Chapter 4

Calix's POV

These past few days, I noticed that whenever we bumped each other whether, in the hallway or garden of the academy, she immediately ran away from me. Am I that scary in her eyes? what makes her ran away from me? I admit that we didn't have a pleasant introduction but still that doesn't have to be scared of me, wait! scared? is she...scared of me? What is this tingling feeling that I feel in my chest? why do I feel that I should explain to her that she shouldn't be scared of me?

"Your Highness is there something wrong?" Gin whispered. We currently in the middle of class.

"Nothing. Hey Gin..." I have to know! Do I have to know why does she run away from me? as if I'm going kill her, at first she refused to be engaged to me, then she ran away from me. Am I hideous to look at?

"Yes, Your Highness?" Gin answered.

"Am I unpleasant in your eyes?" I asked. Then suddenly Gin stands up and holds my face as if he wants to crush it into pieces, it gave me a suprised and his face is somehow unbelievably close to my face and shock at what I just said. I smacked his head and kicked him, we are in the middle of class, you dumbass! I get back to where I sit and while everyone is in a state of shock, Johaness won't stop laughing at his sit and the teacher is currently scared of what I just did, he might think that I might kill him because of his boring lesson, but I won't. Because if I did, I won't be here at this damn Academy, but I have to follow my Father's order, he ordered me that I need to attend this Imperial Academy, even though, I have few private tutors at the Palace. Still, the only reason he said to me is that she is here, so I should also be here. Ugh! why among the ladies, why that brat? There are times that I don't understand what the Emperor's thinking, even if he is my father.

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...END OF CALIX'S POV...

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In the classroom of Selena

Julie approached Selena at her table. Currently, Selena is thinking in deep thoughts, as Julie approaches Selena, she was mesmerized by the beauty and the ray of the sun touches the hair of Selena's hair that gives more glamorous and shine like a jewel of Amethyst. However, deep inside of Selena she is thinking of running away or hide far away to a place where could never be found. From the outside people saw her as the beautiful, elegant, fairy and jewel Lady Selena of the ducal household of Ascania but deep inside her head is very stressful and poor thing Katrina trying to escape her cruel death.

"Selena?" Julia finally calls the attention of Selena away from her daydreaming.

"ah~ Julie, sorry I was just thinking, you were saying?" Selena looked at Julie flawlessly and Julie was stunned at what she saw, she kneeled in front of her while holding tightly her chest then Selena was shocked at what she witnessed what Julies did. Selena is worried that there's might be something wrong with Julie.

"J-Julie?! are you alright?"

"Why?" Julie mumbled.

"Huh?

"Why miss Selena is so beautiful and you look like, No! you are a goddess!" Selena turned into stone. She worried about nothing about Julie, Selena sighed and giggled at Julie.

"You are exaggerating," Selena said.

"Oh! that's right, Miss Selena, the sword battle is about to begin at the training ground, last time we didn't get a chance to see your brother." Selena looked at Julie then dragged her out of the classroom and run towards the training ground where elite male nobles hold a battle with their sportsmanship. They've arrived at their destination by the moment they arrived the battle was already begun and finally, Selena saw her brother, from afar she was mesmerized by the look of her brother. The cold face and fiercely look with the handsome sweating face where a lot of ladies fell in love with, the silver hair and eyes just like mine, but his eyes are that can pierce through your heart once you look at it.

"Julie, is that my brother?" Even though Katrina can see the memories of Selena, the memories of her brother are nothing but blurred.

"Yes, Miss! isn't he so handsome with his cold and fiercely look? a lot of ladies are asking him out" Katrina thought that it is crazy for the ladies to think to ask him out, which is supposedly men should do that.

Selena froze for a moment for she saw that her brother's eyes met hers, then not for any longer her brother remove his gaze to his sister, Selena already knew that this will happened because she knew that Selena's brother hates her after their mother gave birth to Selena.

"That's strange, wasn't the young master saw you, Miss Selena?"

