ᴛᴇɴᴛʜ.

Maybe it is a not-so-ordinary day for the Countess. It is her first time going to the university with her future husband. Even though the Archduke had already finished his degree, he is still continuing his studies to help other people and to prevent diseases from spreading. The Countess wore her new silk gown for this day. She didn't have her armor as she would only walk around the premises with the Archduke. 

"You don't have classes today?" He asked and she nodded while smiling. Perhaps, she is the only one who thinks that this arranged marriage will only bring nothing but harm. 

"Milord, I guess we will need to help the Prince soon." She said in a low voice while they were walking in the hallways. 

"Why did you say so?" He asked and she stopped from her tracks to point out the Viscount of the Suzuki family. They saw Lady Fuyu with him and both were laughing together. 

"Fuyu had dinner with the Viscount." She whispered and when the two looked at them, they smiled and decided to talk to them to avoid suspicions. 

"We would like to invite you to a luncheon that will be held in my place. Invitations will be sent later on." The Archduke said and Fuyu smiled. 

"It would be an honor to attend the luncheon but I will apologize now. I will not be able to attend it as I need to take care of some family matters." She said and Gia raised a brow. 

"You didn't tell me anything, Fuyu." Gia crossed her arms and the younger one stuck her tongue out. 

"She's really avoiding the Prince." Reiki mumbled while they watched the two walk away from them. Gia puffed her cheeks and rolled her eyes. 

"Because she rejected him and she doesn't know how she will face him." She started walking in the other direction and Reiki followed. 

It's been only two days since the Duchess and the Grand Duke went out of the country for their studies. The older Archduke invited the Prince once again and they discussed the wedding preparations. The engaged couple decided to have a church wedding and only few will be able to witness the ceremony. The others will need to wait at the reception area. The Kawamura family will be the one to supply the wedding flowers and because of this, the Grand Duke ordered the servants to plant various kinds of flowers for them. 

"Lady Fuyu will not attend the luncheon this Thursday." Reiki said while examining the samples of linens that the tailor brought earlier. 

"I already expected that. She is avoiding me but I have my own way." Sho said after placing the box of rare gems on the table. 

"Are you telling me that she will attend this Thursday?" The older one asked and he nodded while smiling. He raised a brow when he saw that smile. 

"I can also make her worried about me." Sho's smile went wider and Reiki narrowed his eyes. He found that statement ridiculous. The younger one called a servant and asked him to rush to the Hasegawa's family manor and tell the Lady that the Prince's wrist is injured. 

"You need to make it believable." The Prince said and Reiki massaged his temples. He can see trouble coming. 

It was only fifteen minutes when Fuyu arrived at the archduchy. She rushed to the garden and when she saw the Prince enjoying his glass of wine, she clenched her fist tight and whacked his head with her hand fan. Tears fell from her eyes and she whacked his head a few more times before leaving the archduchy without saying anything. Reiki sighed deeply after witnessing that scene. 

"Milady, please let me explain." The Prince ran after her while busy rubbing the small bumps on his head. 

The servants looked at them and she shoved his hand away when he grabbed her arm. She felt like he is playing her and she doesn't like it at all. She already rejected him, so why does he need to act like he is in danger? For what? For him to have her worried? She went straight inside the carriage and slammed the door in front of him. No one dared to do that to the Prince. Only her. 

"You will not go until I say so." He said to the coachman and when he opened the door, she pushed him away and held the door handle to keep it close. 

"Let's go now!" She shouted at the coachman but the Prince glared at him and gestured to keep still. 

"I said, let's go now!" She shouted once again and the coachman chose the Lady's order since she is his boss. 

"Are you an idiot?! You should have not done that! She will just hate you!" The Countess shouted at the Prince when she learned what happened. 

"And you let him do that?!" She turned to the Archduke and he sighed when he realized that he got dragged into the Prince's mess. 

"Don't get mad at him. He didn't do anything wrong." Sho said while looking down and Gia let out a harsh sigh while massaging her temples.