"Oh, it's already sunset!" Elle exclaimed and rose from the couch. "I need to go prepare for dinner now, Sebastian. Good Lord... time just flew by too fast today, did it not? Since you are back, you should rest for a little while. Maybe you can go wash up first before taking a short nap? I'll call you once dinner is ready." r
After giving him another smile, she headed for the door. Trying to keep up appearances, Elle reminded herself to keep her footsteps light and cheery.r
But just as she pulled the door open, it was being pushed closed again very suddenly with a muffled bang, startling her a little. Her eyes widened before falling to the veiny hand that was being pressed against the door. For a split second, her heart rate had sped up crazily as her body had automatically responded by wanting to duck and flee - from the left-behind nervousness from seeing Boone from the yesterday. However, in the next second, she drew in a breath and told herself that it was just Sebastian's hand and there was nothing for her to be afraid of. Feeling her heart rate starting to calm down, she slowly turned around to face him. r
"Sebas..." she could not complete his name because of the expression that she saw on his face. It was not an expression that she was expecting to see. Not from this man, the Crown Prince of Viscarria, Prince Sebastian.r
Pinning her against the door, Sebastian loomed over her. Seeing that he had gotten her attention, he took a small step closer to her, bringing his body almost flush against hers. His nostrils flared as he breathed in her unique floral scent, his eyes closing for a while as he fought his instincts to tamp down on his raging emotions.r
"Tell me, Iza... what should I do? Please tell me what can I do to make you never smile and laugh that way again?" he asked in a hoarse voice, almost breaking at the end. "I can't... f**king stand it... So, tell me... tell me what I should do..."r
He could not believe what he was saying. But he immediately realized that this was him doing something so unlike himself again. This was him trying to do something to prevent her from getting broken in his arms. To him, this was far easier than letting her go. Yes, despite all that realization, letting her go was still something he could not even comprehend. No, he was unwilling to accept the possibility of her leaving his life. So, he was even f**king willing to try and fight the inevitable. Maybe... just maybe... if he could persist, something might change? That it might give them both a fighting chance to make it work? Maybe... she would somehow at least keep her smile. That would be enough for him. r
But... what if this was something he could not do anything about, at all? And that was why she could not respond? r
He gritted his teeth. "Tell me... is there nothing I could do? Because it is who I am that's making you a���" r
"Stop!" she yelled at him, cutting him off as she lifted her hands, both her palms facing him, telling him to stop. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. His face. His expression. The look in his eyes. She had seen this vulnerability before in that magical meadow and it had made her momentarily lose her power of speech. She was becoming more confused at the things that he was saying to her. Why was it that it seemed as though they were not even on the same topic? "What are you... I don't understand what you're talking about a���"r
"Enough!" He told her through his gritted teeth. "Do you really think I can't distinguish your fake smile and forced laughter? Huh? Izabelle? Do you really think I can't see the horror and fear in your eyes?" he scoffed bitterly, shaking his head. "I know I can't understand your emotions sometimes or maybe most of the time. But your smile... your laughter... I at least recognize what is real and what is not!" r
"Sebastian..." she said his name in a disbelieving whisper. Her hands slowly reached up to touch his face. The way she moved so carefully was as though she was afraid that if she touched him wrongly, he would just shatter into a million pieces. "I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to... I was... I was trying to hide how scared I was. That's why I am forcing myself to smile and act like nothing has happened. I didn't want you to know what a pathetic mess I was yesterday, suddenly running away in fear, then hiding and trembling in the bushes... I..." she trailed off, suddenly realizing what she had been saying to him. She had been trying to explain her actions to him.r
"Tell me..." his voice was even tighter now as he spoke through gritted teeth. Sebastian had heard her words. And it sparked a flame in him. She was in fear. Hiding and trembling in the bushes. Why?! "Why did you run in fear? Why were you hiding in the bushes and trembling? Who made you... who had terrified you to that point?" r
Elle's lips fell open. Her eyes started to sting really bad and felt really hot as she looked up at him. She saw the clear view of his face suddenly wavering and blurring after a while. And she knew it was because tears had already filled her eyes. She was only holding them back from spilling from sheer will.r
"Answer me, Izabelle. Did some vampire out there scare you? Or was it... was it the things that you had recently found out about us vampires that made you... or was it me who a���" Sebastian kept starting and stopping, asking new questions and stopping halfway, not finishing it before asking another question. Though it was haphazard and quite confusing, Elle somehow managed to follow his train of thoughts.r
"No!" she finally burst out, stopping Subastian from continuing.
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