Chapter 2 - The Lady (1)

"Claire!"

Her white hair flutters by the wind enhancing her beautiful red pomegranate eyes that look forward in front of her.

The girl's hand felt tired as she held the corner of her long and heavy dress up, not that she cared as she kept running through the corridor, passing several high windows that allowed the sunlight to pour into the room.

A fresh red rose in her hand. Indifferent to the pain of the thorn prickling through the soft hand of the noble girl, she sprang up laughing. 

"Ahahahaha! Catch me if you can, Vincent!"

"You brat!"

Claire turns her head back as she runs around the palace, looking at the dark skinned and brown haired man who is her older brother. 

The servants can only smile as they look at the sibling running around noticing the contrasting looks of the sibling, one ashen, another darkened.

Vincent looks fumed as he chases his sister who has nothing but smirk on her face, her giggles making him even more overwhelmed with emotion as he keeps pacing over the palace.

"Ahahaha! No wonder you haven't found anyone, you're practically ancient!"

'My brother is pretty cute, any woman would find him pleasing to the eye.'

Running around the palace exhausted him, he doesn't really like to spend his energy chasing his bratty sister, his face soured as he sees Claire mock him as she turns back.

"Claire! Give me the rose back! I will give you anything you want!"

"No wanna~!"

"Claire!"

Turning back as she runs, she waved the rose and mocked him again.

"Nope! No~!"

"H-hey look forward!"

BAM!!

Vincent looks pained as he avoids gazing towards his sister who has hit someone as she runs. 

"Ugh!"

Plopped to the cold floor, Claire sat there, contemplating her life choice while brushing her dress from any dirt. Her red eyes darted up to see who she had slammed into.

The man's imposing broad shoulders and black hair stood unfazed before her. He slightly turns his head, looking towards Claire from the side of his cold blue eyes. Feeling his arrogant gaze made Claire feel her body freeze, her hair stood on its ends. 

He calmly stood there, analyzing the girl that had just bumped into him from the corner of his eyes without even moving to help her.

"Claire!"

Vincent looks shocked as he sees the man Claire bumped into. He fastens his pace, not daring to make the man wait. He could feel the cold blue eyes swept over him as he sprinted.

The Crown Prince.

His sour face had long gone, replaced with anxiety and alertness because of the man in front of him. Vincent quickly helped his sister back on her feet.

"Please forgive my little sister, your royal highness, she is very improper towards–"

Before even having a chance to explain himself, the crown prince cut him off. His voice sharp as he said,

"No need to apologize for such trivial matters."

With that, he directed his gaze towards Claire who is slowly standing up with Vincent's help, his gaze seems to hide his contempt towards the unrefined lady.

Claire lowered her gaze, trying to hide her shame and awkwardness.

"I'm very sorry for my carelessness, your royal highness," her voice soft

The prince nodded lightly, without any expression on his face. He then steps away from the scene, leaving Vincent and Claire in an awkward silence as they both look at each other.

Vincent took a deep breath, waiting for the crown prince to leave the area, he looked towards his sister again, whose eyes locked to the broad shoulder that is walking away from the wall of the corridor.

'This is the first time I saw the Crown Prince, he gave the impression of being a not very amiable person.' 

"Brother, why is the Crown Prince here in the Duchy?"

After the prince is gone from their vision, Claire moves her gaze to her brother as she fixes her dress.

"What? Are you interested in him? What happened just now might have your head plucked from your neck if you were a peasant!"

Checking the corner where the prince had gone to, he glanced back at his sister, his tone and expression looking as if he loathed her question.

'What the hell is wrong with this brat!? That's the Reaper!'

Her face flushed as she slapped Vincent's shoulder. "That's not what I mean!"

"Hahh, I don't know. Maybe he is here to meet dad. I heard there is a territorial dispute between the local nobles in Leah."

Nodding slowly, Claire tightened her grip on the rose she stole from her brother. She is actually still holding onto it! She loosened her hand as she felt the stabbing pain from the thorns, only now aware of the pain after the prince had left. She wondered, why does the prince hate her? She believes that this is the first time they have met. Did she somehow offend the prince as she bumped into him? Or maybe there is something wrong on her face that the prince loathes her immediately? 

"Vincent, why is my hair different from you guys?"

She had always been wondering about this, yet her family would always change the topic. This question made her brother's brown eyes look down seemingly tongue-tied.

"Is it that important?" Vincent said as he walked to her, flicking his finger to her temple before patting her white hair. "Whatever, we need to focus on your debut tomorrow. It's the day! You need to look fabulous, at least for tomorrow." Sneering at her.

Claire fell silent as she pondered his answer which again abruptly redirected the topic.

'Again? Everytime I ask, they never answer. Even father always seems uneasy whenever I asked.'

"What are you waiting for? Dad's waiting!"