Vision Of Ardiane

MEMORY 2: Beginning Of Our Tale (Pt.2)

Unexpectedly, he hands me a glass of water. "Please have some water. You look pale, Lady Airis."

I glance at the glass and hesitate. He did attempt to kill me last night and mention he needs to eliminate my existence. What if it's poisoned?

Perhaps noticing my hesitation, he let out a sigh and places the glass on the night table beside. "I apologize again for last night. I didn't realize I was crossing the line."

I grasp my blanket tightly. Again, the unmeaningful fake words. Anger, mad, and upset. Those are the feelings I'm currently oppressing from bursting.

'Hah, don't joke with me. Didn't realize you were crossing the line? Does he thinks drawing a sword aimed at a person's neck isn't crossing the line?! Is a person's life so trifling to you?'

Despite my eagerness to slap that all straight into his thick-skinned face, I remain calm. My life is more important. Even though he's in our manor, that doesn't mean he can't kill me right now. I better confirm he's not here to kill me.

"Why didn't Your Highness kill me?" I daringly ask.

"As I said before, I mistook you for a spy. There's no reason to kill you."

"How are you sure that I'm not a spy?"

"The Absalom bloodline swore an eternal blood oath to the imperial family. If any of you betrayed us, you would cough out blood and die. But you didn't cough out any blood nor die, so that's enough proof." He casually shrugs as he explains.

"Ohh…" I reply in a low voice. Guess my life is safe. Well, for now. "May I ask what happened last night, Your Highness?"

He fixates his gaze on me, arms crossed. "After you fainted at the balcony, your handkerchief with the duchy's crest fell along. I took you home after I've confirmed your identity."

I nod in acknowledgment. His gaze is still directed to me as if waiting for something. Is he expecting a thanks? Hell no. You're the reason I'm lying here.

"And… I think I should take full responsibility since I have caused your neck injury." He adds a bit of guilt in his voice.

"Is that why Your Highness is here?" I ask, though my intention is to insult him. So this arrogant prince is aware after all. He halts for a second before answering.

"…Yes and no. I'm also here for the information you know."

'Just tell me directly you want to know the mastermind behind Amira and Zane's death.' I roll my eyes sarcastically while looking down in case he would see.

"Your Highness meant the mastermind of the murder, correct?"

"Indeed, yet considering your condition right now, I will come by another time after you have fully recovered."

He stands up, intending to leave. No. He can't leave – not yet. As if my hand understands and moves on its own, I pull his sleeve, signing him to sit down.

'I need to draw the deal now. The crown prince election is 3 months. There's no time to waste.'

"Is there anything you want to say?"

"About yesterday-"

"Pulling the sleeve of an imperial could give you prison for a year." He cut me, looking down at his tugged sleeve. I pull my hand back, freeing his captive sleeve. Don't tell me he's pissed just because of that?

"But I forgive you this once for I have caused you to be lying in bed right now." He straightens his sleeves, sitting back down.

"Your Highness, I don't mind talking about Her Highness Amira and Prince Zane's murder now, but under one condition."

"Which is?"

"Make a deal with me."

A long sigh comes out of his mouth. "The deal you had been bringing up about last night?"

"Yes."

"What's your proposal?"

"I'll make you the next emperor."

He freezes for a second with a surprised expression, then a laugh echoes the whole room. "Hahaha! And what do you want in return? The empress' position?" He asks in a mocking tone, assuming that I want power.

"No. In return, cover me. I want to travel around the world." I answer seriously despite being ridiculed. He bursts into laughter once again. My palms slowly curl into a fist from this rude attitude.

"I thought you're mature considering your status, but you're no different from the fool you are last night, Lady Airis." He says, finally finishing that very unmannered laugh.

Hearing that, my blood boils from being on fire. Oh, really. If not for the fact that I need him, he'd be a corpse buried in the ground being eaten by bugs after this. Fool, he says? Says the middle-era prince to a successful 21st-century girl.

"Is Absalom's wealth not enough? I'm sure the duchy's wealth is more than enough for you to travel the world."

"It's not like that, Your Highness. What will people say if the duke's daughter carelessly goes traveling here and there? I never wish to tarnish my family's name."

"Then, what do you want me to do?"

"Cover all my expenses and appear my travel from 'traveling around' to 'completing the emperor's orders'. Besides, I don't want to use the duchy's money.