Chapter 447: : It''s you


    ?


    "Miss, where would you like me to ce these flowers?"


    I nce at Eve and the flowers she''s holding before shaking my head."Just toss it. I don''t have any use for it."


    Eve gazes at me, her eyes widening at my statement. "But Miss, this is a gift from Prince Fraser. How can you dispose of something that His Highness has given you?"


    I nearly rolled my eyes upon hearing Eve''s words. It''s giving me more reasons to throw that flower.


    How does he expect me to react after receiving purple hyacinths? It signify that someone realizes they''ve messed up and are longing for forgiveness.


    Forgiveness? After what he did, and considering what I may do in the future? I believe it''s toote for forgiveness at this point.


    I shake my head and was about to sit up when suddenly, a hand gently helps me in rising.


    "Be careful. Doctor Pascal mentioned you still couldn''t move much," Rufus says, his expression filled with concern as he gazes at me.


    Why is this guy here? I thought all I had to worry about was getting rid of Prince Fraser, and now there''s another Prince? Doesn''t he have work today?


    "Don''t look at me like that, Csille. You''re hurting my feelings," he says with a sigh, then takes a seat after ensuring that I amfortably settled on the bed.


    "You might have chosen to distance yourself from me, but it wouldn''t change the fact that I care for you," he says, his expression filled with pain. "How could you expect me not to visit you after hearing what happened? I was just busy with work, which is why I couldn''te immediately, but do you even realize how anxious I was because of you?"


    I look at Rufus and sigh. I am hurting him again and again. Yet, I couldn''t do anything to lessen the pain.


    This is for his own good. It''s better for him to disassociate himself from Csille, so those people won''t use this chance to bring him down with me.


    I wouldn''t be able to forgive myself if I will be the reason of his downfall.


    "That''s not what I meant, your highness. I was simply concerned that I might be interrupting your work. You mentioned being busy dealing with the aftermath of the explosion. How could I dare to burden you further?"


    Rufus takes my hand and squeezes it gently. "You will never be a burden, Csille. If I had the choice, I would rather spend my time here with you than to do—"


    My eyes widen in shock as I interrupt him. "Rufus! How could you say that!"


    Rufus appears taken aback by my words, but then he offers me a smile a few secondster. "This is the first time I''ve heard you call me by name again."


    I furrow my brow. Doesn''t he realize the seriousness of his words? I''m certain people would misunderstand him if they heard him.


    Just imagine a prince saying he''d prefer to be with an injured person than to assist the monarchy in dealing with war? He''d undoubtedly face trouble if anyone overheard him.


    I nce at Eve, who is pretending to busy herself with dusting some figurines on the cab. "Eve, you''re dismissed. Please take those flowers with you. I no longer like flowers."


    Eve looks at me and nods before exiting the room, carrying the flowers with her.


    "You don''t like flowers anymore? But I thought you loved them?"


    I look at Rufus and frown. How can I love something that reminds me of Prince Fraser? Every time I look at flowers, I can''t help but associate them with memories of him..


    So, how can he expect me to love it if it''s a reminder of the pain I have experienced?


    "I just despise how fleeting they are. I can''t deny their beauty, but I don''t get why they neverst long. I know it''s their nature, like how we humans must face death eventually. But I still can''t help but wonder why they can''tst longer."


    Simr to my rtionship with the Crown Prince. It may have had its moments of beauty, but it''s time for it toe to an end now.


    I shake my head. "But that''s not the point here." I gaze at Rufus intently. "You need to be cautious with your words, your highness. If others were to hear you say that you''d rather be with me than assist them, it could create a big issue."


    Rufus frowns. "You''re addressing me as ''your highness'' again. You''re putting distance between us once more, Csille." He shakes his head in disappointment. "And that''s not what I meant when I said that. I''m sure you know it."


    I nod my head. "I am well aware. I''m just afraid someone might use your words against you. So, I hope you can be more careful with your words."


    "If you''re so worried about it, why don''t we be friends again? So, I can have someone reminding me what not to say or do."


    I wish things were that simple. Unfortunately, simplicity is far from our current reality. Nothing here is straightforward. So, even if I wanted to agree with him, I know I don''t have a choice.


    "And you know, I can''t do that anymore, your highness. I''m no longer a future royalty, and as a noble, it''s my responsibility to show proper respect to the royal family."


    Rufus just smiles sadly at me. "I knew you would say that, but I was hoping you''d change your mind." He shakes his head and retrieves a paper from his coat. "I''m not just here to check on you. I''m also here to give this to you."


    He then hands me a letter with the royal family symbol on it.


    A letter from the royal family? It''s unlikely to be from Rufus; if he had something to say to me, he would have said it already. The letter must be from their Majesties or from the Crown


    Prince.


    I just hope it''s from the King or Queen. I''d prefer to read about issues in the monarchy rather than Prince Fraser''s words.


    "Don''t worry, it''s from his Majesty. I can see the nervousness in your eyes," he says with a smile. "It''sforting to know I''m not the only Astalieu you''re avoiding."


