"Csille, I don't understand why you are doing this. I've been wanting to tell you this, but I didn't tell you because I know you already made up your mind. However, do you know no matter what you do? My name will always be in your shadow. You cannot take me away from your life Csille."
I smile bitterly. No, Fraser, it's the other way around. It is the real Csille whom you cannot take away from your life.
But what he said is also true. No matter how hard I try to disassociate myself from Prince Fraser, people will always see me as the fiancée of Prince Fraser. It will only end if the engagement was canceled.
"And it suffocates me, Fraser. I'm sorry if I'm hurting you for saying this. But I hate the fact that I am always in your shadow. Can I be my own person?"
Prince Fraser sigh and walks towards me. I immediately take a step back, afraid of any physical connection with him. Please no, Prince Fraser, you're like a drug for me. Once I started it, it's difficult to contain myself, and I don't like that. I don't like not having control.
Prince Fraser stops walking and looks at me with pain in his eyes. I avoid his gaze. I know I am hurting him, but it's the only thing I can do.
"Okay, let's not have this conversation again because I know it would only end up in vain. I respect your decision, and I still honor my promise to you, but you should also look out for yourself. You already have a wound, but you still want to continue?"
I could hear the pain in his voice that he tried his best to contain. However, I could still hear it. How can I be oblivious to the pain I've been inflicting on him? He doesn't deserve any of these. I just hope all of this will be worth it if he ends up with Princess Paislee.
I look at the flowers I am currently arranging. "But those flowers will be withered if I don't finish that. How-"
"To hell with that flowers!" He snapped at me. He then takes a step forward and gently takes my hand that has been cut by the thorn. "That flower is the reason why you are cut, and all you are thinking is about how the flowers will be withered? What will happen to your hands if they get infected?"
But why are you angry? I'm just saying that the flower will definitely be withered if I didn't arrange it. Why do you need to shout at me? You definitely need to work that out. How can Princess Paislee fall in love with you? If you always have this kind of explosive attitude?
I shake my head at look at my hand. "But you already clean it, and there's a bandaid that would cover the wound. Why do I need to worry about infection?"
I also don't understand why is he making a biggie about this small wound. I won't die because of this. Also, Csille Lauretré is the villainess of the story, and all those bad people live the longest. What can an infection do to the Villainess?
Prince Fraser sigh and just takes my hand. "I told you, you won't do flower arrangement for today. "
I try to talk my way through Prince Fraser, but he won't listen to me. He just drags me out of the room and walks through the garden. The room for the Etiquette is close to the garden, which is actually suited since the flower arrangement is part of the Etiquette category. The only downside of it is there are almost not flower in the garden.
It's the Saiven Kingdom. It's already a miracle if a flower can endure the harsh conditions of the land here. That's why I felt sorry for those flowers. How many days and how much effort does the florist did just to make those flowers blooms? I don't even want to imagine.
I look at Prince Fraser, who is currently dragging me with him. "Your highness, where are we going? Can you let me finish the flowers first before I let you drag me somewhere?"
I suddenly felt guilty for the flowers. How can I bear to live it like that?
However, Prince Fraser seems like he doesn't even care because he continues to walk like he didn't hear me said something.
I roll my eyes at him. You stubborn Prince. When will you start to listen to other people? That's not a good attitude, you know?
The dragging continues for a few minutes before he stops at a building. I looked up and realized that it is the library that the Saiven Kingdom assigned to the Vrawyth Kingdom.
I frown and tug Prince Fraser's hands that are still clasp with mine. "Prince Fraser, what are we doing in here?"
I thought he would let me rest, but why would we enter the library? Did he drag me out of the Etiquette room just to bring me to the library? What was that all about?
Prince Fraser looks back at me. "Since you cannot continue your training in the Etiquette category, why don't you train your mind in the library. Come on," he then drags me inside the library without even waiting for my response.
Oh, great! Thank you for listening to me, Prince Fraser. I really appreciate it. Thank you. I roll my eyes at him. It's a good thing there's no one around, or else I wouldn't dare to do that.
The first thing you would see inside the building is the lobby that is empty. Prince Fraser walks past the lobby and pushes a huge door that is the entrance for the library.
What welcomes us are bookshelves full of books. Although the book isn't those limited books but it's still enough to gain knowledge.
There are also tables and chairs inside. The library is not that huge. It can only fit 100 people inside. For a library, it is actually small. The library in Prince Fraser's room is even bigger than this.
Rufus immediately looks at us and waves his hand. "Csille! Fraser!" But his smile froze when he saw something. I follow what he is looking at, and I also froze on the spot when I realized something.
