Time

"You were pouting the whole time," Lumielle said, her lips still placed in a smile as Asterias feigned ignorance. Bright blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight, his fair lashes framing the sapphire jewels. He looked absolutely heavenly—he had also grown taller.

"I'm blessed that the Princess cares enough about me to worry," Asterias hummed, "I'm so touched." He spoke smoothly placing a hand on his chest as Lumielle set down the eclair; why had she even tried to appease him? It would have been better if he was silent. It made Lumielle almost wonder if she had misinterpreted the situation. He looked as he normally did; a bright impish grin on his face and devastatingly good looks.

After placing the eclair down, Aris gestured for her to eat more. He had been watching her habits, sometimes Lumielle forgot to eat—events usually were the worst as she socialized with those around her with a smile and charisma. Aris had noticed that she sometimes skipped meals when she was reading or studying, focused with a book in her hand, she didn't rely on anything else. Lumielle blinked at Aris who gave her a smile, "He's saying you should eat more," Asterias clarified leaning and whispering into her ear.

She could feel his lips tickling her tresses, "He worries unnecessarily." Composing herself, she coughed and Asterias returned back; she hadn't expected him to be so close.

"I don't think that's the case," he hummed, his eyes glinting nefariously as Lumielle's own oculars narrowed. "It's natural to want to worry about you," he said smoothly as Lumielle resisted the urge to scoff and scowl. A smile remained on her face. She was the Crown Princess and in front of others, she needed to show some tact.

Turning, she looked to see Aris demonstrating his magic for Allard and Ruenti. "I am impressed by the Crown Prince's capabilities," Allard commented kindly as Aris smirked, there was self-confidence glittering in his eyes.

"I've heard that Sir Allard is blessed with darkness magic," Aris said, "Could we see?" It was a polite inquiry but one would know better than to deny the next person in line to the throne.

Allard nodded, "If the Crown Prince wishes to see, then I will show him," he responded warmly before standing up. He looked gloriously painted; a dark blue ensemble that matched the hue of his eyes. Dark hair had been brushed aside to expose his forehead as he walked towards her, "May I have your hand?"

Lumielle felt confusion and the bitterness clot her arteries. It cloyed at the back of her throat, a sinister annoyance that refused to leave. "Of course," she spoke, her eyes were warm as she smiled. How vexing. Allard had never peered at her in her first-life was now treating her preferentially. Disgusting. It made her blood boil; was it because of her power? The difference in which she carried herself? Whatever it was, it made Lumielle wish to smack him across his face. Hell was empty and she would have to fill the pyres herself. His hand touched her own, a feeling that she had longed to crave.

"Would you mind if I used my magic on you, Princess?" He asked. His words were low and smooth, the same timbre that he always had. It had captivated her in the past; she had been the one who had wanted to hear his voice tremble. His love became her prized object but she could never have it. It slipped uselessly between her fingers.

"Not at all."

A shadow erupted from his fingers encasing her own. Lumielle blinked, her hand had become encased in darkness—there was no difference, she could feel the slight velveteen caress as Allard took a knife from the table, "I don't mean to startle the Princess." In a flick of a wrist, he drew his blade and attempted to stab her. Lumielle's eyes widened as she squeezed them shut—her heart pounding wildly.

The glinting of the knife and Allard—the sounds of jeering as the common folk yelled for the death of her brother. The heinous words spit towards her as her Aris's head was placed on a pike for all to see. The blade being pointed at her neck, as he glared at her. Pathetic, Allard had spoken, his words glazed with hoarfrost. Cosette's laugh ringing in her ears as she intertwined her fingers with Allard, a smile on her lips as she kissed his cheek. His abandonment, his coldness, his brutality as she was tossed into a cell and beaten by the guards. It all came rushing back. Inhale, Lumielle thought harshly, nails acting like crimson crescent moons.

One. Two. Three. There was no pain, carefully, she opened her eyes to see that the knife had been bent, a twisted angle and the shadow had protected her. Yet, she felt no relief. Opening her eyes, she looked to see Asterias grabbing Allard's wrist, ice sprouting upon the contact. The white-haired male looking objectively serious.

"Did you have to scare my sister like that?" Aris snarled out, his eyes had narrowed as his voice turned icy.

Allard didn't respond. He looked somewhat surprised, "Princess m-" he started but she cut him off.

