Different Plans

Amidst the applause and acclamations of the noble guests, they assumed that both were already in a young relationship. Perhaps they had in mind that the two would be together for a long time, but the nobles could not even realize that someone was manipulating everyone behind her fragile appearance. A relationship based on pretense would never flourish unless it were true. The people within have different emotions. Some were happy for the two, the others were indifferent, and the rest had their expectations. The officials who attended appeared dissatisfied, but they knew that it was not yet time to carry out their plans. Arianne and the Crown Prince both smiled on their way down the stairs. The lady of the Themiore household held Calus' arms tightly. The other one smiled and took care of everything after beaming at the lady. No one can deny that there was a special relationship between the two with their eyes on each other. The situation is not something to be taken lightly, but some of the guests from various noble houses have seen that the Crown Prince has fancied Duke Gillian Themoire's daughter.

Who would not be able to know Calus's feelings when he was always seen to profess his love toward Arianne? His every gesture was measured and counted by the spies that each noble household sent within the imperial household. Other than that, the Duke of the Ferrer household held much authority over the imperial servants. They were his ears and eyes. So it's not a surprise for the Duke to see Calus and Lady Arianne together. More so, he even instructed his son, Ismael Ferrer, to break the two together.

It may seem tricky in Duke Ferrer's eyes. However, nobody would think Calus was lying. After Calus met Arianne, he fell for her at first glance. No, he fell in love with her as soon as she got to him. Calus knew that no romantic relationships begin with just one sight. To him, however, Arianne's appearance was disturbing. It disturbed his heart, his mind, and his soul. Everything about the lady made him unsteady until he finally admitted that he liked her. The tone of her voice, the way she was sweet to him, and the way she was going with everything that Calus had in his mind made his heartbeat pound faster.

That's when he realized he was in love with the same young lady over and over again. It's all because of one move.

"Calus, shall we..."

After talking to some of the nobles, the two stars of the event went ahead to their table to be by themselves for a while. The lady's hands were holding onto Calus' arm while she looked at him with glittering eyes. She knew that she had already caught the most sought-after young nobleman in the Empire that every young lady —same with their age, wanted to covet. Who wouldn't think that way when Calus was beyond gorgeous?

His inflamed hair shone towards the light of the place. He had fair skin, yet it turned rosier with the beaming light. He had gorgeous golden eyes expressing that he was a perfect being. Everything at that time attracted Arianne's eyes. That's when she unwittingly grasped Calus' arms while walking.

Her eyes focused on Calus. They were all over his figure. Arianne was about to ask something. But before she could start her words, Calus' eyes were holding her back for a moment. Calus' loving gaze upon her made the words dangle in Arianne's throat. She couldn't know what to say. Well, who wouldn't know when everything they do is not just exciting but also intimidating?

That's how she always felt about him. Calus was an accessory to her but also an intimidating person. That kind of person would be hard to deal with or betray. However, all she had in mind was to proceed with her plans no matter what happened. One reason enough was power. Maybe if she had enough power, she would claim those she wanted in her life to be a part of. Other than that, it's about her family's prestige. Without considering the consequences of her plans, she is already prepared for the outcome. As they say, it's better to be trained than not at all. She breathes a long sigh while closing her eyes for a moment.

Their movement came to a standstill. They remained that way for a second while Calus's eyes had already searched Arianne's whole being. After looking at her earlier, Calus wanted to say yes each time Arianne would ask him anything. Of course, he'll always be on her side. He would even say whatever the lady wanted him to say or do. That was because Calus felt like he was born to meet Arianne. He felt as if Arianne

would only be the lady fitted to be by his side

Calus had wanted to put himself in someone else's shoes. He wanted to understand anyone. As a crown prince, he should have a deeper understanding of why people do the things they currently do. One of those actions was from the officials of the empire. He wanted to know the reasons behind their actions. But at the same time, he couldn't. He felt as if the anger, hatred, and different negative emotions were overruling him. So he couldn't completely know why. For once, he wanted to escape from everything. However, regardless of how he meant the words to escape, he couldn't. That was not the proper way to handle his given situation, and he knew it.

The empire's officials had, for a long time, preventing the emperor from taking measures to impose his power. Everything was under their control. Yet, all the emperor could do for the officials just for them to lose control was hold a meeting so he could dispute them with the other noble faction - one of them was the Themiore household. The emperor sensed that the officials were making him their foolish puppet, yet he could not challenge them, knowing that he had not completely established his power. With a great image portrayed to everyone, his crash for a single rumor would be fatal. The officials appointed him in the first place —after that historical event within the empire decades ago.

This is why Calus swore he would never be such a leader. He wanted to get out of his current situation —to escape. But there was only one thing that bothered him, and that was the lady who was next to him

Of course, he might give up these dreams at any moment just for her, but will she do the same for him? He is just waiting as they are still young nobles, more so as they still have time to grow and learn about life. But the life he lived while growing up was never easy from the start.

Looking carefully at the lady beside him, he could not avoid the reality that had been slowly approaching him for some time. He wanted to ask why he suddenly fell in love with this lady when everything was evident at the present time.

He shook his head and breathed a long sigh, following the lady's example. That made Calus helpless to lift the two corners of his lips. With the lady's hair falling down the back of her neck, how her skin looked like a sheet of rosy white, and how her crimson eyes looked at him made Calus' feel nostalgic warmth—every gesture that Arianne made always gave rise to Calus' heart beating uncontrolled.

