Chapter 31 His Royal Highness Prince Cedric’s Go to

Translator: Tseirp

From exterior the Anderson’s window got here the sound of the rattle of carriages.

“A buyer?” I seemed out the window and noticed a gold griffon crest on a black carriage physique. Isn’t that the coat of arms of the Ashbury royal household?

“Grasp Clark, evidently a high-ranking individual is visiting, so it will be higher to satisfy them.”

I spoke to him and the three of us headed for the doorway corridor of the Anderson household dwelling.

A slender, blond-haired younger man stepped out of the carriage in entrance of the open door.

(The individual from that point)

The hair shade was completely different, however I observed due to his gait. Which means he’s the second prince. His Highness walked briskly and approached me.

“Hello, Miss Sellers, it has been a very long time.”

‘It’s been some time’ you say. I laughed wryly.

His Highness the Second Prince spoke to me cheerfully as if he had by no means damaged his ribs. It might be unusual to say ‘Good to satisfy you’ or ‘Thanks for that point’, so I bowed in silence.

“I heard from the previous Countess Haynes the place you had been. Do you’ve gotten a while?”

“Sure, Your Highness.”

“Ah, Mrs. Anderson, I’ve solely come to speak for a couple of minutes. I’ll be returning quickly, so that you don’t need to make tea. Girl Victoria, can we have now a minute collectively?”

“Sure. Your Highness.”

After getting into the reception room guided by Mrs. Eva, the knights shortly left after checking the inside. Nonna was staring from the door earlier than Grasp Clark pulled her hand and dragged her away. Nevertheless, alongside the best way, Nonna stopped and turned to glare on the Prince, however was finally dragged away by Grasp Clark.

Why did she glare?

“Truly, I got here to apologize to you right this moment. Your animosity and actions had been warranted given I approached a girl in that method.”

I waited in silence for him to proceed.

“I grew to become curious about you after I heard {that a} lady who seemed such as you defeated a person at that night social gathering.”

“Sadly that was not me.”

“Fufufu. I see. However you had been undoubtedly robust after I confronted you.”

“I heard from the Second Knight Order Commander that Your Highness injured your self in a fall.”

His Highness Cedric smiled wryly.

“Don’t say such imply phrases. I got here to apologize right this moment with a honest coronary heart. I’m sorry.”

His Highness stood up and bowed deeply.

“Your Highness, please cease. I’m in insignificant commoner from one other nation. In any case, please increase your head.”

“Will you forgive me?”

“Sure, in fact.”

“Good! Jeffrey didn’t even let me method you. Please preserve it a secret that I used to be right here? I believed that I ought to face you straight and apologize.”

I suppose he isn’t a nasty individual, simply as Commander mentioned. I’m glad I didn’t break the bones in each his legs and arms. No, I actually wasn’t going to try this until one thing occurred once more.

“And so, I’ve a request for you. Are you able to educate me a few of your martial abilities? After all, I’ll pay you correct remuneration.”

“No.”

“… That was a fast refusal. Why not? Didn’t you forgive me?”

Let’s be trustworthy right here.

“Different folks will probably be curious about me in the event that they discover out that I’m coaching Your Highness in martial arts. I’m certain there will probably be lots of people who come to problem saying, ‘Let me see how skillful you might be’ as soon as they know I’m a girl in her twenties. I’m at the moment employed and caring for that little one. I don’t have another free time.”

“In that case, I’ll handle it so that folks received’t discover. As soon as per week, only for an hour is ok. Please.”

I suppose he actually likes to coach.

“In Your Highness’ place, wouldn’t it’s higher to have somebody with good abilities close by as an alternative of sprucing your abilities?”

“Then will you keep by my facet?”

“I completely hate it. I refuse.”

“See?”

I couldn’t assist however chortle out loud. His reply caught me off-guard.

I stored refusing, however he mentioned, “Okay, I’ll come again while you’re about to alter your thoughts!” and left with a refreshing smile. What an optimistic individual. He appears to love coaching very a lot.

Mrs. Eva requested me quite a lot of questions, however I returned dwelling with a obscure reply of ‘It was about Commander…’. I wasn’t mendacity. I repeated the identical phrases to Mrs. Yorana. The reality could be too scary.

After dinner there was a knock on the door.

“Sure. Who’s it?”

“It’s me, Jeffrey.”

“Vicky! It’s Jeff!”

Nonna seemed very comfortable. Unable to attend for me to open the door, Nonna opened the door and the Commander in uniform was standing there. I all the time thought that uniform makes him seem 60% cooler.

“Good night Commander.”