"Let's go, Julie." Selena left the training ground then Julie followed Selena to where she is going. Along the way, Johaness saw them walking away then he smirked eventually followed Selena.

Selena's POV

I left the training ground after what happened, however, What was that?! I know that he is Selena's brother but isn't he too much arrogant? he saw his sister, does a simple greeting will hurt his pride?! I know he saw me back there, still, he acts as if he didn't saw me. Ugh! My blood is boiling! I want to kick his *** and do a karate kick on him, if I did that let's see if he could stand and act arrogant as he did! Without knowing, I end up here in the garden where no one used this place. I've been here before with Julie, later then Johaness showed up and the aide of the crown prince, Gin is with him. I looked around and Julie was nowhere to found, I must be walking too fast she loses sight of me. I wonder where she could be?

"It is nice weather isn't Lady Selena?" I heard a voice coming from my back and I know who is it already because there no other voice that could sound like Johaness.

"Sir Johaness, what a surprise, we met again," I said, while sarcastically smiling at him.

"You can call me John like you did when the first time we met." He said. Flirting as usual, but that doesn't work on me, he may use his charms to those ladies who fell in love with him, but I am different from them. Johaness is walking towards me, and I cannot run to where I am, at my back there is a large tree, and I couldn't find a way to escape. Come to think of it, Whenever I saw him or that snubber prince I always end up running away from them, so I have no choice just to run away from them. However, right now, I am pissed, totally in bad mood because of that arrogant brother of Selena!

"Gotcha!" Without noticing, Johaness is already in front of me and his right arm is slammed at the tree, is this what they call Kabedon? I tried to go to the other side but his left hand slammed the way that I was about to run, now I don't have anywhere to go!

"uhmmm, sir Johaness why are you in front of me?"

"Hmm? I wonder? I really want to get to know the young lady perhaps?"

"sir Johaness-" I was about to say something when he suddenly lifts my chin to look up closer to his, I was flustered at what he did, I don't know how to let go of his grasp.

"Call me John, Lady Selena. And I want to ask you a favor" Favor? more like a threat to me! Oh, God! help me away from this person! I will be a good child to you! I promise! I won't be obscene anymore!

I don't want to be-!

"Can you be my friend?" Kyaaa! wait, what? did I hear him right?

"Eh? what do you???" I have no idea what is happening right now!

"You see, I want to be friends with you since you seem to be on guard with me and run away as soon you saw me or Calix. So I want to be friends with you." he is smiling but I don't know what he is thinking at all. but, why does he want to be friends with me?

"Don't you have friends? why do you want to be friends with me?" he's stared at me then suddenly smile, when he smiled the flow of the wind gets stronger, and the branches of the tree dances whenever the wind blows. Just now, I realized that his hair is like the color of the leaves, green as an emerald and his smile as bright as the sun. However, behind that bright smile hides a dark past. He did mention that he is the second son of Count De La Rosa, as I remembered when I played the game, each male that fell in love with Adelia had a side story, when I saw Johaness side story, I realized something, he is like me. He is lonely, he felt that he was alone all the time so he seeks attention and warmth from the touch of a person and waiting for someone who stays by his side. the Count's madam loses her life to an accident, it was a carriage accident and the only one who survived at that time was Johaness. No one knows what happened but one thing for sure, after that incident, the count and his older brother change their treatment towards Johaness, they blamed everything on the young Johaness, even he blamed himself, I wonder how did he handle everything until now? he might be suffering so much. To be honest, I am harsh towards him that I ran away from him, how awful a person I am. I want to be his friend even if he is one of the male characters that hold grudges and hate against Selena for hurting Adelia, he still needs someone to be his friend, I know for sure that when he grows older, he will be successful and everyone adores him but that adoration he received from people is nothing like a love he wants from Adelia, Without noticing, I reached out my hands and touch his warm and smiling face, it gave him a surprise.

