes and nodded. At least he remembered something.

"Why did you study administration and politics when your family is in the business line?" he asked, sounding somewhat curious.

Could I say, because I wanted to follow you, I would have if he had asked before, but now it's too late.

"I did that because I wanted to learn something new. My father was already training me in business, so it would have been a waste if I had learnt the same thing in the academy." it wasn't a complete lie, my father did train me for business efficiently.

"Then why do you learn sword-wielding?" he asked again.

And my brows furrowed, I thought he was asking generally, but why are there so many questions! Was he taking interest in me! I laughed at that absurd thought. It had been two lifetimes he had never taken interest in me, then why! 

I ran my mind around and a thought suddenly came to my mind, was he investigating me? But that also sounds absurd, he could have done so without even my knowledge, after all, he was the head of the administration of the empire, all the information passed through his office.

Since I did not know his motive better to stay quiet, in case I fell into his trap.

"Why do I feel like you learnt everything that I did," he stated with a cold voice and I stared back at him.

"You even know my tricks. You must have studied me well" he added, his voice was getting low, and my grip on the fork tightened.

I blinked my eyes in utter annoyance, but in the next second when I opened my eyes there was an enchanting smile on my face.

"There is a limit to be delusional, your highness," I said laughing and the smirk forming on his face froze.

"You know, this soup, your highness. I had asked the chef to add 1/4 cup dry white wine in its chicken broth, to make my muscles relaxed, but of course, after taking out Killian's share.

Now don't tell me you even know cooking that's why I learnt that too." my smile was sweet but he still understood the mock.

He stayed silent for a minute and I thought the war ended, but now he was there to challenge me all the way.

"Isn't it common for a woman to do that, learn cooking," he added when I looked back at him.

"For commoners, not a higher noble like me," I replied but he just shook his head.

"Ah, by the way, Ian had sent me the summon of the case, it's on Wednesday right, I was reading it and I realised it had three sections imposed on me, I could understand sec 345 that stated I tried to hurt the women physically and section 348 that stated I tried to take her life, I get that but why was section 675 mentioned there.

As far as I remember it applied on people who tarnish the image of another person," I paused gauging his response and it was a sight to behold, the glass of wine was in mid-air and the wine he had drunk was still in his mouth, he even forgot to gulp it down.

"I wonder if it should be me who uses it against others and not the other way around." my voice was getting sweeter with every word.

"Mother, I thought, the matter was solved," asked Killian, looking at me with a worried face.

I took a deep breath, "it would be solved, my dear. Your mother knows the law well." I had not wasted so much time at the House of Baringstone without learning anything.

"Are you sure, mother? If you want I can talk to aunt Isabella, she is a kind lady, she would definitely listen to me." 

I laughed hearing his reply but then I stopped and stared at the man who had joined me. I raised a brow, why was he laughing in a mocking way! Shouldn't he defend his lover?

He shook his head, and replied, "you are too innocent son, why do you want to protect someone who had done the crime." he stated coldly and my expressions hardened.

So he was laughing over Killian and me, and here I thought that he was laughing because Killian had called Isabella kind. I shook my head and smiled.

"But father, mother was angry because aunt Isabella ordered a raspberry pie for the dinner, and she was afraid that I would be hurt." he defended and my chest swelled with proud, at least there is one who understood that lesson needed to be taught otherwise people would take you as a pushover.

His face stayed neutral, but I could see his eyes cracked again, was he surprised? I thought he knew the whole matter!

"Is there something else I should know about, Killian, Marianne?" he asked both of us in an authoritative voice.

I bit my lip, trying my best to stop but my disappointment took better of me. "The perfume that was used on roses." I started and his eyes fixed on me. "It was the same perfume, you gifted me to use for our first night." here, I said that this thing was crawling and scratching my heart for a while.

"Noted, anything else?" he asked again and I frowned.

"That's it?" I asked, unable to stop myself.