Chapter 119: Chapter 119
’Don’t let Marianne’s cuteness deceive you, she has her big sister here to deal with a troublesome Prince like you.’ — I took a step back with my still weak legs as I continued to look at his entertained challenging stare.
It was only for the time it took me to write my short comment that our eyes didn’t meet.
[His Highness is too close, it makes me uncomfortable.]
I gave it a little read before shoving it towards him, and, honestly, I felt sad for the guy.
"..."
’To be told this by Marianne no less... Rest in peace, Crown Prince... I wouldn’t survive that.’ — As I energetically unfolded my hand to hand him the note, I lamented his soul’s soon demise.
"....."
The response was as expected, a long dead silence.
’... Yup, he died.’ — His long pause and his frozen stance were more than enough to know his soul left his body.
"... So... I made My Lady uncomfortable... I... Apologise."
’... Huh? You?? Apologise???... YOU?!’
"It was not my intention to incommode my Significant Guest... However..."
Not even a proper step was given and he reached my spot. This time, he didn’t lean over me to finish his sentence, yet, he still struck me with his skill.
"My offer was serious. I wish to... Treat Lady Marianne with utmost hospitality."
If he had said that with his naturally sexy voice the damage wouldn’t be as strong... But...
’Huff... Please, don’t do that!! You hot man!!! This is an abuse of your hotness!!.. Hng..... I’m going to die... He’s too hot.’ — Seeing him tilt his head as his hand played with my post-it notes, apparently disinterested near his face, to then... Give me a smile with THAT face as he stared down at me..... Was too much.
If he goes with that kind of attack this will be indeed a difficult battle... But I won’t lose.
Regaining my inner composure with my strong will, I asked for the return of my notes.
As always, the slow motion was a great plus for our gestures. Even I, who is making these movements, am stunned at the prominence they convey.
I stared at him, relaxing my eyelids so my gaze could show our elegance more maturely, slightly lifting my chin, and giving him a cunning glance only to transmit that I was not simply asking for them nicely... But demanding for them to be returned.
’Come on boy, give them back.’
"..... Lady... It seems to be the case that my sincerity is not reaching you. This saddens my spirit..." — He said as he placed the notes on my awaiting hand, but then, he continued to speak as his fingertips took my little finger between them and slid slowly in its extension not wanting to release it. — "Young Lady..... Have I committed some kind of mistake against you?"
"...!" — I flinched at his unexpected touch, making me flustered by the tickling graze.
’... Uh w-well... I’m actually wondering about that right now... Gulp..... Okay, no. Focus. Don’t fall for it, this is definitely a trap, Eli.’
It’s a relief I am here to experi– to help naive Marianne not fall prey to this player of a prince.
He’s might be an eye candy... but he’s one that might have an acid taste in its centre. Hence...
’I’ll have to make it clear.’
*******
The Lady appeared upset as she cast her gracious gaze on him. The Crown Prince was yet to recover from the blunt response he had received after trying to use his charm on her.
Acting friendly yet confidently exhibiting his desire to not abide by a proper friend’s distance, had ultimately resulted in a direct rejection of their closeness from the seemed Lady.
Furthermore, the word she had employed to express her dislike was: "uncomfortable". Once his eyes read that last word in her message... he felt faint for the first time in his life.
It took him a few seconds to deliberate that, said discomfort, could have been for other reasons besides despise or disgust.
Such realisation did not reassure him, however, it gave Zeleskiaz the force to collect himself as a slight hope emerged within him. Considering for the explanation behind the use of that word is his proximity causing the Lady to feel... that same, nervous and dreamy, sensation the Crown Prince experiences every time with the mere remembrance of her presence... He binds his psyche’s composure to that possibility.
Now, The interesting Lady had shaken his hand, retrieving her odd stack of papers, and had started to write a new one immediately after with no hint of indecisiveness.
The Prince had started to grow concerned about the following words she would declare in her letters, however, within the distress the uncertainty carried, a fluttering excitement was covering his being.
Her amusing attitude, so different to her dainty appearance yet as charming as her undeniable beauty, was so entrancingly fascinating, that even a second rejection would still be entertaining for him.
The message had finished to be written and handing it to him the Lady once again took distance from him, this time going two steps back from her spot.
After watching her do so, the Prince displayed a seemingly arrogant grin at her. Convinced that the contents of her writings would be related to her action, he proceeded to read the woman’s text, prepared to learn her new refusal.
