Chapter 354 : Care


    I stare at Prince Fraser and get his hand off my face. "Why are you doing this, your highness?" I don''t initially n to confront him because I already know his answer. But this is too much for me to take. If he continues, I''m afraid my heart might misunderstand what he is doing.


    Prince Fraser frowns when I push his hand away from my cheeks. "What do you mean, Csille? Why am I doing what?" He tried to touch my cheeks again, but I avoided my face. I even back away from him. As much as I want to feel his touch, I don''t want to make my heart hope again. Hope that maybe things will not go as I have written. Although deep in my heart, I already know that it is impossible. That what I am dreaming will remain as a dream. Forever.


    "Csille, why are you avoiding me? I thought we were already okay. Did I do something wrong?"


    I smile bitterly. Okay? Can we be okay? Can I be okay if he continues being extra sweet with me? I don''t think so. I don''t think my heart will be okay with that.


    I shake my head a couple of times before I look at him. "I''m exhausted, your highness. Can you just please send me to the Foundation. I still need to inform my employees about Prince Christofre vi—"


    I was startled when Prince Fraser snapped at me. "To hell with that Crown Prince! I want to know what is wrong with you, Csille? Did I do something wrong? Please, tell me."


    I stare at Prince Fraser for a couple of seconds. I want him to see how much pain he is inflecting me. "Please, stop, your highness. Don''t do things that you won''t be responsible for. Just... please stop." I only whispered thest words because my heart couldn''t take the pain anymore.


    I look away from Prince Fraser and force myself not to cry. I don''t want to cry anymore. I''m tired. All I want to do now is to stay away from Prince Fraser as far as possible.


    And it seems like Prince Fraser already understands what I mean because he remains quiet after. I lean my head on the window and close my eyes. Hoping that when I open my eyes, I will be in my office. I don''t like this kind of exhaustion because this is something that couldn''t be fixed by sleep. So, I would rather exhaust myself with work than exhaust myself dealing with these emotions brought by Prince Fraser. "Is this because of what I have done before?"


    I almost jumped when Prince Fraser suddenly talked. I thought he already understood what I said? Why is he trying to speak to me again? Prince Fraser, can you please stop? I know you don''t care about me, but if you continue this, I''m afraid I couldn''t stop myself from falling into you. So, please give my heart a break. I can handle all your insults and rude remarks but not this. Not this.


    To avoid having a conversation with Prince Fraser, I just pretended that I was sleeping. I am really exhausted, and I don''t think I still have the energy to deal with him. I heard a sigh. "I know you are not asleep, but I won''t force you to talk to me if you don''t want to. However, I just want to let you know that I care for you, Csille..."


    I almost snorted when I heard that word. Care? He cares for me? More like he cares about his reputation. You only care about yourself and Princess Paislee, Prince Fraser. So, please don''t tell lies to me. It''s the reason why I don''t want to talk to you. You say things that aren''t true. I don''t know what''s your purpose in doing this. All I know is that I shouldn''t listen to that nonsense because, at the end of this book, you will still choose Princess Paislee and not Csille.


    "I know I do things that might look contrary to what I have said just now, and I regret that..."


    Regret? Really? How can you say that, Prince Fraser? If you really regret those things, then why didn''t you apologize to me? If you really regret what you did, why do you still hurt me? A tear rolled down my cheeks, and even if I wanted to wipe that away, I couldn''t because I was acting that I was asleep. I was startled when I felt something cold touch my cheeks. Then it slowly glided down my cheeks. It seems like Prince Fraser noticed my tears and decided to wipe them for me. "Csille, I don''t understand why you are crying. Am I hurting you again? Please let me know because I don''t want to see you cry. Remember when I said to you that I would correct things? I will definitely do it. So, please don''t cry anymore."


    After he said those words, I felt something cold touch my eyelids, and I almost got up when I realized that Prince Fraser had kissed my eyelids. He kisses my eyelids!!!


    ________________________________


    After the kiss, Prince Fraser didn''t say anything and remained quiet the whole ride. While I still pretended that I was sleeping.


    I only ''wake up'' when I feel the carriage slowly moving to a halt. I slowly open my eyes and look around. "We''re here." I almost jumped when I heard Prince Fraser suddenly speak. I look at him and bow my head. "Your highness, thank you for sending me back. I will be taking my leave now. I hope you have a great day ahead." I didn''t wait for his response. I just open the door of the carriage and jump out of it. I even hear Prince Fraser curse when he sees me jump. But who cares about that? Who cares if I look udly like when I did that? All I want to do right now is to get away from Prince Fraser as much as I can. After the jump, I immediately rush towards the entrance of the Foundation. I was about to enter when I bumped into Li, who was going out. Li caught my arms when I was about to fall from the impact of the collision. "Dame Csille, be careful!"


