I woke upte today. That''s why I haven''t had a decent conversation with my parents and Brother Pascal after my suicidal attempt.


    They also didn''t wake me up like they always do. They probably think I still need to rest because of my wounds. So, here I am in our Garden, thinking about what will happen next.


    Although I already heard my parents agree to it, I still want to hear it from the both of them. I still want to have a conversation with them and apologize for what I did. I know I have hurt them for what I did, and I want to apologize for that.


    If I only had other choices, I wouldn''t want to put them in that kind of pain. But that''s the only way I think of to save the engagement of Csille.


    I sigh and continue cutting the dried leaves out of the flowers. I am currently in the garden, trying to rx.


    I don''t want to go out because I don''t want other people to see my wounds. My parents and all the people who knew what happened kept the secret from anyone. Because they know it will affect Csille''s image.


    What will other people say if they know that Csille Lauretré tries to take her life because of Prince Fraser? I''m sure they will paint her as a desperatedy.


    Well, she is, but that will be in the future. It''s too early to paint her a desperatedy.


    I was startled when someone spoke behind me. I look back and find our butler with a letter in his hand.


    "Forgive me for my interruption, but a letter from the pce just arrived right now, and it''s named to you."


    I frowned when I heard what he said. A letter from the pce? Is it from his majesty?


    I take the letter from the butler and inspect it. I didn''t expect any letter today, and it''s even from the pce? What''s this? An invitation?


    Does his majesty want to see me today to talk about what happened in the western region? Or does he wants to talk about what happened between Prince Fraser and me?


    I open the letter and true to my expectations it''s really from his majesty, and he wants to see me this afternoon. He didn''t specify the reason why but he said he wanted to talk about something important.


    What is this important thing his majesty his majesty is talking about?


    I put the letter down and sighed. I guess I need to visit the pce this afternoon, so I will know what it is.


    "Miss, is it an invitation from his majesty? Should I inform the Count and the Countess about this?"


    Inform Mother and Father? I would like that, but they are still mad at me, aren''t they? Will they reallye with me? Also, if I bring them with me, isn''t this an opportunity for them to cancel the engagement with his highness?


    "Miss?"


    I hand the letter to the butler. Although it is not directly mentioned that I should bring my parents, I think his majesty would appreciate it if I bring my parents with me. After all, the engagement was a deal between my Father and his majesty. It''s better if they are the ones who''ll talk things with his majesty.


    I will just make sure to make them see how decided I am to still marry Prince Fraser.


    "I should call the Count and the Countess then?"


    I didn''t reply to our butler and continued cutting the dried leaves. I was gone for half a month, and it seems like they didn''t take the dried leaves from my nts. And here I thought they were taking good care of them.


    "Miss?"


    I wave my hand at the butler. "Just do what you think you should do. Call me if you need anything. I''m just in the Garden."


    "I understand, Miss. I won''t be taking too much of your time. If you need something, just ring the bell with you, and the maids will take care of your needs. Also, Master Pascal reminds me not to let you move your hand too much, or it''ll bleed again. He said he''ll check on you at lunchtime. If you''ll excuse me, Miss."


    I just nod my head at the butler and continue what I am doing. After taking all the dried leaves from the carnation flowers, I look up at the sky and sigh.


    I guess this will be another long day for the Viiness.


    ________________________________


    Mother holds my hand tightly. We''re currently on our way now to the Pce. The Butler decided to call my parents because he thinks I will be needing their help when talking to his majesty.


    "Are you anxious, my dear? Your hands are cold. Do you want us to cancel our meeting with his majesty? We can tell him that you don''t feel okay. I''m sure his majesty will understand it."


    I look at Father, and it seems like he disagrees with Mother''s suggestion, but he remains quiet. He is probably afraid to go against Mother.


    A lot of people probably think that Father is the decision maker of the Lauretré Family. But they are wrong. Mother is the one who decides for the Lauretré Family. That''s how Father loves Mother that he always let her decide ever since they got married.


    But Mother isn''t the controlling type. She always makes sure to listen to my Father''s suggestions and weigh what''s better for everyone. It''s the reason why Mother and Father are still so in love with each other because they respect each other.


    It''s also because of the respect that they really don''t want to marry Csille to Prince Fraser.


    Mother noticed where I was looking, so she pped Father''s arm. "Why are you looking like that? Can''t you see our daughter''s condition? She''s wounded, and Pascal already said not to let Csille more around. So, what''s wrong if I wouldn''t let her see his majesty? Do you not care about our daughter?"


    Father scratches his nape and pout at Mother. "My Countess, don''t misunderstand me. I''m just worried that we''ll offend his majesty. You know how offensive it is to cancel a meeting with his majesty—"


    Mother res at Father. "And do you think his majesty will take it against us if we didn''t meet him today? Our daughter doesn''t feel good. What do you want to do about it? You want to disregard what she is feeling? Is that what you want to do, huh? Waltier Lauretré?"


