Sorry but not sorry

Their eyes met and became four. Cordelia felt a thud in her heartbeat rhythm.

The Grand Prince sauntered towards her and stopped a feet away from her. Cordelia did not only realize about the thud in her heartbeat. Her heart was pounding loudly in her ears, against her ribcage as if threatening to break loose.

"Good day, Your Royal Highness", she curtsied, "It is a pleasure to meet you", her voice sounded stiff, forced and heavy.

Sylvester moved more close to her. A smile appeared on his face as he raised his hand to her head.

Cordelia jerked her head backwards, feeling repulsed. The smile on Sylvester's face faltered at her sudden action making his hand to hang in midair, "I am sorry for that, Your Royal Highness. It's just...no one touched my hair before", she said and tried to smile as easily as she could but she can't help the frown that was about to emerge on her face.

"It's alright, I don't bite", Sylvester landed his hand on her head and stroked her sleeky hair as the smile reappeared on his face.

"Did I tell you that Lady Cordelia looked so pretty?", Ethan rushed to his brother's side while looking at Cordelia who had lowered face. Sylvester sent a deathly glare at him.

"Ugh, it is just a compliment", Ethan said as he rolled his eyes at his brother.

" You don't have to compliment her, I know she is beautiful", Sylvester replied to his brother. Sylvester returned his gaze back to the woman before him and cupped her face with his large hands, making her to look up at him. He was staring at her adoringly.

"What's the time?", his loud voice resonated in the courtroom, his green eyes never left her.

"The time is few minutes before midday, Your Royal Highness", one of the servants in the courtroom answered.

Cordelia felt as though worms were crawling under her skin especially where his hands were. She cannot deny the fact that those longs fingers were stained with her father's blood. She fought with every urge to push those damn hands away. Her blood was boiling with rage. She clenched her fingers to fists to maintain her composure.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness", she replied, her voice was devoid of emotions.

Sylvester released her chin and began to walk out of the courtroom while Cordelia followed behind him.

They got to the huge dining hall. Sylvester pulled our a chair for her to sit on which she did but no single word of thanks came out of her mouth. Sylvester did not notice this and decided to have his own seat.

On the dining table laid the array of food; a tray of roast chicken, boiled potatoes, Port, treacle and a bowl of fruits. Cordelia stared at the food as the maids served the food on her plate. When they were done, she picked up her cutlery and began to eat without asking for the Grand Prince's permission.

Sylvester watched with amusement in his eyes. He began to like her with the bold step she took. Unlike many other people who would wait for him to eat first.

"I see that you are very hungry", he spoke, which made Cordelia to look at him. There was a tinge of amusement in his voice.

Cordelia guessed what he meant and apologized, " I'm sorry for my unladylike behavior. The food looked so delicious that I can't wait to taste them", That was half true. But she was never sorry for what she did. It didn't matter to her whether she needed his permission or not, he already asked her to join him to eat.

"What is your favorite food?", he asked all of a sudden.

"I don't have a favorite food. I eat whatever is delicious", she answered.

He nodded as he dug his fork into his food and brought it to his mouth. He began to chew the food slowly as if savoring the taste on his tongue.

Cordelia watched his moving jaws and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down elegantly as he swallowed the food.

She saw his facial expression change to the one visible of pain. He coughed a little his hands grabbed his tummy while his face was cohorted with pain building up in his body. He coughed again, this time, blood spilled out of his mouth as he squeezed his tummy the more as if trying to bury the pain. A big smile beamed on her face as she watched him groaned out in pain. A menacing evil laugh erupted from her mouth as his groans became more agonized. He looked at her with wide eyes as more blood spilled out of his mouth.

"...what are you thinking about?", Sylvester questioned when he saw that she staring at him but she was distracted.

Cordelia blinked and that evil thought broke off her mind like melting ice. She just thought of how his food got poisoned and she couldn't express how joyous she felt when she was thinking about it. How his face twisted because of the pain. How he looked at her with wide surprised eyes. But his gruff voice brought her back to reality ahd he was still alive. Hale and hearty. No blood spilled from his mouth. The joyous feeling was quick to be replaced with enemity.

"Did you say something, Your Royal Highness. Please forgive my distracted self", Cordelia bowed her head slightly as her eyes lowered.

"This is the third time you are saying sorry today and the fourth time since we met", He confirmed. His face frowned.

"I am so sorry, Your Royal Highness. Please forgive me. I promise to be more attentive", She held an apologetic look and her voice sounded sincere.

"I forgive you. Don't ever let it repeat itself again", he warned with a stern voice.

"It won't",

Sylvester finally looked calm, "Here, eat some more", he put some meat in her plate.

Cordelia muttered a word of thanks while she felt grim on the inside.