Chapter 129: Secrets Of The Sanctum
Eve leaned back on her chair, which did little to nothing as there was nowhere to escape when Ivan leaned in closer, inch by inch.
Gathering her composure, she cleared her throat and stood her ground, "I believe I am, since I came with Cece, and you..." She turned her face the other way to escape his intense molten red eyes.
Ivan noticed her avoidance and his lips curled into a faint smile, thinking that he had been right...that his little princess was running away from him after all.
"Hm...but I’m afraid Cece can’t stay, as there’s someone else who’d like her company at the moment," Ivan said in a low voice that tingled down Eve’s ear. She turned her head towards him with a frown, silently questioning who he was talking about.
Cece, equally curious, looked behind Ivan, only to find a second familiar figure step onto the balcony. With pale blue hair and eyes, he looked guilty for being dragged along by the icy prince from the dining hall.
Edward could only sigh and offer them a sheepish smile in apology, as he had no idea where he was being taken to until now.
One look at Edward’s face, and Cece immediately understood, the poor man had been dragged here by Ivan without the slightest clue about what he was getting himself into. She sighed softly, realizing how much the couple needed to talk, and decided to make things easier for Ivan.
"Evelyn, I think I needed to be somewhere with Edward for an assignment today," she said smoothly. "So I hope you don’t mind if I head out first." Her eyes darted between Ivan and Eve before she added, "And since you can’t be left unescorted, I’m sure Ivan will see that you get back to the academy safely, won’t you?" she asked Ivan directly.
"Without a doubt," Ivan replied without looking away from Evelyn.
Eve opened her mouth to protest, but then she saw Cece mouthed the word, "Talk!" before turning to leave with Edward.
Eve averted her gaze again from Ivan and said quietly, "Well then, if you don’t have anything else to do, let’s head back to the academy."
Ivan’s lips curved into a faint smile, "Hm...who said we have nothing else to do? It is rather pleasant here," he drawled. "Would you grant this Crown Prince the honour of sharing a cup of tea with you?"
He made sure his voice was loud enough for the nearby patrons to hear, putting Eve in a hard spot to refuse in front of an attentive audience.
She knew that if she declined now, she wouldn’t just be disrespecting the Crown Prince’s invitation but also become a target of their condemnation.
She clenched her jaw as her heartbeat quickened. ’This sly, calculating devil.’
Clutching her hand into a fist beneath the table, she replied through gritted teeth, "Alright, Your Highness." Her gaze met his in defiance as she repeated his title on purpose.
Ivan’s lips broke into a devastating smile at her defiance, dazzling her for a fleeting second. He then leaned closer and whispered in a low, sinuous voice, "Thank you, Princess, for doing me the honour."
Colour rose to her cheeks as she swallowed hard, her blue eyes betraying her as they inevitably traveled to his sinful lips. Ivan noticed every subtle reaction from her. Satisfied with eliciting the effect he had on her, he finally leaned back and took a seat across from her.
Moments later, the servers arrived, quietly replacing the previous order with a new one. As they moved about, Eve wondered just how he was able to find her here. Turning her gaze towards the balcony door, she caught sight of Alex and Caleb guarding outside. And realisation dawned upon her...’of course, it was them.’
Once the server departed, Alex stepped forward and gently closed the door behind him, sealing them off from the curious eyes of the other patrons.
Eve sighed inwardly, realising there was no running away anymore. She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and turned her gaze towards Ivan, who was watching her unblinkingly. Finally, parting her lips, she asked, "What are you doing here, Your Highness?"
Ivan tilted his head ever so slightly and replied, "What do you mean? I am having tea with my girlfriend," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, deliberately emphasizing the word ’girlfriend’.
Arching an elegant brow, Evelyn set her cup sharply onto the saucer and said in a cold tone, "Oh?" So I’m your girlfriend now?"
Placing her hands neatly on her lap, she steadied herself before continuing, "Tell me, Your Highness, where was the significance of this relationship when you agreed to throw me into the place where my father plans to marry me off to another prince?"
Ivan was taken aback by her question and her cold demeanor. He was about to reply when she pressed on, "Should I understand that this relationship matters only when it pleases you and holds no value when faced with a challenge?"
Her voice cracked at the end, and she quickly averted her gaze to look at the sea, trying to swallow the lump forming in her throat. She blinked rapidly, doing everything she could to stop her eyes from welling up in front of him.
It was then that Ivan finally realised that she had been hurt by his response in the headmaster’s office, and recalled what Damien had been trying to tell him in the morning. Without skipping a beat, he said softly, "Eve...I think you’re misunderstanding my actions-"
"Misunderstanding, am I?" she repeated, her voice wavered. She turned her gaze on him, filled with hurt, and demanded in a quiet voice, "Then explain. Explain why I shouldn’t believe you don’t care about us at all, when you so readily agreed to have me sent to the kingdom of another man, who could be my potential husband, exactly what my father wants. When I made it clear there and then that I would never marry anyone against my will! Explain why you agreed so easily and remained indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with you...like you’re okay with me being with someone else-"
"I would kill anyone who even entertained that thought." Ivan cut in, his voice cold and menacing, as if he meant every single word.
Eve paused as she quivered at the intensity in his voice. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked down at her hands and whispered, "But...you agreed." Her chest tightened painfully as she went on, her voice barely audible, "You didn’t react at all...like it was nothing. Like...I was nothing to you. So if this relationship really means nothing to you, then we should-" her voice broke before she could finish.
Ivan got up abruptly from his seat, and before she could register it, he was on his knees before her, taking her cold hands into his warm ones.
She slowly lifted her blurry gaze towards him as he said softly, "That’s not true. I’m so sorry for this misunderstanding, Eve...I’m sorry for hurting you unintentionally."
A fat drop of tear escaped her glistening, beautiful eye that cut Ivan deeper in his heart than anything else. He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb lightly against it to wipe her tears, only for more to rain down tragically. He whispered, "I didn’t realise my actions would be taken this way...I’ll explain everything, just don’t cry...baby."
Eve hurriedly wiped her tears and lowered her head, letting her hair fall around her face like a shield. She felt utterly helpless, frustrated with herself for breaking down in front of him again, despite all her efforts to stay composed. She clenched her fist in her lap, chest tight, and weakly tried to defend herself. "I-I’m not crying! I-it’s your fault, you know!" she stammered, her voice quivering, betraying the storm of emotions she was desperately trying to contain.
Ivan’s lips twitched as he admitted, "Yes...It is my fault. I’m sorry." He raised his hands to gently wipe her cheeks again before bringing her face closer and pressing a light, tender kiss on her nose.
Before Eve could get lost in the warmth of his touch, she pulled back slightly and stared at him with her reddened, glazed eyes and whispered, "Explain..."
Ivan nodded, rising from his knees, then dragged a chair close to her and sat down, holding her hands in his. His voice dropped low, steady as he began, "I agreed for the headmaster to allow the excursion to Dartmouth because that was the place I had in mind when I told you we could find the answers we were looking for."
Eve’s eyes widened, and she waited patiently for him to continue.
"They have a sanctum, more accurately, an archive containing endless information about everything that has happened throughout history. It is meticulously protected and preserved by ancient magic. Even the ruling monarch of the kingdom cannot interfere with the records, as the archive is shielded by powerful, age-old spells. They say that only those who are pure of heart and truly deserving get to see the information, making it impossible for others to tamper with or misuse the information."
"So...you want to go there to find answers about our dreams?" Eve asked softly.