    Father looks so pitiful right now. He looks like he wants to refute, but he knows he cannot refute or else Mother will be mad at him. It''s the only thing Mother won''tpromise. If it''s something about her daughter, she won''tpromise with Father.


    I hold Mother''s arm and shake my head. I appreciate my Mother''s concern and Father''s anxiety about his majesty''s anger. But I already decided to meet his majesty today. I want to know what he wants to say to me.


    "Mother, that''s okay. I''m actually curious what his majesty wants to talk about. Also, I need to talk to his majesty about my engagement with Prince Fraser too. I need to exin things to him."


    Mother and Father seems like they didn''t like what I said, but they just avoided their gazes at me.


    I sigh. It seems like they were just forced to agree with me because of what I did, and I feel bad for them. Mother and Father only want the best for me, but here I am, not appreciating their decisions about my life.


    I''m sorry, Father, Mother. I''m really sorry.


    ________________________________


    The usual warm greetings from his majesty are nowhere to be seen now. We are now currently inside his majesty''s library. We have been sitting for a few minutes already, but his majesty isn''t saying anything to us. He is taking his time brewing tea.


    I look around the library and sigh silently. It seems like what are going to talk about is really important that we didn''t talk to the Garden like we usually do.


    What does his majesty want to talk about?


    A moment after, his majesty finishes brewing the tea. He then coldly ask us if we want some tea.


    Mother and Father look at each other first before they ept his majesty invitation. While I remain observing his majesty.


    His hands are quite trembling as a sign that he is anxious right now. I have never seen his majesty tremble even a little ever since Ie here.


    What makes him so anxious? He is usually calm and always smiling at us. But now it''s the opposite. He has a nk expression on his face. That''s why I couldn''t read him.


    Is he mad? Is he upset? Is he sad?


    "Csille?"


    I immediately raise my cup and bow my head. "Thank you for the tea, your majesty."


    "You''re wee. Although my tea couldn''tpare to your tea, I still hope you like it."


    I just smile gratefully at him and drink the tea. We all drink our tea in silence. It seems like no one wants to start the conversation.


    A moment after, his majesty puts down his teacup and looks at me. "Csille, your hand... What happened to your hand?"


    I look at my hand before I look at Mother and Father. "This?" I raised my wounded hand. "Some unfortunate ident happened yesterday, so I end up being wounded. But don''t worry, Brother Pascal has already taken care of this for me. I just need to rest for a couple of days, and everything will be okay."


    His majesty nods his head. "Csille..."


    I immediately sit up straight and look into his majesty''s eyes. "Yes, your majesty?"


    I anxiously y with my fingers. I really feel anxious right now. I just hope everything will turn good in the end.


    I heard his majesty sigh. "Why didn''t you tell me what is happening between you and Prince Fraser?"


    I clenched my fist. I didn''t expect he would ask me straightforwardly. But I forgot he is the King of the Vrawyth Kingdom. He doesn''t waste his time.


    I take a deep breath before I look at him. "Your majesty, I didn''t tell anyone about it because I don''t want to make thingsplicated. Also, Prince Fraser doesn''t always treat me like that. What happened in the western region is just a rare urrence. He was just not in the mood when it happened. That''s why I didn''t take it against him. You know more than anyone else how Prince Fraser treats people. He might have a temper at times, but you know he doesn''t mean it that way."


    "Csille..." Father tried to say something, but Mother immediately stopped him by ring at him.


    His Majesty looks at me for a couple of seconds before he sighs. "I didn''t expect you would still defend him despite what he did to you. Although Fraser is my son, I would never tolerate this kind of behavior, and even if you said he has a temper, I still think it''s not enough for him to disrespect you or anyone around him."


    I bowed my head and didn''t say anything. How can I refute that? His majesty is Prince Fraser''s father. He knows his son more than I do.


    I heard his majesty sigh again. "I call you here to apologize for what my son did. I know my apology isn''t enough because I wasn''t the one who did that to you, but I still want to apologize. Actually, I didn''t expect he could do that to you, and I never me you for not exposing Prince Fraser''s actions. I know you only care about the Astalieu''s reputation, and thank you for that."


    I look at his majesty and shake my head. How can I let his majesty apologize for something he didn''t do?


    "You''re majesty..."


    The King just shakes his head and smiles at me. "Let me say sorry, Csille. I was too busy running the monarch that I forgot to teach my son how to treat people with respect."


    His majesty then looks at my parents. "Count, I know you''re mad at my son, and I couldn''t me you. If I had a daughter like Csille and I heard someone disrespected her, I would be enraged too. So, I understand if you will cancel Csille''s engagement with Prince Fraser. Dame Csille deserves someone who''ll treat her right."


    My eyes widened when I heard what the King said. What? Did he say that he would cancel my engagement with Prince Fraser?