    I heave a sigh and put my hand on my chest. "Th-thank you, Lil-." I said with difficulty. I am still catching my breath because of the run I just made.


    Li guided me inside the Foundation and made me sit on one of the chairs while she is fanning me with a paper she picked somewhere. "Dame Csille, are you okay? Did you run just now?"


    I take a few deep breaths before I look at Li and nod my head. "I''m okay. I just run for a while." Then I look at the entrance of the Foundation. "Li, can you do me a favor?"


    Li stops fanning me and listens to me attentively. "I will do everything you want me to do, Dame Csille." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    I look at her and shake my head. I like how loyal she is but her loyalty will be the reason for her demise in the future. I asked her to lean her face towards me, which she immediately obliged and flicked her forehead. Li winced and immediately stood up straight after what I did.


    I shake my head at her. "You shouldn''t say those words, Li, or people might see you as a person who is easy to manipte. The world outside has a lot of predators. They will use any prey they can use. Do you know what they love the most?" Li shakes her head. "They love to y around with people who are just like you. Innocent and loyal." Li frowns. "Dame Csille, I don''t understand what you are saying. Prey? Predators? Aren''t those words used to describe animals? Are there any loose animals in the capital?"


    I heave a sigh and shake my head. She is too gullible. I don''t know if it''s really the right thing to bring her to the capital or not. "Li, listen to me. Don''t do things you don''t want to do. Even if the one who gives you that order is me. If you think it will put you in a difficult situation, don''t do it. Only with this will you be able to survive in this cruel world."


    Li frowns deeper. "Dame Csille, I really don''t understand what you are trying to say."


    I stand up and smile reassuringly at her. "Soon, you will know." I look at the entrance again. "About the favor, can you please check if Prince Fraser''s carriage is still around?"


    Although I highly doubt that. I just want to be assured. Prince Fraser''s presence terrifies me. Not because of him as a whole, but because of what he is doing. Li immediately walks towards the entrance to check. A moment after, she walks toward me and shakes her head. "Dame Csille, I don''t see the carriage of Prince Fraser."


    I heave a sigh of relief. "Thank you. By the way, we will be having a meeting at two in the afternoon. Can you please inform everyone about it? We have something important to talk about."


    It''s about Prince Christofre''s visit.


    ________________________________


    I look at the clock and sigh. It''s already six in the evening, and here I am, still working. I got busy with the preparation for Prince Christofre visit tomorrow.


    Although the ns are already made, I still need to make sure that everything is okay and there will be no problem after. I also need to make a backup n in case some problems arise tomorrow. I cannot let Prince Christofre be disappointed.


    I was about to continue working when I heard a knock on my door. I lean my body on my chair and ask the person toe in. I am sure that it is Li who is knocking behind the door. She is probably here to remind me again to eat my dinner.


    However, someone unexpected walked inside my office. It''s Rufus and... Princess Paislee?


    I raised my eyebrow at them and smiled. "May I know the reason why the two of you decided to grace your presence in my humble office?"


    Rufus chuckled. "I just happened to bump into Sir Farren while I was on my way to the Foundation." He then looks at Princess Paislee and me. "I didn''t know you were close with Sir Farren. Why didn''t you mention that, purny?"


    I almost rolled my eyes at Rufus. Why does he sound jealous than angry? He already knows that Princess Paislee is a woman in disguise, right? So, why would he be jealous of me?


    Also, I don''t remember being to Princess Paislee. I used to when we were young. However, as her disguise, I am sure I am not close with him. So, how can I answer his question?


    I look at Princess Paislee and raise my eyebrow at him. "Sir Farren, may I know the purpose of youing here at night? Shouldn''t you guarding his highness?"


    Princess Paisee bows her head at me. "Apologies foring here without prior notice." She then looks at Prince Fraser. "I actually came here to talk to you, Dame Csille. However, I think I came at the wrong time. I guess I''ll leave the two of you for now and return when you are free." She then bows her head. She was about to leave when Rufus caught her arms.


    "You are already here. Why would you want to talk to Csille some other time? Are you worried about me? Sir Farren, you can be assured that I wouldn''t tell anyone your conversation with Dame Csille is." Rufus then looks at me. "Right, Csille? I am not the kind of person who will tell anyone what we have talked about?"


    I almost scoffed when I heard Rufus call my name. This guy! Yes, he isn''t the type of person who tells anyone about our conversation. But I think the reason why he wants to know about our conversation is because he is curious. He is curious about what Princess Paislee will tell me. This nosy Prince!


    I heave a sigh and nod my head. "Yes, Sir Farren. You can be assured. Prince Rufus won''t spill anything you want to talk about. So, don''t leave. May I know what you want to talk about?"


    Princess Paislee heaves a deep sigh. She then looks at Rufus and me for a couple of seconds before she nods her head. "Dame Csille..."