Chapter 339 : His Reasons


    We used two carriages for the tour, and I used to sit with Prince Fraser and Prince Joachim throughout the whole journey. However, on our way home, I decided to exchange seats with Princess Paislee and sit with Rufus instead.


    I couldn''t stand the awkwardness inside the carriage. The two Princes, Prince Fraser and Prince Joachim, only talk for a couple of minutes and bes silent the whole journey. That''s why I decided to exchange seats with Princess Paislee. I would rather stay with a bbermouth like Rufus than be with the two Princes.


    Also, that gives me a way out. Prince Fraser needs to bring Prince Joachim home, while Rufus needs to bring me home. That means I won''t be seeing those two again for today. "It''s the first time today that I see you smile. Did you have fun, Csille?"


    I roll my eyes at Rufus. I had fun? What is he talking about? I was happy because I could now be at peace, but I knew I couldn''t tell that to him. "I was just happy that I can now rest. I''m exhausted, and I still need to work for tom—"


    Rufus frowns at me. "Csille, you know that this tour isn''t a one day tour, right?"


    I immediately look at Rufus. What does he mean by that question? I nod my head. "Of course, I know that. His majesty mentioned it at the banquet that Prince Fraser will need to clear his schedule for a few days. So, I know it''s not just a one day tour. But why do you need to ask that question?"


    Rufus frowns at me. "But if you know, why do you still say you will work tomorrow?"


    I frown. "What do you mean by your question? Of course, I will work tomorrow. I have a Foundation to run, remember? Do you expect me to take a rest again?" I frowned when I noticed where we were going. I shake my head and tug Rufus'' arm. "No, no! Don''t send me to our house. I still need to check the Foundation. I also probably need to work on a few documents tonight. I''m worried Mister Bertrand had difficulty taking care of those."


    Rufus frowns, but he asks the coachman to stop for a while. He then looks at me. "Csille, you''re still nning to work? Aren''t you tired? Also, I think Mister Bertrand handles the Foundation well. He works with the problems in the monarchy. Do you think he will have difficulty running a Foundation? So stop worrying and take some rest, purny. You''ll exhaust yourself if you continue doing that. I''m sure the Count and Countess will also get worried if they know what you are doing." Rufus shakes his head.


    I heave a sigh and look at him. "Rufus, I''m not worried that Mister Bertrand cannot handle the Foundation. I know he will. I''m just worried that it will be too much for him to do this. You already said he works in the monarchy. Why would he even bother working in a small Foundation?"


    Rufus flicks my head. "Are you saying that Mister Bertrand is the kind of person who looks down on people''s jobs, Csille?"


    I let a frustrated sigh. "That is not what I am saying, Rufus. Can you please stop putting words into my mouth? I know what kind of a person Mister Bertrand and I would never think he could say something like that. What I am worried about is..."


    Rufus cuts me off. "That you don''t want to bother people with your work? Is that what you want to say?"


    I nod my head. Rufus really knows what is in my mind even before I could even say it. "Don''t get me wrong. I appreciate Mister Bertrand''s help because I''m sure it will benefit the Foundation. However, I just don''t want to bother anyone. I decided to open this Foundation on my own, so I think I should be fully responsible for running it."


    "You still don''t understand how things work, don''t you?" Rufus shakes his head. "Purny, I know you only want to be responsible, but there is nothing wrong with epting help. You cannot handle this Foundation alone. It''s like how a King runs his Kingdom. He cannot run it alone. He needs his advisers, nobles, and people to run the Kingdom. If the King isn''t ashamed of epting help, why would you?"


    I heave a sigh. "I understand what you are saying, but we cannot set aside the fact that Mister Bertrand is a busy person. I even heard from Father that he often works until evening just to do his job. I just don''t want to interrupt his own work just to help me. I am not refusing any help, Rufus. I will dly ept Mister Bertrand''s help if I know he isn''t busy. However, we all know everyone in the monarchy is busy because Prince Fraser''s birthday ising soon. I just don''t want to waste anyone''s time. I can handle the Foundation. For now..."


    Rufus looks at me for a couple of seconds before he sighs. "You are really a stubborn person, aren''t you?"


    I chuckle at his response. "It''s as if you''re not." Then I look around. "Can you please send me to the Foundation? I will just check on it." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Rufus heaves a sigh and asks the coachman to maneuver the carriage in the direction of the Foundation. A moment after, the carriage stops at the already closed Foundation. The guard immediately walked to the carriage and opened the door for me. "Good evening, Dame Csille. It''s a good thing you are here. I thought you wouldn''t return to the Foundation. Someone is her—" His eyes then wander to Rufus, who is sitting beside me. His widened for a moment before he immediately bows his head. "Greetings, your highness, Prince Rufus. I apologize. I didn''t immediately see you."


    Rufus smiled at the guard and got down the carriage too. I look at him and frown. "Aren''t you going home now?"


    "And what? Leave you alone? Who would bring you home?" He looks around. "I couldn''t see the Lauretré carriage. Do you expect me to let you go home on your own? I couldn''t do that, Csille. What will the Count and the Countess say if I let you do that?"


