Chapter 10: The Transmigrator and Aileen (10)
1495 Words
"If the two of you are just going to flirt here, please, you're nauseating," Althea deadpanned.
"What does it matter to you? I already told you I don't like you and will never be," announced Prince Rhomeo.
She looked him up and down and again before responding. "I used to think you're a good man. I faced humiliations after you cancelled the engagement, Prince Rhomeo. Someone like you who didn't consider other people's well-being doesn't deserve respect."
"How dare you, Althea Vaine!"
"Tell me if I'm wrong then. Did you think of my reputation when you did all that? Did you consider my feelings?"
"But I don't love you—"
"Exactly, but you didn't give me any leeway. Tell me, who will marry a woman tossed away by a Prince because he made her look like most incapable?"
"No one," a smaller and a much higher voice answered.
"Exactly—" Althea halted when she realized who answered. "I wasn't talking to you, Aileen."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Young Miss."
"That doesn't matter! All is done, now I have proofs that you're the origin of those libelous rumors!" Prince Rhomeo shrugged everything Althea had said.
"Hah! When it doesn't concern you then it doesn't matter? How selfish. And people thought you're any better than me?" she looked at him with disgust. "And stop slandering me, your Highness, or I will take this grievance to my father."
"Well, let's see," he was to turn away and had the Ministry of Investigation do their job but he remembered Aileen. "Let's go, Aileen."
"Why?" Aileen asked in her usual mask of innocence. Sometimes, she wondered if lightning will suddenly struck her of this shameless façade.
"You don't have to stay here," Prince Rhomeo told her in confidence.
"Might I remind you, your Highness, you may be the Crown Prince but you don't own my servants," Althea declared coldly.
"Althea! Release Aileen this instance!"
"Why would I? To let you be happy? Not a chance."
"You!"
"Come, if you have the power, Rhomeo," Althea challenged the Prince who's glaring at her in fury. She wasn't scared since she knew this farce of a government will be over soon.
"Um, I work here. Please return, your Highness," Aileen knew this wasn't the battlefield yet. She'd let them prepare on both sides for a better screenplay.
"Aileen..." he stiffened when he heard her soft voice after his match with Althea. He realized she's helping him save face. He really couldn't do anything on their master-servant contract. He watched Aileen despondently as he bid her goodbye. "I'll come back for you. Wait for me."
"Farewell, your Highness," she bowed and quickly followed her young lady back inside the mansion.
Rhomeo tried to take Aileen away again but Althea presented the bureau her faultless contract thus Rhomeo cannot do anything unless he abolished the law of the kingdom first. His only comfort was he knew he could still get her back when this malicious household of Grand Duke Vaine has fallen.
And yet, months passed but the Grand Duke's power was still standing strong. If possible, he seemed to have gained more power and support. Various creations also started popping out in the capital; all of them were highly accepted by both the aristocrats and the commoners. There were musical instruments that looked like the harp used by bards which was called guitar; then some tube where one can peek to further locations, they called it telescope; a heating box said to make something delicious thing called cake; a slightly slanted type of sword which made slicing much efficient, this was called samurai; a silly kind of shoe where there's a horn at the bottom which actually gave additional height to both men and ladies; and many others. Of course, a boost in the palate of dishes also surrounded the capital.
The name of the Grand Duke's house was ringing all over the capital and so the Crown Prince was subtly advised by the Royal Family to be careful against them and to no longer visit their grand mansion to avoid any more mishaps. Of course, Prince Rhomeo didn't heed them so he was put under house arrest. The Royal Family may be the highest authority in Alcada but currently the most powerful in terms of military power was the Grand Duke that's why the King and his confidants were more focused with procuring and expanding their influence at the moment. They seemed to have felt something was about to go wrong anytime. And thus they can't afford the Crown Prince running around.
But Prince Rhomeo still has other ways. He sent his best friend and right-hand man, Allan, for some errands.
"Good evening, Miss Aileen," a shadow called at the girl sitting by the garden.
She didn't jump in surprise or anything. She didn't even seem frightened by his sudden appearance. It was lucky that when he visited, the girl he's looking for was still outside and no one was around. But her reaction to him was so deadpanned which honestly demoralized his abilities. Was he losing his touch and even a commoner girl cannot be amazed with his skills? He watched her as she looked at him while still holding the little white lumpy rabbit on her embrace.
"I come under the Crown Prince's instructions," he told her as he spouted a bouquet of white flowers out, laying it to her arms. "And his Highness also sincerely invites you to the masquerade ball for his birthday celebration." He took an invitation letter from the inside pocket of his cloak.
"..." she just reached the letter but didn't open or even look at it.
"Is there any problem, Miss?" he wondered why he was feeling something's off tonight. Was it the coldness of the night? It seemed to have dropped in this area.
Ye Ai watched as she unnerved the man who disturbed her playtime with Xiaoyi and Little Bai. Xiaoyi was just excitedly telling her all the things they could buy in the System Market after this mission world when it suddenly stated that someone's coming. It turned out to be Allan, Prince Rhomeo's best friend turned errand boy. She sighed and decided to just accept the invitation and be done with this meeting. But if the Crown Prince wanted her there then he should provide, right?
"I-I'd like to, you know," she held the letter in sudden eager but regretful countenance.
Allan didn't feel something was off with the response of the girl. He just felt relieved since she finally spoke tonight. "Is this about Miss Vaine of the Duke's house?"
"Young Miss doesn't like it when I go out."
"I can help you there."
"How?"
"All will be prepared."
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Of course. Just so you may meet Prince Rhomeo," he solemnly promised her. This was just so the prince will leave him be. He has been bugging him for weeks!
"Thank you, Mister—um,"
"Allan, just call me Allan."
"Thank you, Allan!"
"No worries, Miss."
"Well, I need to go. I have to check if my old party dress can still be used but I bet I'll have to do some repairs first," she murmured as she stood and started back to the mansion.
"..." (Allan)
"Bye, Allan!" as if she remembered him, she turned around and waved away.
Allan had cold sweats on his back. Did he just hear 'old party dress'? Something like that into the Crown Prince's Birthday? Why did he feel a bit tired suddenly? He had worked nonstop for the Prince but he never felt this exhausted after simple exchanges with someone.
Of course, Ye Ai simply made sure he heard her mutterings. That's why on the following day, Aileen secretly received a box of a very new, pristine white dress together with an elegant mask of feathers and jewels.
[Host Ai, are you really attending?]
"Of course."
[This is not another one of your pranks?]
In the last months, System 3611 eyes were opened to various schemes of its host. It seen her trip someone just to sabotage the invention, put laxatives in the food and drinks, had a rat infestation inside the grand mansion, and even directly knocking the bug—transmigrated woman! It felt that its morals had already turned upside down.
"Of course not. I told you I'm doing my job seriously, and you told me to cultivate our feelings, the Crown Prince and I, so how can I let this party slip?"
[Really?]
"I'm doing all this for my cute Xiaoyi."
[Host Ai, I thought you already forgot about me. Wuwuwu.]
"I'll forget everyone here but not you, Xiaoyi."
[Sobs... sobs...]
"Xiaoyi, be good."
[I will, Host Ai.]
"Xiaoyi," she suddenly called.
[Host Ai?]
"I have a plan, want to hear about it?"
[...not a prank?]
"Not a prank."
[...Okay.]
"Get me that consumable thing from our item box and I'll show you a loophole in the network..."
- Writer
