Chapter 138: No Longer A Puppet
Cece let out a soft sigh and murmured, "I hope Evelyn and Ivan have cleared their differences by now."
"I’m sure they must have. I heard people gossiping earlier, sighting their beloved crown princes with a beautiful lady around Crimson Hollow." Edward replied with a smirk.
"I heard that too...but who knows. They’re still so new at this." Cece said.
"I can understand Princess Evelyn being new to this, but Prince Ivan as well?" Edward asked curiously.
"Oh yes, he’s as new to this whole relationship thing as one can be. He’s never been the type to let any woman get close to him before, not like he has with Evelyn. So his emotional range when it comes to these things is pretty limited." Cece explained.
"Well...if that’s the case," Edward said, turning to look at Cece, "then I think they’re both doing quite well. I may not know Prince Ivan, but I’ve seen how he is with her. When he looks at her, it’s like she’s the only person existing in existence to him."
Edward’s eyes softened as he gazed at Cece and said in a low voice, "And when a man does that...I know for a fact that it’s a clear sign that he dearly treasures that person."
Hearing the softness in his tone, Cece turned her dark crimson eyes to meet his pale blue ones. Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew, ruffling their hair, yet neither of them moved, their gazes locked on each other.
Edward took in the sight of Cece’s beautiful, almond-shaped, dark red eyes, her sharp nose, and pretty pink lips. Her blond hair swayed lightly with the wind as she looked at him with that slightly guarded expression she always had around others. He knew she was a strong, independent, and fierce woman, someone who always maintained a calm and composed front. But the more time he spent with her, the more he realized that beneath that strength was a delicate heart, one shielded by carefully built walls, afraid of being broken.
And the more time he spent with her, the more he found her utterly fascinating.
The sound of laughter from people strolling nearby snapped them both out of their daze. Cece blushed faintly and looked away, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before speaking softly, "It’s getting late...should we head back to the academy?"
Edward smiled at her shy demeanour and said playfully, "We can...or we can enjoy this beautiful sunset together a little longer while finishing these biscuits and then head back."
Cece looked at him and smiled, "I didn’t know you had a thing for sunsets."
"I used to watch them in my kingdom," Edward replied. "I love seeing the sky slowly paint itself in different hues. Sometimes orange, sometimes purple, or pink, and so on. It makes me wonder what color it will be the next evening." He then glanced at her with a soft smile. "Something to look forward to, isn’t it?"
Cece let out a soft chuckle, "I agree. Alright, let’s watch the sunset and then head back to the academy."
With that, the two of them sat together, watching the sun sink below the horizon while sharing honey biscuits.
....
By the time dinner rolled around in the academy’s dining hall, Damien glanced sideways and noticed Cece and Edward talking more than usual, their gaze lingering on each other a little longer. He rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t get stuck and looked ahead, just at the right time to catch the faintest ghost of a smile on Ivan’s face as he kept filling Eve’s plate with more food like a devoted butler in love. Their discreet flirtatious touches and gaze...ugh! The atmosphere between them was just so sweet that the whole table reeked of romance.
Damien dropped his fork with a loud clink and threw his hands up. "That’s it! I can’t take it anymore! Can you all stop and get a room? I didn’t sign up for a dinner date with Cupid. If one more of you makes googly eyes, I’m walking out before I get diabetes."
"All four of us?" Cece frowned at what his brother was implying.
Damien rolled his eyes again, "Oh, save it, Cece. Nothing escapes this brother’s eyes. First, I was forced to endure these two being disgustingly lovey-dovey, and now you’ve also joined the bandwagon of ’let’s make Damien feel miserable for being single.’ I must say, I didn’t see that coming."
Cece’s face turned a perfect shade of tomato at Damien’s unfiltered words while Edward nearly choked on water that he was chugging.
Cece saw this and instantly started rubbing his back in gentle circles, trying to erase the damage Damien’s words had done.
