To His Hell and Back-Chapter 186: In The Garden-II

"And who are you?" Lady Maren who didn’t want to look second to Arabella now demanded for a name, crossing her arms in front of her chest, "Why would you stop me? Or is that your cat perchance?"

Arabella gulped.

What name should she give this lady? Surely not her real name. She also questioned why such a nimble cat would just sit down there and wait as Lady Maren approach it, as if it was enjoying the scene that was taking place in front of it and wanted to see how every humans were going to act.

But her attention instead moved to the cupcake filled table, wondering when will Princess Isabelle come back as if the princess was here, she would most definitely help her.

Yet she was left alone here and had to make up a lie. Any lie would do.

Squeezing her eyes, Arabella opened it only to show a smile before assessing Maren from her head to her toes. She then smiled softly to the lady, her voice sweetened so to dismiss the tension in the garden, not knowing that her tone and her gaze that had appeared as if she had seized Maren as a person came more demanding than what she had planed it to be.

"My apologies, Lady Maren. I saw what had happened but I do not think that it would be a good time for us to stain the tea party with blood," Arabella said, her tone calm despite the nervousness that bubbled up her throat. "The cat didn’t mean what it has done so best that you forgive its little mischief."

Lady Maren could feel eyes on her now and embarrassed for being schooled by someone she doesn’t know, she didn’t want to back down and instead crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly, "I didn’t know that this garden belongs to you. How dare you order me around to follow your words?"

Voice velvet smooth, Arabella whispered to the lady with a wider smile, "I did not mean to imply I owned the garden, I wouldn’t dare to claim so. It is just that that some things are not worth tainting the roses over." Her eyes drifted toward the flowerbeds where a few petals fluttered, stirred by the breeze or tension. "Especially not in front of the Crown Princes’ beloved flowers."

That subtle reminder, that any scene could be reported, repeated, and used, made Maren’s jaw tighten. She was being watched. Judged. Perhaps even laughed at behind dainty fans.

But Arabella wasn’t finished. She took a single step closer, not aggressive, but enough to command attention.

"As for ordering you around," She gave a faint, amused breath, letting her eyes rest gently on Maren’s stiff shoulders. "I would never dream of it. I only hoped a lady as elegant and composed as yourself would not wish to lower herself to bickering with a.., a cat, just a cat."

The watching ladies tittered behind their gloves. Not cruelly or mockingly, but enough for Maren to feel the prickle of shame rise on her neck.

The cat, as if playing its part in the drama, had now sat down beside the table, calmly licking its paw as if nothing in the world could bother it. A few guests had begun to smile. Even the footmen nearby seemed to shift their stance, barely restraining their amusement.

Maren’s cheeks flared pink. She opened her mouth, then closed it, clearly calculating the cost of pushing further. It wasn’t worth it. Not here. Not now.

She huffed. "Well," she said sharply, flicking an invisible speck off her sleeve. "Fine, since these flowers are too pretty to be dirtied. I should look the other way. But who are you? What is your name?"

With everyone else looking at her, Arabella knew if she keep dismissing the question she would seem weird and even be grabbed by the guards for an interrogation. Not wanting that to happen she quickly blurted a name, "Bella."

"I see." Lady Maren answered with her teeth gritted tight. "Well then, Lady Bella. Let’s hope your cat doesn’t make a habit of ruining royal affairs. If the second time I see that this stupid cat of yours making a mess in this garden, do not hold any contempt at me for reporting this problem to Queen Morgana herself."

Then she turned on her heel, retreating with her head held high, even as her pride limped behind her.

Arabella let out the smallest exhale of relief. Her knees wanted to give out, but she remained perfectly poised. She had survived.

She turned slightly toward the cupcake table again only to find a familiar voice rising just behind her.

"My, my starting fires without me, birdie?"

She didn’t have to turn back to know it was Cassius but she still did it anyway. With a stressed smile she sighed, "Don’t ask me why I am dressed this way."

"I know, it isn’t your choice," he answered with a slight frown, "I’m sorry. About Marissa. I heard how she had dragged you from my room, dressed you up as she will, and brings you here for fun."

For fun? Seems like Marissa didn’t tell him the entire truth and somehow she feels light knowing that he didn’t know the real reason why Marissa had dressed and bring her to this garden.

"You know," Bella drawled smiling as their eyes met, "I never thought you are the type of person who would so easily apologize. But you do."

Cassius looked at her and slowly pulled out his finger, flicking her forehead lightly as his eyes softened a little, "I do apologize."

"But I don’t hear it that often?" She teased him and he chuckled.

"Maybe that’s because no one in this world is worth to apologize to. They deserve what had coming to them."

She hummed, "Doesn’t that mean you think I am worth to apologize to?"

He eyed her, raising his left eyebrow high with a knowing smile, "You did nothing wrong but things badly occur around you. That means I owe you an apology."

Though his words were complicated, she understood that he means that the things she had done had never harmed anyone yet she was harmed and as it happened because of him, at least that was how he sees it, that is why he apologizes to her.

"Mhm that’s good," Arabella hummed, "I’m glad that you know how to apologize and sincerely at that."

"You think it’s attractive?"

A little out of focus she nodded, "It is attractive. People who knew their mistake and rectify it has a charm."

Only when she realized what she had said did Arabella’s frown tighten. She snapped her head at him, an exclamation mark popped right beside her head.

"Y- You! That wasn’t what I-"

"I know I am attractive, love," chuckled Cassius, "But I never knew that my charm makes your knees so weak that you would subconsciously agree of how handsome I am."