[I insist, Crown Prince. Respect this distance.
I am adamant about protecting my personal space, which his Highness has been intruding on since earlier. I would also appreciate it if you could cease any physical contact that does not involve protocols, for I am not one who enjoys others’ one-sided touch.]
’..... Bloody hell... This woman...’ — Zeleskiaz said inwardly. Irritated at her bluntness, amused at her brazen behaviour, disappointed at her confidence as she wrote such things and... Incredibly dumbfounded at how insanely crazy she was driving him in desire with every little thing she did.
The Young Prince had lifted his gaze from the paper and was presently watching her gorgeous stance portraying admirable empowerment with those maddeningly seductive lashes decorating her deep-set eyes.
Looking at him, nonchalantly from her spot, tilting her glamorous crown slightly to the side, Marianne waited with inner menace.
Yet, her current pose... Was adding length to her sensual white neck, illuminated by the sun intruding into the place gladly intensifying her collarbone’s depth...
The capricious glow was granting her beauteous skin the power to lure him even closer, contrary to the petition she had made.
Zeleskiaz’s heart began to race at the sight. For a fleeting moment, his turbulent mind could not believe how he initially had the intention to restrain himself to the extent of behaving as gentlemanly as the boresome scripts had stipulated a man should behave when a woman as enthralling and majestically tempting as the one standing in front of him was...
Her mesmerizing existence could only lead that delusory motive to imminent downfall from the moment his unbelievably gullible persona discovered even the slightest indication of her presence before him.
’I cannot...’ — He inwardly declared at the sight.
The instant the Crown Prince reached an understanding of his shortsighted expectations, he shortened the distance one last time, immediately ignoring her petitions in their entirety.
Yet, this time, Zeleskiaz had left aside most of his cautious attitude, and was convinced that...
’There is no use... Planning will do no good whatsoever..... My Lady Marianne... My bewitching unpredictable woman... I have no use to give my actions more consideration...’
"... Lady–" — The speed he had skipped to her side, had taken the Lady by surprise.
"...?!"
Preventing her from taking one more step back to separate from him, Zeleskiaz delightedly wrapped his arm around her straightened back, placing his big slayed hand all over her slim back, summoning a blissful heat on it that sent a tremble through his body.
"Lady, I cannot accept your demands... Although I am greatly pleased that you find no delight in others’ touch..... Lady Marianne... I believe... You omitted one of our... Pleasant... Truly pleasant encounters when I asked if you remembered me..."
The Lady’s eyes widened, and the self-confessing flash of light that crossed her gems made her gaze until this moment seem incredibly dull in comparison to the adorable honesty flooding out from their deep smokey hue.
... An endearing honesty that somehow vehemently confirms his guesses.
"Lady... You should forget that blue-haired man’s touch now."
Marianne was in bewilderment at his behaviour. The Prince’s words were too outspoken, his hand holding her back firmly and his body leaning nigher onto her... Had the girl in conflict, not knowing how to conduct herself after locking her sights with the passionate gaze containing the Hyacinth sky with a pulsing crimson aurora that was stimulating the remembrance of the turquoise ones the Prince was telling her to forget.
Unknowingly, their distance was such that her hands were unconsciously placed on him, one on his wide tough chest and the other on his firm shoulder, striving to separate them with the little force the Young Lady barely had.
Marianne’s cheeks ventured to acquire a redden as she gradually became aware of all she had perpetrated that night with the Prince while his grasp became firmer as his hand began to slightly climb her back, kneading it strongly to get her body closer.
They were merely gazing at each other. Therefore, Zeleskiaz leisurely observed her everything with dreamy delight, knowing that the Lady was certainly trying to collect her composure at the unexpected situation.
However... the time came for the lustful man to have no more space in himself to endure the overwhelming desires invading his all.
"My Lady..." — Trailing her slender limb with the tip of his fingers, his hand arrived at that one of hers placed on his shoulder.
Slyly intertwining their fingers with each other, he took the clasp of her delicate hand with desperate reins. And... Tilting it so her gorgeous white wrist faced him, he kissed it with passion, releasing a long heated breath... To then declare with feverish eyes.
"You ought to solely remember myself... and my embrace... Here on forward..... Only I shall stay in your memories, My stunning Lady....."