Her nails had dug comfortably into her palm as Lumielle smiled, "No it was my fault," she said. Animosity thrived underneath a sunny smile, what was he attempting to do? Stab her? Had he always been this moronic? Yet, she kept up her smile. "Sir Allard did warn me after all." She was attempting to be gracious as she stood up, "I'll just be right back." Good, it could give her some sympathy if she left. Her breathing felt light as she found the bathroom with ease. How many times had she been here? Her body seemed to know the walls like the back of her hand. She had been surprised and shaken by a mere table knife? Get it together, Lumielle gripped the sink. Her hand was bleeding as she scowled, the perfect image of a Princess was gone as she looked at the mirror.

Piecing together the fragments of her pride and rationale, she left the bathroom. "Princess," Allard called out, he had been waiting. His posture seemed awkward as he fiddled with the buttons on his sleeve.

"Yes," Lumielle said smiling, she didn't wish to waste her time with him. He was nothing more than a nuisance.

"I apologize for before. I didn't think before I acted," Allard said his words sounding sincere. Maybe he was being honest, he was just a child after all. Then again, children became beasts. Lumielle knew better than to think meekly of the son of Salvatore. He had been a key contributor to her death. Everything was a calculation. Everything was another move of chess across a slick monochromatic board.

Lumielle controlled her annoyance, "No, I understand. I was the one who overreacted," she said. A lie, Lumielle should have made him get on his knees and grovel for his life. Indeed, she had been bothered by his actions. How had she fallen so deeply for him? Cosette had whispered so many saccharine ideas into her ear, desperately attempting to cajole her deeper into love. If Lumielle gained his love, Cosette purred with a smile, she would be the happiest woman in all of Endora.

That was all it took. How foolish she had been. Searching for love from others.

"I thank the Princess for her benevolence," Allard said bowing his head. He was taller than she was even in heels. It was something she had adored about him, her height feeling almost small compared to his own. Another complex that she had developed due to Cosette's appearance. At first, she had gotten along with the female as best as she could, but her anger and jealousy twisted everything. Rightful envy—Cosette had taken everything and done so with malevolence.

"There is no reason to be grateful. Aris was the one who asked for a demonstration."

"The two of you seem quite close."

"He is my one and only brother," Lumielle clarified. She felt awkward speaking to him. She didn't want to be alone with him. She placed her hands behind her back, her fingernails digging into the palms of her hands. Aris was her one and only brother; the only person that she trusted in this whole forsaken world.

"I see." For once in her life, Lumielle did nothing to try and keep up this conversation. She wanted it to wither away and end. She didn't wish to indulge any further. "But, how did you find the bathroom, Princess?" He asked, tilting his head. She had no maids, no escorts, and still, someone found the bathroom.

"Women's intuition, is there anything more that needs to be said?" Lumielle said smoothly as she gave him another plastic smile. Would he leave? Why was he acting like this? It made no sense. Allard had never tried to converse with her when she was begging for his love. Was he the type of man that liked the iciness of a woman?

"You're going to be debuting in society this year, aren't you Princess?"

"I am," Lumielle said, words clipped.

"Would you do me the honor of escorting you?"

She could taste iron on her tongue; the bitter taste of blood as her nails dug deeper into her skin. What type of nonsense was he asking? Now, after all this time, he was coming to inquire whether or not he could escort her? Was it the difference in power? Lumielle and Aris's public image had become much better as they went to the clinic that she had built; with Vera helping her in high society, women became kinder to her. Aris was becoming known for his swordsmanship with Rowan, one of the best swordsmen in the country being his guide.

When she had wanted his love, he had given her a cold expression. Tossed her inside of a cell and left her to the guard's mercy. Knowingly abandoning her to the abuse, he hadn't given an iota of care for her. Yet, now he wanted to escort her? Revenge. She knew that she had to take it. Lumielle knew that this was all for the sake of hurt; she should hurt him just as she was hurt back. Yet, she felt tongue-tied.

There were no words that escaped her lips.

"I didn't know you were here," Aris said as he smiled at his sister before turning to Allard. Her brother had come, he walked closer to Lumielle. The female's back was against the wall, Allard a couple of steps in front of her. There was no hesitation as he stepped in front of the lilac-haired girl causing the Grand Duke's son to fall back. "I apologize but my sister already has an escort." It won't be you—that was the expression he was wearing as Lumielle quickly covered up her brother's hasty expression.

"I haven't publicized it but I do have an escort, I thank you for thinking of me, Sir Allard."

Allard gave a nod, "I see. Then I apologize for asking." He was still as stoic as ever. Even when denied, he didn't even seem to care. That was right. He didn't care. He only did it so he could have the prestige of bringing the one and only Imperial Princess to the debutante. This cursed event—she was already despising it and now she hated it even more.