Vain - Chapter 67 Unclear Relationship

The eyes and attention to her unclear relationship with Francis was unsettling and bothersome at first. But now that Xi was faced with it at every waking hour of her day, she had become numb. It was easy, she didn’t even have to think of those eyes as vultures anymore. She would just imagine all those eyes as being the spots on walking mushrooms. Afterall the people that would cling onto Francis and evaluate her with dislike were all fungus. They weren’t even worthy of being a functioning living being on their own, they’d just have to rely on everyone else to survive all their lives. It was unsightly to her and she would rather not deal with any of it, if at all.

And of all the fungus that followed her, Francis really was the biggest one. She could never shake him off no matter how hard she tried and she had tried. If there was something that she had given much of her effort, time, and energy into it would be to drive Francis away. But her elaborate plans never seem to work. He was almost like an evil spirit clinging onto her for vengeance, but when had she ever inflicted him harm? She just wanted to live her own life peacefully, ahh.

“Xi, Xi! You should join the culinary class with me, I just joined it recently. And it was actually quite eye-opening, I even made you lunch. Would you like to try it? It’s not that great though, but I’m still learning and I’ll improve my skills. If you want, I’ll cook for you for the rest of our lives. I’ll be your royal chef!” Francis continued speaking nonstop as if he had been deprived of speech all his life and this was the first time he had been able to talk to another living person. Xi quietly took the lunch that he had offered her and opened it. It was a simple sandwich that was held together with a cute toothpick that was labeled with both their names.

“It does look quite good.” Xi complimented.

“Try it,” Francis said eagerly.

Xi picks up half of the sandwich and took a bite, it was excellent. She could taste the freshness of the ingredients and she was rather surprised. She looked at Francis and only saw him smile with his eyes closed. She shook her head and looked down to hide her expression since a small smile couldn’t help but find its way onto her lips. Even though she had tried to push him away all this time, Francis still stuck to her. So even with all her internal complaining, she knew what her heart truly felt. She was only a bit glad that he would stay with her in the end when she thought that no one could be there for her.

She had been in her own world all this time, and now with his presence that seems to have invaded her every sense. She was helpless to her feelings of fondness towards him. Xi had never thought that there would ever be a day like this, but nowaday even her resistance wasn’t like it was before. She slowly put her guard down and accepted that he would remain in her sight at all times. At first, she couldn’t classify it as a good or bad thing. But now she had a clearer image, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing.

It wasn’t as if she had bet a lot, so she wouldn’t lose if she had a little bit of hope. She’ll just let him stay with her and see how things turned out.

❅

“Do you know if Prince Francis and Lady Xi are dating?”

“I’m not sure. His Highness may not have a fiancée but isn’t it presumptuous of her to cling on to him so?”

“That was exactly on my mind, she may be a higher ranking noble, but she still isn’t from the four dukedoms.”

“Don’t say too much, what if she hears you.”

“If she hears, then let her hear.”

“I think there’s even more to her, she had broken with her last fiancé in public.”

“Who was he?”

“Seti Capra.”

“How scandalous!”

“And now she wants to get with the Crown Prince?”

“Who does she think she is!”

The hush and gossipy whispers of the noble ladies continued on without end, as they tried to find any fault they could to tear apart their target. They were all high-class ladies whom only goal was to become the Crown Prince’s fiancée, but they never even had the chance. Since it was stolen by someone they considered undeserving. Lady Xi had never been quite involved with the greater part of the nobility. She would only stay within her small group that included Ruby and Aileene. It was a small group, but most other nobles had wanted especially to join it. But no one was able to.

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So when the lady with the lowest status in the group was outed, they would grab onto the story immediately. Whether because of their jealousy or envy. Which increased with how the group that they would never be able to reach surpassed them in every way.

Princess Ruby was royalty, so they could understand. She was the pearl in the palm of the kingdom. Lady Aileene, they could understand even more. They admired and envied her. She was closest to becoming the fiancée of the Crown Prince, as she even though they didn’t know her closely, she was the embodiment of a perfect lady. It was hard to reach her status and performance.

But then there was Xi Faber, she was from a Marquis house. But there were other Marquises as well. Her status wasn’t unique enough and she wasn’t perfect enough that she would be venerated by noble society. There was nothing special about her, but she was still able to steal a position next to Ruby and Aileene. She was able to be the fiancée to a duke household. There were too many things that were smooth on her road.

The other noble ladies couldn’t accept it, there were many things that they could accept. But they really didn’t want to accept this. Afterall, the foolish Xi had even terminated her own engagement in the end. Then she was suddenly rewarded with Crown Prince. What kind of joke was this? Was there ever a joke this funny?!

They couldn’t vent their annoyance in any way, so they could only gossip to one another when they had free time. But it still wasn’t enough, there was something they had to do. Someway to get rid of all their anger and the obstacle standing in their way.