Chapter 12

When I didn't want to do something, I had a tendency to push it off. I had bought the chocolate and written the thank you note. But I could not bring myself to go to the castle and gave it to Sebastian.

I considered asking Adrian to help me, but that idea was banned by Mother. She said a well mannered lady will not do that. Which was true. That's why I pushed it off until now. A week later.

Today, Mother could no longer bear my uncivilized behavior. She threw me onto a carriage with my box of chocolate and set me off to the castle. I felt like a cattle to be sold.

To be honest, I didn't send a note in advance. I did not think Sebastian will receive me.

He worked strictly according to a schedule. Trust me, you didn't want to disrupt his schedule.

So it's all an act. The footman would bring me to the drawing room and pretend to notify the prince. But I was sure not one servant would really dare and go notify him. I would have some tea, maybe some delicious cookies by the royal cook. And then I would be sent off as the prince had 'something urgent' to attend to.

That's what I thought, but why didn't things go according to plan? I was so shocked when Sebastian entered the room. I chocked on my cookies.

"I thought you were expecting me."

Heat seeped onto my cheeks. I was not. I was just expecting delicious cookies, not you. I didn't even think through what to say to him!!

"Eh... I didn't send a note before coming."

"No, you did not."

Then why were you receiving me?

"How about your schedule?"

"You're my fiancee."

How many times had he used this reason? Did that mean I was an exception because I was his fiancee? That did not make sense... Stop beating my heart!

I was sure it had more to do with responsibility than he liking me. Hadn't you learned enough?

I looked down and saw the box of chocolate on my lap. That was then I remembered why I was there.

"Prince Sebastian, thank you so much for saving me from that... incident. Here is a thank you gift. I hope you like it."

"I planned to call on you, but Adrian said you felt much better. The thank you gift was quite... late."

Why did he seem like he was teasing me even when his face stayed emotionless?

Was he implying he wished to visit me, but since Adrian said I had recovered, so he expected me to call on him instead to express my gratitude. But I didn't turn up until one week later, that's why he said my gift was late. Why did this make so much sense?

I think I had turned into a translator for Prince Sebastian's language.

"I... I... don't want to intrude on your schedule."

"You were forced to come here by Lady Cain."

He was going to misunderstand and think I didn't really want to meet him...

"No! I wish to come and meet you too! See I prepared the chocolate! It's just... just I was really worried I might intrude on your busy schedule. I planned to come when you are less... busy."

"I see."

He opened the box, picked up a piece of chocolate and placed it into his mouth.

I hope he liked the chocolates. That was from the same shop I usually buy my chocolates from. When I saw him picking up the next piece of chocolate. I sighed in relief. He really seemed to like that. If he did not like that, he usually stopped eating. (That happened once when the cook wished to experiment on 'oriental style'. He took one bite and placed his fork and knife down.)

He was on his third piece of chocolate when he said, "Aunt is planning to go to Coral Cliff next week."

The Grand Duchess went to Coral Cliff every summer for three months. It was a small island. A very popular place of retreat for nobles. The Grand Duchess owned an estate there. But why did he suddenly bring up Coral Cliff?

"You like the sea. Aunt's estate has a private beach."

After so many years I had spent with him, I finally understood Sebastian a bit. He never said what he wanted clearly. You had to guess and deduce. But I knew he was not like that when treating matters regarding country. Why was he like that regarding personal matters? So was he implying he wanted me to go to Coral Cliff with his aunt?

"You want me to accompany Grand Duchess to Coral Cliff?"

"It's nearly time."

Time? What time?

"Time for hunting." A slow smile appeared on his face. That predator smile.

Then I remembered. Sebastian's father died in July. One month from now. Then my whole family died the following month.

At that time, I had really believed that King Louis died in a carriage accident and that my family had died in yet another accident. The mushrooms the maid had bought were poisonous. I had been left out because my aunt fell ill. She had been married to Zehan, the country Sally and her diplomat father were returning to. So I had traveled to Zehan with Sally a week before King Louis' death. A month after I had arrived at Zehan, I received a letter from Sebastian and my whole world crumbled.

But then a year after I had been married to Sebastian, a maid who had returned home before dinner on that fateful day told me no mushrooms were bought that day. She went to the market with Cook. The menu was not mushroom soup either. She had left after Cook finished cooking, so she was sure. My family had been murdered.

"But..."

I could not leave. I had to stop my family from being murdered. I still had not found out the reason behind the murder or the true killer. I originally planned to persuade my whole family to go with me on a trip to Edehan or Zehan a month before the original date of the incident. Since the incident still hadn't happened, there was no way I could find out the killer if I was not able to do it in my previous life. The only way was to stay away.

Just when I was deep in thoughts, something clasped around my neck. It's a necklace. A glass seashell, filled with water. Sebastian was fingering the seashell pendant of the necklace he clasped around my neck.

He whispered next to my ears, "Trust me."

The words seemed familiar... but where...

"Liana, go with Grand Duchess." He gently stroked my hair. "It's the only way."

"You'll protect my family?"

"Trust me." He gave me one final stroke on my hair and said, "I'll send people to protect your family."

"Is there a reason..."

"The hunting season is going to start. You are not a hunter."