Chapter 43: |I Am A Man And Your Fiance|

After, borrowing a white horse from the wizard's stable for Prince Zeno, we slowly walked a few miles but, unfortunately found no other town in the wide wilderness. Finding a place to rest in the horrible putrid climate was so tough. As the ground was either soaked with puddles or were slushy with wet mud.

The trees that stood beside our way did nothing good but add a scary

demeanor to the atmosphere.

The air was cold and freezing that I had to thank the heavens for having Prince Zeno's robe to cover myself up but, the second prince in the question was..

I let out a sigh.

"Prince Zeno.. I think we should just camp here tonight.."

"W-what..? No way, it's too dangerous for us to.. Achoo!" An enormous sneeze suddenly exploded from Prince Zeno's nose as I raised my eyebrows.

"See..?"

"... Well, Alright..A-Achoo! " he sneezed again literally shivering with cold, forcing me to roll my eyes.

"Seriously, I was the one who literally got drenched in the rain but..."

I got down the horse and gently touched Prince Zeno's forehead when I found it burning like a volcano.

"You are down with a fever, Prince Zeno.." I said.

Prince Zeno slowly gets off the horse and walks forward wobbling miserably as though he has been drugged.

"My head is burning and feels so dizzy... So, I guess, I just have too.. Sleep outside toniggghttt..!" he said abruptly lying his body on the cold muddy ground as my arms immediately caught hold of his falling body.

"W-Wait! Prince Zeno, let me at least.."

I abruptly tingled my fingers and instantly stitched a long cloth bed along with the wrappers with my thread magic for Prince Zeno to be laid in and did so.

I wrapped the bedsheet upon his body and slowly tugged him to bed.

I tested his temperature again.

"Geez, Prince Zeno! The immunity power of your body is terrible.. "

"Aww, Big sister Anasta's hand is so cold and nice.." He whimpered like a little kid, with cheeks flushed.

Being the big sister figure who often takes care of her precious sisters, when her mom was busy, My skillful hands wet my kerchief with the water I had fetched for myself to drink, squeezed it and slowly wiped his forehead.

A warm smile soon slipped as the droplets of water found in the cloth slowly escaped his forehead.

"Big sister Anasta, smells so nice.. I love being with big sister Anasta.. "

I blushed abruptly but soon slided into a smile holding his cheek on my palm.

"It may seem like you are mature than me in many many things Prince Zeno.. " I let out a sigh. "But, I guess, you are still a little brat whom I must protect dearly after all these years.." I mussed to myself when I suddenly noticed a few wrinkles form on Prince Zeno's feverish face as though he was forcing himself to talk back but couldn't.

I rubbed his soft blonde hair murmuring..

"..And.. your proposal.. that day must also be.. a cause of your immature behavior in misinterpreting your feelings for a lowly vermin like me, So, I must probably just igno-.."

When, I suddenly felt Prince Zeno's weak yet strong willed arm catch my wrist.

He forced himself to pull me closer to him. I instantly felt my face heating up.

He might just be a little brat.. But.. O-Our f-faces were now j-just centimeters apart!!

"P-Prince Z-Zeno! W-What are you d-doing!?!? "

It must be the fever! Yes, I know it must be the fever that is making him do weird things!!

So, don't react too much Anastasia!!

"Anasta-chan.." He said slowly with my wrists encapsulated on his strong grip.

"P-Prince Z-Zeno.. "

"Your low self-esteem is too frustrating and hurting for my heart, that to kill this pain.. I could almost stab it, myself!"

His voice was coherent and for a moment I really didn't know whether he was in a daze or not. But, for some reason, instinct told me that, he was finally, speaking his true feelings without his usual polishing words.

"I-I may be just a brat you had known since forever, who is two years younger than you, but, you must remember that, I am a Man and I'm also your Fiancé, who was hand-chosen in a childhood promise by your own mother! So, I hope you better treat me that way.. "

He said locking his never ending blue eyed stare on my trembling hazelnut eyes.

Ahhhhhhhhh!! W-What i-is h-happening over here!!!?

We are just childhood friends. Aren't we!? I deeply care about Prince Zeno and highly value his friendship! But, that's it! Doesn't it!? But..

My heart thomped fast as though there were completely gonna crush my ribcage. And, nervous drops of sweat rolled on my face when Prince Zeno slowly lifted his heavy hands and caught my face gently.

"Anastasia.. " he called my first name for the first time and bought his own face more closer to mind. His voice and tone, I could notice them well. They were more and more deeper than me. Definitely not like a little child.

"I hate how my first crush always treats me, this way.. I hope you see me as a man, if I could at least.. "

Ahhhhhhh!

I closed my eyes tightly! T-This posture!?! And, what he's saying is!! My heart thomped more wildly.. I-Is just like how they show in the romantic novels of the other world!!

A-And, if that is t-true then this scenario d-definitely calls for..

The wrinkles on my face tightened more as my eyes found more darkness. Don't panic Anastasia! Don't panic, I order you!! Prince Zeno is not on his right state of mind, and that's only why he is behaving this way.. I know it!

But..

Waaaaah!! I-Is t-this really gonna be time for my first kiss!!

My mind mentally exploded in embarrassment. But, for some reason my hands didn't stop them nor did my body move away. I felt my cheeks burn.

A-Am.. I-I... I closed my eyes and gently moved closer to him.

Being infected with a cold too..

I thought as I slowly hold his own cheeks and drew more closer. Our lips only inches apart.

Oh no, at this rate am I really gonna..

I closed my eyes slowly.

The cold wind blew around us. The fireflies flew danced on the cold air after a rainy atmosphere. The owls hooted it's loudest and the moon peered out behind it's veil like clouds when..

"Meowwww! "

A cat's meow interrupted us.

My eyes flung open and Prince Zeno abruptly collapsed down on the bed down with the extremity of his sickness. And, our intended kiss was broken just like that before our lips could even be met.

I looked back and looked at the one thing I never hoped nor wished to meet again after the great disaster my family had under gone.

The diamond headed black cat, the time freezer and the Grim Tale book's magic activator. And, my so called beloved spirit animal that had helped me on the failed battle against the bewitched fairies who's stories have mysteriously just been started.

"Mr Whiskers..? " I whispered softly as the cat immediately stopped licking it's paws and looked at me with it's blue eyes.

"Meoeww! " It responded.