Soulmate

When I reached back to the estate, I was greeted with maids as they gazed at me with apprehension. 

'M'lady! M'lady!' The maids' voices quivered with unease, their eyes darting over me, their hands patting me down with a mix of fear and curiosity.

"Not a single scratch, what a relief." The maids finally sighed with relaxation before another uneasy expression lay on their faces.

"His Highness, the Crown Prince is here. He's awaiting your presence inside. Oh! Oh! But do be careful! His Highness seems upset."

Bearing that alert in mind, I proceeded to go inside with vigilance. Perhaps Kaiserin is upset because I treated his maid with hostility? I should explain what happened at the Empress's palace to clarify misunderstandings. 

As I entered indoors, I spotted the Crown Prince. Immediately, he was observing me with an uneasy expression on his face.

"I heard you visited my mother."

"I did indeed."

After a minute, Kaiserin closed the distance between us and got closer to me.

Kaiserin looked at me suspiciously and then began to speak. "Have you ever been to a place called Destiny's Touch?"

I appeared dumbfounded as soon as Kaiserin said that. He was probably following me that day. That could only explain why I found him right after I visited with Anton. My heart raced, and I felt a mix of fear and anger. How long had he been watching me?

"Were you following me?"

"Perhaps you would be irritated. Nono, would you be enraged to know that I followed you? God, I haven't seen that look on your face when you were truly angry with me for a while."

I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. Was he trying to make me mad? Or was there something more sinister at play?

"Kaiserin, whatever you trying to do, it won't work." 

Kaiserin looked at me with a scheming expression; it seemed he was set on whatever he was trying to do. Then he said,"Did you meet with Die Meisterin?"

But how could he have known that? He was outside the shop! I also made sure no guards followed me that day.

Despite that, he looked at me as if he were formulating his next move. Then, Kaiserin began to say, "Now, I'm certain that you are my soulmate, so whatever you have to do with the Die Meisterin, give up." His words echoed in my mind, and I felt a mix of disbelief and fear. How could he claim such a thing? And what did it mean for me?

I was also irritated at the same time, like he would know what situation I was even in? But beneath the irritation, there was a flicker of something else. Was it anger? Resentment? Or was it something more complicated, something I wasn't ready to admit?

"And, this is somehow your business?" I replied.

Kaiserin chuckled a bit, coming closer to me and closing the gap between us even more. Then, when he spoke, his voice resonated with desperation.

"Of course, because you'll be stuck with me for a while."