DISLIKING THE MALE LEAD

CHAPTER 6

As Ara Bella's gaze met the stranger's face, she couldn't help but be struck by his breathtaking features. His face was a masterpiece of perfection, with features that seemed to be crafted by the gods themselves. His black hair was like the night sky, dark and mysterious, while his golden eyes shone like stars in the darkness. His nose was sharp and defined, his lips full and inviting, and his jawline was strong and chiseled. She felt like she was gazing at a work of art, a masterpiece that took her breath away.

For a moment, she forgot to breathe, her eyes locked on the stranger's face as if mesmerized by his otherworldly handsomeness. She had never seen anyone like him before, and she couldn't help but wonder who this mysterious stranger was.

"Your Highness! Princess Eliana!" When she heard the maid's voice again, she seemed to snap back to reality. She stood up and took off running. She didn't pay attention to the stranger, who was left looking bewildered.

Ara Bella's feet pounded the ground as she sprinted towards the hidden path, her heart racing with excitement and fear. She was almost free. The forest loomed ahead, a dense thicket of trees that would swallow her whole and hide her from the palace guards. She was so close, just a few more steps and she'd be gone. But then, a horse's hooves thundered on the ground, and Ara Bella's heart sank. Duke Henry emerged from the trees, his face stern and unyielding. "Where do you think you're going, Princess Eliana?" he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I believe this is not the way to the front door of the palace."

her eyes locked onto Duke Henry's, her mind racing with thoughts of escape and deception.

"Are you planning to escape your responsibility, Princess?" Duke Henry's gentle tone belied the piercing nature of his words. She felt a pang of guilt and frustration.

"Is that all you're capable of contributing to the Eldrid Kingdom?" His question hung in the air, taunting her. "Are you still angry with the royal family for abandoning you?"

Was she still angry? As Ara Bella listened to Duke Henry's words, she felt a surge of sympathy for the young princess who had been abandoned in the forest at such a tender age. She couldn't fathom why the royal family would do such a thing, leaving a helpless child to fend for herself. Her anger towards the royal family grew, fueled by her sense of justice and morality from her own world. She didn't have any personal memories of the past, but she knew that abandoning a child was wrong, and she couldn't help but judge the royal family for their actions.

"Just think about it, your life will make more sense when you're in the Terra Kingdom, compared to living in the forest, hidden from the world forever." The Duke continued.

The thought of being bound to Prince Calcion and the Terra Kingdom was suffocating. Ara Bella's resolve hardened. She would find a way to escape this fate, no matter what.

She forced a carefree smile.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just taking a stroll and enjoying the sights. I'm still marveling at the beauty of the palace garden," she lied. Duke Henry's piercing gaze made her feel like he could see right through her, but she maintained her composure. "Don't worry, I have no intention of leaving the palace. Where would I go, anyway? I'm still not familiar with many things, so it's unlikely I'd be able to manage on my own if I left," she added, trying to sound convincing. But in reality, she was seething with determination. She was an independent woman, and if she ever managed to escape, she'd thrive on her own, thanks to her magical space.

"I think it's time for me to return to the palace, Duke. Have a lovely day," she said, forcing a polite smile. With a brief nod, she took her leave, her heels clicking on the stone floor as she made her way to her bedchamber. Once inside, her expression darkened, and she clenched her fists. She summoned the head butler and instructed him to inform the King that she wouldn't be attending the meeting with the Prince due to illness. The head butler nodded and hurried off to deliver the message.

"Your Highness, you scared me half to death, thank goodness Duke Henry found you," Emma said, her voice laced with concern. She combed through her long, silky hair.

Ara Bella remained silent, staring blankly in front of the vanity mirror. If Duke Henry hadn't stopped her, if only she had managed to slip away, she would have been outside the Eldrid Kingdom by now, enjoying her life as an extra in the n*********d, far from the constraints of royal life and more importantly, far from Prince Calcion.

"Your Highness, you need to get some rest, your coming of age ceremony is tomorrow, and it's the day you'll be officially introduced to the nobles as the Royal Princess of the Eldrid Kingdom." Her fists clenched. Was there no way to escape this fate? She was certain she would see the male lead she despised.

"I want to rest now, Emma," she said to the maid.

"Okay, Your Highness, sleep well," the maid replied with a smile, bowing slightly before turning and leaving the room.

As the maid departed, Ara Bella settled into her bed, her gaze drifting to the ceiling. "If I'm stuck in this palace with no escape, I'll have to confront him sooner or later," she thought, her mind simmering with resentment. "And when I do, I'll make sure he knows the fury of an anti-male lead," she vowed, her anger boiling over. "To whoever is pulling the strings in this world - the author or the goddess Mirake - you'll be sorry for casting me as Princess Eliana. Your precious male lead won't get any mercy from me."