Chapter 455: : Runaway


    ?


    "Dame Csille, are you okay? You look so pale right now. Do you want me to call Doctor Pascal for you?"


    I wave my hand at S and just sit on my chair. "Don''t worry about me, S. I just didn''t get enough sleepst night, but I already took some medication. So don''t worry."


    I couldn''t sleep properlyst night because I kept thinking about the conversation I had with Princess Paislee.


    I don''t know if she means something else or it''s just a simple piece of advice from her. But one thing''s for sure, I will get to the bottom of this. I need to make sure that everything is going ording to the storyline.


    S stares at me worriedly. It looks like she''s still not satisfied with my answer.


    "But Dame Csille, is it okay for you to work in such condition? You just recovered from an injury. Why don''t you take a rest for today? If you''re worried about the department, I can oversee things here while you''re gone. I''m worried about you, Dame Csille."


    I give S a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry, I''ll just finish the documents I have here, and I''ll take a rest this afternoon. By the way, is there any response from the Crown Prince''s office?"


    S stares at me and shakes her head. "There is no response from the Crown Prince, Dame Csille. But I''ll make sure once I receive it, I''ll immediately rush to bring it to you."


    I thank her and continue reading the documents on my table. However, because of the migraine I have, I couldn''t concentrate much on my work.


    In the end, I decided to take a rest after two hours of reading the document on repeat. S was so happy with my decision that she even wanted to send me to my own chamber. I just stopped her. I know she already had a lot on her te.


    I was making my way to my bedroom with my blurry vision. Coupled with the fact that I felt dizzy and my knees were weak, I found myself almost stumbling on the floor. It''s a good thing someone caught me before I fell.


    As much as I wanted to thank the person, I couldn''t do so because my consciousness slowly faded away. Thest thing I heard was someone whispering words to me.


    "I wouldn''t let you fall..."


    And when I opened my eyes, I found myself inside my room with Rufus sitting on a chair beside my bed.


    I frown. Was he the one who whispered those words? But why did the voice sound different? Rufus immediately stands up when he sees me rising from the bed. "The doctor advised that you should take a rest for today. You copsed because of fatigue. You just recovered from an injury, Csille. Why are you pushing yourself to your limits?"


    I shake my head. It''s not that I want to work myself to exhaustion, but I need to. Things will only get worse from here, and I need to ensure that everything is going ording to the storyline.


    "I''m not. I was actually nning to rest in my room when I copsed. I may be stubborn sometimes, but I also know how to take care of my body."


    I heard Rufus scoff. "I''ve heard that from you before, yet you always end up either getting hurt or being unconscious. You''re being too hard on yourself, Csille. Just because you had a failed engagement, it doesn''t mean that you''ll neglect to take care of yourself. Do you know how worried your brother, Pascal, is?"


    My eyes widen when I hear Brother Pascal''s name. How could I forget Brother Pascal?


    I anxiously hold Rufus''s hands. "Does Brother Pascal know what happened to me?"


    Rufus nods his head. "Of course, how could I keep this from Doctor Pascal? He just left for an urgent matter but will returnter. Why? Do you wish to keep it from him?"


    I definitely do, but it''s already toote for that. I just wish Brother Pascal wouldn''t use this as an excuse to return to the capital.


    I lean on the bedframe and close my eyes. I feel much better now after getting some rest, but my mind still can''t be at ease.


    "Csille, are you okay? Do you feel ufortable anywhere else?"


    I just shake my head. I just don''t have the mental capacity to talk to him right now.


    It''s not that I don''t want to. Rather, my mind can''t stop worrying about other things. We''ve only been here for days, yet a lot has already happened. I can''t help but worry about what''s in store for me in the uing days.


    "Csille, just tell me if you don''t feel okay so I can call a doctor for you."


    I open my eyes and stare at the worried Prince Rufus. It''s been a long time since I''ve talked to him like this, without me pushing him away.


    "I am okay, Rufus. Don''t worry. I''m just thinking about a lot of things. It''s the reason why I didn''t get enough sleeptely."


    I thought Rufus would immediately ask me what I was thinking, but he just remains staring at me anxiously.


    "Aren''t you going to ask me what I''m thinking?"


    He shakes his head and smiles sadly at me. "I would if we were still as close as we used to be. But haven''t you put some distance between us? How can I ask such a personal question to


    you?"


    I feel a pang of pain in my heart when I hear his words. I know I''m the one who pushed him away, yet I can''t help but feel hurt.


    A lot of things have changed between us and it will continue to change in the future.


    I have a lot of things I want to say to him. I want to exin to him the reason why I am doing this. I want to tell him what is currently happening in my life.


    But I know I shouldn''t. I shouldn''t be selfish and think only myself. So, I just close my eyes and decided not to answer him. I don''t want to cross the distance we took some time creating.


    "Csille, I''ve missed you."


    A tear escaped my eye as I listened to his words. I miss him too yet I know I couldn''t say those words back at him. Instead, I just pretend that I didn''t hear anything.


    "And there are many things I wish to tell you," he continued, hisughter devoid of joy. "Did you know I confessed my feelings to her? And do you know what happened? She turned me down, Purny. She rejected me."


    I squeezed my fist tightly, resisting the urge to console him as his sobs reached my ears. His tears pained me deeply.


