I''m still sleeping when someone knocks on my door. I groan and re at the door.


    Who has the guts to wake me up? It''s still early in the morning. I look at the clock hanging on the wall. Or not. I immediately get up with wide eyes.


    Holy moly! It''s already nine o''clock in the morning? I immediately stand up and dress myself. Yesterday, after the conversation I have with Princess Paislee, she was called by Prince Fraser. Shees back with the news that we will continue our journey today at seven o''clock in the morning. But why am I still sleeping in the inn of the Illorian City at nine o''clock? Did they leave me?


    I immediately dress myself up. I wear a long sleeve turtleneck dress. I also wear a shawl to cover my face, and only my eyes could be seen. I look at the luggage at the side. It''s a good thing I already packed my thingsst night.


    "Lady Lauretré?" I look at the door. "This is Bernarl. I''m the one you met on the street of Illorian city. Remember when you told me you went inside the alley?"


    Oh! I remember now. He is the reason why the elders and the Great Ruler visit us in our inn. But what is he doing here? Did the Great Ruler take back his words? I immediately shake my head. It''s impossible I didn''t write about a war between Illorian City and the Vrawyth Kingdom.


    I walk towards the door and open it slightly so he could hear what I would say. The door only works one way. Only I could hear what is happening outside, but they couldn''t hear what was happening inside.


    "Yes, I remember you. But may I know what are you doing here?" I ask nervously. I already have problems. I couldn''t afford to have another one.


    I heard someone him sigh. "Lady Lauretré, the Great Ruler, ask me toe here. He wants to ask for your permission."


    Permission? I try to remember what permission this guy is saying. What permission? That even the Great Ruler is asking me for it.


    "I don''t understand what you are saying. Maybe you''re mistaken. What permission?"


    "Oh, don''t worry, Lady Lauretré, it isn''t a huge thing. The Great Ruler just wants to ask if he coulde to visit you. He was worried when he received the news that you''re sick. He was supposed toe here yesterday, but he heard that you don''t want to see anyone other than the son of the Royal Physician of the Vrawyth Kingdom. So, he wants to ask if you could give him permission to see you."


    What? The Great Ruler is asking me to give him permission to visit me? What? I was so shocked by the news that I stare at the door for a few minutes.


    "Lady Lauretré? If you don''t want to, I could tell it to the Great Ruler. I''m sure he would understand and respect your decision."


    "No, no. I''m sorry, I just couldn''t believe the Great Ruler would ask me for permission. But of course, he could visit me. I just hope he wouldn''t mind seeing me in this state."


    "You don''t have to worry, Lady Lauretré. I''m sure the Ruler Laird wouldn''t mind that. He''s so worried about you that he didn''t get enough sleepst night. I''m sure he would be more than happy to see you if you''ll excuse me. I''ll be heading out first. I need to inform the Great Ruler about the good news." He then walks away happily without waiting for me to respond. I still want to ask him why I am still here even though they know that we were supposed to continue our journey this morning.


    I didn''t expect the Great Ruler to be this concern to me. But I''m happy he is. I am about to close the door when an arm suddenlyes out of nowhere and stops the door.


    I frown and immediately hides my body behind the door. I put my weight on the door so that person couldn''t break into my room.


    "Who are you? What are you doing outside my room? Get your hand away from my door." I snapped at the person. I didn''t see the person''s face because the door was only slightly open enough to make the air pass through the door.


    "It''s me."


    I immediately froze when I heard that very familiar voice. It''s Prince Fraser! But what is he doing here? I thought what I''ve told him before is already enough for him not to visit me again.


    I took a deep breath. I don''t know how to deal with you, Prince Fraser. I already sacrifice my own face so that I couldn''t interact with you, but here you are. "What do you want, your highness?"


    "Csille, can Ie inside? Please," he said in a pleading voice.


    I internally groan. What do you want, Prince Fraser? Can''t you see I''m avoiding you? Why can''t you read between the lines? I thought you''re smart, but why can''t you understand what I am trying to say to you?


    "I''m sorry, your highness, but didn''t I already told everyone that I don''t want anyone to see me right now. Please respect my decision, your highness."


    He got silent for a moment. "Even I? Even I Csille? I am your fiancé. Do you think I would care if your face is full of rash or swollen? Do you think I''m that shallow? You will always be beautiful in my eyes. Always. Even now." I heard the pain in his voice. He must really felt offended when I ask him to stay away. But it''s the only thing I could do. For everyone''s sake.


    "I''m sorry, your highness. I know you wouldn''t mind, but I do. I don''t want other people to see me like this. So, I''m sorry if you feel offended about it. Please, also understand my situation."


    I heard himugh bitterly. "So, I am other people now?"


