Chapter 146 - Big Brother, the Second Wife is Here! (Part 1)

"Yes! Stop your horse, I heard my sister's voice." 

Ruvin stopped his horse without arguing with Zekiah. A carriage stopped in front of them, and Ruvin recognized the emblem – it's the Crown Prince!

Vaughn helped Zenia get down from the carriage. Ruvin looked at Zekiah and was thinking whether he would be punished for saying some mean things before. He hoped and prayed that he would be able to get away unscathed.

"Zeze, it's a good thing that you are already here."

Zekiah ran to Zenia and checked her from head to foot. He even made her turn around. When he was sure that there were no traces of injuries or wounds, he let out a sigh of relief. He hugged her tightly.

Ruvin gawked at the pair of siblings who did not seem to care where they were. Vaughn coughed lightly, and Zekiah let go of Zenia. 

"It's good that you are fine. Next time, don't make me worry too much. Make sure to send a short message that you are fine. Don't do anything like you did when you went away for so long." Zekiah scolded Zenia like he was the older brother.

"It's too dangerous to send one at that time. Besides, Big Brother took care of it, didn't he?"

"When did you arrive here from the tunnel?"

"It's been two days. That tunnel is like a portal."

"Hmm, I'd like to try it too."

Vaughn coughed louder that seemed to say,  'Hey, I'm still here. Don't forget about me.'

Ruvin looked at Vaughn and couldn't believe that the Crown Prince whom he served and had been friends with for so many years did not care about him. All he cared about was the pair of siblings.

"Oh," Zenia walked to Vaughn and wrapped her arm around his arm. "We just came from the Royal Apothecary; I think we need to discuss something."

Zenia's tone became serious. Zekiah knew that something must've happened to the Palace of the Crown Prince.

"If you want us to discuss it now, I know a place where we can go," Vaughn suggested and winked at Zenia.

"Sure, let's go there now." Zenia smiled at him and pulled Zekiah at her side.

They boarded the carriage, and Ruvin followed them.

Vaughn stopped Ruvin from getting in the carriage, "You have a horse, just ride it and follow us. It's already crowded inside." 

Zekiah frowned, 'Is this guy telling me that I'm the reason for that?'

"But boss, I'm too tired to ride. Can't you just let me rest inside for a while?"

"No." Vaughn closed the door of the carriage and instructed the coachman to go.

Ruvin could do nothing but look at the departing carriage.

'That little twerp! He did not even say about the things I've said and done, yet I am already being punished! What kind of luck is this?'

* * * * *

It had been hours since Vaughn and Zenia left the palace. Verone was getting impatient.

"Have they returned yet?" She roared, which made her maids tremble in fear.

Verone had been in a bad mood ever since she learned that Vaughn and Zenia went out together somewhere. The royal doctor made it worse. The maids knew that their mistress would continue to be difficult unless the Crown Prince would visit her. With the Crown Princess always around the Crown Prince, they knew that their mistress wouldn't have a chance to spend time alone with the Crown Prince.

"T-They have not returned yet, Your Highness." The oldest maid among the four was the one who shouldered the responsibility of answering Verone.

"Aahh!" Verone smashed another vase and slapped the maid.

"Useless things! Get out! All of you, GET OUT!" 

The maids went out of the room in a hurry. Verone smashed more things and was panting when she finally stopped. She was fuming. She sat on her bed and massaged the center of her forehead. Her hatred for Zenia kept increasing each day. She could not find a way to be with the Crown Prince, and she could not do anything against Zenia. It was as if the Crown Princess could read her mind.

She bit her lower lip until it bled. She couldn't get in touch with the spy either, she couldn't send a message to the Left Minister, and she was not receiving any message from the Ninth Prince.

'I must act fast and get rid of Zenia Anisen if I want to survive in this palace. But, what should I do?'

She stood up when she suddenly remembered something. She walked to her closet and opened it. She picked up a small box in the corner and brought it with her to her bed. She opened it and saw a small vial that contained Lotharia. It was her last resort if she failed to seduce Vaughn.