    Rufus had sacrificed so much over the years, only to be denied the happiness he so deserved.


    I couldn''t help but me myself. If only I hadn''t introduced another male lead, he wouldn''t be suffering like this.


    "That''s not even the worst part. I suspect someone else might confess to her as well. Csille, I''m scared. I can''t bear the thought of losing her to someone else. I''m lost and in agony, Csille. I-I... need y-you."


    As much as I wish I could ignore it all, my heart and conscience won''t allow it. How could I possibly stay indifferent after hearing Rufus express such pain?


    Only a heartless person can do so.


    The Prince Rufus who is always happy in life. The person who is always been with Csille no


    matter what.


    I gently pull him to my side and give him a big hug. I didn''t say anything but I made sure that he can feel the worry and care I have for him.


    I hope with this, he will know that there are people rooting for his happiness. Even if they are not with him anymore.


    As I was about to return to my room, a hand unexpectedly grabbed mine. I turned around, anticipating it might be one of the two Princes, but almost ran to my room when I recognized


    Brother Pascal.


    I offered him a slightly awkward smile. "Brother, you''re here. How was your day?" He shot me a re before responding, "Do you seriously ask me that question?" He scoffed. "I''m doing just swell after learning that my cousin, who just recovered from an injury, became unconscious." His tone dripped with sarcasm.


    "Brother, please let me exin," I pleaded frantically, hoping he would hear me out first.


    I couldn''t afford to leave the Foundation without obtaining any valuable information. By now, I''m sure Mr. Sewell already knows my whereabouts. He''ll undoubtedly look for me once


    I return to the capital.


    That''s why I can''t return right now. I can''t risk putting everyone in danger because of my carelessness.


    "Of course, you''d better exin yourself if you still want to work here,."


    He guided me into my room and gently settled me on the bed before taking a seat in front of


    me.


    "Now talk. Exin to me why you passed out again after being here for three days."


    I sigh. "Brother, believe me, it wasn''t intentional-"


    "Of course it wasn''t. Isn''t that always your excuse? Yet, you continue to find yourself in difficult situations. Csille, what''s going on with you? Just because your engagement failed doesn''t mean you should give up on life."


    Why does everyone assume I''ve given up on life? If I had the choice, I''d rather stay in bed and read stories than deal with all of this.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And do they really think so little of me? That I''d throw away my life just because a certain hot-headed prince decided to end our engagement?


    I sigh. "Brother, I know it''s hard to trust me after everything I''ve done and said in the past. But believe me, I didn''t deliberately overwork myself. I''ve just had a lot on my mindtely, and it''s been affecting my sleep."


    Brother Pascal stares at me for a moment before taking a seat beside me. "You''re still being too hard on yourself, Csille. When will you start putting yourself first?"


    When? I don''t know. It''s not that I don''t care about my health, but how can I prioritize myself


    when everyone else''s lives are at stake?


    Can I bear to be that selfish?


    I simply smile at Brother Pascal. I know that trying to reason with him would only lead to further disappointment. I''ve already caused them enough disappointment.


    I wait for Brother Pascal to say something, but he remains silent. He just fix my nket and do


    his own thing.


    I just close my eyes and pretend to sleep despite having just woken up. However, I didn''t anticipate that I would actually fall asleep again.


    "Dame Csille?"


    I turn around and see Princess Paislee wearing a tattered gown, gripping a bloody sword. Her


    long blond hair cascades over her shoulder.


    "Sir Farren?" I inadvertently utter her name aloud. Realizing my mistake, I quickly cover my


    mouth. I am not supposed to know her secret.


    I was expecting Princess Paislee to be surprised with how I call her but she didn''t even bat an eye. She just grabbed my hand and drag me away to somewhere.


    It''s night time and there isn''t any light in our surroundings so I couldn''t quite pinpoint


    where we are.


    All I know is we are currently walking through grass.


    "I don''t have much time Dame Csille to exin things but we need to leave now. Please bear


    with this, once we pass this forest, there are horses waiting for us to ride away from here."


    I frown. What does she mean we need to leave? To where? The Capital? But why? Is there


    something urgent happening in the monarchy? Does the Aeerean Kingdom strike an attack


    again?


    Also, why is she not wearing her disguise? Isn''t she afraid that the Vrawyth people will recognise


    her?


    What is happening right now?


    We sprinted continuously along the forest path until we spotted two horses tied to a tree.


    Princess Paislee extended her hand to help me onto the horse, but I hesitated, gazing at her


    hand intently.


    I needed answers. I had to understand what was happening.


    "What''s going on here? And you''re Princess Paislee, aren''t you?"


    She just frown at me. "Csille, there''s no time for exnations now. We have to leave. Prince Fraser couldn''t do what he needs to do as long as you are still in the Vrawyth Kingdom."


    I was puzzled. Why was my presence affecting Prince Fraser''s ns? And why was Princess


    Paislee helping me?


    "No, I won''t go until I understand what''s happening. What is happening and what do you mean by Prince Fraser couldn''t do what he needs to do if I am around? Princess Paislee stares at me coldly. "Dame Csille, have you forgotten? You betray the Vrawyth Kingdom and allied with the Aeerean Kingdom?"