chapter 7

" Just go and talk to him. "

Claire who was walking in front of her father's office stop before the door. ' Papa had a guest today? but he didn't tell me anything though. '

" What if that woman gets killed by my son? I don't want that! "

" Don't let your son know then. "

Claire frown. ' that was father's voice but the other one seems familiar too. '

" I need to teach my son to become more gentle! let him befriend your daughter, Reli. He needs a mature girl like your daughter by his side! please? "

" No way! Claire was the fiance of the crown prince! "

Claire flinch when she was trying to knock on the door.

" She can't be seen with the other boy instead of his highness! Besides, I didn't want my daughter to die on your.."

" Papa? "

The archduke speechless and look at her in shock.

" Why didn't you knock on the door first, my daughter? "

" I already have. Papa was the one to not heard my knocked sound. ".

Relius sigh and glared at the guest to make him make a way for his daughter to come near his desk.

" Then, that's okay. Here, greet our guest, Claire. "

Claire looks at a guy beside her left in shock. since when that this guy has already stood beside me?? such a big body and intense face he had!.

" Gre-greeting.. "

" I'm greeting the princess, the grand duke Allard at your service. "

' Gran-grand Duke??! since when papa has become his friend??? '

" I-I am Claire Stella Romanoff, pleased to make your acquaintance, grand duke. "

After bowing at him, Claire looks straight at his face. the grand duke Allard is smiling at her but it makes Claire feel uncomfortable with his gaze. A gaze that wanted something from herself.

Suddenly grand duke Allard turns to look at Relius.

" Look. your daughter was such a polite and humble girl! come on, let she met my son once. please.. Reli.. " beg the grand duke in front of father's desk. He looks like a child that wanted to buy an ice-cream and beg at their parents for it.

Relius sigh and shake his head disagree.

" My daughter has nothing to do with your son. don't drag her into your personal matter like this, Felix. "

" Ugh. Reliiiiiiiiii !!!! don't be so cold toward me!!!."

Claire stunned. Was that person really the grand duke of the Castella empire? they described him as a cold and stern guy from the rumors at the capital. Did I mishear it perhaps?

" Papa, I felt like I'm being a bother with your conversation with the grand duke here. I will take my leave now. "

' I don't know these feeling of uneasy I felt right now but I feel like I need to run away from here real quick. '

Relius frown at Claire's pale face and let go a hard sigh. This is all because of this childish guy! Claire looks so uneasy to be here now.

" Then, you may go, Claire. "

" Wait!! "

Claire was stunned again. She freezes when the grand duke suddenly held her shoulder when she was trying to escape their personal conversation. ' Ughh! I think I miss the timing to run away now. '

I slowly look at the grand duke's face when he suddenly kneels before me and held my hand.

In stunned by his sudden action toward me I look at his face in amazement.

He truly had beautiful red eyes and his face was like a masterpiece of the god although his age was the same as papa, well papa was 35 though. Maybe they would become more handsome as their age get older?

Chu.

My whole body freezes in startled. The grand duke suddenly kissed my hand when I was fascinated by his gaze toward me.

" My little lady.. "

Claire gulped when the grand duke suddenly looks at her intensely.

Bang!

" Ugh! "

" Oh my. "

When the grand duke suddenly releases my hand, I instantly cover my mouth in shock.

Relius had knocked the grand duke's head from behind him! the grand duke now was currently held the back of his head in a big frown.

" Why did you do that?? "

Relius glared at him and quickly pull Claire to stand behind his back.

" Don't seduce my daughter with your damn face. "

Claire blushed at her father's statement. ' seduce? the grand duke toward me? although his face looks so young and handsome, my father has a more good looking face than him though. If I were to fall in love, I would choose father than him.

The grand duke's face was like a playboy, I hope his son was not like him..

" Ugh, I only wanted to greet your daughter. Don't be so mad over this.. I've already done it to all the ladies in this empire though. "

I can see father's eyes become more intense, he glared at the grand duke with his menacing aura like he wanted to kill him right here right now after the grand duke said those words.

" Don't make my daughter in the same kind as your cheapest woman, Felix. "

The grand duke gets annoyed with Relius and stands up from his kneeling position with a gloomy expression.

" Yes, yes. I know she's different. Well, it's a good thing that your daughter resembles Jenna and not you Reli, right little lady? " ask the grand duke while gently smile toward me.

Claire frown and held Relius's arm tightly when the grand duke suddenly pats her head softly.

" Don't touch her, Felix. " warn the archduke.

Claire gulped when her father's voice becomes cold again. it's been a long time since the last time he used that tone toward someone.

" Okay, okay. Tsk. Such a cold person you are. Very well, little lady. I had some feelings that we will meet again though, please don't ignore me when we met then, okay? "

Claire felt her heart thumping. I can see his dimples on both his cheek! so damn handsome! I'm sorry father but at this rate, I might fell in love with his face more than yours!

After the Grand duke smile at me, he walks toward the door and suddenly stops before he steps out of my father's office. Grand duke turns his head and looks at father with a smile.

