61 Not normal tea (1/2)

When Leon had left for the kitchen, Rachel had woken up not long after.

”You're awake. How do you feel?” Amelia asked with a gentle tone.

”I-I'm fine?” Rachel body still feel a bit shaken, but she had already forgotten what happened earlier.

It was like her self defence mechanism kicked in to protect herself, as the unpleasant memory was pushed to the back of her mind.

Seeing her mother, she could only think about the engagement as her mood dropped.

Amelia could easily tell what was on her daughter's mind. Which mother wouldn't know their child best?

”Be honest with your mother. What do you think of Leon? Do you like him?” She shifted the topic to her favour.

Rachel's face pale. Why did her mother ask this? Was her mother going to do something to Leon if she said yes? would she harm him?She was filled with worry.

”Don't worry. Mother wouldn't do anything to harm him.” Amelia assured her. Why would she harm her own son-in-law?

”Really?” Rachel was rather sceptical.

Seeing her daughter's doubt, she couldn't help but tease her.

”You still haven't figured out who the prince is?” Amelia said with a smile on her face.

Huh? Her mother's word seem to imply that she's already know the prince, just not aware of it. Leon's image seem to cross her mind.

”Leon?” She blurted out.

Amelia's smile grew bigger.

Rachel was stunned by the twist of events. Her face felt hot under Amelia's big smile as she flushed with shyness and buried her face in the blanket. Her heart started beating rapidly at the perspective thought of marrying Leon.

If she had to choose between someone she know and someone she didn't, she would naturally choose the former. But when the two were one and the same, she felt strange that she was quite accepting of the matter and wasn't repulsed by it.

Due to her trauma, she was afraid that she would get attached to any new friends she make, only to watch them die in front if her. The feeling of watching her friends killed in front of her was something she never wanted to experience again.

Because of such reasons, she have built a wall around her heart and did not have many friends. People can only be acquainted and not befriend her.

...yet despite the walls she built, Leon walked right into life and they became friends very easily without resistance. It was a surreal and mysterious feeling.

Like a game of chess with the king as her heart and the pawns as her wall, other people would have to work to take down her defences before they could reach her heart.

His existence was an enigma, but she did not hate it. The hand of fate have brought them together and it felt especially strong now that she had learned that he was the prince, whom she was engaged by birth to.

”I... don't know.” Rachel collected her thoughts and gave her answer. she did not know if she like Leon, but she did not hate him.

”It's fine as long as you don't hate him.” Amelia nodded. All relationship has to start somewhere, but the marriage must be carried out.

The sound of Leon's footstep was heard as he came back with a steaming hot teapot. A young maid had followed right behind with an expression of being wronged and wanting to cry.

Leon had suddenly barged in her kitchen and prepared his own tea before carrying it back in her teapot. He was the esteemed guest of the Duke's wife. Such menial task should have just been left to her as it was her job to prepare tea. To have the guest prepare the tea and carry the teapot himself, she felt she was useless and not needed. Since Amelia had not said anything, she did not know what to do and could only follow Leon helplessly and Mentally prepare herself for punishment for not doing her job properly.

”Tea?” Amelia was dumbfounded. She glanced at her young maid behind him after. Did he bully her?