The Ninth Prince gave it to her and explicitly told her to wait for his signal. She took the vial out of the box and looked at it with interest. The Ninth Prince taught her how to use it. She calmed herself down and gripped the vial. She should not allow her emotions to get in the way.

Verone closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, her anger began to subside. She put the vial back in the box and returned it in her closet.

'I must remain patient and calm. I should not let Zenia win.'

* * * * *

Vaughn took Zenia, Zekiah, and Ruvin to the restaurant owned by the Second Prince. They were immediately taken to a private room that the Second Prince told his staff to reserve for the Crown Prince and Princess. The Second Prince was not there at the moment.

The dishes came in one by one even though they had not yet ordered anything. They were the new dishes that the restaurant was promoting. The head chef of the restaurant learned that it was Zenia who gave the idea to their boss regarding the desserts sample platter. The head chef could tell that Zenia was a foodie.

"Young Madam, the head chef asks for your opinion regarding these dishes. He said that he would appreciate it very much if you can point out the good and bad points of each dish so he can improve them." The head steward was polite and attentive.

He knew that the Crown Prince and Princess did not want their identities to be known when dining at the Second Prince's restaurant. He did not tell the staff that the ones dining in the reserved room were the Crown Prince and Princess.

"I can do that," Zenia's eyes sparkled, and the head steward knew that she was smiling even though she was wearing a face veil.

"Thank you, Young Madam. Please ring the bell beside you when you need more dishes to be delivered. Our boss told us that you may order whatever you want, and it's all in the house. I will take my leave now." The head steward bowed his head and closed the door.

Vaughn removed his mask and placed it on the table. Ruvin was dumbfounded when he saw how Vaughn simply removed his mask in front of Zenia and Zekiah. The siblings seemed not to mind as they happily scooped some food on their plates. Vaughn put some soup in Zenia's bowl and gave it to her.

'Did these two already know the real face of the Crown Prince?'

Zekiah did not know Vaughn's face yet, but he did not care. All that mattered to him was Zenia's thoughts. He already deduced that their short trip to Ishelon brought them closer together and there were no more secrets between them.

Ruvin waited for Zenia to take off her face veil. His eyes sparkled when he saw that Zenia was about to eat. But, he was completely disappointed when Zenia ate with gusto without taking off her face veil. She had no trouble eating at all.

"C-Crown Princess, you can take off your face veil now. It's only us here. Take it off so you can eat with ease." Ruvin tried to coax Zenia.

She looked at him, and she did not find anything odd with what he said. She looked at Vaughn who did not say anything as he busied himself peeling some shrimps for Zenia.

"Well, that's okay too." Zenia was about to remove her face veil when Zekiah stopped her.

"Don't just follow any strange man. Little girls usually get into trouble that way." Zekiah reminded Zenia lovingly.

Ruvin suddenly stood up and pointed at Zekiah. "W-Who's a strange man? I am His Highness' most trusted friend. How come I suddenly become a strange man?"

Zekiah looked at Ruvin with a straight face, "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? You are unkempt and look shabby. Tell me, are you not a strange man?"

Ruvin touched his face and looked at his clothes. He noticed a mirror in the room earlier and ran toward it. He looked at himself before the mirror and shouted.

"Aaahh!" Ruvin went to Zekiah and continued, "You ungrateful brat, this is all your fault. If you did not complain so much, I would never go that fast. Now, see what you did to me? I look like a mess."

Ruvin stormed out of the room and did not forget to close the door. Luckily, their room was located in an inconspicuous location. No one would see the people in the room.

Vaughn and Zenia continued eating as if they were the only ones in that room. Zekiah shook his head and ate his meal quietly. 

Ruvin did not return even if they already finished their meals. It took them almost an hour to finish everything on the table.

"Now that we are full, let's get down to business."

Zenia told Zekiah everything that happened in the Palace of the Crown Prince. She told him about her plan of posing as the spy to extract some information from Verone. Zekiah agreed to her plan.

"Oh, before I forget, Verone Rocca is already staying in the Palace of the Crown Prince."

"What?!"