Motivations Of A Genius Lady - 34 Lucy's Dilemma

While Chalice was having the time of her life grappling with horses and being a walking treasure detector, Lucy is having a quiet and relaxing time accompanying Duchess Lyana at the Imperial Capital. Except for an annoying fly that seems to have made it his mission to pester her.

It all started during the ball where the Duke and Duchess of Amaranth introduced her as their god daughter. Despite staying with the Duchess half the time and trying to lie low, Lucy was struck with a misfortune.

She had caught the eye of the country’s most beloved Crown Prince, His Highness Troy Regis de Idalia. Her sworn enemy. Lucy cursed her luck a thousand times when the man approached her during the party. She hated the man to the bone. Chalice’s suffering were all caused by him either directly and indirectly. The damned guy even trampled her with his horses. Lucy can never forget that debt.

Lucy prided herself on being gentle and forgiving. Except for this prince and anyone who had hurt her precious Lady Chalice. She can never forgive these people. If it weren’t for her status and fear to drag down the Amaranth House, her benefactor, Lucy would have utilized every means to make them all suffer.

However, it seems like fate wanted to play with her. The man delivered himself to her on his own. Nonetheless, Lucy cannot do anything but be civil to him for the sake of not screwing up whatever Chalice was planning to do. In the end, for her, Chalice comes foremost.

That was why when Prince Troy went up to her with a dance invitation, she refused as politely as she could. And by polite, she meant walking out and not kicking him where the sun doesn’t shine.

If at that time she knew that such an action would provoke that self-important person’s ego and pique his interest, she wouldn’t have declined him and just endured his troublesome company.But it was too late for her to regret. And now she has to deal with his constant visits. Even the Duchess was starting to get irritated. After all, they both feel the same way towards whoever had hurt Chalice.

However, she couldn’t determine if the Prince was just self-absorbed or plain shameless. He does not seem to feel their hostility against him. That or he’s merely ignoring it.

“Miss Lucy, the Crown Prince has come to visit you.”

A maid informed her. Lucy sighed exasperatedly. This is getting old and it’s getting on her nerves.

“Tell him I’m not here.”

The maid did not protest nor asked anymore questions. She merely nodded and bowed before leaving. Lucy shook her head at this. See, even the maids have been used to his frequent visits and her iron-clad refusals to see him.

Lucy closed the book she was reading and sighed. She missed her Lady Chalice dearly. She wondered how she was faring at the territory. Lucy could only hope that her younger brother is taking care of her.

She smiled at that thought. Why was she even hoping? It was a matter of course, already. Luke would, without a doubt, be meticulous about Chalice’s welfare. That brother of hers was beyond head over heels for her. It was a pity that they have become like this. Lucy couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if it was in the past. Maybe Luke could pursue Chalice without worry of being persecuted for their differences in status.

Lucy extinguished the ember of memories flickering in her mind. Their past was something she had locked into the deepest parts of her mind and heart. Luke and her made a promise to forget all about it for it will bring nothing but danger and pain to the ones important to them now. It was bound to hurt Chalice. Lucy knew that Luke would rather suffer than let Chalice knew of their history. She sighed. Enough of her sulking. It’s not going to help in any way.

“Miss Lucy, have I offended you in some ways? Why do you avoid me so?”

Lucy stiffened at the sorrowful baritone voice which rang out behind her.

‘What in the world…?! He hasn’t left yet? Why is he so desperate?’

She reluctantly faced the person who spoke. The Crown Prince stood in front of her dressed in a light blue shirt paired with a black vest and coat. His gray tie complimented his silver hair glistening under the light. Lucy must admit that the Crown Prince was absolutely handsome. It wasn’t a wonder why Chalice like him previously. Anyone would fall for those features very much like an angel who has descended and those charming violet eyes. Anyone but her.

Breathing in deep, her eyes narrowed in annoyance. Seriously, this prince is so free with his life. That’s it. She’s giving him a piece of her mind. Lucy can’t handle his pestering anymore. If she gets punished for lèse majesté*, so be it.

“Shouldn’t you ask yourself that, Your Highness?”

Lucy’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Her gaze sharp as she looked directly at the Crown Prince’s eyes.

“Is it about Lady Chalice?”

She heard him say in a cold, low voice. Lucy furrowed her brows. That’s quite a sudden change.

“Well, it seems like the Crown Prince’s memories aren’t that defective after all. You remember her after all, the person you ran over with your horses and was banished from the capital.”

She sneered at him. However, the next words from the Prince baffled Lucy.

“I’ll always remember Lady Chalice. I have wronged her greatly. But trust me, Miss Lucy she would be better off with what had happened. At the very least, both of us have been freed temporarily from the machinations of the older generation. And I’ll have time to remedy the situation completely. Trust me, being banished to the Amaranth fief is thousand times more tolerable than being stuck here.”

Lucy looked confusedly at the Prince. His voice was grave, helpless, and burdened. What was he saying?

“I can’t seem to understand your words, Your Highness.”

She said blankly to him. The Crown Prince smiled bitterly at her. His eyes apologetic.

“Contrary to what is going around, I do not hate Lady Chalice. Maybe I did for short while, but I realized none of it was her fault. The things I did to her were a ploy to get her to hate me. To get her to want to stay far away from me. Sigh. She is quite a persistent lady though, I must say. Hence, I was forced to resort to drastic measures. All for the sake of saving the both of us from the marriage pact.”