Chapter 397: : Rufus’s Visit


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    I didn''t have much work to do in the office because Li and Mairenn had already taken care of the documents I needed to work on these past few days. So, my n of drowning myself with work didn''t happen.


    I just spent an hour or two working with documents today and spent the rest of my morning doing nothing at all.


    I look at the clock and heave a sigh when I realize it''s already ten in the morning. I didn''t even realize I was staring nkly in thin air for hours now.


    I was about to go out and check what is happening in the Foundation when I bumped into Li, who was about to knock on my door.


    "Dame Csille! Doctor Pascal is here to talk to you. Should I send him in?"


    I frown. Brother Pascal? Why is he here? Is he here to scold me again?


    "Dame Csille?"


    I nod my head at Li. "Please, send him in. Also, make sure no one will interrupt our conversation.


    I don''t want anyone to know the current situation in the Lauretré family. Everyone in the Foundation has seen how Brother Pascal takes care of Csille, and I''m sure they will be in shock when they see us arguing. So, to avoid any conflict or gossip about it, I decided to just keep it from everyone.


    Li immediately left to fetch Brother Pascal while I pretended that I was doing something in my office. I am reading an old document that I have found in my office.


    I don''t want Brother Pascal thinks that I was avoiding them. Although that is partially true. That I am here in the Foundation because I was avoiding the confrontation with them.


    A moment after, the door opened, and I heard someone walk inside my office. I continue to pretend that I am busy reading something.


    I heard a sigh. "Csille."


    I look up and stare at Brother Pascal. He has a guilty look on his face. "I heard from Li that you were busy working in the Foundation. So, I wouldn''t take too much of your time and be straightforward."


    I nod my head and wait for him to talk. I don''t know his purpose foring here, so I would rather hear what he wants to say first before I say anything.


    I can see the hesitation in his eyes. "I came here to check on you. Aunt and Uncle were busy with their respective jobs, so they couldn''t visit you at the Foundation. We were terrified when we woke up, and we couldn''t find you in the guest room. It''s a good thing the guards informed us that you left early this morning to work in the Foundation. Csille, yo-"


    I scoff and interrupt him. "Are you worried that I sneak out again? Are you here to check if what I have said to the guards is true? That I will be working in the Foundation?" I stare at Brother Pascal and smile sadly. "Don''t I have any rights to do what I want to do?"


    I heard him sigh. "I am not here to argue with you, Csille. I''m just here to make sure you are safe and to apologize for what I have done yesterday. I know I be overboard when I take down your door, and I''m sorry. I just got tired of your whims these days. That''s why I have done that. However, I never n to take away your rights. I''m sorry."


    I actually expected this would happen. Brother Pascal is the responsible type of person. He will apologize to anyone if he knows he has done something wrong to them.


    I take a deep breath and nod my head. I''m actually not mad about what he did. Maybe disappointed but not mad. I know I was the reason why he had done those things.


    "I understand. However, I hope you wouldn''t repeat what you have done."


    I want to apologize to him too, because I know I said hurtful things to himst night. But I need to talk like the real Csille, and I know she wouldn''t apologize for what she has said to him.


    Brother Pascal stares at me for a couple of seconds. He is probably expecting that I would also apologize to him too, but he will only be disappointed. The real Csille is not humble like Brother Pascal. So, even if he stays here for the whole day, I''m sure the real Csille will not apologize to him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    I heard him sigh after. "I will be leaving then. Take care of yourself, Csille."


    He left after he said those words. I just stare at his back and smile sadly.


    I know I disappointed him. I know he was expecting me to apologize to him too, but I never did.


    "I''m sorry, Brother. I couldn''t do what you want me to do because that is not how the real Csille deals with things. You also know her. She doesn''t know how to apologize to someone. So, I''m sorry."


    Lunch has arrived. I was nning to treat everyone to a meal. But I was startled to see Rufus sitting in the wheelchair while being pushed by a guard behind him.


    He smiles widely at me when he sees me. "Csille," he said in a hoarse voice. It''s understandable, though. He just woke up, and his throat is still adjusting.


    I look at Li and frown. But Li shakes her head at me and shrugs her shoulders, indicating that she doesn''t know why Rufus is here.


    What is this Prince doing here? He just woke up yesterday. Isn''t he supposed to be resting in the hospital?


    Rufus''s smile froze when he noticed the confusion in my expression. Then he pouts at me. "Purny, don''t you miss me? Why does it looks like you''re not happy to see me here?"


