Unforeseen Proposal

Hate. That’s the only word that can fit Kiha’s feelings to the youngest child of Count Harrington. Elaina Harrington is an outstanding divine healer and the only sunflower in high society. She is known for her undeniable good personality and beauty that every man in Eleanor admires. That is how Elaina captured everyone’s heart for just a split second. In short, Elaina is Goddess for all.

Unlike Elaina who receives everyone’s heart and attention easily, Kiha never receives compliments from anyone. The Cactus flower is a given nickname for Kiha in high society. Unlike the beautiful sunflower, Kiha’s nickname was given by those jealous women, and because of her striking words that not appealing to everyone.

“Lady Harrington, It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Kiha carefully holds the hem of her dress then bows for a curtesy. Countless servants were lined-up outside the simple yet alluring mansion of Harrington.

The servants’ eyes were wide as Martin when they depart earlier. Everyone in the Empire knows how annoyed she became every time she sees even a glimpse of Elaina’s shadow. But the lady in front of them was sincerely smiling at their young lady. Even the eldest son of Count Harrington accompanies his younger sister in case Kiha does something terrible again.

“Yes, I’ve been longing to see you in our humble place, your highness.” Elaina’s gentle voice gives a relaxing sound in Kiha’s ears. Sunflowers blooming beautifully in the corner caught Kiha’s eyes. The color of the sunflower is the same as Elaina’s hair and eyes. Charming blond hair that looks exactly the same color as the sun and dazzling hazelnut eyes that suit Elaina’s appearance most.

Kiha turns her head to Martin then smiles at him, waving her hand. Martin, he’s the one who always drives her to everywhere she wants to. And it made her feel bad for rebuking him for no reason for the past years. Elaina lead Kiha to the garden where the tea and snacks are served. The wind passes strongly as she expected, she went to Elaina to hold her fluttering dress.

“How nice of you, your highness.” Kiha’s sudden reaction caught everyone off guard. Seeing how the rumored to be a madwoman in Richter House protected their young lady makes them have a second thought about her.

“Please be more careful, Lady Harrington, you’re a prominent noblewoman.” She looks at her with a fierce expression. It’s a very familiar face for Elaina as she often sees her scold someone in every gathering, and that made her the cactus flower in the high society.

“I thank you, your highness. I’ll be more careful from now on.” Elaina bows to Kiha as they sat down. The atmosphere between them is somehow awkward but Kiha suddenly says something she’s not expecting.

For Elaina, Kiha is a strict and straightforward woman. She will often rebuke a group or a woman on every occasion and advice them to act like a proper lady. She is a proud descendant of the shield of the Empire that Elaina never expected to hear these words from her.

“I came here to apologize for everything I did in the past. I am willing to accept any punishment from you except death sentence.” Kiha’s voice is serious that she can feel her sincerity through her words. But death sentence as a punishment? ‘Is she serious? The thing she did to me isn’t bad enough to sentence her death.’ is what Elaina is thinking after she hears what the young lady before her just said.

“This isn’t the time to jest, your highness.” Upon hearing what Kiha said, Elaina hastily dismissed her servants, looking perplexed. Elaina’s calm face turned fierce and confuse at the same time as she slowly averted her eyes to the young lady sitting before her.

She cannot believe what she just said that she almost thinks that maybe she hears her wrong but her reactions say she’s serious. Kiha hasn’t even responded but she can already say that she is not here to joke around nor to play puzzles with her.

“You know what I’m saying, Lady Harrington. You can request anything from me at any time, oh right. I’m here with another reason.”

Kiha elegantly grabbed the cup of tea before taking it to her mouth, sipping carefully. Every move she does was intently observe by Elaina but she cannot see any ulterior motives in Kiha’s heart. It was a secret that she knew how to read everyone’s ulterior motives just by looking from the energy they are releasing from their heart. There are different kinds of energy she can read in people’s hearts.

The first one and the finest of all, the colorful one. It creates good intentions, relationships, and trust. The second one is the light one. It creates good impressions but will turn into an obsession. And the last one and the most dangerous of all, the black one. This energy creates all kinds of bad things, it may be mental or physical. It means that if a person has black energy, it means that they’re thinking of bad things to do to whomever they are talking to. But Kiha’s energy is fully white, white as a sheet. It was a rare one, there’s no information about energy like that in any books in Eleanor.

“May I ask if you’re interested in someone, Lady Harrington?” Kiha beams in excitement as she says these words to Elaina. Strange as it seems, she cannot read Kiha’s intentions at all. There is nothing in her heart but emptiness.

“What about someone you’re thinking of marrying? Do you have something like that, my lady?”

Kiha’s sudden questions caught Elaina off guard. She wasn’t expecting her to ask her something like that since Kiha has never shown interest to anyone except to two people in her life. It was her friend, Czarina, and her first love, Rhysand.

“There is no one, your highness.” Elaina straightened her back then look at the young lady who looks more excited than anyone else. The way she move her fingers amazed Elaina to the point of staring at her without hesitation. ‘She’s beautiful. I wonder why everyone thought she’s not when she is.’

Elaina’s thoughts eat her up as Kiha put a hand on her shoulder, slightly leaning closer to her. She looks worried as if she just wants to hug Elaina and carry her to the doctor. Kiha’s eyes sparkled a bit as she saw Elaina’s beauty close up for the first time. She can’t help but admire her from the only inches distant from her.

“Hey, what are you doing to my sister?” A large and warm hand was put on Kiha’s shoulder as she continued to look at Elaina. The sound of the irritated older brother of hers resounded in her ears.

She blinks rapidly then straightened her back before turning to the owner of the voice, faking a smile on her face. The older brother who seem to notice her fake smile creased his brows then look down at her. Their height difference was huge enough to feel insecure but she didn’t budge and bravely look at him.

“I’m just admiring her beauty up close.” The tension between them seems to create a huge impact on Elaina as she burst into laughter. It’s the first she sees her brother look confused in front of anyone as she often sees him undermine them.

“Anyway, Lady Harrington, how about my brother Kalen? He’s smart and all.” She smiles at her as she states the detailed reason why Elaina should consider her brother Kalen to be her husband but her older brother interrupts them by saying; “You haven’t changed, you only do someone’s order. If your brother wants to marry my sister then come here with his own feet. There are many men who want to marry her, with a good background is it.”

The moment Kiha hears what he says, her heart raced rapidly as if she’s going to explode any time around. She clears her head first before folding her arms, raising her head to look at the young man.

“How could I? This offer is hundred percent my plan, he doesn’t even know I’m here.” Irritated, she hold out her hand then point her finger at him.

Strong wind passed by making Kiha’s ginger hair flutter in front of the two, as if mesmerized by her sudden smile, the two burst in laughter once again, forgetting the unexpected range she had just shown.

“Lady Elaina Viorica Harrington, please marry my brother Kalen Neville Richter and be the future Countess.” Kiha bows her head again before handing the Empire’s treasure, the first Empress necklace, Quantum.

Articsan Harrington, the eldest son of Harrington frown as he watches Kiha bow elegantly to her one and only sister, Elaina as if she is proposing to her in place of her absent older brother, Kalen.