The Change of Heart and Fate

I was left alone amid the redwoods after Victor angrily left. Since that was the moment I've realized something huge, I couldn't follow him back to the lakeside. It was a bittersweet revelation, to be honest. I didn't know what to do with these feelings now.

Within a few minutes, he came back searching for me.

"Why are you still here? Do you want to get eaten by the wild?" he furiously asked as he neared me.

'This guy... Isn't he always like this around me? Angry and annoyed? Then why did I fall for him?' I was still lost in the thoughts. Seeing me looking at him, he calmed down a bit. His furrowed eyebrows relaxed a bit as his worried expression changed into nonchalance. A "What's wrong?" left his fine lips.

"I..." I started to blabber something then stopped midway. I didn't dare to say more so I surpassed him this time and ran my way to the lake bank.

Henry and Merlin had already left in one boat with the three half corpses so I was left alone with Victor again. If only I had known how to sail a boat to the other coast, I would have left Victor there and hastened back to my chamber. Because I was very nervous then. It was the first time I was going through this emotional imbalance called love in my life. I didn't know how to deal with it. If I do something stupid and revealed how I feel to him, everything will turn into a mess immediately. So I tried to be extra careful.

Within a few seconds, Victor had already caught me. This time, he didn't approach me. He got on the boat then reached his hand out to me to help me with boarding. I looked at his large hand then realized how small my hand was. Still, I was not willing to touch his hand. I got on the boat and stood at the other end.

He stayed a few meters away, untying the boat from the mooring pole. We were still standing at the two corners, even after the boat had started to surge towards the other coast. Victor sat near the stern and I was still standing at the bow of the boat. He had shifted his focus to paddling. Both of us were silent and the only sound was from the waves. It was a seemingly peaceful but an actual tumultuous situation for me.

Suddenly we faced a wave and the boat swayed once. I was lucky enough to not fall into the water this time. Still, I was reluctant to go near him.

"I'm will not save you if you fall" he blankly said.

'There is no need in the first place, I know swimming,' I thought but didn't utter a word.

"What? You're not going to talk?" he asked annoyed by my silence. "You're angry because I thrashed your fiance?" he tried to provoke me.

This time I sighed and turned to him. "I don't encourage murders! Don't beat anyone that much!" I said then sat down. Victor didn't seem happy. "Still, to be honest, he deserved that beating," I said with a smile.

Surprised by my words, his eyes drifted to me. There was a visible smirk on his lips. Also, a frisky expression on his face. "So you won't mind if I beat your fiance?" he raised his brows and tilted his head as he asked.

"I won't!" I joyfully shook my head averting my gaze away from him in embarrassment. When I peeked at him again, he was also smiling looking at me. After that, I didn't peek at him either.

Before too long, we've already reached the shore. Henry and Merlin were already waiting for me there.

"Your Highness!" they chorused with a bow. I just nodded at them then turned to Victor. Maybe it was just an illusion, but it looked like he was looking at me with affection. His eyes were gleaming and there was a faint smile still stuck to the corner of his lips.

When I hesitantly looked at him I was met with his tranquil outstare. Without any option, I lowered my eyes again.

"Then..." he prolonged, I'll be leaving!"

I instantly remembered that I had assigned him for prison duty. I thought for a few seconds then hummed an 'Mn' without looking at him.

When I lifted my head, Victor had already left and my two soldiers were looking at me with wide eyes, standing right in front of me.

"What?" I blankly asked.

"Your Highness!" they chorused. "What's wrong?" I frowned.

"You...you...you..." they staggered.

"What me?" I annoyedly asked.

"You're blushing!" the two chorused.

"What?" I covered both my cheeks with my hands. "No way"

"Yes Your Highness! No way! That's why we are worried!" Merlin said.

"Yes Your Highness! Could it be a fever?" Henry supported his assumption.

I confusedly looked at the two. "Could be!" I frowned.

"Let's go Your Highness! It's cold outside" Henry looked worried.

"Yes Your Highness! Let's hurry" said Merlin.

I nodded with a serious expression as I walked my way back to the chamber. When I fell on my bed, I was already scared about love. Even Henry and Merlin could see the difference immediately. How can I hide it from others? How long can I manage to hide it from Victor?' I nervously rolled on my bed.

Before too long, I heard a knock on my door. "Your Highness, His Highness is here for dinner" I heard Lilly yell.

'Holy moly' I sat on the bed with my hands on my head. 'How did I forget this?' I scratched my head in irritation as I got off the bed.

"Prepare the dining room" I yelled back then stood in front of my mirror to today myself a bit. When I entered the dining room, I saw Edward standing next to a window, thinking.

"Brother!" I called him. He looked at me and smiled, "Little sister!" I bowed a bit in style.

Then the two of us got seated. Lilly and Violet had already exhibited all the dishes in front of us. But none of the two of us was in the mood to eat then. I was lovesick and he was guilty conscious.

"Flora!" both of us broke the silence at the same time with her name.

"You go first, brother," I said.

"No sister, you!" he insisted.

I sighed once looking at the candle in front of me then told him everything that happened in the evening. Still, I didn't confess the full truth. I told him till the part Victor beat James. Also, I made sure to replace Victor's name with 'my guard' to avoid any trouble. I also hid the fact that we are keeping them in the dungeon. I just told him that I've ordered my guards to throw them beyond the brook!

Listening to the story, his eyes widened in disbelief. "James?" I heard his barely audible mumble.

"Will we be in trouble?" I raised my brows.

His blue eyes glistened in the candlelight as he turned to me. "You're safe. That's what matters. I will find a way out of this!" he promised.

I was taken aback by his reply indeed. It felt so good to have such a loving brother. Edward patted my head twice, "Don't wander into the forest in the future" he said.

I nodded and agreed with a smile.

"Also, that girl..." he paused as his face turned dark.

"Flora?" I tilted my head a bit and curiously asked him.

"Yes. I've wronged her!" he frowned. I understood that he was referring to the times he treated her poorly. This evoked the thought about the relationships I've been trying to create.

Now that I have already fallen in love with Victor, the idea of pairing Flora with him is not something I can proceed with. I am definitely in love and as the result, I knew that I can't stand him with another girl. So I was almost convinced that it was fine if Edward got married to Flora. Was there a better option? Now I brought back my attention to Edward.

I originally expected him to say something like 'I will take good care of her in the future,' but what he said left me in deep shock.

"So please take her back!" he said.

"What?" I cried.

I did the calculation in my head about the advantages and disadvantages of taking Flora back. Since the plot had already drastically changed, I couldn't find what would be the best for me.

If I take her back, what will happen to her relationship with Edward? What will happen to Edward's relationship with Evelyn? Also, there was Nio. He was behaving like an infatuated teenager whenever he was around her. What'll happen to him?

Besides, there was another bigger concern I had then.

If she is back, Victor will get to see her often. What if she falls for him and accepts his feelings? What will I do then?

"Brother, why don't you treat her better? She may have got used to the environment there?" I asked him. Though that was so egocentric and heartless I couldn't just go with the flow because of my situation.

As a human being, I wanted to secure my life and as a woman, I wanted to secure my love!

But what Edward replied to me with was even scarier.

"I don't know why sister. I just can't stand her!" he said. My eyes widened in horror.

I had also said the same about Victor, but I've never meant them. I all along knew that I loved to have him by my side from the beginning. I've never complained about him to any other people around me.

But what I saw in Edward's expression was real hatred and it scared the hell out of me!