Chapter 7
1516 Words
CHAPTER 7
“Sign these papers and we’ll end our engagement right away,” Tatiana stated firmly, her determined purple eyes staring back at his deep, cold red eyes.
There were a few moments of silence before Noah leaned back to his chair and placed his chin on his hand. He then observed her and pondered to himself for a moment.
Tatiana thought he looked hot in that position.
“Good morning to you too, Lady Tatiana.” Noah greeted sarcastically.
It was then that Tatiana realized she wasn’t able to greet the Crown Prince due to her nervousness. Tatiana inwardly punished herself but chose not to do anything to keep her pride. She stayed silent as she stared back at Noah.
It was silent for a moment as they had another round of staring contest. Noah was the first to give up as he reached forward and took the envelope that Tatiana placed on his table.
For some reason, Noah seemed to waver easily when staring at Tatiana’s purple eyes. He’s not usually the type to be intimidated, especially as the Crown Prince, but with Tatiana, it was different.
He frowned at this thought. Why would Tatiana be different? She is just the spoiled-brat Tatiana he hated, and the fiancé he never wanted.
“You want to break off our engagement? So suddenly?” Noah asked as he read the contents of the papers Tatiana bought.
“Yes,” Tatiana answered simply.
Noah looked up to her, and can’t help but contract his brows. To cancel the engagement that she, herself, suggested, is something that the Tatiana he knew would never do. That said, he couldn't understand why Tatiana proposed this all of a sudden.
“Why?” he asked.
Tatiana avoided Noah’s gaze. His cold red eyes were staring at her so deeply that she could feel herself melting.
“Just because.” Tatiana managed to say. She had practiced her answer to this question several times this past few days, yet at that moment she can’t seem to answer like how she prepared to.
Noah looked at her coldly. His face doesn’t show any emotion, but Tatiana could feel him starting to get annoyed.
Tatiana inwardly gulped at this sudden dark aura that surrounds Noah.
“Just...because?” Noah repeated. His voice was deep and stern, and Tatian was starting to get scared.
Noah was already annoyed that Tatiana visited him this early in the morning, disturbing his work. Then Tatiana wanted to cancel their engagement all of a sudden, and the reason she gave him is just a mere ‘just because’. He thought that Tatiana was just being unreasonable.
But Tatiana thinks differently. The main reason for this was so she could cut off her connections with the main lead. This engagement, specifically, is what bound her to the Crown Prince. This is her first step in changing her destiny, and she must succeed today.
Thinking of this, Tatiana looked back at him, getting her courage back.
“Isn’t this what you wanted? Did you not wish to break off this engagement?” Tatiana pointed and mirrored Noah’s emotionless and cold eyes.
At Tatiana’s remarks, Noah wasn’t able to react right away.
It is exactly what Tatiana said. This is what he wanted—to be free from this engagement. So why does he feel so pissed when Tatiana is already the one suggesting it?
Noah shook this thought off and answered.
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I would commit treason and disobey my father’s order.”
Tatiana frowned at his answer. Although indeed, he can't disobey his father, it doesn’t mean it is completely impossible.
“Don’t kid me, your highness. I know very well that you are capable of convincing your father. You can break off this engagement, it’s just that you chose not to. I wonder why?” Tatiana said in a challenging voice as she crossed her arms while raising an eyebrow at him.
Tatiana was so sure about this because, in the novel, when Noah found the love of his life, it was so easy for him to break off his engagement with the original Tatiana.
This is why Tatiana wondered why Noah is acting strange and going into circles when he can very much just proceed with breaking off the engagement.
Is it because he hasn’t met the heroine yet?
Tatiana considered this fact and concluded that maybe that was the reason. He hasn’t met the love of his life yet, so he has no reason to cancel the engagement that he can benefit from.
Regardless, Tatiana doesn't want to give up. Their engagement must be nullified no matter what.
Meanwhile, Noah was amused at Tatiana’s sudden remarks and actions.
It kept bugging him, but the Tatiana in front of him seemed really different from the Tatiana he knew.
Were two years really that long? What else changed in the 2 years he was gone?
The first thing that Noah notice was that she doesn't have those unnecessary colorful ribbons that she used to wear. With her plain dress and neatly brushed hair, the current Tatiana looks elegant and mature. With her new style, Noah thought it enhances her beauty even more.
Aside from that, the way she speaks so proudly and her choice of words intrigued him.
“Still, as an honorable Crown Prince of the empire, I can’t just go back against my word just for a petty personal reason, correct?” Noah challenged back. He stood up and walked around the desk to directly face Tatiana.
Tatiana stumbled backward at his actions and cleared her throat as she tried to not be affected by his handsome face.
“B-but it is not for a petty reason.” Tatiana stuttered. Noah walked closer to her, causing her to bend backward.
Noah doesn't know why he was doing what he is doing but regardless, he was enjoying this situation.
Being this close to Tatiana, Noah could see her flushed cheeks.
Is she being shy? He thought.
“Then what is your reason, Anastasia?” Noah asked in a low and husky voice. It was almost like he was seducing her that he even called her with the name he used to call her before.
Tatiana was caught off guard at the sudden closure of proximity. Her legs got weak that she almost fell if she hadn't managed to hold on to Noah’s shoulders.
What is this scenario?! Tatiana screamed in her mind.
This is definitely not what she expected this conversation will turn out to be. Didn’t Noah hate her? So why is he acting like this all of a sudden?
“I-It’s because...” Tatiana started.
Wait, this is just wrong. He is too close, and why am I touching him?!
Tatiana internally slapped herself and took a step back. She didn’t imagine Noah to be like this. He was supposed to be the cold but rational type of character and not this naughty and coquettish like this person in front of her.
Tatiana cleared her throat and tried her best to be as composed as possible.
“It’s because... I don’t like you anymore, your highness. That’s why I wish to be free from this...betrothal.” Tatiana managed to answer.
This is what she had been practicing to say for the past few days. She thought that it would be for the best to say that she didn’t like Noah anymore, so he won't have anything to rebut.
Noah was speechless at her answer. Though he shouldn't care much about it because he felt the same way, for some reason, his heart pricked a little at her response.
“I see...” Noah took a step backward and leaned against the desk behind him. He crossed her arms and looked at Tatiana again with his usual cold and emotionless face.
Just like that, Noah was back at his normal self.
“Yes, so sign those papers now so I could show them to His Majesty.”
Noah looked down at the papers on his desk. At the back of his mind, he was thinking of ways on how he could burn those papers without Tatiana knowing.
He tsked inwardly at Tatiana's persistence.
“But what can I do, Lady Tatiana. I am still incapable of going back against my word, not even for your reason.” Noah stated, not wanting to lose.
Tatiana huffed at his stubbornness.
Just what is wrong with him?
“Fine, your highness. If you don’t want to help, then I’ll do it myself.” Tatiana said surrendering. She curtsied in an annoyed manner before she left the room without even turning back.
She was fuming in anger as she reached her carriage and even until she reached their estate.
Noah, on the other hand, was stunned by the turn of events.
He walked towards the big window in his office and looked down to see Tatiana stomping in front of her carriage.
Unconsciously, Noah found himself smiling at Tatiana’s tantrums.
How cute...
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reyankleyr
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