"Then I will be your friend, John" I smiled at him and his eyes were somehow shock but relieved, I think. after that we sat down under the tree then eventually after few minutes, Julie arrived and saw us sitting it gave her a shock and almost fainted when he saw John sitting beside me, after that, the three of us talked all the time, I realized that it is not that bad, but why do I feel like someone is throwing glares behind my back? or was it only I feel? weird.

"I really had a great time with Lady Selena and Lady Julie. Hope we can talk again if it is alright with you." It is already time to say goodbye. by looking at the eyes of John it seems like he doesn't want to go. I giggled and smiled at him.

"See you tomorrow, John." His eyes were delighted and we went along our way. We were on our way to the dorm, I've been here for many days, and I must say I find it comfortable to be here instead of being at the Duke's palace. The nobles are given a choice whether they want to stay at the imperial academy or they want to go home with their house, but me, I want to stay here, and my roommate is Julie, that first I was given a solo room just because I am a duke's daughter, but it so sad to be alone so I asked the head if I could my room with Julie, they permitted it right away, I don't have any intention using the ducal power but it is useful with this kind of situation.

"Sir Johaness, is handsome, isn't he?" the eyes of Julie are sparkling while looking at me.

"Did you fall to John already?" I teased Julie and her face is already red in flush. while going up the stairs, my room is on the third floor of the Imperial Dorm, along the way, we bumped into the three minions of Selena, I didn't know that I will bump them ever again, they are glaring at Julie so I stand in front of Julie because she is scared right now.

"It's been a while lady Ascania, We were wondering what are you doing lately, and it is kinda disappointing that seeing you together with that commoner" she is mocking Julie for being a commoner.

"Lady Ascania, you are a lady from a ducal household, you should socializing with other nobles, not to a rat one like someone."

"We would like to invite you to a tea, the tea room is already prepared, so let's go, Lady Ascania." Looking at Julie she is trembling in fear, her head is lower down and as if she is going to burst into tears.

"Let's go, Lady Ascania" Ugh! what a pain! these girls get on my nerves.

"I wonder, since when the Viscount's and Marques's Daughters became powerful than the daughter of a duke?" I said. I walk towards them and gave them a deadly smile.

"Since when my family became lower than yours? or do you perhaps forgot who you talking to? are you challenging our household? well, let me introduce myself again, I am the only daughter of duke Ascania from the Ascania ducal household, Selena Ascania. and don't you dare mind any business with my affairs, my people, especially with my friends. You ladies don't have any right to discriminate against other people like that, even if you came from a noble family So, let me ask you again, do you still want to challenge me? challenging me is considered challenging the dual household " They flew away after what I said, it is good that they know how to be scared, I don't want to use the Ducal power, but is quite useful for this kind of situation.

"T-they are right, Miss Selena. you shouldn't be spending your precious time with someone like me. I'm sorry that I bought you shamed!"

"Why do you listen to that kind of comment? It is up to me whom I want to be with, and I want to be with you because you are my friend, am I your friend?" I use my puppy eye then eventually she gave in, she stops crying then she nods and we just laugh. When we were about to go on our way, someone calls my name at behind me, when I turned around it was the Crown prince, Calixious. What does a prince doing at this hour in a lady's building?

"Greetings, Your Highness" Both I and Julie gave greetings to that snubber prince.

"Let's talk," he said while looking directly at me. I pointed a finger at myself and he just glared at me like I did something wrong. Why does he need me to talk to him? I told Julie that she can go straight to our room while I followed the Prince outside, he was walking too fast and I am already out of breath, then thank goodness he stopped walking. We are in the garden where John and I talked a while ago. I wonder why we are here? why does he suddenly want to talk to me?

"Your Highness, May I ask what do you want to talk about?"

"You! both of us are already engaged by the Emperor, and you are flirting someone in daylight, have some manners, Lady Ascania" What? huh? what is he talking about? why on earth is he angry about it? both of us know that we don't want this engagement, and I already said that I will not be going to be married to him.

