9 Your eyes deceive me

Dahlia lay on the mattress as she threw her heels away after zipping her dress down. "Ahh, I feel so relieved," she murmured when Nylie entered the room, asking her if she didn't wish to have breakfast. 

"I want to. But I feel suffocated in this outfit. Can I not wear something better?" Dahlia asked her. 

"Your Highness, there is no dress more fitting for this occasion. Additionally, Princess Dahlia's posture on the bed is deemed inappropriate," Nylie remarked, gently assisting Dahlia to rise and swiftly adjusting her gown's zipper. She then handed Dahlia her heels, ensuring they were properly worn. "Prince Sullivan awaits you at the dining table," she added.

As Dahlia proceeded to the dining room, she held her gown up, determined to maintain her stride. Despite Nylie's persistent requests to let it down, Dahlia adamantly refused. Even her gait appeared uncharacteristically assertive, leading Nylie to speculate if something happened to Dahlia lately.

"Your Highness, it's not appropriate to reveal your legs. Please, consider lowering your gown," Nylie humbly implored. Dahlia entered the dining room, finding Sullivan already seated as a servant attended to him.

Their eyes met and he arched his brow slightly to see her way of holding the gown. She ran to him, letting the gown fall, and said, "Sullivan, I want new clothes." 

"I believe you already have hundreds of clothes," Sullivan said. Dahlia glanced at the plate and saw the buttered buns. She picked one from the plate and started munching it. The taste was divine and she quickly made her way to the chair close to Sullivan. 

Everyone present in the dining room was surprised to see Dahlia's table manners. When she noticed their weird gazes at her, she slowed down and placed the half-eaten bun on the plate. "I was hungry," she murmured and gently brushed her lips to remove the crumbles. 

She wiped her hands on the napkin and placed it on her lap. Dahlia intentionally avoided Sullivan's gaze as she knew he had questions to ask from her. 

Picking up the fork and knife, she was ready to dig in when Sullivan forwarded the plate of buns in front of her. "Finish this one first," he said. Dahlia gulped and picked it up. She ate it slowly before putting half of it on her plate. 

"Everyone should leave," Sullivan dismissed the servants. Once they left and the door closed, he asked Dahlia to tell the truth to him. 

"What do you want to know?" Dahlia slowly cut the steaks on the other plate. 

"Why did you leave the position of the Crown Princess and the next Empress?" Sullivan asked. 

"Because I love you," Dahlia answered. 

"It is a lie," Sullivan commented. He left his seat and stood behind her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he made her sit straight and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "You married me because you are scheming against me. You have loved Daedric for a long time. Your eyes always showed love for him."

Dahlia tilted her head to peer into his eyes. "What about now? What do they show?" she quipped. 

"Your eyes deceive me," Sullivan said. "Do you think I will believe your theory of always being in love with me when you never even glanced at me? As I said, I have observed you for a long time and I know you aren't in love with me," he declared. 

"Fine. If you believe that, I won't force you to see my love for you. Perhaps my actions will tell the truth to you with time," Dahlia asserted. She realized Sullivan was tough to please. But it was also because the original owner of this body actually never liked Sullivan. 

"The food will get cold if we both keep going with this never-ending argument of ours," Dahlia stated. 

Sullivan withdrew his hands from her shoulders and stood straight. He sat back on the chair and silently ate the food served to him. It surprised him that they served better food to him after his marriage with Dahlia. 

Dahlia stole glances at him, wondering if he was still suspicious of her. "Sullivan, why don't you take me out to the market? I would like to buy some fabric for my clothes. This dress is truly suffocating and uncomfortable for me. I would like to stitch new clothes for myself," she opined. She wanted to spend time with Sullivan to find out what kind of man he was. 

"But you always liked such types of clothing. These dresses are from your house and some are designed by the royal seamstress herself," Sullivan opined as he squinted his eyes at her. 

"Did I?" Dahlia looked away while bringing her left hand to her temple. "I cannot switch my style out of the blue. I have to keep wearing these tight and heavy dresses," she mumbled. 

"Eat quickly. You need to work in the garden as per your punishment," Sullivan reminded her. 

"That won't be much of a punishment. With Prince Ainsley's assistance, I anticipate that I will finish the work soon," Dahlia retorted confidently.

Sullivan's smile widened as he reached out, delicately brushing away crumbs from Dahlia's lips. Their eyes locked, and she heard him whisper, "You'll shed tears when you see the state of the royal garden. And Ainsley won't help you in work." As he withdrew his hand, the warmth of his smile still lingered on his lips.

"You have a captivating smile," Dahlia suddenly complimented him, prompting their gazes to intertwine once more. She had grown accustomed to seeing either Sullivan's impassive or neutral expression in the novel, so witnessing his smile filled her with unexpected joy and she smiled back at him. 

Sullivan felt strange in his heart and the smile from his lips instantly disappeared. 

"I have always been your fan, Sullivan. I'm glad you married me," Dahlia pronounced with a gentle smile. 

"A fan?" Sullivan arched his eyebrow. "Pardon me but why do you use such foreign words?" he asked. 

Dahlia's eyes blinked rapidly as she lightly bit the tip of her tongue. "I meant to say that I've been your admirer for a long time. That's why I chose to marry you," she corrected herself.

Sullivan was astonished to learn that Dahlia had been an admirer of his. However, a part of him found it difficult to believe Dahlia's words. 

The door suddenly swung open, and Nylie entered. "Apologies for interrupting your breakfast. The Queen requests Princess Dahlia's presence once she has finished her meal," she informed them.

"Why?" Dahlia's expression shifted to one of concern as she looked at Sullivan, a sense of apprehension creeping over her.