Chapter Thirty-Three – Alicia #2
He was guarded. He had a wall built to protect himself, and I could hardly blame him for that.
After all, he’d watched his mother be poisoned to death and had to survive numerous attempts on his life courtesy of Eudocia—and he’d had his birthright stolen from him after being forced to the brutal frontlines of a war by that same woman.
It was no wonder he’d kept people at arm’s length. It was easier for him if people feared him. If they feared him, they would never try to get close to him.
If he wasn’t close to anyone, he could never suffer the pain of losing them.
I was the obvious exception to that rule, but then again, he’d told me I was always his exception to every rule.
I desperately wished everyone else could see the wonderful person he hid behind his carefully constructed armour.
Would my friends coming to visit us be the opening for that? If they saw him in a place where he was comfortable, would they see who he truly was?
“Lady Alicia, you have a visitor,” Sir Otto said from the front of the tent. “She said her name is Lillia de Armand.”
I paused. What did she want? “Very well, send her in.”
He nodded and pulled the curtain to the side, and I stood to greet her.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion,” Lillia said, stepping inside. “Oh, I didn’t realise you had company.”
I guess she was deciding to forgo etiquette by speaking first. “Yes, I do,” I said sharply, then quickly introduced everyone to her. “This is Lady Lillia de Armand. She debuted this weekend.”
Perhaps it was because my friends had all picked up on my discomfort, but their greetings to her were quite chilly. Even Lillia seemed marginally taken aback by how cool they were, especially Vivi and Georgina.
Right.
In the book, they’d become her closest friends once Alicia had started to torment her. After a particularly nasty discussion, Lillia had run away, and Georgina and Vivi had happened across her crying and helped her.
Hmm. I really had fucked up the story, hadn’t I?
Never mind.
At least I’d messed it up in my favour.
“What can I do for you, Lady Lillia?” I asked. “I didn’t expect you to come and see me.”
“Ah.” She shuffled her weight from one foot to the other. “I was hoping I could speak with you for a moment.”
“Very well.”
“We can come back later, Allie,” Georgina said, moving to stand.
I waved my hand. “No, it’s fine. It won’t be a very long conversation. Please, stay.” I smiled at her before turning back to Lillia. “Let’s step outside for a moment.”
Lillia nodded and went out, and Rina stepped forward. “My lady, please allow me to accompany you.”
Right.
This was her job.
“Keep your distance,” I ordered. “I’m sure I know what this is about, and I doubt she’ll talk to me if you’re too close.”
Rina bowed her head. “I will stay within stabbing distance, my lady.”
Yep.
She was one of Kalon’s knights, all right.
“What is it about?” Sasha asked, staring at me with wide, curious eyes.
I smirked. “The fact I caught her trying to give Kalon her handkerchief earlier. She insisted it was a misunderstanding, but given that she’s here, I doubt it. I’m interested to see what her excuse will be this time. I’ll be back shortly.”
“The audacity,” I heard Georgina mumble as I left the tent.
Lillia was waiting for me a few feet away, and she turned as I approached. “Oh, are we not alone?”
“Rina is my knight,” I explained. “Don’t worry, she’ll keep a distance from us. Our conversation will remain private.”
“All right.” Lillia’s gaze was full of uncertainty when she looked back at Rina, but she brushed it off quickly. “Do you mind if we walk?”
I did.
Why did we need to walk?
Was I being too paranoid right now? It was all because of that weird feeling I’d had in my tummy all day—not to mention that I’d read enough books where the love rival steers the heroine to a secluded area, only for something to go wrong.
But was I the heroine or the love rival in this situation?
What a peculiar turn of events.
“Not at all,” I answered, falling into step beside Lillia. “What is it you wish to discuss?”
“I would like to apologise for earlier,” she said softly. “My actions have been weighing on me, and Your Ladyship was right to scold me in the manner you did. It was not my personal handkerchief you saw in my hand, but one I was indeed offering to the Grand Duke.”
“At least you’re wise enough to admit your wrongdoing.”
“Baroness Kilgard told me I should offer a handkerchief to a gentleman who caught my eye, but I wasn’t aware that it was a gesture of romantic interest. The Grand Duke was so kind to me at the ball last night that I merely wished to offer it as a symbol of my gratitude.”
It was a smooth lie.
