Chapter 5: Rumor

Rumor

I didn't return to the party. I just sneaked into an isolated veranda. I lost my will to go back. I don't even know how should I show my face there. It was humiliating.

I wanted to shout at him, punch and kick him but I can't for I will only be branded as a sinner and I can't have my family be punished as well.

You did an excellent job holding back out there, Emily.

But my anger didn't actually subsided so I had to gather some stones and throw it around. Then I remembered something deep in my memory when I heard someone groaned.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know there was a person in there."

"Really. 6 years ago it was a shoes but now a stone."

I stopped from walking when I recognized that familiar voice. It was the veranda guy who got hit by my shoes 6 years ago. That dark blue hair and golden eyes.

"It was you. The veranda guy 6 years ago."

He stopped at his tracks and widened his eyes on surprise then nodded at me.

"Veranda guy you say."

"Well you did not introduce yourself in the past and it seems like you still have no plans on doing it today. Besides you're still hanging out on this isolated veranda."

He laughed at what I said and looked back on the railings.

"Well, it's the only way to enter this house without being seen by anyone." He said and gestured that we sit on the bench.

"Wait." He said and gently removed his coat. I covertly watched his biceps moved while he's removing his coat. It has only been 6 years since we saw each other again and he seemed to have grown so much.

"What are you doing?"

"You can sit now."

He said when he put his coat on the bench so I can sit on it. I mentally complimented his gentleman behavior. He also sat down when I was able to sit properly and there was a kind of large gap between us which I liked the most because it meant that he values my private space.

"So you were saying that by climbing this veranda, you can enter this property. So shall I call the guards and arrest you for illegal trespassing?"

"Well you won't ever see me again if you do that." He said so I laughed. I was just kidding, like I would really do that but I would consider doing that if he did some funny business.

"Wait, are you seriously going to do that?" He said as if believing my joke.

"It depends on how you act, like if you do some funny business then I would consider doing that."

"Wow, you're really serious right now."

"If only I could naturally enter your party like the other nobles, you could call as many guards as you want." My smile slowly faded when I noticed a hint of sadness in his voice. It seemed like he's really in a tough situation but when I looked at his suit, it seemed expensive so he must hold a high position in the capital. But if he's sneaking out like this, it might only mean one thing.

"Are you a runaway criminal?" I jokingly said although I know myself that he isn't but he's just in a tough situation that I can't pinpoint myself.

"Would that be better than my current situation?"

"Well, I don't know a thing or two about you so I don't think I can help you but if climbing verandas like this would ease your mind then it would be okay as long as you don't get caught but it might be considered as a criminal act so you have to be careful." Then he shook his head and had a low laugh. A short silence came in between us before he continued speaking.

"But seeing you again, it felt like my effort didn't come to waste. I wish I could see you every day." He said while looking at me. I nervously avoided his eyes because I again felt a ticklish feeling in my stomach.

"Well we could see each other again, right? But I think every day might sound disturbing don't you think?"

"Yeah. Oh, this."

He took something from his breast pocket and it was a small box. When he opened it, I saw a golden butterfly hair clip with a short tassel.

"Before I forget, may I?"

I nodded at him as a permission. Then he gently combed my hair so he slip the hair clip. I stopped breathing for a moment because he's too near to me and I felt his hot breath brushed onto my neck.

"Beautiful. As always." He said and I turned my face away so he could not see my cheeks heating up. It was awkward but it felt right.

"So what made you come here again? It seemed like something upsetting happened this time."

"How did you know? You really have a talent for guessing what goes inside a person's mind." I said but he just looked at me like he's waiting for me to speak.

"It's just some narcissistic jerk assumed that I liked what he did. It was really disgusting. Really."

His eyebrows creased as if he knew what I was talking about but he asked for confirmation.

"Why? What did he do to you?"

"H-he k-kissed me and justified that he can't help himself because he loves me. What the hell? Was that a justifiable reason to do something a woman doesn't permit or like?"

"Is it required to do something like that when you like or love someone? Don't you have to confirm if that other person likes you too?"

"So did you kick him or what?" He looked like he was ready to do it in behalf of me so I can't help but feel satisfied.

"I wished I could but my head will be rolling the next day though. He was the only Duke's son and the successor to the throne at that. So I can't just be reckless about doing something."

He didn't respond and just looked at me. It seemed like he was processing what I just said then he finally sighed.

"You're right. You can't be too reckless about such things but then a slap or a kick would be enough considering that he did something shameful to you."he said as a matter of fact.

"So where did that bastard kiss you?"

I laughed at his word 'bastard' and didn't even got to mind that he asked where that 'bastard' kissed me.

"Here." I said as I pointed my lips and he gulped down and turned away from me while drowning his face with his two hands.

"Hey, is there a problem?" I worriedly asked since he's starting to get red. Only did I realized that I put him in an awkward position.

"Well, shall I wipe it off for you?" He suddenly suggested out of the blue.

"W-wipe? H-how will you do that?"

I stuttered when he started to close our distance.

"Will you forgive me if I do something you wouldn't like?"

"N-no?"

"You're free to slap me if you won't like what I'm about to do."

