Chapter 61
1303 Words
CHAPTER 61
Robert, the Cromello’s butler, hurriedly ran towards the entrance with the maids and other servants following behind him. Just as he opens the door, he came face to face with the Crown Prince of the empire, His Highness Noah Kaylon, himself.
“Y-your Highness, g-greetings.” Robert stuttered and immediately took a step back and bowed his head. The maids and other servants also lined up behind him and bowed their heads. “W-we apologize for our lack of hospitality, your highness,” he added, nervously.
Usually, when royalty visits a house, extreme preparations must be done. Some would even change the whole interior of the house or prepare a grand banquet to greet the royalty. However, because His Highness’s visit was so sudden, Robert and the other servants weren’t able to prepare anything.
The duke, the duchess, and even Lord Aaron weren’t home too, so the servants were obviously troubled.
“Don’t bother,” Noah said, indifferently. “Is Tatiana here?” he asked.
“Ah, y-yes, your highness... B-but she has a—” Before Robert could finish, Noah noticed a man walking down the grand staircase behind Robert.
Kael Arder? What the heck is he doing here?
“Arder,” Noah uttered, his voice was colder than usual.
Kai froze from his tracks but eventually walked closer to them. He stood beside Robert and bowed at Noah.
“Your highness, greetings.” he greeted. Noah stared at him as if confused about what he was doing there. Kai noticed this and immediately explained himself. “Ah, please don’t misunderstand, your highness. I just came back from the South, so I figured I should visit Lady Tatiana.” he laughed nervously.
Noah continued just staring at him that Kai became conscious of himself.
Did I do something wrong? Is he angry that I visited his fiancé? Argh, why did I have to meet him here? I should have gone through the backdoor. Kai couldn’t help but grumble in his head.
After his last meeting with Noah, he became so traumatized that he doesn’t want to confront His Highness again like this. Of course, it was ironic since Kai himself chose to become Noah’s royal knight.
The point was, he doesn’t like to be under Noah’s radar of jealousy. Kai was already interrogated menacingly last time, and he doesn’t want to experience that again.
“T-then, I’ll go first, your highness,” he said and lowered his head before he quickly walked away.
Noah’s glare followed him until Kai was already out of sight.
Visit Tatiana? Are they that close?
At that moment, Noah felt a dark aura start to emanate from him. Robert and the other servants felt this as well and it sent chills down their spine.
“Y-your highness, Lady Tatiana is waiting for you at the drawing-room. Allow me to lead you there.” Robert uttered despite the sudden tension.
Noah let out a deep sigh to calm himself and gave Robert a nod.
Why do I even care if he visited Tatiana? Tsk.
.
A knock came on the door as Tatiana was drinking her tea.
“Come in,” she said. The door opened revealing Robert followed by their unexpected guest, His Highness the Crown Prince of the empire.
Tatiana stood up and did a curtsy. “You’re here, your highness.”
“Yes. Did I interrupt your meeting with your special guest?” He replied, sounding sarcastic when he said ‘special guest’.
Tatiana’s forehead furrowed at his tone.
“No... not really...” she mumbled, still confused.
So, he’s really her special guest? Is that it? She didn’t even deny it. Tsk. Noah grumbled in his head.
“Anyways, please take a seat, your highness.” Tatiana offered the seat in front of her. Noah scowled before following her. He even took his seat in an annoyed manner.
What happened to him? Tatiana thought to herself.
Tatiana reached for her tea and took a sip. She was observing Noah who was only sitting there while also staring at her.
The silence continued like that after a few moments that Tatiana started feeling awkward. She cleared her throat and placed her cup down.
“Your highness, I’m guessing you came here to talk about Baron Miller.” she started.
Noah, who was still feeling annoyed, adjusted the way he sat and nodded.
“Yes,” he replied.
“I heard your investigation got discovered.”
Noah huffed, “It somehow turned out like that.”
“Then... what is it that you want, your highness?” Tatiana asked despite knowing what he wants exactly.
Noah wants to meet Investor J, but he doesn’t have any means to contact him except through Tatiana. That’s why he wants to talk to Tatiana to simply ask for Investor J.
“Your opinion,” Noah replied, simply.
Tatiana nodded in understanding but later on froze when she realized what he just said. She looked at Noah in shock.
“W-what?” she stuttered.
I thought he wants to meet Investor J? What is he saying?
Noah leaned back against his chair and smirked. “I want to ask for your opinion. What do you think we should do?” he repeated.
Tatiana was still speechless that she could only stare at him.
What does he mean by that? Why is he asking me for my opinion?
She was confused at His Highness’ actions. He’s supposed to be asking for Investor J, but he’s instead asking for Tatiana’s opinion.
She laughed nervously. “I don’t understand, your highness. Why...why would you want my opinion?” she asked, perplexed.
“What’s wrong with asking my fiancé for an opinion? You’ll soon become the Crown Princess, so it’s better to involve yourself with the empire’s affairs starting now.” Noah explained as if it was not a big deal.
Tatiana was at loss for words after that.
Did he just—No, Crown Princess? Is he serious?!
“Your highness, I hope you didn’t forget, but I clearly told you I will annul our engagement no matter what. That just means I will not be your Crown Princess,” she said, clearly annoyed. At that moment, she didn’t care if she’s talking to the Crown Prince of the empire any more.
“And I also told you that I will not allow that to happen.” Noah rebutted.
Once again, Tatiana was speechless. Noah was just being unreasonable at that point.
She couldn’t believe he was acting like this again. She remembered the first time they met after she became Tatiana.
Noah was stubborn that he refused the idea of annulling their engagement right away. Even until now, Tatiana couldn’t understand why he refused her offer. He should be delighted about it and accepted it without any more questions. Yet he said a lot of excuses just to refute.
Now, he’s insisting on it again.
Tatiana sighed.
“What do you really want, your highness?” she asked again, exasperatedly.
“I told you. I’m here to ask for your opinion as my fiancé.” he said and smiled smugly.
Tatiana stopped herself from rolling her eyes and let out a deep sigh, trying to calm herself down.
On the other hand, Noah was looking at her, amused.
Out of all the people he met, Tatiana was the only one who was daring enough to show her annoyed expression in front of him.
She was like this since the first time they met after the war. But Noah never felt it was rude, nor did it irritated him like how others would if they acted like that in front of him.
When did it all begin? When did I stop finding her bothersome and start finding her amusing?
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reyankleyr
- Writer
