CHAPTER 647: CHAPTER 647

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"I will make sure to follow your demand about this matter, Lady Pristina."

"Thank you, your grace... I am confident you will." — I told Clemente as he left with Lady Karina after coming to an agreement. Giving one step closer to secretly telling me a thought before leaving.

"A surprising event this was. The lady’s silence has finished."

’Haha... surely it was... There is never a dull Ball for myself... surprises are all over the place...’ — I thought for a moment slightly troubled, watching him bow in farewell after I nodded, which I impulsively stopped out of instinct. I had crossed gazes for a moment with her... and even though the agreement was better than having her jailed and thankful should she be instead, a flare of hatred was sent in a split second. — "Wait."

"? Yes? Is there anything else, my lady Pristina?" — Clemente, shaken by my sudden grasp asked, composed yet careful of those around.

"M-may I have a word with you for a moment?"

"Sure-"

"What is there for my lady and his grace to talk about?"

"..." — I froze in place knowing too well the voice behind me.

"... The lady shall tell... Your highness."

"Um... it is... uh..." — ’D*mn it.’

"... Biel."

"Yes, your highness."

"Watch over that woman while we talk. Take her outside."

"Yes, immediately."

"!? Am I to be treated like a criminal? This is such an humiliation..."

"If you wish we can still send you to the dungeons."

"!? Wh-"

"Lady. You’d better not provoke his highness any further. This way." — Sir Biel intersected Karina’s crying retort, saving us some more trouble while even I felt pity for her since the crown prince did not even look her way while belittling her and instead continued to face me... tall and strong... seemingly displeased while his eyebrows frowned openly.

Walking Karina away Dad and Theressa, the Emperors and the physicians came our way.

"Sweetie... are you alright? Shouldn’t you retire for some rest?"

"Sniff, yes, sister... your arm is bruising..."

"... I will join you in a minute..." — Placing my hand over hers, her eyes met mine. She was sad... and yet a glint of the capricious girl I knew for so long was in her golden eyes again. What had happened must have lit something within her... whether it was good or bad, I am yet to know but... it does look nice. — "Dad, take Theressa to my chambers please..."

"However..."

"Orland, just do as the cute child says. Zeleskiaz will take her back so don’t worry. We should go and take care of your youngest in the meantime."

The look in father’s eye was not in the least convinced, nevertheless, they left his grace, his highness and me on our own. Taking with them, my guards, Theo and Vítor as well to my surprise... Instilling stillness after the closure of the wide doors.

"..."

"..."

’I’d better get to the point.’ — I sighed after seeing these men standing on guard before me. — "Your Grace, please do be careful with Lady Karina."

"... I will not let her unsupervised."

"No, I did not mean like that. YOU have to be careful."

"Is the lady worried about me? While at my manor you also hinted that I should be careful around her."

"Yes... It is my gut feeling... please do not let yourself fall into her games, Clemente. I don’t think she means well."

"... I understand. If you say so, I will follow and trust your word... Be at ease, we shall talk more through our letters, alright? I will keep you informed, Marianne. Don’t worry."

"... Yes. Thank you." — Taking the hand he nicely offered I smiled, squeezing it hopeful that nothing bad would happen to my friend. — "Have a safe return."

"Thank you." — He bowed, glancing at the crown prince and nodding his head in goodbye... yet this time it was his highness’s hand that stopped Clemente from leaving.

"Why are the two of you talking so comfortably with each other? You dare call my lady by name in front of me, Norverrne. Have you lost your mind?"

"I have the lady’s permission."

"Even so, why are you two-"

"Your highness, if you try to imply anything else the only one you will harm in the end will be Lady Marianne not me. The beast you have inside should growl at the ones going for her life not those who befriend the lady and wish her happiness."

"..."

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now."

The silence filling the space was overwhelming to my lungs. Certainly, Clemente had avoided a horrible thing to leave the crown prince’s mouth. Jealousy or rage, dislike or territoriality, whichever it was that made him try to start such an insulting argument... had us both drowning in the confusion of what to say after that.

’I can tell Clemente called me by name on purpose... I did give him permission... yet he never did until now...’ — The two of them still had that rivalry from the main novel. Nevertheless... after not responding to my letters... after having no notice or sight of him while away... he dares imply that I... that I am a cheat-

"I apologise."

"..."

"Everything I said was out of place... I was not thinking straight... these days... having you away, having no notice from you and tonight... tonight that I am finally able to see you...! My lady, I feel a fool with how insane I become... for a moment I thought death would take all of your blood...! You fell... right before my eyes and... kh...!"

The distorted in pain expression left me baffled for it hurt myself to see how his body stiffened while getting the words out of him. His clenched hands seemed helpless, like a child’s... and just like him I lowered my head, knowing that today, maybe just as I felt, was unbearable with all the hidden and new concerns.

I held my own hands trying to stay composed, trying not to lose clarity because of the events... and then I saw how his hand slowly and tremorous approached mine. Not touching it, as if scared of the outcome.

"Bruises will be left in your fair and delicate skin... this blood, my lady... staining the dress you gave life to... even from your pure hues blood was falling, my lady..."

"... I am alive... the bruises will fade with time."

"Even so... I feared we would not talk ever again..."

"... it is not like we ever talked much either way." — Suddenly, without much thought I blurted out, letting the anger I had been restraining slip through needlessly.