Chapter 20

3rd Person Pov

Avyanna was startled seeing the first prince who was smiling brightly. Her heart started to beat rapidly.

"What... Are you doing here?" Avyanna asked with a composed smile.

"I'm here to deliver donations. I just passed by here. How about you?" Riley asked back.

"I was called here and I'm on my way back." She answered sincerely.

"Really? Then, shall we go together?" The prince asked gently.

"Uh." Avyanna was about to reject the offer but changed her mind. Avyanna thought since they had met here, it should be time to cut ties with him already.

"Okay. Sure." She nodded her head.

They went to the entrance of the temple, and there was Avyanna's carriage.

"I'll be going with the Prince. Head back first."

"B-but, Miss.." Fear was on the coachman's face. Avyanna taps his shoulder and smiles.

"You don't have to worry. I'm sure they're quiet on the ground now. I assure you." Avyanna confronted.

"O-okay. I shall head first then, Miss."

The coachman drove the carriage and Avyanna turned her gaze on the Prince.

"Shall we get going?"

"Okay." Riley guided Avyanna in his carriage.

Inside, they were quiet as no one would even dare to make a noise.

Avyanna is organizing her thoughts on what to say and what the Prince's questions will be and how she will answer them.

"My Lady."

"My Lord."

Both of them were startled as they talked at the same time.

"Y-you go first, Lady." Riley said, showing an awkward smile.

"This may be rude, but... I'm sorry." Avyanna bowed her head in front of Riley.

"My Lady?"

"Right now, I want to---"

"No. Not him!" 

A soft voice echoed inside of Avyanna's head.

"Not him.. please." 

The voice begged in a soft voice. It was gentle and nice. No malice can be detected in the tone of the voice.

"What do you...mean?" Avyanna asked the voice in her head.

"Please don't... Avery. I'm begging you." 

"Lady Brooke?"

Avyanna snapped back into reality, and she shook her head.

"Ah... You see..." Avyanna bit her lower lip. "I want to distance myself from you for a while."

"Why? Is there something wrong?" The prince asked with the smile slowly disappearing from his lips.

"I'm currently.. Ah! How do I say this." Avyanna pulled on her hair. "I want to cut ties for a moment. Just until after the delegation!"

"The delegation? It's still six months away." The Prince said.

"Y-yeah... C-can you do that?"

"Okay. I understand."

Avyanna was relieved at Riley's response. But she's still confused about the voice telling her to stop.

"Do you have something to do after this?" Riley suddenly asked.

"Hm? Yeah. I need to attend Lady Royal's birthday." Avyanna answered without hesitation.

"Royal..? Yelena?" Riley couldn't believe his ears. He didn't know the two were already close. "W-when? Isn't she harassing you anymore? Well, it's not like I'm--"

"Hmm. I know." Avyanna smiled, which left the Prince stunned.

The whole ride was quiet and peaceful, with no interruptions.

♡♡♡

"Thank you for the ride, Your Highness." Avyanna bent and bowed to Riley.

"It's nothing." The man smiled sincerely. "We'll have to meet after the delegation then. I'll be waiting, Lady Brooke."

The carriage of the prince drove away, and Avyanna was left looking at it.

The sun has already set, and Avyanna's thinking that the party has probably ended too. It's not necessary to go to the party now.

"Miss!"

Diane ran to her mistress after she saw the carriage of the imperial palace stopped by the gate.

"Diane, it's great that you managed to come home. How was the party?" Avyanna patted Diane's head while smiling.

"It was fine. Someone asked me to dance and they didn't care if I was an attendant!" Diane's eyes sparkled, and that made Avyanna relieved.

"I'm glad you had fun."

Diane quietly smiles as she feels the hands of her mistress patting her head.

"Let's head inside."

♡♡♡

"She didn't come after all!"

Yelena has a discomforting feeling as the maids undo her hair ties. She should be happy on this day, but there's something inside her that has a very unpleasant feeling.

"Who are you referring to, My Lady?" Maylene asked, the personal maid of Yelena.

"As far as I saw, all respectable ladies were present." Another maid said.

"Tch. It's nothing." Yelena clicked her tongue.

She rests her chin on her hand while her face has a bitter expression.

The maids finished undoing her hair.

"Miss, are you going to open all the presents tomorrow?" Maylene asked again.

"Yeah." She answered without care.

"Then, how about this box that you've been holding throughout the party?"

Her ears twitched and then she turned her head to Maylene, who was holding a small box.

'That was her gift... delivered by her maid.' 

"Leave it."

Maylene, with a smile, placed the box with care on Yelena's table, and then she walked out of the room quietly.

Yelena, who was left in the room, took the box and opened it. An exquisite purple gem was inside. It was small, but it was shining brightly.

She took the necklace out of its box and admired its beauty. It's beautiful, but it's not her taste. She was about to put the necklace back inside the box, but she stopped and ended up wearing it.

She didn't know why. She looked in the mirror and looked at the necklace on her neck.

"Ugly." She rolled her eyes and went to her bed.

She sat on the edge of the bed, and she seemed to still not feel sleepy, although she danced, talked, stood, and walked all day.

She dragged herself out to the balcony, where a very cold and strong wind welcomed her. She tightly closed her eyes on the thought that dust might get into her eyes.

"Ah.. Lady Royal..."

Her ears twitched, and she naturally opened her eyes and raised her gaze. There was a person floating.

It wasn't dark because the moon shone brighter tonight. Somehow, it seems like a fairy tale.

She saw the face of the person who was looking down on her from up there.

"Lady Avyanna?"