    I look at Rufus and heave a sigh. "Apologies, Prince Rufus, I just didn''t expect I would see you here. Haven''t you just woken up yesterday? Is it okay for you to be here?" Rufus frowned when he heard what I had said. "Prince Rufus? Why are you addressing me like that? Also, I asked the Doctors to allow me toe here. Don''t worry. I have brought one with me." He then looks at his back, and I see a woman wearing a Doctor''s coat. "So, you don''t have to worry. I came here because I heard what happened while I was unconscious. Csille-"


    I shake my head and interrupt him. Although I was happy that he was here, I needed to push him away. I need to make him see that I am distancing myself from him.


    Rufus will only get hurt if he continues being friendly with me, the future traitor of the Vrawyth Kingdom.


    "Your highness, please return to the Hospital. I don''t think it''s okay for you to wander around." I look at the Doctor. "Am I right, Doctor?"


    The Doctor looks at Rufus at first before she looks at me and nods her head. "Apologies, Prince Rufus but Dame Csille is right. It is not good for your health to be out. You just woke up, and you still need to rest."


    I was about to suggest them to bring Rufus back to the Hospital, but Rufus said something first. I don''t want anything to happen to him.


    "Csille, what are you doing? Why are you addressing me, your highness, and Prince Rufus? Are you mad at me because I wasn''t there with you when I needed you the most? Is it the reason why you never visited me once in the Hospital?" A tear fell from Rufus''s eyes, and my


    heart breaks when I see that.


    I don''t want to hurt him, but I need to do this. I need to push everyone important to me because I don''t want to involve them with Csille''s tragic future.


    I can bear to deal with those things in the future, but I won''t be able to bear to see the people


    I love suffer with me. So, even if it''s painful to hurt them, I don''t have a choice.


    I ignore what he said and look at the Doctor behind him. "Bring him back to the Hospital. The Duke and the Dutchess will surely get mad once they know you brought him out."


    The guard and the Doctor look at Rufus. They want to hear if Rufus agrees with what I have


    suggested.


    So, I look at him too and shake my head. "Your highness ple-"


    I wasn''t able to continue what I said because Rufus cut me off. "Stop it, Csille. You know I


    hate it when you call me that way." Then I heard him sigh. "I know my cousin has hurt you but do you need to push me too? I am not Prince Fraser, Csille. So, why are you throwing away our friendship just like that?"


    I almost cried when I heard what he said, but I just forced myself to still look cold. "Your highness, I don''t understand what you are saying. This has nothing to do with his highness Prince Fraser. I am doing this because this is what I should do in the first ce. I am only a Dame, and you are a Prince. It wouldn''t be right if I just addressed you by your name only. So, I hope you wouldn''t misunderstand things here."


    Rufusughs sarcastically. "You have been calling me that way ever since we were young, and you never had an issue with it before. But because your engagement with my cousin got canceled, you started to act like this? I thought we were friends?"


    We are, Rufus, and you will always be a friend of mine. But I need to do this. I don''t want to hurt you more in the future. So, please don''t make it too hard for me. I am also in pain every


    time I push you away.


    If you only knew that.


    I bow my head at him. "Your highness, please don''t be stubborn and let them take you back.


    We will all get in trouble if the Duke and the Dutchess know about this. So, please, I am begging you. Please go ba-"


    Heughed sadly and raised his hand to make me stop from talking. He then stares at me with his teary eyes. "If that is what you want me to do, then I would do that. You don''t need to push


    me anymore."


    He snaps his fingers while staring at me. I can see the disappointment in his eyes. He is disappointed with me, and it''s the first time I have seen that from him. "Take me back to the


    Hospital."


    The guard and the Doctor bow their heads before they push Rufus''s wheelchair towards the


    exit.


    I just stare at them and smile bitterly. Sooner orter, I will lose everything and everyone. This is just the start.


    I was startled when Rufus suddenly stopped the guard and the Doctor from pushing his wheelchair. He then tries his best to look back at me. "Csille, please don''t push me. I don''t want to lose my only friend."


    I felt my hand tremble, and my eyes moisten when I heard what he said. But I force myself not to cry or make him see that I am affected by what is happening.


    I can''t let him see that I am regretting this decision. That I don''t like to push him away. Rufus smiled bitterly when he didn''t see any reaction from me. "If you need anyone, you


    know where you can find me. I will be waiting for you, purny."


    He then asks the guard to push his wheelchair away from the Foundation. The moment I see his carriage left, I feel tears start to fall from my eyes. I thought I was


    strong enough to face Csille''s future, but I was wrong. No matter how much I prepare myself,


    I can''t still prepare myself for the pain.


    I was busy crying silently when I felt something hold my hand. I look down and find Li


    holding my hand while staring at me worriedly. "Dame Csille, why do you do things that hurt you?"


    I smile bitterly. Why? Because I am the Viiness, and viiness aren''t meant to be happy.