Chapter 257 - Two Hundred And Fifty-seven: Relative To The Prince (2/2)
”Make me understand,” I said to her, desperately. I couldn't understand why she was alarmed over a single dance.
”My husband is a politician…”
Oh, that man.
”He's running for the presidential election and I can't have a scandal coming out of this,” she said pointing to the exclusive reporters at a corner of the room.
”Emily, those reporters belong to the royal family, they wouldn't cause any scandal to our guest, I mean the guest…” I had to take perfect note of my pronouns from henceforth, ”Besides, you're in a mask neither are we doing anything scandalous - unless you want us to do something,” I intentionally insinuated sexually.
Emily gulped, before her mind returned to the issue at hand, ”I'm so sorry,”
”Why are you sorry?” my confusion grew.
”When I'm extremely nervous, I get anxiety attack at times -”
”You never had an anxiety attack before? How did you get one now?” Oh, I just got busted.
She gave me the look, ”How did you know I never had an anxiety attack?” her suspicion began, again.
”Urm... Yeah, you didn't experience a panic attack when I was talking to you earlier… so that, you know, that explained the rest ” I was short of words.
She nodded her head in understanding but I could tell she was having a hard time believing me. Maybe, I should just come all out with the truth. Yeah, my lie was pathetic.
”That's understandable,” she smiled wryly, ”After he died, I got this attack whenever I'm working on a big project,” Emily said without even realizing she was dancing in tune to the slow music.
”Big project?”
”Yeah, I need to speak to prince Kai regarding his interest in our clothing line. If we become one of his designers, it would be a huge boost to my fashion line,” she explained.
So, he was the reason for her being stressed out? Good going Judy or Kai or whatever.
”Say no more because you're in luck today.”
”How?”
”I'm one of the Prince's people,”
”You mean, relative?”
”Well, sort of,”
”So you can get me to meet the prince?” she stopped dancing, clasping my hands from relief.
”Y-yeah, with due appointment - the prince is not an easy man, spares no formalities for his relatives too,”
Her face fell.
”But don't worry, he'd answer to me faster than normal people. Besides, I'll keep you informed of my progress every day after we exchanged contacts,” I probably looked like a scammer right now. God help me.
Yes, her brows furrowed, ”How do I know you're telling the truth?”
”You don't need to trust me… oh boy,” I swallowed when I saw my mother's head of guard coming my way.
”Oh boy?” she gasped in disbelief, ”You're one strange…”
”Run,”
”What?”
”Run now,” I grabbed her hand, leading her out of the dance arena just as the guard chased after me.
”Why are we running?” she asked as we successfully made it out of the bouquet hall.
”Let's just say the queen isn't as benevolent as her son, the prince. She wants to marry me off by all means possible,” I shouted while going through a secret hallway the guards hadn't noticed until today.
”Why?” She asked, even though she was running out of breath.
”I'm her orphaned nephew, she wants me to raise a seed in case I die. Do you still doubt me being the prince's relative?” I asked her, this chase turning into fun for us.
Before they could reach us, I dragged her into a secret room, locking us in. I had this palace renovated, having the map in my head hence knowing all secret ways and rooms - essential for the king's life during an attack.
We heard the guards pass the room by, not that they realized there was one. We listened to their descending footsteps and turned back to realize we were intimately close to each other.
Her back was pressed against the wall, her chest heaving from the run, and unlike earlier, her cheeks had color now and she looked livelier - her mask had fallen off during the run - she looked more like the Emily I knew now.
I felt a pang hit my chest, wondering what Emily had gone through to make her turn dull and lifeless.