Damien shot an exaggerated sigh and waved a hand. "See? This is what I was talking about. Ah! I bet I’m doomed to die single."
"Or maybe you need a new hobby that isn’t whining, Damien," Ivan said flatly, completely unfazed.
Meanwhile, Evelyn watched her friend’s chemistry grow, raising an eyebrow. Something had definitely shifted while they were gone.
"Yeah, yeah...Maybe I need better company," Damien muttered, before tossing a slice of meat into his mouth like it might solve his existential crisis.
He then turned his curious eyes back to Ivan and Eve and asked, "By the way, I heard you two had disappeared in an alley today back in Crimson Hollow."
Ivan looked at Damien, completely unbothered, while Eve’s heart skipped a beat, an audible thump enough for three vampires, Damien, Ivan, and Cece, to glance at her collectively.
Eve quickly looked at Ivan, and blood rushed to her face as memories of what they had done while away flashed through their mind. She hurriedly looked down, clearing her throat. "We...went somewhere quiet to talk."
She stole a quick glance at them before returning her attention to poking her food. Ivan fought back a smile, knowing his secret was safe with her, and even if her heart betrayed her, it could always be masked with some other reason. Regardless, he found her flushed face utterly adorable.
Damien noticed Eve’s flushed face and Ivan’s smug expression and muttered with an exasperated sigh, "Sorry I asked...love birds."
Everyone continued their dinner in silence until Edward spoke, "Evelyn and Prince Ivan, I received a message today from my family asking about..." He hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was the right time to bring it up, but Eve urged him, "Go on, Edward...what is it?"
Edward pressed his lips together before saying, "You both may not like what I am about to say next."
Eve frowned, while Ivan was the one to respond, "It’s fine, I’m sure it’s nothing we aren’t already expecting."
"Alright," Edward straightened and spoke in a low voice, "My family wrote to me asking about Evelyn being betrothed to Prince Valen Kaine of Dartmouth. They said that Queen Elara has been running around telling everyone at social gatherings that Princess Evelyn will soon be married to him. They also mentioned that King Solan is about to make an official announcement regarding the same."
Hearing this, every single person’s expression turned grim, but Edward continued, "They also said the royal court, those who support Princess Evelyn as heir to the throne, is in total uproar, demanding the king reconsider the union. It also mentioned hearing rumors about both of your relationships being public, and...they are pushing the king to consider Prince Ivan as a potential suitor instead. This is, of course, being opposed by the people who are in support of Queen Elara."
Eve suddenly felt a wave of nausea rise as she listened to Edward. Her heartbeat picked up in panic, bubbling in her chest at the thought of her father and Queen Elara making decisions behind her back. More than panic, another emotion surged within her, rage. Utter rage at the thought that they could make such an important decision in her life without ever asking or consulting her.
Everyone’s eyes moved to her, listening to her racing heart, expecting her to panic. Instead, they saw her hands gripping her cutlery so tightly that her knuckles had turned white, trembling slightly.
They thought she was about to cry, so Ivan was about to place his hand on hers, ready to comfort her, but he froze midway when he heard her hiss, "How dare they?"
The raw, raging anger radiating from her was so palpable that the ground started trembling, causing all the students to stop what they were doing. Eyes snapped upward as the chandeliers hanging on the ceiling shook, and faint tremors rippled across the dining hall.
When she lifted her gaze, her eyes had turned golden, cold, and commanding. Her low, icy voice sent goosebumps down the spines of all three of them, "How dare they make this decision for me. Let’s see how they can continue to treat me like a puppet."
She then turned her emotionless golden eyes to Edward.
"Edward," she said, and he straightened immediately, struck by the fierce, wrathful presence of the princess, who looked every inch a fearsome ruler.
"Write to your family. Tell everyone they meet that I will be with whomever I choose. What King Solan or Queen Elara says is of no concern to me. The rest, I will handle myself."
