Chapter 20
1194 Words
It ended up becoming such a huge mess. Lord Erik had to come over, I handed the prince to some servants and followed him. It was the second time I had given custody of the prince to a high ranking noble. I hoped there was no third time.
“You scared me, disappearing like that, Miss Greycastle.”
You scare me more. Why do you have that?
“I’m sorry my lord. I wanted to prevent an incident but it still happened.”
I sighed, remembering what had happened.
“Don’t worry about it. Thankfully, the servants had time to prepare. Calling you over was impromptu so I would’ve embarrassed myself by not being prepared. Thankfully, that wouldn’t happen.”
He stretched a hand, his intent obvious. However, after what I had seen, the thought of taking his hand once more didn’t sit well with me.
“Like I said, my lord, there is no need for that. Please, lead the way.”
“I’m hurt you’re refusing to take my hand, Miss Greycastle.”
“You’re a man with a fiancee. You cannot touch other ladies any how you want.”
His eyes turned turbid at the mention of his fiancee.
“I do not have one anymore.”
“Pardon?”
“I cancelled the engagement. She didn’t possess the manners befitting a future duchess. You however...”
What?
“Clearly my lord is joking about that. I am just a commoner who serves in the palace. How can I have manners comparing to a noble lady?”
“True, you are nothing compared to them. However, there is something compelling about you. I believe it surpasses things like a noble bearing.”
Gods, this man is going mad!
I laughed awkwardly, looking away. He dropped the issue of holding my hand and just asked me to follow him. A few steps later, my awkwardness had all but disappeared.
Retaining threads of my caution, I take a proper look around. The greenhouse was beautiful. The flowers and plants were properly taken care of, each section producing a beautiful aroma. It felt so blissful, being lost in a haven of beautiful flowers and enticing scents.
For a moment, it felt like all was right with the world.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Y-Yes...” I mumbled, blushing. We had already arrived where we would have tea but I was still standing, enjoying the flowers. He drew out a chair for me to sit and only took a seat after I did.
A fragrant odor wafted from the table before us. Biscuits and cones were arranged neatly on the snack platter, tea served just beside it. It was all good but why did it seem like he was courting me?
“Lord Erik, why are we here?”
The hand carrying the teacup paused, blue eyes snapping to me in surprise. I’m sure he wasn’t expecting me to be direct but to be honest, I wasn’t comfortable spending one more minute in such a house. Just thinking any of those things could go off at any moment... I couldn’t bear such a thought.
“I just wanted to have tea with you.”
“Oh...”
“I also wanted to get to know you, Miss Greycastle.”
“Oh...”
What was once a graceful atmosphere was now punctured with awkwardness. I began to wish I didn’t enter that room. It was preventing me from having a good conversation with a handsome gentleman.
“Miss Greycastle, what seems to be the matter?”
“I have something to burden you with, a riddle of some sort.”
“Oh.”
I could see his interest peaked. Riddles weren’t my forte but I just had to ask why he had something like that.
“This is something I heard from someone a long time ago so I might not be able to say it well.”
“Please Miss Greycastle, go ahead.”
“Okay. A wealthy merchant once chanced upon a box of treasures on his voyage. There was a note saying the treasure was cursed but the merchant ignored it, taking the treasure back on his ship. On his voyage back, his ship was caught in a storm that threatened to capsize it. The crew had thrown everything heavy overboard and there were two things left; the treasure and a box that weighed the exact same. Which one should the merchant throw overboard, my lord?”
“The other box of course.”
“So, my lord didn’t consider the warning that the curse of the treasure is responsible for their predicament?”
“Miss Greycastle, a merchant, is a person that has to take risks. If merchants believed in every warning or fled at every risk, then we wouldn’t be able to move forward.”
“Is my lord perhaps a person who braves danger?”
“Yes. I sometimes find it thrilling.”
“I see...”
He has them intentionally.
“I wouldn’t put you in any danger, if what I said scared you”
“I am only scared his highness would be put in danger.”
“... Miss Greycastle, why do you care for Prince Miyon? Is it because of Prince Kron?”
“It’s nothing like that. I was ordered by his majesty to take care of the prince so I’m taking it seriously. Besides, he’s a child and all children need to be cared for. To treat him carelessly would be vile.”
“Interesting...”
“How so?”
“You speak as if you know nothing about his history.”
Here we go again.
“I naturally don’t. Nobody was kind enough to inform me.”
“Ah, it’s probably best.”
“I would like to know, especially who his mother is.”
“That’s what I don’t want to tell you.”
“Is it Queen Moriah?”
“Amazing deduction but she’s not his mother. His mother is her servant.”
Wait, what?! Is that why they kept calling him a bastard?
“His majesty apparently r***d Queen Moriah’s servant. When she found out, she was furious and confronted his majesty. The result was well... both were erased. The mother of that child is dead.”
King Mival... r***d a servant? He had several wives and concubines, beautiful ones in fact. Why would he stoop so low... Just how horrible was he? He even went as far as erasing the evidence.
“You look shocked. I know the citizens believe him to be kind and benevolent but the truth remains that all men are greedy.”
“... Including you?”
“Yes,” he replied, staring straight into my eyes. I diverted my eyes, picking up my cooling tea.
- Writer