Then he smiled and his face got closer to me until I couldn't help myself from feeling dizzy because his forehead already touched mine. So are his lips.

I felt an electrifying feeling when I felt his hot lips on mine. Then the heat intensified when he moved those lips. I can't help but lose my balance but his hands gently assisted my back while his other was gently touching my cheeks as if guiding me how to kiss him back. And so he was successful.

It felt as if I've finished a round of champagne because I felt intoxicated with his kiss.

"I wished I could bring you home. I-I really wanted to be with you but I can't let you suffer…for the rest of your life." his voice broke when he said that. I heard what he said but I wasn't able to process it in my head so I wasn't able to respond because I felt like a drunkard.

As if it wasn't enough, I pulled his shirt and brought him closer to kiss me again and so he did it with the same intensity. I never thought kissing someone was this good.

"Was I successful in wiping it off from your memory?"

"What did you erase from it anyway?" He showed a playful smile and took a quick glance on my lips before finally looking at my eyes.

"Van. I cannot tell my name to you but, milady you can call me Van."

"Van can also call me Emily"

"Happy birthday Emily. Meeting you was the best gift I have received." He kneeled and kissed my hand before standing up again.

He extended his hand and assisted me to carefully stand up.

"You can go first. I-I can't have you see me turn my back to you." He smiled and said but I shook my head and tried to answer but I failed to keep my stuttering.

"N-no, y-you go first. B-but before that, c-an I say something-- is what I should've said. Wait, are you even expecting to hear those words from me?"

He got shocked with my response but he just shook his head and let out a soft chuckle. But I continued to crease my forehead.

"If you did then I would be comforting you right now. But won't you even shed a drop of tear for me who's going to disappear in your life?" I knew that he was joking but I can't help but noticed a hint of sadness in his voice. Wait, was he actually serious?

"Hey, you don't expect me to shed a tear just because a stranger whom I only met twice is about to leave right?"

"It's Van so I'm not a stranger to you anymore, I guess."

"Whatever, just be thankful that I didn't slap you for kissing me." Like who's stupid enough to cry over someone you've only met twice? And what's crazy was that you two coincidentally met on some random isolated place.

"You're right. But you know strangers can fall in love too." He said as if implying something.

"That might work for you but not for me. Love is not something that can be developed over night. It stems from mutual trust and faith. So I apologize but maybe all you feel is nothing but infatuation." I said as a matter of fact. He didn't contradicted what I said and just smiled as he looked at the dark sky.

"Love... Maybe, strangers don't need mutual trust and faith to fall in love because it's not something they can control."

"Are there any scientific basis for your claim?"

"It's not a scientific evidence but from what I've experienced, it only took me 5 seconds to fall for the lady in front of me. Those five seconds were enough for her to camp inside my heart."

"Oh why is it just a camp? Why not make it extravagant? Do you plan on collecting and stockpiling ladies in that camp?"

"I'm not yet rich so all I could offer her was a comfortable camp to stay on. And I don't have any plans on letting other woman trespass on her vicinity."

"Milady! Where have you gone through again?"

"I think she's in the veranda, I heard some voices conversing."

I was lost with our conversation that I forgot about my party and my walk-out event. They must have been worried. So before any misunderstanding arise, I tore my eyes from the veranda's door and turned to face him again.

"You should go--"

But his lips instead crashed on mine again. It was just a few seconds when he gently pulled me away.

"You really--"

"It was nice meeting you again, Emily. This will not be the last time so I hope that you'll wait for me." He said as he gently kissed my hand and winked at me before jumping on the veranda.

I unconsciously touched my lips thinking whether it was a dream or not. Just then Evely and the other maid came rushing in and worriedly looked at me so I let them know that I'm fine and I was about to retire early.

Waking up, I instinctively touched my lips and felt as if his lips were still on mine. Shit, I think I'm going crazy.

You're really crazy, Emily! It was just a kiss, so what then?

I didn't understand why my heart is getting wild and the butterflies invaded and protested inside my stomach. It was something I perfectly knew but pretended not to know. No, I just didn't want to admit defeat. You said it yourself Emily, love cannot be developed over night.

However, my mood instantly went down when I remembered him breaking my heart. I hope I would never see him again. He's just another jerk I see.

"Milady!" Evely rushed into my room and called on me like the world is going to end at this moment.

"What is it Evely? Is the world going to end right now?" I lazily stretched my body and crawled out of the bed to prepare for the breakfast.

"Well, milady is only the star of the news today! And you will be too surprised with it!"

He giggled as if she's in a teenage romance novel when she handed me the newspaper.

My smile faded and my forehead creased when I saw the headlines of the news.

'Heir to the House of Kingsley has publicly announced his upcoming marriage with the Lady of House of Wescott.'

'Lady Emily Wescott: A Cinderella-inspired Romance'

'Lady Emily Wescott: Hail to the Future Empress'

'Several Nobles Found the Marriage Ridiculous and starts to protest'

'Lady Emily Wescott: Then and Now'

'The Root of their Romance: An Exclusive Interview with Sir Charles Kingsley'

'Lady Emily Wescott: Skipping Duchess - Straight towards becoming Empress'

What the hell is all of this?