9 Chapter 8

After that day, a heavy burden seemed to have lifted from my heart.

Weirdly, Sebastian did not start ignoring me (although I suspected it might have something to do with his plan).

He started to bring me books. Not encyclopedia this time, but romance novels. Books I usually read.

"Thank you." I took over the book. Even though I knew it's just make-pretend, for some reason I felt happy. Happy that he brought me something every time he came here. Happy that he finally spent an ounce of his clever brain to notice what I truly liked.

"I hope you like this type of books." A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes again.

Teasing? Was he teasing?

Maybe because of my confused look, for once in my entire two lives, he explained.

"Whenever I entered the room, you were reading an encyclopedia."

"What? That is not true. Why would I read an encyclopedia?"

"The book with a blue cover and a tear at the right upper corner."

"Oh... that! Wait... that was an encyclopedia?" I really wished I hadn't said it out loud.

"You were reading it every time I entered the room, you mean you didn't notice?" Another spark of amusement appeared in his eyes.

"Well..."

From that day onward, I felt more relaxed around him. Maybe because I ha already showed him my truest and messiest self. Or maybe I had simply realized I actually understood him more than I would like. I actually could read him pretty well even though his face stayed emotionless. And I was never a quiet person among people I knew well.

"Well?"

I knew he was actually in a pretty good mood at that moment (although it's his usual emotionless face). Maybe because he was teasing me.

I have to think of an excuse. I couldn't tell him it's because I had been reading romance novels that might be slightly embarrassing if seen by others, especially him. The first time he knocked on my door, I had thrown the novel behind the cushion, picked up a random book in my room and pretended to read it. I still had no idea why an encyclopedia was in my room. Sebastian wasn't one of those who like reading encyclopedia... right? Anyway from then on I had always used that blue covered book (which was now revealed to be an encyclopedia) as cover.

"People will know you're lying with the amount of time you spend to come up with an excuse."

"I'm not coming up with an excuse... I'm not..." I faltered.

"An ambassador from Edehan is coming, a ball will be held in a month."

"Edehan?"

Sebastian should be angry with Edehan. Our kingdom fell into ashes because of Edehan... Was this ambassador involved in his plan?

"The wife of that ambassador has some problems with her eyes."

"You mean Lady Astor? You want me to take care of her while you talk to Lord Astor?"

Lord Astor was the second in command of Edehan, but in truth he controlled Edehan and its king, King Leonard. He drove the original heir, Prince Lucien, off the throne and supported Prince Lucien's uncle as king. That happened a few years ago. Prince Lucien was now forbidden from returning to Edehan by Lord Astor's power, that's why disaster occurred.

Sebastian should hate this Lord Astor. If it wasn't for him...

"Astor is an interesting man." It's that smile again, that predator like smile. He really hated him then... right?

"You... you want to take revenge?"

"Astor is a better king than that Lucien. Working with him is more beneficial than with that Lucien." He leaned forward, touched my hair gently and whispered, "Working with smart people is better than with dumb people, remember that, Liana."

He then walked out of the room. What did that last line mean? He didn't seem to hate Lord Astor as much as I thought. He seemed to prefer to work with him over Prince Lucien.

Was I stupid or smart? If I was dumb, would I be discarded?

What was I thinking. Our engagement would end soon anyway.