I am Reborn through Revenge

Thinking about him

***Marie's POV***

It was evening and she had already finished the whole thing for the day. She was wrapping up letters, books, and sorting them accordingly. But while she was at it, something kept bothering her. Each time she remembered the letter the young guard had brought to her, she would tremble instinctively. She didn’t know why she was behaving this way. She tried to find out.

Could it be because madam Alice was sick? Or was it because she had refused to go and see her? She left what she was doing for a moment and sagged down on a chair. Her legs were weak and her arms were somewhat numb. Before she could close her eyes, she heard a gentle knock at the door of her office.

She squinted her eyes at the door. Who again this time? Could it be the guard? Or could it be Angie? One of them she guessed. “I am coming please.” She answered woozily.

She went to the door and opened it— noiselessly. She couldn’t believe that a diamond could be buried naturally just in someone's eye.

What had she just seen?

She bubbled with consternation and amazement seeing eyes like they were made with special rare blue gems. She had been lucky the eyes weren’t watching hers when she opened the door. It afforded her the opportunity to study Prince Anon's eyes while he was still at the door— looking the other way of course.

She looked at the Prince's almond-shaped lips. Goodness! So these lips had kissed her before right? Or had she forgotten? Why didn’t she remember this? Why didn’t she remember that the Prince had planted a kiss on her the last time she talked to him? Maybe she had been too sad that it made her forgot this beautiful scene. Or was it because something was bothering her that it made her forget it too? Well, she wasn’t sure.

The Prince slowly shifted his gaze to her but she was too engrossed looking at the Prince charming face that she even forgot to look away or at least pretend like she was just opening the door when he turned to face her. Sighting the Prince, her lips parted in surprise as their eyes met.

“G-Good morning, Your Highness.” She stuttered. She glanced her eyes to the side, trying to avoid his gaze.

Wait! Was it morning?

“Good evening, Marie. Are you. . .are you busy?” he asked. His voice was smooth and sensuous and he spoke with a confidence that left his lips in solemn beauty. Marie couldn't stand his smooth confident voice yet she so admired it. “If you are, I would leave now. Maybe I would see you later.” He added.

What? She glanced up to her face only to meet again what she had been avoiding— his eyes. What kind of creature is this? Why was he so cute? Why couldn’t he just be ugly? Or at least be remain handsome with another set of eyes that wouldn’t attract her like this? She watched him blinked. His blinking was very slow. His eyes kind of had this sultry and inviting look when she gaped into them.

“No. No. No,” she said immediately. “Please, come on in.”

She opened the door, and he walked in gently. She didn’t say a word to him, she brought a chair and kept it for him to sit on. Then she stood up just right opposite him.

“You don’t want to sit?” he asked.

“I’m okay.”

“Sure?” he raised a brow. The lines of his brows were like he ran clean brush strokes through them. And it had this well-polished pure black luster that made the brow lines well defined.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “I have been sitting the whole day after all. You don’t need to worry.”

“O-okay. Eh—m, I came to know if you are okay.”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness!” she replied. She avoided looking into those eyes. Looking at them could make her say what she never intended to say, she thought.

“Okay. Anyway, I think I have to go now. Might see you later.”

Go now? Why so soon? What could be the reason why he wanted to leave so soon? Was she the reason? What had she done? Or was it that she was a boring type? She couldn’t keep a conversation flowing. This was the first time the Prince had ever visited her and nobody knows if he will ever visit again. She clearly didn’t want him to go already. So what could she do?

She watched helplessly as the Prince stood up and headed for the door. She watched him as he was almost trying to leave. “I’m sorry your Highness,” she said, panicking.

He turned around slowly. But this time, she didn’t look away. She wanted to face him. Maybe her continuous looking away had contributed to the Prince's decision to leave her office.

“Sorry for?” he asked. He narrowed one eye.

Goodness! Why do they look this sultry? Warm breath ran down her stomach. She managed to pick her breath again. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise to you,” she said. She began to caress her finger. She was nervous.

His eyes widened. He seemed somehow confused. “which promise exactly?” he asked.

