As I walked away from the pavilion, my chest grew wider like I had won a war, but I knew better.
This was just a start, and many other things are on the horizon. Mary too came out from the mansion with the butler leading her to me. As they met me, we were then escorted back to our carriage.
I kept my head high, maintaining that perfect, poised mask even though my legs felt like they were made of jelly. I could feel every eye in the estate on us, probably wondering how a viscount's daughter had the guts to stare down a Duke and his sister.
Just as we reached the gravel path where the carriage was waiting, the butler turned around and greeted us, wishing us a safe journey. I also bowed in respect, and was about to thank him when a dark shadow engulfed me.
Butler's smile disappeared as he took two steps back and bowed again, "Prince Xander."
As the words fell into my ear, my eyes grew wider. I turned around and found him just a step away from me. My heel slipped, and I was about to lose my balance when he grabbed me by my arm and pulled me back.
Though I thought he would have left my arm after I regained my balance, to my surprise, his hand stayed on mine as he pulled again. I stepped in his direction, as he snaked his other arm around me. My nose hit his collarbone as I hissed in pain. But before I could complain to him about it, his warm breath settled on my neck.
My whole body shuddered as I gripped his biceps. What in the world was he doing? My eyes wandered to the side to ignore the tension as I saw the guards freeze in their position.
Honestly, so did I. My face was pressed against the expensive fabric of his coat, and for a second, I couldn't even breathe. I tried to gently pull back, but his hold was solid. I wanted to slap him again like that night, but the surroundings and the situation were too different to manifest my wish.
He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered something into my ear. The words sank hard into my mind as I stared at him, looking for confirmation. Instead of giving just a simple nod, he moved his head upward. Before I could guess what his intentions were, he pressed a soft peck on my forehead before letting go and heading back to the mansion without a single look back.
My mind short-circuited as I kept staring at his disappearing figure. How can someone still look so royal and majestic from back?
I blinked as reality sank in. Without making any eye contact with anyone, I hurriedly got into the carriage with the help of Mary. Mary also got in after a few seconds. She first glanced at me, and then she herself instructed the driver to move the carriage.
The second the sound of the horse neighing fell into my ear, and we started moving, I finally gasped for air. The adrenaline was fading, and the air in the carriage felt like the first real breath I had taken all day. I reached up and loosened the cloth around my neck, literally feeling like it was choking me.
"My lady! Oh my god! The Prince! He held you right there in the open! What did he say? Is he going to ask for your hand?" Mary practically threw herself across the seat, her eyes wide and practically hungry for every single detail.
"Stop," I said, raising a hand to cut her off. I took a deep breath and looked at her with a look so intense that she actually scooted back against the cushions, but then I reached out and grabbed her hand.
"I need to know, Mary. Can you actually help me?" I asked straight.
Mary hesitated, her eyes darting to the window. She was Jenna's spy, and we both knew it.
"I... I serve the Solyne house, my lady, but your mother..."
"I will give you double whatever Jenna is paying you," I interrupted, my voice dropping into that steel tone I used when I meant business. Mary's eyes went wide.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice shaking.
I leaned in, my mind already spinning with the plan. I needed her to be my eyes and ears inside the house. I needed her to watch for whatever evidence Josephine was planning to plant and to help me move through the estate.
"No, if the Mistress finds out, I am dead," Mary whispered, shaking her head as if she just realized how risky it was, but I did not have time for thinking much. Especially after the information Xander just shared with me a few minutes ago.
"I will let you have one of the party dresses from my new collection," I added, watching her expression loosen a bit.
Yes, she was slipping. I thought to myself with a spark of hope. Not wasting this opportunity, I continued, "The silk one with the silver embroidery you think was pretty and expensive yesterday."
Mary actually squealed, her eyes practically sparkling. "The silver one? Are you serious?" She asked in her low yet excited voice.
I nodded. "More serious than you can ever imagine."
As the carriage pulled up to the Solyne gates, I straightened my hair and put my mask back on. I turned to Mary one last time. "Go. Tell my father, Jenna, and Alexander to meet in the dining room for dinner tonight. I have an announcement to make."
And it's going to change everything for this family. I left the last part.
She nodded and ran off in the other direction as I walked into the dining area.
The dining room of the Solyne estate was suffocatingly quiet. Usually, the air here was filled with my father's booming voice discussing mana-mine speculations or Jenna's sharp critiques of the latest Ton gossip, but tonight, it will be different.
The only sound was the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock and the distant clatter of silver in the kitchen. There were still a few hours left before dinner. So, I decided to get back in my room.
How will I convey this information to them? Mostly by preparing a speech if you get to work this instant. With this thought, I retreated back into my room.