    I was about to say something when someone cut me off. "You shouldn''t worry about Dame Csille''s safety. I will take care of my own fiancée, Prince Rufus. So, I think it will be best if you go home now. I''m sure the Duke and the Dutchess are waiting for your arrival."


    I immediately look back and find Prince Fraser walking toward me while staring intently at Rufus, who is standing beside me. What is this guy doing here? Isn''t he supposed to be sending off Prince Joachim? So, howe he is in the Foundation? I feel someone lean on my ears, "Dame Csille, I apologize. I got distracted with Prince Rufus'' appearance that I forgot to inform you that his highness, Prince Fraser, has been waiting for you for a couple of minutes now." I hear the guard say.


    I feel Rufus'' body tense up for a couple of seconds before he answers Prince Fraser. "I was the one who brought her here. I think it also my responsibility to send her home."


    Prince Fraser stares intently at Rufus. Although he isn''t ring, I can still sense the tension in the way he looks at Rufus. "Responsibility? Since we''re already talking about responsibilities here. I should be the one responsible for Dame Csille. After all, she is MY fiancée. Don''t you think so?"


    Rufus takes a step forward and res at Prince Fraser. I immediately hold Rufus'' arm and shake my head. I don''t think it''s an excellent idea to refute against Prince Fraser. Not that I agree with Prince Fraser, but because I think it will not solve anything. In the end, his rtionship with Prince Fraser will worsen if he does this, and I don''t want that to happen. Rufus looks back at me and my hand that is holding his arms. I shake my head at him. "Rufus, no! Don''t do that!" I whispered to him.


    But he shakes his head and stares at Prince Fraser. Then I heard him scoff. "And now you are being responsible for Csille? Where are you when she needed you the most?" Rufus scoffs again. "Oh, I forgot you were the first person who reprimands here, right? You even embarrassed her in front of other people. But now you have the guts to say you are responsible to her? I know you have a temper, your highness, but it will never be enough reason for you to disrespect her. So, don''t preach what you can''t do."


    Rufus then looks at me. "Csille, go ahead and check what you want to check. I''ll be waiting for you here."


    I was about to say something when I saw Prince Fraser walking towards us. He tried to get near me, but Rufus immediately blocked his body. "Not tonight, Fraser. I might tolerate you with other things but not this."


    I couldn''t see their reactions because Rufus was taller than me. I can only hear their voices, and by the tone of Rufus'' voice, I can definitely hear that he is already angry at Prince Fraser. He even dropped the Prince title and called Prince Fraser by his name. That means he was really enraged already. I panicked a little when I had sensed that things were getting worst as time passed. I need to do something now to stop them. I couldn''t let them argue here. If someone sees them arguing in front of me, this will definitely be a huge issue. I tried to tug on Rufus'' shirt, but it seems like he was ignoring me. I was about to tug his shirt again when I suddenly heard someoneughs. It''s not the happy kind ofugh but more like a tauntingugh. "What''s this? Are you using Csille to go against me because you know you are losing her?"


    My hand that was holding Rufus'' shirt got frozen when I heard what Prince Fraser said. Losing her? Is he talking about Princess Paislee? Don''t tell me the reason why he did all those things today is because he wants to make Rufus furious? The reason why he was sweet with me the whole day is because of the petty argument with Rufus? Because he knows Rufus will be enraged if Rufus sees Prince Fraser being close with me while he is still winning Princess Paislee''s heart?


    I take a step back and scoff. I couldn''t believe Prince Fraser would be this cruel. To use me so that he can make Rufus furious. He didn''t even think about what will I feel if he ever did that. I know he doesn''t care about me but to do something to this extent is something I couldn''t ept. How can he do this to me? What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment from him? Is it because of Csille''s past mistake? But I already apologize for that. I even try to make up for what I have done in the past. I shake my head and continue to take a step back. My eyes remain, looking at the two Princes who are still arguing. Oblivious to what is happening behind their backs.


    Rufus scoffs. "Do you really think I can do that? Csille has been my friend ever since we were young. I would never do that to her." He then takes a step forward to Prince Fraser and grabs his cor. "Maybe you''re the one who is doing that? Is the reason why you were trying to get close to Csille today?" Rufusughs tauntingly. He then looks at me. "Csille, look at your fian—"


    Rufus'' words got stuck in his throat when he saw me. Although I am not crying, I am sure the both of them can see the pain in my eyes. I shake my head at him. "If you are done arguing, you can leave the Foundation. Please spare my Foundation from rumors." After saying those words, I immediately walk inside the Foundation. I don''t want to wait for their response anymore because I know I''ll just end up disappointing myself. I take a deep breath and look at the ceiling to stop myself from crying. I shouldn''t cry. Why would I cry over something I have written? I shake my head repeatedly, but no matter how much I stop myself, I still end up crying. I slumped my body on the floor and cried.


    I hate him. I hate Prince Fraser. I couldn''t even believe I wrote someone like him. Someone who is so despicable.