Prince Fraser and I are still holding hands! I look around and see Rufus and Leander gaping at us. My face immediately flush.
How can I forget about this? What will Princess Paislee think if she sees us holding hands?
"Prince Fraser? Lady Csille?"
My eyes immediately widened, and I instantly tried to break from Prince Fraser's hold, but he just claps my hands tightly with his, which make it difficult for me to take my hand.
I look at Princess Paislee with an awkward smile. How can I act knowing that the female lead is now in front of us, looking at our tangled hands?
Prince Fraser, I am the Villainess, not your female lead. I am the villainess! Why can't you follow the script? The one who you should holding hands with is Princess Paislee and not me.
"Sir Farren," Prince Fraser smile widely at Princess Paislee. Princess Paislee smile at him in return.
Wait, what does it mean? Why does it looks like they are talking to each other? And hello? Princess Paislee, how can you smile like that knowing your Prince is holding hands with another girl? It doesn't make sense!
When will these two came to their senses and realized that they are the one meant for each other? I am the Villainess here. The Villainess. in case the two of you are forgetting.
Rufus cleared his throat. "What are the two of you standing there? Come here. It's a good thing the two of you are here."
Prince Fraser drags me again towards the table of Rufus and Leander. Princess Paislee follows us behind.
Prince Fraser drags the chair and lets me sit first before sitting beside me. Princess Paislee sits beside Rufus, who is sitting in front of me. Leander is sitting on the other side of Rufus.
I frown. Why is everyone here? Rufus and Leander are supposed to be here because they are competing for the Intellect category, but why does Princess Paislee doing here?
I know she will be competing in the Intellect too. However, we sitting at one table like this definitely doesn't look like a simple review.
I look at Prince Fraser, who is still holding my hand below the table. I tried to take my hands off from him, but he wouldn't let me. He holds to it like his life depends on it.
I frown. What are we doing in here, really? And all of them are not even talking. I sigh. "Can anyone tell me what are we all doing here?" I look at Prince Fraser again. "You said I need to review for the Intellect category too? Is this the reason why you're so persistent in bringing me here?"
Prince Fraser nods his head. He then looks at the rest. "Since we are all here, we will need to talk about everything."
I frown. "Everything? What do you mean by everything?"
"We will talk about what strategies we will use in the competition. We will talk about the Strzalka and what we will do to that group. We cannot forget the threat it could bring not only to our Vrawyth Kingdom but to all Kingdom. We also need to talk about what we will do with the threat Sir Farren just received."
"But I thought it was already cleared last night? And regarding the Strzalka, I thought you already talk to the Queen about it, and we are just waiting for her response?"
I don't understand why do we need to talk about these? We already talk about what we will do about this. Only the Queen, Amalone Astalieu, can solve this. So, I don't understand why we are having this conversation.
Prince Fraser nods his head. "Yes, we are waiting for my mother, Queen Amalone Astalieu, for her reply. However, I just received a letter from her majesty this morning, and she told me that she would meet us one of these days. So, before we meet her, it's better to gather all of us here to talk about everything. Maybe there's something that one of us knows that they haven't told anyone. So, it's better to settle every information we are going to tell the Queen. Wouldn't that be better?"
I nod my head as a response. He's actually right. It's better to make things clear now. Speaking of clear. I think I'm forgetting something important, but what is it? I hope it's not something too important.
"Aunt Amalone already respond? That's good. At least we won't need to worry that much. Is she with the other Queens?"
Prince Fraser nods his head. "In her letter, she told me she is enjoying her time of her life in the Saiven Kingdom. She also mentioned that she feels sad because she couldn't bring your mother."
Rufus's mother? The Dutchess of the Vrawyth Kingdom? The forgotten Dutchess of the Vrawyth Kingdom. It's because she didn't come from any noble family, but instead, she was a maid before. So, even if Queen Amalone would want to take the Dutchess with her, she cannot, or else the Dutchess will be a laughing stock.
Some of the Queens are mean and had an attitude. Especially those Kingdoms that came from the rival Kingdoms of the Vrawyth Kingdom.
Rufus just smiles bitterly. It's the reason why the Duke decided to withdraw himself from any duties in the monarch. It's because many people look down at him and his wife, which he couldn't bear to hear. So, instead, he withdraws himself from the monarch and lives a simple life. It's also the reason why Rufus is constantly bullied by other nobles, even if he is a royalty.
I shake my head at Prince Fraser. Does he even need to mention about the Dutchess? He knows that the Dutchess is Rufus' Achilles heel. Fraser, why are you insensitive?
I clear my throat and look at Prince Fraser. "So, what are we going to talk about first?"