    I sigh. I''m sorry, Prince Fraser, but I''m only doing what I should do. "I''m sorry, your highness. I''m-"


    I was shocked when he suddenly cuts me off. "Don''t your highness me, Csille. You know how much I hated it when I heard it from you. Also, don''t think I didn''t notice you''re avoiding me. Why Csille? Why are you avoiding me?"


    I sigh. I knew it! Sooner orter, he will definitely realize what I am trying to do, but I didn''t expect that he will realize it this early. He is definitely how I write him. Smart.


    "I don''t understand what you are saying, your highness."


    "Bullshit! It''s Fraser, Csille. It''s Fraser. Why can''t you say it?"


    "I don''t understand what you are saying, Prince Fraser. I don''t want to see you not because I''m avoiding you but because of how I look right now. Rufus and Leander probably told you what my current condition is. Please don''t misinterpret what I am doing. I am doing this because I don''t want anyone to see me like this and nothing more."


    "And you think I would bite that? Why didn''t you talk to me when you return to the Illorian City?"


    "Didn''t Rufus and Leander told you my reason? I thought you know why," I sigh. "I didn''t see you because I was anxious on how I will tell Great Ruler the news that I didn''t see his daughter inside the alley. I''m worried he would be mad because of it. I was worried he would use that as an excuse to wage war on the Vrawyth Kingdom. Is it wrong to prioritize the safety of the whole Kingdom?"


    "But why didn''t you wake me up after your conversation with him? You know I would dly wake up just to talk to you. Do you know how much worried I am when you enter that alley. If only I could apany you there, I would. And do you know how happy and disappointed am I when I knew your return but didn''t bother to talk to me?"


    "It''s not that I don''t bother, but I heard from Leander that you didn''t sleep for almost a day. Of course, I would be worried about your health. We could talk after you take some rest. That''s the reason why I didn''t look for you because I want you to take some rest. What will we say to the King if something happened to his only heir? Is it wrong to worry about your health? Also, I was too exhausted, that''s why I decided to sleep first before I talk to you. I didn''t realize I fall asleep too much that I only wake up in the morning."


    I heard him sigh. "Csille, do you hate me? Is it because of what I said and done before you enter the alley? Is it because of it?"


    It''s not because of it. Well, technically, it is, but at the same time, it''s not. I didn''t avoid you because of what you said. It''s because I''m afraid you are already straying from your own character. You cannot have feelings for Csille, Prince Fraser. You could only fall in love with Princess Paislee and no one else.


    "Prince Fraser, please, don''t make it difficult for me. I don''t hate you. Why would I hate you?"


    "If you don''t hate me, then why don''t you face me right here, right now. Can you do that, Csille? Can you face me?" I could hear frustration from his voice.


    "Prince Fraser, please. I already told you my reason why I didn''t want you to see me. I already told you my reason why I didn''t look for you first when I return. Why can''t you understand that I am not avoiding you? Can''t you respect my decision? I don''t really want you to see me like this. Please," I said with a pleading voice.


    These two leads are making my life difficult. Why don''t they flirt with each other and leave me behind? All I want is some peace. Can they not give it to me? Is it too much to ask?


    Also, I didn''t realize that Prince Fraser has many not so desirable traits. First, he often gets mad for unknown reasons. Second, he won''t listen to me because he thinks he is right and what he said is the truth. Why did he turn like this? When I write him, he isn''t like this. Or is it because he is still young, so he tends to have immature traits?


    "You want me to believe that reason? Then let me see you. I want to see you. It''s been days since thest time I saw you. I want to see you, Csille."


    I mess my hair out of frustration. What would I suppose to do with this overly smart guy? "Prince Fraser, please respect what I want. Although I really want to prove it to you but I cannot. Also, if I am really avoiding you, do you think I would talk to you right now? If I''m really avoiding you, I would have mmed the door immediately when I first heard your voice."


    That goodness, I didn''t do that. At least I could make it as an excuse. I just hope this Crown Prince will bite this bait. Please bite it. Bite it.


    I heard him sigh. "Okay, I wouldn''t push myself. But I want you to know that I''m happy you''re back and that I was worried about you. But I guess you don''t need me."


    He stopped talking, and I heard some movements outside before I heard some footsteps walking away from the door.


    I immediately sigh. I thought he would push himself toe into my room. If that happens, I don''t know what will I do. I slowly open the door, and I immediately saw a flower


    Red carnations? The flower of adoration and admiration, but it also means missing someone you adore.


    I am about to take it when I heard someone talk. I immediately look up and saw Prince Fraser standing in the hallway facing his back at me.


    "You didn''t want to let me see you, but you let the Great Ruler see you. I''m disappointed at you, Csille." He said disappointedly before he walks again. I look at him until he fades away from my sight.


    I''m sorry, Prince Fraser.