“Victoria, I heard from a royal guard on the royal fortress that His Highness Cedric got here to see you?”

(The Commander already is aware of, Your Highness.) I virtually laughed.

“Sure. He requested to show him martial abilities.”

“What did you say in response?”

“I declined.”

“Though I warned him that a lot. I’ll make doubly certain he is aware of tomorrow. I’ve identified His Highness since he was three years outdated, however he’s all the time been undeterred. Though he’s already 20 years outdated, he’s nonetheless troubling others. In all probability as a result of these round him flip a blind eye as a result of he’s solely within the martial arts discipline.”

I brewed tea in silence and reduce up the butter cake with walnuts saved in a picket field and served it to the desk. It was baked the day earlier than yesterday, and right this moment it was moist and able to eat.

“Victoria?”

“Commander is a knight of the Kingdom. I can’t ask you to do such a factor for me.”

“However.”

If I ask such a factor, someday I would trigger this individual and his household quite a lot of hassle. I don’t wish to inconvenience him. And what if he distances himself after that? My chest damage simply imagining it.

“There’s a restrict to what I can ask of Commander. I’d be heartbroken if I rely on you and get spoiled by you and be deserted sometime. I’ll refuse him myself, so it’s okay.”

Commander stood up. He approached me whereas I used to be standing and checked out my face with concern.

“I received’t allow you to go.”

“I’ll handle myself. Till now, I’ve had quite a lot of assist from Commander, however I want to attempt to do one thing myself. That’s why you don’t have to fret about His Highness.”

“Vicky, are you upset about one thing?”

“I’m not indignant with anybody. It’s okay, Nonna.”

I assumed I used to be talking calmly, nevertheless it appeared that there was one thing lurking in my voice that scared her. Nonna had teary eyes.

Once I was stroking Nonna’s head with a smile, the Commander lifted Nonna up together with his left arm after which pulled me nearer together with his proper arm.

“I perceive. So don’t chortle with such a tragic face. Are you able to inform me what you’re afraid of?”

With out answering, I comforted the teary-eyed Nonna and put her to sleep on the mattress. The Commander waited for me till I returned.

“Commander, I can’t let you know what I’m afraid of. I’m sorry.”

“I see… I’m sorry I pressured my emotions on you despite the fact that you’ve gotten your individual circumstances.”

“No, I’m sorry. Um, would you want a glass of wine?”

“Oh, by all means.”

Purple wine and walnut butter cake goes effectively collectively.

The 2 of us ate the cake with walnuts and drank quietly. Biting into the crispy toasted walnuts jogged my memory of the walnut cake my mom used to bake. Though my recollections of my mom’s face and voice, whom I solely lived with for eight years, had been already fairly blurred, I nonetheless keep in mind the style of my mom’s cake.

“Up to now, I couldn’t get my fiancée to depend on me when it mattered. Perhaps my emotions of wanting to guard somebody necessary to me are too robust.”

“You may have … a fiancée? Is it okay? You coming right here.”

“She is not on this world. 10 years in the past she took … I couldn’t do something up till the tip.”

“Is that… was that so… one thing like that occurred.”

For somebody with such a way of accountability and need to guard, it will need to have been actually onerous for him. Was that the rationale why it was the primary time in ten years he attended a night social gathering?

“I’m sorry for making you recount one thing painful.”

“It’s up to now. You don’t want to fret.”

I needed to alter the topic. I needed to change it.

“Talking of which, I used to be informed just lately that I don’t perceive the change of conversations. I suppose there are nonetheless many issues I don’t know.”

“Who informed you that?”

“He’s somebody you don’t know. He’s the proprietor of a bar I frequent.”

The Commander made a shocked face.

“You go to such locations?”

“Sure. Solely when Nonna sleeps on the most important home. It’s humorous, however I am going the place there are different folks after I wish to be alone.”

I used to be fearful that the dialog would reduce off so I stored speaking.

“Might I am going to that store with you subsequent time?”

“It’s a spot the place an individual can drink two or three drinks alone after which go dwelling, so if it’s the 2 of us, let’s go to a different retailer.”

I don’t suppose I can let Zaharro, who is aware of rather a lot about me, meet Commander.

“If you wish to prepare in bodily arts, I could be your companion. I’m stronger than His Highness.”

“I wouldn’t need that.”

“Why?”

“Coaching that may trigger my hair to be raveled, physique to be sweaty, and possibly prepare till my eyes roll again? I don’t wish to present you that.”

“Then, is it okay for me to suppose that you’re a little acutely aware of me as a person?”

“…”

I would like you to understand that with out asking, Commander.