Chapter 111 - It’s Fine. It Was Only Once (2) (2/2)
She had never known Derek to be so sly. Alford was overly concerned with the prince’s status, while Derek treated him first like a suitor. However, Carlisle was the crown prince of the Ruford Empire before he was Elena’s lover.
Carlisle turned to Elena and addressed her first.
“Please call me Caril as usual.”
Derek’s face twitched slightly at the revelation that she called him by a pet name.
“Ah…yes, Caril. I was going to introduce you.”
She anxious about Derek’s rudeness, but Carlisle was wearing a faint smile.
“Are you her older brother?”
“Yes, I’m Derek Blaise, brother of Elena. How are you?”
Despite this superficial exchange of greetings, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she was watching a battle between a dragon and a tiger, each of them an equally immovable force. Elena hoped it was only an illusion, but she cut in, hoping to end their meeting early.
“Brother, Caril brought me back from the palace. When we’re done saying goodbye I’ll come in, so please go ahead.”
“Don’t stay too long. I’ll leave now. Your Highness.”
She forced a smile. After Derek disappeared, there was silence for a moment. A dangerous glint was in Carlisle’s eyes, but surprisingly he didn’t act as unpleasant as she thought.
“…Your brother doesn’t seem to like me very much.”
“Actually, he was a little worried about me marrying you. If you’re offended, I apologize for it.”
Carlisle shook his head lightly.
“It’s fine. It was only once…”
His words implied that he wouldn’t tolerate it a second time, and Elena felt a prick in her chest.
“I was a little nervous because everyone agreed to our marriage so easily. But this makes me relieved.”
Before Elena could even ask why, he gave her a soft smile.
“I was hoping that you were loved.”
Elena was momentarily speechless. There were so many implications in what he said. Perhaps he was also aware of the sorrow she felt about her father’s attitude towards her marriage. She was strangely moved. Carlisle’s words sounded so warm, and Elena answered with a faint smile on her lips.
“Yes. They are my precious family.”
*
*
*
The day of her meeting with Emperor Sullivan finally arrived. She was not to see him at one of the massive, elaborate halls, but at a relatively regular building.
Elena left the mansion looking as neat and elegant as possible, nervous as the time Carlisle came to meet her father. When she finally arrived at the palace in a carriage, there were several servants waiting for her at the entranceway.
Ttogag ttogag–
She followed the servants down a pathway, and a beautiful annex built at the center of a pond appeared before them.
“Just go this way.”
“Oh, yes.”
The servants pointed down a straight path, then disappeared from her side. She didn’t come across a single soul as she was walking there. The emperor seemed to have gone to some considerable lengths for this meeting.
When she finally arrived at the annex, she met the man who had invited her there. Emperor Sullivan had a gentle expression and kind eyes.
“Welcome.”