“His Majesty was calling for you, Prince Severin. Even if it’s only in name, I’ve heard you were supposed to serve as a host tonight. Is this any time to socialize in the arbor?” Chris chastised.
“I was just checking on Sonia,” Severin snapped.
“Please leave her to me. Go along, now. You must not keep all of those ladies waiting,” Chris replied. Despite the thorns in his words, several people must have come to mind at the mention of “all those ladies,” for Severin sprang to his feet and readjusted his clothes.
“They completely slipped my mind...! I must return to the ballroom at once,” he declared. This time he didn’t forget to kiss Sonia’s hand before saying, “Sonia, let’s enjoy a nice long talk over afternoon tea next time. Until then!” Without waiting for her consent, he darted into the dark garden.
Now that she was alone with Chris, Sonia felt horrendously awkward. Tightly clenching her skirts, she stared at the marble floor with taut shoulders. She couldn’t bear to raise her head and look Chris in the face.
As dense in the ways of romance as she was from her life in the Royal Abbey, even she knew what Severin had been about to do to her. Mesmerized by his face, she had been unable to reject his advances.
“We should be heading back ourselves, Princess,” Chris said.
Sonia looked at his proffered large hand in surprise. Then she slowly raised her head to look at his face. Chris was smiling down at her just as he always did.
Why? Why was he trying to treat her with the same kindness as before? Forced to face reality anew, it felt as if her heart was slowly sinking in an icy spring.
“...You aren’t mad at me, are you?” she asked. Trying to contain herself, Sonia’s voice came out in a deep growl, even to her.
Seeming not to notice, Chris raised his eyebrows in a troubled, wry smile. “It’d hardly seem fair after I just said I wanted you to meet and associate with as many people as possible... It’s just...”
“Just what?”
“Prince Severin isn’t currently good enough for you. I don’t think you should take your relationship with him beyond this,” Chris advised.
Sonia’s body instantly began to burn with rage. “Why not? We’re old friends! Why can’t we get together to have fun reminiscing over old times? As you said, you’re the one who told me to ‘socialize’ with a ton of people!”
“...Such were His Majesty’s orders,” Chris answered.
“What...?”
Unable to find what to say next, Sonia simply stared up at Chris with her mouth agape. His uncharacteristic diverted gaze began to gnaw at her; a multitude of insults raced through her head.
“Is everything you do per the King’s orders? I’m fully aware that King Patrice arranged our marriage! I was perfectly willing to accept that! Sure, your beard and burly hair is a bit...repulsive? That became quite apparent after I just reconfirmed my personal preferences, but you’re such a great guy, I truly believe there will come a day I will accept you, beard and all! I’ve been trying to develop feelings for you in my own right! But you’re prioritizing ‘the King’s orders’ first and foremost, aren’t you?!”
“Princess...!”
“Do you adamantly call me ‘Princess’ because ‘the King ordered’ you to? If the King gave the ‘okay’ and ‘ordered’ you, would you have overlooked what Prince Severin was about to do to me? If the ‘King ordered’ it, would you hand me over to some other man?”
“That’s—”
She didn’t want to hear any more. Not another word. The tears she had kept in check came streaming down her cheeks.
“I’m my own person! I’ll do whatever I want! I don’t care about you! Spend the rest of your life with your beloved ‘King’s orders’ for all I care!”
Lashing out with, “I’m going back to my room!” Sonia slapped Chris’ hand away when he reached out for her hands. Eager to be away from him, she fled as quickly as her feet could carry her.