" I suddenly remember you once said the same thing toward me when I do that to Jenna. do you still remember our past together, Reli? "

' Jenna? my mother? '

I can felt father's arm suddenly tremble, I look at him in wonder. He had the same expression but he was currently clenching his hand tightly after the Grand duke asked that.

Until the grand duke finally left our Romanoff mansion, father's face becomes more a little cold. Father escort me while holding my hand until we stop before my room together.

Relius kneel before his daughter and caress Claire's hand.

" Don't get near them. whether it's the grand duke or his son, both of them were cruel people when they are mad. So don't ever get near them no matter what, Claire. "

Claire freeze when her father's face looks so serious when he faces hers.

" I understand, papa. "

' Even though you said that, father. I'm already choosing his son as my partner though. I'm sorry, I can't find someone better than his son.'

****

The banquet day finally arrived.

Claire wearing a light red dress with shining green jewelry as her accessories on her hair.

She looks at herself in front of the mirror and slowly touches her face.

" Today. it's the day I will meet him. "

Claire's heart feels a little anxious as the day turns to the night.

The Lamina month would be ended tonight and tomorrow was the last day my contract would last. I need to do my best this night!

" My lady, the crown prince has waiting for you outside. " inform Daisy at the door.

Claire smile at her, pretend to be happy with the crown prince as her escort tonight.

" Okay. "

****

" So? you still remember our contract, right? "

After a long time we just silently rode the royal carriage, he finally spoke to me.

" Of course, it's always on my mind for this whole month, your majesty. "

Noelle smirked and lean back while looking at Claire with his mocking face.

" That's good then, I'm afraid if you didn't remember your promises on those contracts. "

I glance at him and look out at the window of the carriage to ignore his damn face.

' Such an annoying person. '

" Your majesty, Princess Claire. we have arrived at the palace. " inform the horseman toward us.

I look at Noelle who was getting up from his seat and get down from the carriage. He stood up in front of the door of the carriage and raise his hand toward me. I fake a smile knowing that he was trying to pretend to be a gentleman for me in front of the people.

" Glory for the future sun of Castella, your majesty the crown prince. "

" Crown prince and princess."

" Princess. "

" Your majesty. "

" Glory your majesty. "

" Long live the crown prince. "

My face becomes cramps after a fake smile I used in front of the people who greet us when we walk through the hall.

" Let's separate after we greet my father and mother. I need to met someone. "

' Who? yours Maria? '

I smirk while clinging my arm into him in annoyance. ' Whatever. '

" The crown prince of Castella, his majesty Noelle Muller Clovis de Castella, and his fiance, the princess of Castella, princess Claire Stella Romanoff has arrived! " inform a knight loudly in front of the entrance door of the hall.

Now, every eye of the people in the hall was piercing on us, as I have used to it, I walk beside the crown prince while ignoring their stares toward me. we walk through the center of the hall and stood before the emperor.

" I greet the merciful emperor and the kindness empress, sun and moon of Castella. Claire Stella Romanoff has come to greet you, your majesty. ".

The emperor smiled as he looks at me bowed at him while the empress just takes a glance at me. ' Well, I'm already used with your glare, empress. '

" Father, mother. "

The emperor smiled again at his son. " Yes, you may raise your head. "

" Thank you, your majesty. "

" Does it hard to came here, Claire? " the question from the emperor comes to me first.

I smile and bend my head a little. " It was so comfortable to come here with the royal carriage, your majesty. I'm honored to be your banquet guest tonight. "

" That's good then. Well, my son. I had something to talk with you now, follow me. "

I bend my head while the emperor and Noelle walk before me, Yes. I can free now.

As I turned my back, a voice came into my ear. a soft yet harsh voice.

" Wait, lady Romanoff. "

" Yes, your Majesty? "

I look at her. Her majesty, who had a bright ember eyes look at me intensely. Her gaze glared at me like I'm a culprit or something.

" You two seem to be in a good relationship. " while smirking she said.

Claire speechless in front of the empress. I'm already expected these to happen since I already know that the empress doesn't like me being with her son but seriously.

' Me??? that Noelle and I had a good relationship? does your eyes blinded or something perhaps? '

Wait. I can't lose my anger here, I need to be calm until the end. In my past life, this empress had sent an assassin just to stopped me from being the crown prince fiance. First, I need to be careful with her.

" Ehem. Well, it's honored to be seen like that by the people around us just like your majesty, I'm glad that I didn't have to be so anxious as people keep saying our relationship is a little strained, but your... "

" The Grand Duke Felix Robesto Ford Allard had arrived! " shout the knight at the entrance suddenly make Claire look at him instantly.

As the announcement of his arrival said, make Claire feel anxious.

' He didn't come tonight?? '

" Pardon my rudeness, my empress. but I need to greet the grand duke first, we will continue these talks later. Please excuse me. "

My feet step leaving the empress speechless at her throne. Enough with this nonsense talk, I had an important business to do now.

' I'm sure that he would come tonight. In the past, there was some incident about him and I heard of it when I dance with Noelle. I can't remember what incident it is but he should be near here, hiding somewhere in silence.'

Wait.

The garden behind these banquet halls!