    I shake my head and set the letter aside. I''ll read it once Rufus leaves. I''m not sure what the King wants to say to me, and it would be rude to read it in front of others, even if it''s hisn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    nephew.


    "Thank you for delivering it. You could have asked someone else to bring it to me."


    "But his Majesty asked me to do it. It would be rude of me to disobey. Also, I chose toe here because I wanted to talk to you."


    I feel my body tense up when I hear what he said. Is he here to persuade me to be friends with


    him again?


    A chuckle escapes from Rufus. "Don''t worry, I respect your decision. I''m just here because I know how knowledgeable you are when ites to flowers."


    I frown. Flowers? What does that have to do with him being here?


    "I need your help, Csille. What flower should I use if I want to confess to someone?"


    I look at Rufus, shocked is clearly visible on my face. Don''t tell me he is nning to confess


    his feelings this time?


    I look at the ceiling and sigh. My end is about toe yet here I am still stuck on my bed because of my injuries.


    I smile sadly and recall how my conversation end with Rufus. My assumption is right, he was nning to confess to Princess Paislee this time and he wants to use a flower to convey his


    feelings.


    However, this Prince forgot that he is dealing with Princess Paislee and not Prince Fraser. How can the Crown Princess know what he is trying to say to her?


    In the end, his confession will just end up being a failure.


    "But I guess, confessing his true feelings is needed for things to progress. I just hope Rufus


    wouldn-"


    "Confessing his true feelings to whom?"


    My eyes widen when I recognized that familiar voice. "Prince Fraser? What are you doing


    here?"


    I thought he wouldn''t visit me anymore after ourst conversation. I thought the reason why


    I haven''t seen him for a few days is because it finally dawn on him what he is doing to me. But I guess I was wrong because lo and behold, the great Prince Fraser is here again.


    Prince Fraser frowns. "I am here to check on you. I heard from Doctor Pascal that your condition is improving already." He stares at me for a couple of seconds. "So, I wanted to check on you. However, I didn''t expect I would hear you talk about Prince Rufus. Did he visit


    youe earlier?"


    I watch him ce a beautiful purple hyacinths on my bed side table.


    Purple hyacinth? What is he trying to say to me?


    "I also brought some flowers to lighten up the mood here." He then looks at me. "Should I leave this behind or ask someone to put on a vase-"


    I shake my head. I don''t what''s his purpose on being here but I know I couldn''t let him do


    this.


    "You shouldn''t have bother, your highness. I don''t like flowers anymore. So, apologies if I''ll ask you to bring it with you when you leave."


    Prince Fraser looks at me with a surprise expression. "You don''t like flowers anymore? But


    don''t you love growing it?"


    I smile sadly. "Things have changed your highness. Just like how things are different between us." I shake my head. "Apologies your highness, however I thought I made it clear to


    you before? Please stop visiting me."


    Prince Fraser frowns. He looks mad because of what I''ve said. "You don''t want me to visit? Yet, you allow Prince Rufus to do so?"


    And what does Prince Rufus has to do with our conversation?


    "Your highness, Prince Rufus only visit me once and I ask him to refrain from visiting me


    anymore. Which he respectfully understand. However, you on the other hand doesn''t listen to


    what I am-"


    "Csille, why are you pushing me away? Haven''t I made myself clear to you? It isn''t my


    intention to hurt you? I am even regre-"


    My eyes widen when I realized what he is trying to say. "No, please don''t say that." I feel my


    voice cracks.


    I couldn''t let him affects me. I''m pretty sure the reason why he is having these thoughts is because of that force trying to mess things up and not because his words are genuine. "Your highness, what ever happens between us is all in the past now. It wouldn''t be good if anyone of us dwell on it. Instead, why don''t you focus on winning the heart of the person you


    like?"


    "And what if it''s you?"


    I feel my heart beating wildly because of his words. I take a deep breath to calm both my mind and heart. I couldn''t get swayed now. Not now that we''re almost at the end.


    Iugh sarcastically and look at him with a pain expression. "Is it some sort of a punishment, Fraser? Or do you see me as a joke that''s why you are doing this?"


    Prince Fraser''s frown deepens. A sign that he didn''t like what I''ve said.


    But to hell with what he likes! I''m so done ying this mind game with this Crown Prince.


    "Csi-"


    I raise my hand and shake my head at him. "Your highness, please stop now. Please don''t make thingsplicated as it is."


    Prince Fraser looks like he wants to say something more but he just slump his body on the chair and sigh in defeat. "What will I do to make you believe me?"


    I stares at him. What will he do for me to believe him? Nothing because no matter how much


    he said that he doesn''t mean to hurt me, I know that is not true.


    I avoid looking at his eyes. Afraid that I might say things I shouldn''t say in the heat of the


    moment.


    My eyesnded on my drawer and a thought pops out of my mind.


    "Your highness, can you do me a favor and help me retrieve something from that drawer?"


    How can I forget such an important detail?