“Y-You told me not to come to. . .”

“Oh-Oh,” he chuckled. “What exactly were you doing there, uh? I told you not to come, didn’t I?” he asked.

“Yes. You did but” she snorted. “I just couldn’t stay put.”

She steadied her face into his dreamy eyes as though he was trying to look into his soul. He didn’t say a word but the smile on his face got her confused.

Why was he smiling?

She thought he should be angry with her or perhaps mad. This was not what she bargained for. She had wanted the Prince to hate her because of the action you took but it seemed like the reverse was the case.

“Why couldn’t you stay put?” he asked. It was an incredulous question that would only make her look stupid if she had to tried to avoid it. But how would she answer it? Why would she tell him that she came because she cared?

“I-I just couldn’t stay there. You are a good man, Your Highness and you just didn’t deserve to die.”

“And coming there would have stopped it?” he raised a brow. He pouted his cute lips.

“Coming there would give me the chance to see you again, Your Highness.” She bowed.

He studied her for a while. Hers against his sultry eyes. “Does it mean you cared?” He asked. He shot her a query gaze. He must be eager to know what she thinks.

Marie didn’t know what to say. It's not like she didn’t know the answer but how would she say it? How would she be able to tell him that she cared? She looked at the Prince. His lips opened enough to reveal only his upper teeth. She knew she couldn’t keep him waiting forever.

She finally decided to be courageous. “Yes, I cared, your Highness. I really cared and that’s the truth” she said. “I am more than excited that you came out unhurt from the problem you faced. I thought you would die."

"Seriously?"

"Yes!" she said. "But. . . but there is only but one thing that bothered me. Why did you kill him? I mean why did you kill the knight? Did he do anything wrong to you?" she asked.

“Oh no.” He shook his head. He crossed the distance between them. Marie managed to breathe. The Prince's closeness had totally hypnotized her. He smelt like fresh milk mixed with sweet oranges. “Did you believe that?” he asked. The sound of his voice sounded like he was disappointed. But yet his eyes were seemingly in the highest rate of surrealism

“I don’t really know. Did you?” she asked, she was almost breathless.

He released a deep breath. “I didn’t. I would not kill someone just like that especially when the person is from Zahrin let alone a Knight.”

“Then why did they want to kill you as a punishment for a crime you did not commit?” she asked. “Does it mean you were innocent all this while?” she asked.

“Yes.” He answered straightforwardly. “Listen. There are lots of wolves in sheep's clothing in the palace. The too-good, too-good things you have been seeing around here isn’t as clear as they seem.” He paused leaned, even more, closer to her.

What part of she was not breathing didn’t he understand? He raised his hand and touched her on her cheek. He gently traced his fingers along her jawline. His touch didn’t only send a cold jolt down her backbone but it also made her take in a deep breath from her mouth instead of her nose. She could feel the hairs on her neck stand firm and erect.

“I want you to be very careful, Marie. Especially in your line of work. Just be careful. I wouldn’t want a strap of your hair to get hurt.”

Why does everyone keep reminding her that her work was risky? Why hadn’t she seen this risky part of her job they have all been talking about? If this statement had come from Angie, she would have assumed that Angie said it because she was just jealous of her but this time. . . it came from a Prince. What does she have that he would be jealous of? She just realized that she had to use her tongue to count her tooth— it’s time for her to know who these wolves are, she thought. But on closer notice, why would the Prince care for her this much that he wouldn’t want even a strap of her hair to get hurt? Does he care as he cares about her? She felt incredibly lucky that someone at least cared for her existence, for her well-being, for her happiness. And it was not just an ordinary person but a Prince of Zahrin.

“I will be okay,” she replied. He then dropped her hand from her face. She slowly began to release her breath. It was a good thing he had removed his hand.

He just nodded. “Sure,” he said. “We will talk later.” He then turned and began to walk away.

“Be safe too!” Marie said. It was more like it left her lips instead.

He then turned, nodded, and blinked. The way he blinked with those eyes was like he made them himself—as he created it. He finally left without still saying a word.