20 The Ice-Blocks (1/2)
Ai sat still as her frustrations continued to build up slowly. As much as she did not want to offend the prince, this little joke of Hayama was getting out of hand. Even though clearly nothing had happened between them, Hayama seemed to be hell-bent on sticking to that story.
Ai silently watched in dismay as Hayama ”sorrowfully” recounted how he met Ai.
With an expression as if he was suffering from a great injustice, Hayama sobbed, ”Wifey was very drunk that night and took advantage of this prince. But afterwards, she ran away. Father-in-law, please seek justice for me!”
Watching the scene, Ai was stupefied. She had undoubtedly understood that Hayama was a playful character that liked to prank on people. But this... this kind of dedication to his joke... Wasn't it going too far?!... If she wasn't sure of herself that nothing had in fact happened, she would have believed him.
Ai suddenly wanted to cry as some discreet doubtful looks from her father and brother cast in her direction. ...I didn't do it!... she solemnly cried in her heart.
Unbeknownst to them, Hayama was the true definition of the word White Lotus*. Even though he gave off the impression of being innocent and playful, he was in fact, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Yet all these skills, was in fact, necessary for his survival.
Being the crown prince and the sole heir to the imperial throne, Hayama was no stranger to schemes and even life-threatening situations. Even though he maintained the appearance of a perfect prince and be ”delicately charming” according to the standards of his matriarch country, he was never truly as innocent as he appeared to be.
From the women who schemed to lay with him to political competitors with hidden motives, Hayama had come across many different types of people who wanted to benefit from him. But he had always seen through them and no matter how pretentious a person was, it never escaped his eyes.
Yet when he met Ai Shizuka, it all changed. From the very beginning, the young woman strived to stay away from him and even ran away from him despite him possessing a godly appearance. No, he was not being conceited, it was, in fact, true that he was very good-looking and no females had ever able to resist his looks. He even had a record to prove it!
Secondly, Ai Shizuka basically looked like she rather eats a mouthful of dirt than getting involved with him. That didn't even change when she eventually found out he was the Kukio's crown prince. Being the crown prince and a good-looking one at that, Hayama never lacked people who wanted to associate with him for the sake of their own selfish desires. Yet, it was the first time Hayama ever met a woman... no... a family that didn't want to do anything with him...
... In fact, all three of them looked like they rather eat a mouthful of dirt ...
This kind of treatment, Hayama wanted to humph but at the same time, found it funny. He is the famous crown prince of Kukio, who in the right mind didn't want to get involved with him?!
Hayama perked up from his little dramatic acting when he saw Ai stood up quietly. Without saying anything, the lady stood up, turned around and... left?!
What the fuck?!!... he suddenly wanted to yell. Has she paid no heed to the little opera he orchestrated?!...
His acting was so good, it was truly out of this world, he even shed a few tears. Yet she said nothing, no reaction, just casually turned around and left as if all these had nothing to do with her and as if she was just there to buy soy sauce*.
Hayama suddenly felt a sour taste in his mouth, this kind of maverick character, she just came and went as she wished, heeding no one and listening to nothing, he really wanted to make a chain and shackle her to him!
By the time Hayama had broken out of his stupor, Ai had already left to God knows where. Now without their precious little girl, the two Shizuka men also stood up immediately and left.
Hayama wanted to curse. He now finally understood how Kit Koyozoki had felt. Without even offering a word of sympathy, they just turned around and left! Are they humans or ice-blocks?!... He seriously questioned in his mind.
With almost a depressed look, Hayama turned around and looked at comatose Kit in contemplation before he also eventually left to find Ai.
The moment they left, Kit's grey eyes snapped open immediately. His grey eyes looked crazed with emotions and contained not even the slightest glimmer of sanity.
”Ai...”, Kit uttered, taking out a phoenix hairpin from his chest that he didn't get a chance to give to her, and gingerly placed it on her vanity. (For those who forgot, check Chapter 04)
Without saying anything more, Kit Koyozoki turned and left.
... I will be back, Ai. And when I'm back, I swear... I swear that I will not ever give you a chance to reject me again...
Ai sighed out loud as she walked the streets of Shinto. Crown prince Hayama Mizuko, a completely new entity that appeared out of nowhere... he was truly a handful ah... She had initially thought Jin Omaru in this life was bothersome, but it was obviously nothing compared to Hayama.
With Hayama's top-notch acting, she didn't see any points in arguing with him further. Anything she said would be held against her. She was pretty much used to people twisting her words anyway. Her past life was the epitome of that. Anyhow she just wished that Hayama would stop this little joke and let her get back to her life.
With that thought, Ai steadily made her ways towards the Hozaka.
When Ai had finally reached Hozaka weaponry, the whole place seemed empty. Thinking that the staffs might be busy at the other sections of the Hozaka, she carelessly walked towards the blacksmith workshop.
But to her surprise, there was someone who was already there. Hearing her footsteps, the person turned around and looked in her direction, before happily shouting her name.
Ai lifted one of her finely curved eyebrows. It was actually no surprise. The person was only the-great-lord-of-nothing-to-do-all- day-and-idly-wondering-around-Tamaki Yunes.
Ai forced a smile on her face as she politely greeted back, ”Young master Yunes.”