Unfortunately for her, I could see right through it.
Mostly because Kalon hadn’t been that kind to her last night.
“I understand you were upset by my actions, and I—”
“Lady Lillia,” I said coolly. “Do you take me for a fool? Perhaps you’re unaware, but Baroness Kilgard was once my etiquette teacher.
She’s a diligent woman who wouldn’t send you off into high society without ensuring you were fully aware the meaning of all your actions.
You and I both know what you were doing when you offered your handkerchief to him, so please do not insult me by insisting otherwise. ”
She stilled.
Gotcha.
“Contrary to your belief, I was not upset by your actions. You’re free to express your interest in anyone you like, whether it be platonic or romantic, but it would be best if you did so after considering your position.
I chose to play along with you earlier because it’s your debut, and a lady’s debut should be a time of joy and excitement, but if you continue in this manner, I will no longer be doing such a thing. ”
She dipped her head, clenching a fist at her side.
“However, my advice to you still stands. There’s nothing I can do if you hold a romantic interest in the Grand Duke, as your feelings are your own.
In fact, you may even approach him and inform him of your position if you so wish.
There is little I can do to stop you.” I clasped my hands together in front of me as I stopped at the edge of the forest and turned to look at her.
“With that being said, you should seriously consider your actions. Our engagement is not one that came about on a whim. I am the eldest daughter of House Vermillion, and not only is Kalon the Grand Duke of Stein, but he’s the First Prince of the Sada Empire.
His Majesty released an Imperial Order for our marriage just two days ago.
If you think to pursue him even after this, there is a very high chance that my father, Marquess Vermillion, would consider your actions to be an insult towards our house.
You would also be blatantly disregarding an order from His Majesty. ”
She met my eyes, and this time, her gaze burnt red-hot.
She wasn’t even trying to hide her annoyance.
Good. I didn’t want her to hide it.
I wanted her to show me who she truly was—because she was certainly not the sweet, wholesome person I’d expected her to be. And it was much, much easier to deal with people when they were honest.
“What is it that you’re trying to say? Because forgive me for saying so, my lady, but I feel as though I should take your words as a threat,” Lillia said, a chill running through her tone despite the smile on her face.
“Are you concerned that the Grand Duke may be interested in me? Is that why you’re warning me to stay away from him?
Everyone has been saying they can’t believe your marriage was arranged with how close you appear to be, but you seem quite insecure, my lady. ”
My, my.
If this was how she wanted to play it, then so be it. It was time I dropped all pretence of concern—if she was going to show me who she really was, then I would do the same.
“Aren’t you bold, Lady Armand?” I took a step closer to her, something that forced her to look up at me.
“Are you deliberately ignoring that I told you you’re free to approach my fiancé and share with him your interest in courting him?
You may take my words any way you see fit, but you should keep in mind that I don’t make threats I don’t intend to follow through on. ”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If you choose to disregard my words, House Vermillion and His Majesty will be the least of your concerns. If you approach the Grand Duke and he rejects you the way he did your handkerchief, and you continue to pursue him, you’ll have to deal with me first.” I stepped up next to her, laying my hand on her shoulder, and leant in close.
“I have never once shown mercy to those who covet what’s mine.
And make no mistake, His Highness is most certainly mine. ”
Lillia tensed, and I squeezed her shoulder before withdrawing my hand and walking away.
So much for intending to stay away from her. Why was everything messing with my plans? All I wanted to do was live, damn it.
Then again, perhaps threatening her wasn’t the smartest idea in the world. That was very Book Alicia of me, but I could barely stand it. I couldn’t listen to her lies anymore. She knew what she was doing when she offered Kalon that bloody rag of hers, and she knew that I knew.
My initial impression of her at the ball had been correct, and I’d been right to be wary of her.
I sighed, resting my hand against my cheek as I walked. I wasn’t cut out for all this. Despite my ability to shut people down, I was too soft-hearted for this face-to-face bitchy nonsense.
In my next life, I really was going to be a cat.
A scream tore through the air, and I turned in the direction of it.
A little girl no older than eight tumbled on the floor at the edge of the forest, and a young boy who couldn’t have been much older was tugging at her arm.
She was crying, and before I knew what was happening, my feet were already moving, and Rina was calling after me.
“Are you all right?” I asked, bending down next to them.