CHAPTER 663: CHAPTER 663

"! Ninth. What a coincidence to meet you here." — She said, looking too confident without waiting for a reply and nodding to the maid who followed her. — "Will you be meeting his highness the Crown Prince here?"

"... Lady Karina, I feel as if it is no longer a coincidence, haha... once or twice it could be, yet I have lost count of how many times these kinds of encounters have happened with you."

"The Palace feels little when you cross each other’s path so often~"

"That could be it." — I answered believing none of it. Watching how the maid brought something she could eat and uncovered it so I could see. — "But is it, truly?"

"Hm... Would you like to eat some?"

"... no, thank you."

"Really? I heard you like blackberries... perhaps it is because of the ones you did not eat the other day that you no longer want to eat these?"

"Excuse me?"

"At the city. In the streets."

"..."

The innocence in her tone exposed the truth of the evil in her hues. Surprised by the lack of interest in trying to hide it I blinked flabbergasted, inviting a grin from her side that confirmed she was openly trying me out.

"Were they not to your taste?"

"... Not really. They were served terribly. I feel it as a pity for whoever sent them is quite worthless... at planning surprises, of course."

"Oh, how mean..."

"Haha~ well, at this point I would feel pathetic if I were in their shoes. After so many failures, I now find every new attempt they make quite amusing. I would say it is even cute."

"..."

"You seem bothered, Lady Karina." — At her silence, I smiled. Doing better than she expected. — "I thought you were up for a nice conversation yet your expression says otherwise... did you think I would lose my mind at you exposing your real intentions? You offend me. I am not foolish like you, troop of clowns."

"The words you use should have more thought placed in them, Ninth."

"I decline your suggestion. Even while thinking it thoroughly your plans always fail outrageously. I do not think your suggestions can be of help to anyone, truthfully speaking."

"..."

"My lady." — In a split second, Vitor and Theodore came to my side sensing that the conversation we were having was not a common one. — "Is there some kind of problem?"

"..."

"None. Step back so we can talk a tad more." — Reticence was overwhelming, for them to step back meant for them to leave us completely alone. Yet that was the best thing to do and I was counting on the treasured accessories that protected me: a pretty tear that was already resonating and a hairpin I had yet to know its true use, to serve me as protection.

"Does the ninth truly think there is no problem?"

"Is there? I see no danger... unless you truly are stupid to make of this an opportunity."

"Hmph... true, I would not use this." — She chuckled, eating a blackberry which’s juice seemed deadly. — "You seem too confident and yet you still do not know who you are against."

"... and who is that? Care to tell?"

"Have those little fangs of his not told you?"

"..."

"You are the ninth... are you ruin or glory? Have you decided? Do you even know what your role here truly is Marianne?"

"Have you decided to come and teach me that? Or is it just a facade? Will you continue being roundabout?"

"Fufu... aware you should be, for your presence today should not exist."

"..."

"Nevertheless, even here, things will not change. My presence in this palace is proof." — The fingers tracing her collarbone gave me a shiver. The sensuality behind it could only mean one thing and from what she says, Karina knows what was supposed to be of her future and my very presence in this story. — "Those hands of his still were laid on me."

"Well... it must have hurt."

"What?"

"I mean... he hit you right? Everybody saw it at the ball... oh, I am mistaken, he strangled you. Gosh, I have trouble remembering details about that day... that is on you though, lady Karina."

"You have no fear do you?"

"One fears what one does not know. Hence I do fear some things which would make me a coward. Nonetheless, I believe I am actually quite brave... do you know what the difference between cowardice and bravery is, Lady Karina?" — Unable to understand where I was going with such, her brow rised, pissed at me and... well, how could she not be... after all I am openly looking down at her pitiful attempt to sow trouble. — "A coward escapes. The brave one is a coward who still fights. I am up for a few matches. I am quite resilient... oh, but you should know that best, right?"

"Hm... if you are up for it then I shall respond adequately. You believe he is yours and that is the first mistake you have made. The crown prince can easily forget about you, unlike your brother." — She suddenly retorted, slowly standing from her seat, actually shocking me when mentioning Paul out of nowhere to look down on me. — "To think that from such a small feeling he was eternally cursed into obsession, all so you could disappear... a mere tool. Yet now he is more miserable because you survived... what a tragedy to live."

The silence and the challenging stance she adopted were making my blood boil. I decided to also stand ready to start a fight yet I heard the doors open behind her, right when I was ready to demand an explanation for what she just implied... but it was the crown prince I had been waiting for who entered the stances.

"My lady. Have I made you wait?" — He said, still far, ignoring Karina’s presence while giving me a soft smile.

I glanced back at her. And with a smile, she made it so I could read the word off her lips.

"Watch" was the word... and so, she quickly turned in haste, bumping into Zeleskiaz.

"Ah!... sniff..."

The hands he placed on her arm and back... hurt my soul. Not for the touch, but for the care in it and in his eyes which disappeared after she made him aware of that.

"I am sorry, your highness..."

"!? Look where you are going." — After he looked at me, I saw the alarm go off pushing her aside dry... but...

’What was that...?’ — The doubt had already made me sour.

He came towards me immediately after and yet I still glanced at the woman, who, wiping a fake tear off her cheek, smiled at me as she left our presence. — ’Vicious... what’s her aim?’

"My lady, why were you alone with her?" — He asked trying to reach my hand but it was I this time who avoided the touch. — "... um, what did you two talk about?"

"... we met by coincidence. We did not talk much."

"... I see..."

’It is best I calm down first... acting while heated won’t do me any good.’ — I thought and ultimately said nothing of what I have been wanting to convey to Zeleskiaz due to the sour taste Karina left on me with her performance and maybe, yes, it was unfair towards him who could be innocent... but I felt like keeping myself distant. Not saying much even though this was an opportunity I had been craving so much to have.

He talked to me... told me how his day had been without me asking unlike I usually do... telling me how he was happy to be early on time so I wouldn’t need to wait so much... and yet...

"What about my lady? How were your dreams? Was breakfast enjoyable?... Have you received any letter from your father?"

"... not today. Nothing extraordinary has happened." — I lied. Only so he wouldn’t ask more than that.

"I see... My lady? Are you feeling alright? You appear... as if your mind is away."

"Ah... I do feel slightly off."

"?! Is it because of that woman?"

"... no." — I lied again after giving a look to his eyes. Perhaps it was not even a lie... but more like, now, in those ultramarine hues, I did not feel I could place my full trust while feeling as I did.