"what do you mean, your highness?"

"Father, wants us to attend the royal banquet. But I guess you already have someone in your mind, seeing you enjoying your moments with a man. I don't care if you want to play around, however, let me remind you, don't drag my name with your childish games" I suddenly got pissed, ugh! seriously! these people, who do they think they are?! who the hell he is talking about?!

"Your Highness, please be mindful of your words didn't I already reject the engagement between us? I made myself clear with the Emperor, and I don't see any reason for us to talk about this again, and No I am not, is my answer to your assumption, I am not flirting with other men, if you saw me together with John, he is only asking me something, nothing more and nothing less " I said, then he stopped, what a surprise, I thought he will put a fight about it and why do I end up to explain myself to him?! then he took deep sighed while scratching his head with annoyance.

"Are you...alright?" he said, although he said it in low voice, I still can hear him since it is just the two of us here, so I can perfectly hear him.

"Ah! if you mean a while ago, when those ladies confront us, no need to worry, I handle it without fault." I proudly said. I wonder why he asked me that?

"Perhaps, are you worried about me?" I teased him.

"Why would I worried about someone like you? we are just engaged, but we don't love each other. don't think such things" hearing those words, hurt my heart, was it because this is Selena's heart? she still loves the prince after all of that. I sighed and suddenly felt broken. I shouldn't have asked that question, what do I expect the prince to love me anyway? such childish wish.

"Exactly, your highness, if you excuse me it is already late at night, I must be on my way." I turned around then he suddenly holds my hand.

"Let me walk you back." He said. I must say that I am surprised however, I don't want to get this feeling into consideration, just because I am at Selena's body that's why I'm feeling like this, there's a part of me saying that I want him to walk with me, but at the same time, I don't think that it is right. So, I have to decline his offer. I let go myself from his hold and said;

"No need, your highness, just like you said, there's no love between us, so I don't see any reason for you to walk me back. So then, good night your highness." I turned my back on his then be on my way, walking under this cold and full night goes along with my heavy heart.

Calix's POV

"Perhaps, are you worried about me?" Me? worried about this woman? don't be stupid, we are just engaged with no love, so why do I asked her if she is alright? I must be going mad.

"Why would I worried about someone like you? we are just engaged, but we don't love each other." I said unintentionally when I said that I looked at her, and her face is somehow...sad. I just said things that I shouldn't. Why do I feel like that I should be consoling her? why do I feel this?

"Exactly, your highness, if you excuse me it is already late at night, I must be on my way." When she said that I ran at her then grabbed her hand, it already late at night, a proper lady shouldn't be walking late this night.

"Let me walk you back," I said. Looking at her eyes is not like what I saw back then, her eyes right now are not glowing rather it is dark and dead, her hands are cold as a corpse, was her hand always like this? and was she so thin like this as of she is not eating properly! was it because of what I said that's why she is like this? she swayed away from my grasp, and I am annoyed at what she did...wait? annoyed? do I want to hold her hand for too long? why do I seem so disappointed that she let go of my hand?

"No need, your highness, just like you said, there's no love between us, so I don't see any reason for you to walk me back. I don't want you to think that I am using this opportunity for you to love me or give affection to me. So then, good night your highness." Then she left just like that. I was stunned, to be honest, I don't know what to say, I don't know why she said that? It's not like I'm going to blame her or tell her anything. Why do feel so heavy in my heart? I don't know myself anymore, the more I see her, I feel so different, why do I feel this kind of feeling which I shouldn't! this is annoying! why do I feel irritated when I saw her with Johaness back there? Calix, you know you shouldn't feel anything about her affairs!

"Your highness, it is getting late, the night is cold." Gin appeared nowhere.

"I know" I let this night go since I already talked about my early graduation to the head of Imperial Academy, that I don't have to waste my time here. by then, I don't have to see her.

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......TO BE CONTINUED......

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