All seemed unreal to him. The young lady he thought was his future wife was already standing next to him. He blinked for a second. In his mind, he envisioned things with Arianne by his side, but a striking new image popped into his senses and made his eyes open widely.

He would not expect, even for a second, to turn his mind to someone he had met just a few days ago. Most of all, the baby was Ismael's sister. For a while, he didn't even realize why his heart was in pain just seeing the baby in his mind. For a few days that passed, there was not a second that he wouldn't stop thinking about the baby. Now that it was Arianne's birthday, he thought he had finally freed himself with Ismael's little sister and her image, but still, he couldn't.

Calus' eyebrows stood up one second before he realized where he was. He was standing against their supposed table. Arianne was currently looking at him. She was shocked for a moment. Her lips were wide open. She wanted to say a few words, but then Calus knew better. So he was the one who smiled at the lady. Then he assured her it was nothing, while his mind told him otherwise

Strange. This was his thought as he said some words to Arianne. That immediately made Arianne's eyes sparkle.

"Well, if you want to go somewhere, I'm all for it. As long as you are, I'll always be on the same page, Arianne."

"Calus, I-I----"

Again, Arianne couldn't finish what she was saying when Calus' face was closing in on her. When their forehead almost touched, Calus' smile was again the kind of smile that kills. His smile would kill anyone immediately, but for now, only a particular young lady could receive him without her being killed by him. That's when everybody could get jealous.

The beaming smile would actually melt anybody's heart, but for Arianne, she just felt normal. She felt this way and not otherwise, maybe because of something or someone. But that doesn't justify her deviating from her plans, especially since she had a higher chance of being chosen as one of the crown princess candidates. However, she knew better than that, where the officials had already planned something.

"I know, Arianne, believe me, and I won't ever let you down."

"I can only think of one place, Calus."

"Then... shall we go there, my lady?" Calus asked in his sweetest tone as he continued to smile at Arianne.

Averting his earlier vision of the baby with those streaks of blonde hair and emerald green eyes, rosy cheeks he wanted to pinch, and a look he wanted to laugh at, he smiled at the lady in front of him. That's when he knelt while he held her hand after kissing the back of it

Everybody's on their last breath at the current time. Who wouldn't act that way when Calus, who was the crown prince of the empire, and the lady, who was Gillian Themiore's daughter —the one who disagreed with the officials, displayed some romantic scenario in from of their eyes?

For Arianne, it was eyes from a distance that mattered. Those golden eyes wanted to pierce her soul as she watched him make his proposal to her.

Soon Ismael has to get things done. Ivian thought with his gaze between the two. Ismael, on the other hand, just had a few glasses at a separate table while looking at the crown prince and the lady. His forehead wrinkled for a moment, but he never showed it to anyone.

With his gaze fixed on both of them, it was no wonder he could implement his plans immediately without any problems because the lady's gaze was not the look that any lady, who's in love, would make. When one of the beautiful young men with the highest rank knelt in front of the lady, Ismael was sure the lady would smile adoringly. She would not suppress her pleasure, which is why she would put both hands on her lips and immediately kiss the young noble - proposing to her.

However, in Arianne's case, she behaves differently from these ladies. Even if she smiled, it was not sufficient to describe her feelings for the young man before her. It made Ismael's lips raise.

It looks like the lady was already thinking about somebody else. These were Ismael's thoughts as he swallowed the beverage in his hand at one time.

At the same time, Calus returned to his previous position. He smiled at the young lady who once again held his arms. Instead of going to their table, the lady was leading Calus to go somewhere. All eyes followed the two until Duke Themiore caught everyone's attention with his words.

While Gillian caught everyone's interest, Ivian left Serena at their table for a moment while his eyes searched for Ismael. Once he found out where Ismael was, Ivian's look never left his son's face while his feet had already moved to the place where Ismael was. It was only then, after approaching him, that he whispered something that made his son's eyes widen for a second before calming his self-control and giving a solemn nod to his father.

"I will. I'm just looking forward to the right moment."

"Be sure. Other than that, you already know what will happen if you fail here."

This old man is insane for power, huh? So we'll see who wins in the end. Ismael thought. His mind was in chaos, but he still managed to portray a good expression.

"I shall take care of that, Duke Ferrer. Don't worry," Ismael said, exchanging his father's smile.

"That's my boy. Stay alert."

With the same smile, Ivian stroked his son's shoulders and went towards his previous table. A moment later, Ismael placed the glass on his table and left the place unknown to all except for two pairs of eyes following each of his movements.

He loves his sister. Ivian thought.

***

"Ashhuuiiiiwiiiiee!"

These were Herena's words. She wanted to claim someone's attention, and she never failed. Harlene, who was in the room with her, chuckled at how Herena said those words. Harlene knew Herena wanted to go outside, but she couldn't let that happen. It's cold outside, and the baby may catch a cold. Herlene only cared for the baby at the current time, disregarding herself.

"Our sweet little lady in the house is amazing! However, if you want to go outside, I'm sorry little lady, you can't. However, I have an excellent idea."

Harlene gently squeezed the baby's cheeks while she laughed.

She used to be spoiled enough to go outside just to get some fresh air, even when she was an adult. This time, though, she has already learned some lessons.

She thought it was better this way. This time, she wants to change her brother's future. She'll make sure to save him and keep him alive. Though, in order to do so, she needed a faithful ally beside her. That's why she knows she still got a long road ahead of her. She was also almost sure that this young monster from the imperial house had already been head over heels with the lady, back from the past and still in this night. She just hoped that her brother was safe, and that's all that mattered to her now.