"You said you will talk to his majesty about my living arrangements. Why are we going to ask him for his blessings for a marriage?" Lucinia hissed as they walked into the empty hallway. She could feel her own anger vibrate through her words. However, she was forced to lower her voice as she maintained a smile on her face.
"You are a proper woman. I wouldn't dare invite you to my simple abode without a marriage of some sort," he responded with a smile before he winked at her. "Moreover, this is for the best."
Her face darkened when he used her own words against her. However, when he thought about Zach and his involvement with the witches, the frown on her face eased.
"I have asked everyone to send their gifts. So, you don't have to worry about that anymore."
"Why would I worry about gifts?" she rolled her eyes. "Can you stop holding my hand?" she said.
"Why would I?"
"Because I asked nicely?" her lips primed. This man seemed to love arguing with her, always teasing her every single time. And while a part of her was irritated, a part of her couldn't really use her ability to hurt him.
"Then… No." He gave her a cocky wink and a confident smile. Her brows knitted into a frown, but she didn't say anything. In the past few days that she had been with Mo Li, she realized that he wouldn't do anything that she says and would always act like he knew her better than she knew herself.
It wasn't really something that she hated, but she found it irritating. She inhaled a sharp breath, helplessness flashed in her eyes. She had been asking him about the previous world, but Mo Li always changed the topic and would only say that he wasn't allowed to break the rules of the universe. In the end, the conversation would turn into an argument with him teasing her until her face turned red, and she was about to explode from anger.
Sometimes, Lucinia wondered if she killed this man in the past. She wondered what was he like. Was he this irritating too? If he was, then, it was very likely that she killed this man because of anger.
"The Duke and Princess Lucinia have arrived!" A knight who had served the king announced their arrival as he opened the door.
Lucinia immediately smiled. However, this smile didn't last too long when she noticed the Queen sitting next to the king, and Prince Gavril and Kuzma sitting on the long rectangular table. Prince Gavril's blood-red eyes focused on her. She didn't miss the glint on the villain's eyes. The obvious resemblance between the Queen's blond hair towards his son's hair immediately made her dislike the two.
Of course, she already had unfavorable opinions towards Prince Kuzma while she was somewhat intimidated by the Villain's presence.
"I heard that you wanted to have my father's blessings for a marriage?" Prince Gavril was the first one who broke the intimidating silence. He looked at Lucinia's red dress, his nose lifted on the air. Funny how Lucinia could actually smell the arrogance from this man.
"Yes." The Duke's unrelenting gaze was enough to make the Prince avoid his eyes. "I am indeed here to marry the Princess."
'Duke Mo… with all due respect, I don't think this marriage should happen." Prince Kuzma immediately chimed in. "You and the Princess…"
"Is there something wrong?" This time, Lucinia spoke. First of all, she wasn't really on board with this marriage. She wasn't even aware that they are going to marry each other today! However, seeing this lunatic act like this made her blood boil. "Why can't I marry him?" Her narrowed eyes immediately shut Prince Kuzma's mouth up.
To be honest, even Lucinia was somehow surprised to see this man here. After what happened in their previous meeting, she was surprised to know that this prince doesn't fear her as much as she expected him to.
"Well… you two haven't really known each other too well. I believe this decision is somewhat rush." The Queen spoke, she smiled at Lucinia, but she didn't hide the malice that hovered in her eyes. "I know about the accident. And I also know that you were badly hurt. I understand the anger and the need to attract everyone's attention. But just like everyone this phase shall pass soon."
"So, you think this is nothing but a phase?" she sneered, her lips set in a grim line. "And it would pass?" Who would have thought that the Queen would actually treat her like a teenager?
"Of course! You are quite young. You will soon realize that throwing a tantrum like this would not give you any benefits."
"I see," Lucinia nodded. "So… my interaction with his Highness Kuzma was considered throwing a tantrum?" Compared to their ages, Lucinia was indeed young. But for some reason, these people's need to control her was making her angry.
Everyone inside the hall turned silent. They could say yes to her question, but what if she would suddenly kill the Prince and say that it was nothing but a tantrum? By now, everyone in the room knew that the Princess had lost all the patience that she once showed to everyone.
"That— That was different. The Prince had actually made a mistake in provoking you."
"Well then… as much as I would like to waste everyone's time, I am actually a very busy man." The Duke's mellowed voice interrupted the conversation, a smile was dangling on the Duke's lips as he looked at the silent King. "Your majesty, I am not here to talk about what is proper or not with irrelevant people. I am here to asked for your blessing for me to marry your daughter."
The smile on the Queen's face instantly vanished as it slowly turned into horror and anger. She was about to say something when she suddenly felt a little pressure on her chest, enabling her from saying anything. She turned her attention towards the smiling Lucinia as her horror morphed into fear.
