Chapter 54 - Give Me A Chance (1/2)
Chapter 54 -Give Me A Chance
***
This was the first time that the two of them were alone.
Odeletta tried to steady her trembling heart and walked as gracefully as possible towards the Crown Prince.
It was clear what she had to do first, but she was so nervous that she had to give it a moment of thought.
“Greetings to the Little Sun of the Empire. Glory to your future.”
“Welcome, Lady Odeletta. Please sit here.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Your Royal Highness.”
Technically, it was more like a meeting with a prospective marriage partner rather than an invitation, but neither of them brought it up directly.
After a while, crackers with caviar and parsley were served as appetizers, followed by clam chowder and baguettes. Without a word, Odeletta and Xavier began to eat the food, and it was natural for the silence to flow over the meal.
The problem was that the silence lasted until the roasted herring and pomegranate sherbet came out.
Judging that the ensuing silence was never good for the atmosphere, Xavier continuously tried to think of what to say, but he did not come up with a suitable topic. In the end, he decided to start with the basics out of desperation.
“Is there any particular food that you’re picky about?” he asked.
“Pardon?” Odeletta said. She looked blinked at Xavier, confused that he was suddenly talking to her after the long silence. She soon gathered her senses and answered.
“Ah, no, Your Royal Highness. There’s nothing I can’t eat or am picky about.”
“That’s a relief. Suddenly I was worried if there was anything like that.”
He smiled with relief and Odeletta, who was watching him closely, felt her heart beating hard. She felt like she was in a dream at this very moment. Was this really a dream? She couldn’t believe she was eating alone with someone she liked!
“Is there anything you’re picky about, Your Royal Highness?” she asked back in an attempt at conversation.
“Nothing.”
“Then, any foods that you like?”
“I like everything…” Xavier thought about it for a moment and soon gave a calm smile. “Recently, I enjoy eating desserts.”
“You like desserts.”
Unfortunately, Odeletta was not too fond of desserts. But if Xavier liked them, she thought that she should start eating a little more of it from today. Just as she was about to broach another topic, she was interrupted.
“Lady Odeletta,” Xavier said.
It was when the chamberlain laid lamb steak on the table. The smell of the dish stimulated Odeletta’s nose and she answered automatically.
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
“I have something to confess to you,” Xavier continued.
“Confess?”
“Actually…”
Xavier held his breath for a few seconds and then opened his mouth. Odeletta, who was watching him, was half-worried and half-excited about what would come out.
“I didn’t come to this seat today on my own accord.”
The voice that passed through her ears was obviously sweet, but the meaning was less so.
At Xavier’s words, Odeletta’s heart thumped again. Unlike before, it was a negative feeling.
“What do you mean?” she asked, not understanding his words.
“I’m saying this is not what I wanted. There was an order from His Majesty the Emperor to meet you.”
“Why are you…telling me that now?”
“I just wanted to be clear with you,” Xavier said honestly, biting his lips.
He knew how cruel he was now. At this moment, he was a scumbag to Odeletta, a man who only hurt her feelings. But he could not give false kindness to her.
In the end, the one who was hurt was not in his seat, but in the seat across him. Before the wound deepened, he had to draw a line. That was a good thing for each other and it was a consideration for Odeletta.
Xavier opened his mouth in a quivering voice. “The Emperor wants me to marry you.”
Anyone else would have been happy to hear those words, but strangely enough, Odeletta was not happy at all. The shock of what he had said earlier must have been too great.
Odeletta held her breath and asked again. “Then?”
“My apologies, Lady Odeletta.” Xavier apologized to Odeletta with the saddest eyes. “I already have someone in my heart.”
“…”