I shouldn't have married the Crown Prince

Chapter 14

Cadmael won the laurel wreath but didn't put it on his head. He took it and threw it away immediately which surprised everyone. Seeing this cold attitude visibly pleased multiple people and everyone was talking about Cadmael for the whole day. He immediately came to me and asked about my hand. I smiled:

"Congratulations. You really did progress a lot.

-How is your hand?"

Cadmael saw that I wanted to change the subject but he was just like a little child. He clung to it and didn't let go. He extended his arm wanting to check but without wanting to I suddenly flinched. I was myself shocked and felt horrible. Why did I flinch? Was I this scared seeing Cadmael spare? Cadmael didn't cry which surprised me and asked again if I was okay:

"I'm fine, thank you.

-Will you be able to ride?

-Of course."

He nodded. I already thought about a good substitute for the laurel wreath for the romantic scene with Diana and went to buy a gorgeous bouquet of roses beforehand. I handed it to Cadmael, still smiling. Cadmael didn't take the bouquet and just looked at it bewildered. I wasn't sure that he was still here mentally so I called his name. Cadmael jumped and looked at me completely lost. He was so puzzled that he started stuttering:

"Is this for me?

-Of course. I thought that you might need it."

He suddenly frowned. Did I say something bad? I knew that he wanted to give the laurel wreath to Diana but he couldn't because of the story that I told him. This bouquet was the perfect substitute.

"People usually give bouquets to the one they like. I thought that you wouldn't have the time to buy one with all your training."

I was really proud of my idea but Cadmael's eyes grew gloomier every second.

"You want me to give this bouquet to someone else?"

I nodded excited:

"Yes. To the girl you like."

Cadmael seemed so hurt that I got lost. Was it a secret that he liked Diana? Wasn't I supposed to know? Maybe he felt embarrassed and didn't want to talk about it with me. Did I make a big mistake? But according to the book, this was their first romantic moment. Diana would cherish her laurel wreath for years telling about this memory to her friends with keen eyes. Weren't roses good too?

"I won't give flowers to someone else.

-But...

-I don't like her."

Cadmael didn't say more and left, leaving me alone. I watched his back still bewildered. What did I say wrong? Did I somehow offend him? I sat down and thought about it for a bit. Did he get offended because he didn't think about it by himself or did he feel offended because he thought I was making fun of him? He didn't have the money to buy such a nice bouquet. Maybe he thought that I implied him having less money than me. I felt horrible and wanted to apologize but didn't have the time before the next event.

The horseback riding event arrived and I went to the stables. Being in this situation threw me back to my past life. I remembered all the times I was stressed before a competition. I always had candy on me and would munch on them in a corner way too scared to even move. But once I was on the horse nothing else mattered. I felt free and gave it my all.

Feeling all this again felt really reassuring and the same feeling of freedom soon appeared. Diana told me that she really liked animals and that she was going to be watching the horse riding competition. I immediately spotted her in the crowd, this was the female lead's power. She waved at me and smiled. I returned her wave and gave it my all.

I didn't win the competition but I didn't care. I had a respectable ranking and was more proud for having made it. I didn't want to get off the horse anymore and was very sad when I had to leave the stables. Diana waited for me and immediately complimented me with her usual warm smile:

"You were really great out there, Eschyle.

-Thank you.

-I hope that you are not disappointed by your rank. You were really good.

-I am quite satisfied with today.

-Then I'm glad. Do you want to go for a tea to celebrate?

-With pleasure."

Diana smiled but as soon as I accepted, a third person appeared next to us. I didn't hear Cadmael arrive and jumped in surprise. He was looking at Diana and me with empty eyes and I quickly wanted to explain. This wasn't what he thought! I didn't want him to be jealous! I wasn't in love with his fiance at all!

"Oh, hey Cadmael. We were just talking about the festival."

Diana greeted Cadmael but he ignored her and focused on me. This was getting out of hand. First I offended him and now I was talking alone with his lover. I really wanted to disappear!

"Is this the one who hurt you in the library?"

Diana and I were both stunned by his question. Why was he talking about this? I completely forgot. Diana felt really bad for the past and apologized again ashamed:

"I'm so sorry once again. I was so pissed that I was small and I didn't think it through. I never wanted to hurt anyone."

Cadmael detailed her from top to bottom with a cold gaze. What was going on?

