84 Her Plans

Angelica blinked her eyes and looked around the room she was in. She yawned and got up to walk towards the balcony that in the room.

She unlocked the latch and pushed open the door and watched the sun rise. The quite yet bright colours of yellow, orange, red and blue spoke a different meaning.

Maybe a new beginning?

Nah, that's to romantic. She ain't one for such things either. After her mother was rape and and had her, it was like a scar that stuck on her. That's why when she looks at men she mentally judges them for their motives.

Her face and body, her talent, her races. All of those are things she judges when meeting these people.

But yesterday she met a knew feeling. The one where she couldn't judge the man and could only feel one thing and that was truth or even sincerity.

It was scary that he didn't fit those categories she made in her head, it was like a different and completely new things.

Like a blank canvas yet the canvas was filled with so many colours that she didn't even know of.

Ivan was a strange man.

He was strong, intelligent, mysterious, definitely two-faced and dangerous. That man has lived a long life and clearly has experience with women. Yet why did he bother with her?

Love? Absurd. She might have cried in his arms but those where tears of frustration.

Yes, she wasn't touch okay? Well maybe... a little bit.

Angelica hid her face in her hands and peaked through the gaps to see the colourful sky. She was flustered and didn't know what to do. Maybe she should runaway?

Hmm? That's sound like a good plan but not a great choice.

She could probably avoid him. Maybe that one was a good idea. But what would she do if she met him by accident or that he probably sneaked up on her lien the many times he has?

The man was sly and powerful. She wondered if she could pull it off.

May be acting indifferent...? It was like a light bulb lit up in her head. Pulling her hands away from her face she had smug grin on her face that looked like it one something. If she played it cool wouldn't that be better.

No avoidance, no running away, just simply comforting him and playing it cool. Like an actor!!

Angelica was satisfied with this scheme of hers, she turned around and headed back into the room to change.

Maybe she should go fight some knights?

Nah, that would bring more trouble and her body was still feeling a bit tired. Maybe she could just spend her time in the make shift lab. Or even read some books that she never seen.

'Hmm? That doesn't sound bad at all.' She thought and proceeded to the bathroom. She used her magic to fill up the table and then make sure that it was warm enough for her to take a dip.

Angelica decided to go with the flow and didn't know that her initial plan would work since the man would flawlessly break it without trying.

- - - - -

"Where's the Princess?" Ivan asked his butler as he finished his sword practice. He took the towel from the butler and listened to him.

"Princess Silver is currently taking a bath." He said.

Ivan's eyes lit up and thought of the future. A naughty thought appeared on his mind and a cunning smile graced his face.

It was definitely a bad smile full of bad thoughts.

"Ahem!" The butler coughed seeing his masters expression. He was old but still embarrassed by the face Ivan made.

Ivan let out a series of coughs to hide that lustful face and he started walking became to the mansion. Yes, he was hiding his desire for her but he wanted her heart more than anything.

She was probably looking for a moment to escape the mansion. But she probably forgot that the earring he gave her was a special one. So she really can't escape. He was really obsessive and possessive and he can't tolerate her leaving him.

His heart would break of that happened. Ivan was like any other ordinary man. If he fell in love, he fell hard and these thought of keeping her to himself had always been on his mind.

It was quite frustrating and he could only helplessly hide it in front of her.

Being calm in front of the woman he loved was just something impossible. He had already shamelessly took kisses from her but what about beyond that? He can't lie, as he did think of beyond that. Past kissing to touching.

God! He felt embarrassed for his perverted brain.

Ivan strolled the halls and headed straight for his room to take a bath. The servants had already prepared the water so he simply washed up and got ready.

He needed to catch a certain lady's attention today and he read that appearing handsome and sexy is one way.

Humming to himself, he didn't know that the servants were looking at him like a new existence. They were surprised about the Duke's actions yesterday but now they were certain.

The Duke has fallen in love with the Princess.

And he was proud of it.

The servants stated gossiping about the possibility that the Princess would marry the Duke. Would it be a match made in Heaven?

The Princess was a beautiful lady and their Duke was a handsome man as well. Who wouldn't want to see this couple get together?

While they the servants had the time to gossip, Angelica and Ivan remained unaware that they were being shipped together.

Ivan walked to the dining hall and the servant open the door for him to come to an empty room. His joyful expression became gloomy and he turned to the servant.

"Where the Princess?"

"The Lady asked for the food to be sent in her Lab room." The servant answer but only had a hush of wind go by him.

"....." the servant watched as his master disappeared in lightening speed.

- - - - -

Angelica was currently reading something on a recent medical problem. It was actually a parasite that was years old yet she was curious by it.

If the servants knew that she was reading this while eating they would probably puke their guts out due to the topic and probably even forget eating all together. The Princess was a strange woman.

But they can't take there eyes off her when she smiled. Angelica smile could make anyone's day better.

Angelica closed the book and walked over to the shelf that had other books like this. She touched the books lightly with own finger, before grabbing another book to read. This time it was about remedies off simple illnesses.

She read the book with interest and deep concentration was on her face while she read it.

But it took only a few moments for her concentration to break when she felt a warm feeling on her ear. She yelped and cover her ear that was harassed all of a sudden.

She glared at the person and saw Ivan. Instantly her face flushed and she had one thing in mind.

Run.

As if! Ivan had trapped her between the shelf and his arms trapping either side of her head making it even more right. She put her hand on his chest in attempts to make some distance as she glared at him with a little red blush.

"That's harassment!" She gritted her teeth seeing his cheeky smile but soon it was replaced with a frown and a look fo sadness and hurt.

Angelica was baffled and didn't know what had gotten him so displeased. But soon she connected the dots and thought about how they had breakfast every morning together.

Don't tell me-!

"Why didn't you join me?" He asked and she looked at him.

"I- i was busy." She said and tried to moved her head back to make a bit more distance. But seeing that it didn't work like that she turned her face to the side and stared at his arm that was well built.

"Oh? Busy with what so early in the morning that you had breakfast here?" Ivan asked and brought his face. "Or your just avoiding me-"

"I'm not!" She said right away and turned her head to him only to have her lips touch his cheek. She flushed again and closed her eyes in embarrassment using her palms to cover her face so he couldn't see it.

'Why does it seem that her initial plans ended up to nothing with this man here?'

She even thought over it in the morning yet why can't she act normal? Is there something wrong with her brain and heart? Why are they not functioning as fast? Ugh! Kill her! Angelica only felt waves of embarrassment and frustration fill her up.

Ivan who was gloomy awhile ago lit up like a Christmas light and looked at Angelica with a cunning glint.

"You just took advantage of me. I think you should pay me back. I need compensation here for that deadly attack." He said shamelessly.

Angelica only had one word for this man, "Shameless!!!" She yelled at him uncovering her face to glare at him.

"I'm not. It's the truth you just stole a kiss from me." Ivan said slowly trapping her.

"But you took two from me!"

"I didn't. That was a different kiss."

"But y-you kissed me." She pointed to her lips, "Here! You kiss me here!" She said in anger not knowing her words made him even more mischievous.

Ivan golden eyes glinted in delight, "I didn't know you would take initiative like that. I'll gladly take your offer to 'kiss you here'."

Angelica looked at him wide eye, "Wha-"

Ivan had swiftly put a kiss on her cheek making her dumbfounded. Angelica looked at him in a daze. This time it wasn't...

..on the lips.