"Don't drag other people in your problems."

My chin fell to the ground. Was he that mad that he didn't get to save her back then? Was I in danger right now? I never would have thought that this child could hurt me but after seeing him during the tournament...

"It really wasn't her fault! She already apologized and she feels so bad about it."

Cadmael's expression looked even worse. It wasn't my fault if he wasn't there. Well he did have to talk to the teacher because he had bad grades due to me not bullying him but it still wasn't my fault. If he wanted to save her that bad then he should have come sooner. I didn't do anything wrong.

"You are defending her."

I felt more and more uncomfortable and couldn't wait to flee as far away as possible from here. Diana was as uncomfortable as me and grabbed my arm:

"We have to go.

-Where are you going?

-To have tea together."

Cadmael was starting at my arm and I froze. She wasn't helping! I really wanted to disappear. Cadmael was going to get even more jealous this way and I didn't know what he would do to me. He wouldn't kill me right? I did teach him the sword that would be really ironic.

"I like tea."

I didn't dare look at Cadmael. What could I do? I really didn't want to third wheel between the two but if we told him not to come he would imagine things. Maybe if he came he would see that there was nothing between Diana and me and calm down? Even better, couldn't I find a reason to let them go together without me? My sister would have found the perfect excuse but I really didn't know what to say so I just asked:

"Do you want to come?"

Cadmael accepted immediately and the three of us went to the closest café. Because of me Cadmael threw the laurel wreath away. Maybe here he could give something else to the female lead and they could still have their romantic moment. As soon as we sat down I thought of a way to disappear and let them have their moment. But for some reason, no one let me go. Every time I got up, someone extended towards me a cake that they wanted me to taste.

At the beginning we were just talking politely about the festival:

"Cadmael, I heard that you won the sparring tournament."

I was very happy that they were talking about Cadmael but for some reason it didn't go the way planned:

"Yes.

-You must be very grateful to Eschyle for teaching you. I heard that you two spent all your mornings and evenings training."

Cadmael folded his arms on his torso with a smile.

"Eschyle is the best master.

-You must really respect him.

-I would do anything for my master."

I didn't like the way the conversation was going and started focusing on my cake.

"Really? How admirable. Eschyle really does deserve the best.

-Something that we agree on.

-Did you see how good he was on his horse?"

Cadmael suddenly frowned which was quite scary. Was it me or were the leads not very friendly with one another? I wanted to take the occasion to disappear but as soon as I stood up both of them turned to me and asked if I was okay at the same time.

"Hum, yes."

Diana was the first one to hand me a plate with a cake. She smiled warmly but something on her face was quite terrifying:

"Taste it. I think you would really like it. I know that you really like almonds."

She shot a side glance to Cadmael who straightened up and handed me another plate with a different slice of cake on it:

"Lemon is always your favorite. This one is very light."

I sat down puzzled. Not knowing what to do I stared at the two plates feeling their gazes on me. They were waiting for something but I didn't know what. The atmosphere was getting weird and I focused on the cakes. The almond cake seemed very appetizing so I tasted it. For some reason this made them all agitated and the atmosphere became even worse. Especially around Cadmael. I really wanted to disappear.

"Eschyle was really gracious on a horse. I am very happy that I got to see it."

Cadmael looked more and more like in the sparring match. I got so scared that I almost choked. Two glasses of water were handed to me and subconsciously I accepted the one handed by Cadmael. It was just because it was the closest to my left hand and I was left handed. Once I calmed down the atmosphere seemed somewhat better.

"Was it because of the celebration that you didn't have the time to come see Eschyle on his horse? asked Diana."

Never mind. Cadmael suddenly seemed really uncomfortable and he didn't dare look at me. Diana continued talking and Cadmael seemed more and more agitated:

"This was the first time Eschyle participated in such a big event. I never would have missed it.

-I didn't miss it.

-Really? I'm relieved. I would never miss one of Eschyle's big moments."

What were they even talking about? I couldn't understand why everything seemed so tense. Cadmael bent forward with a smile that wasn't at all warm:

"I understand that Diana never wants to miss any of Eschyle's big moments because she doesn't get the chance to see him often. Personally I won't ever leave his side. For the big moments as well as the small ones."

Why did I feel like a kid between divorced parents? Diana frowned.

"We see eachother every week."