••• Cinzel •••
“I don’t know when and how but I feel most protected in your presence…” I said, kissing his hand again, his mention is attached to my lips instead of an unspoken melody.
A wide grin appeared on his aesthetic features, grasping his fingers over my cheek tenderly, relaxing my soul in his persuasive touch.
Closing my eyes, I put my hand over his, existing entirely in his touch. He was about to pull me up but De Villiers who surely knows how to ruin our moments came utterly pissed.
Frowning at his presence, I got up, not removing Prince's hand from my skin.
"What are you doing here?" I asked authoritatively, looking at him coldly.
Looking away he replied, "Lunch is served." Rolling my eyes, I sighed in disappointment.
"Shall we go?" I asked Prince sweetly.
He shrugged, passing me a faint smile as we left, not before glaring at De Villiers who seemed pissed every time he saw Prince.
It has begun to exasperate me now.
We went to the dining hall as Theo's voice came, "We are not here to see your romance."
Ignoring, we both sat down, "Nobody asked you to stalk our moments." retorting normally, he scoffed as we started our lunch.
"So what do you think, Axel?" I asked. He sighed, gesturing a defeat signal with his hands.
"What can I do? You left me with no choice. Besides, I certainly don't want to disobey our sweet Queen's order or else we all know what's coming for us. He would torture us to death if we went against you."
I thought he was talking about Prince. I was wrong. He said casually, shrugging his continuing eating. He must be mocking or something.
"You know what, Axel…" I began to say, leaning back.
"Trust is the part which is non-existent with you but I don't work on this baseless delusion." I said, looking up at him with a stern gaze.
"Well, if you expect cooperation. You have to trust us at least this much…" He chuckled nervously.
I smirked, putting down my fork, "If you expect me to trust you then why don't you gain it? In fact, It goes for all of you." I said, gaining everyone's attention, not apprehending what I am talking about.
"What do you mean?" Issac asked.
"Simple, increase the sales of our guns." I said.
"How are we supposed to do it? Things are going in their rhythm for a long time, crime rates are increasing anyways because of inflation- Well, if you exempt Axel." Issac taunted.
I laughed a little scornfully, "You have put up the innocent face of a businessman all this time, Issac still doesn't know how to gain customers? Kinda pathetic. Think for yourself." I jeered, putting my elbow on the table, leaning closer.
"It's not only for my advantage but yours too. Share a portion of free samples with local gangsters, start fights between them, needing weapons to fight with each other, they will come to us. Burn their base and blame it on the other party. Who cares?" I explained the structure I had in my mind which somehow bestowed upon me without recognition.
"Why do you want to increase the crime rate?" Prince asked. Smirking darkly, I turned to him.
"Isn't it simple? To let the higher ups know about the arrival." I answered nonchalantly but Prince seemed distressed- even pissed about something. Raising a brow, I didn't know what to say.
"I must say I was doubtful of your judgments at first but you have surpassed all my concerns, Cinzel." Axel smirked.
"Really?"
"Didn't know you could get this far. You truly are Valencia's daughter, having the same sinister mind as hers, well obviously nothing compared to your-"
“Shut up.” Prince snarled.
“To my what, Prince?” I whispered to him.
“Nothing.” He scoffed.
Axel praised me but I felt the earth cracking and swallowing me in lamentation. My amusement vanished, replacing it with dread to realize I have done it again.
I never wanted to become like this!
This was not me. What have I done?! Proposing an atrocious plan to enhance terrors, what the hell is wrong with me?
I am becoming a criminal.
Everyone was apparently impressed with me but I sat still, unable to react. Adrenaline rushed in my vein to ease the tension building in my heart but to no avail.
I began to resent myself for thinking like this.
“It’s going to be a pleasure to work with you.”
While I was lost in a daze, everyone gradually left and I couldn't fathom my words which gained their trust again but left me where I was running from.
My very soul trembled, dragging my mind back to that misery and amid this destruction I could feel Prince's glare upon me which terrorized me more than anything.
Why was this fear so constant?!
"Cinzel." My breath hitched when Prince called me when everyone left.
"Yes?" I asked timidly, swallowing hard, cursing myself for ruining this beguiling day.
"I need to talk to you." he said, grabbing my wrist.
“Prince?” My mouth gaped, trying to speak something but he continued to take me away.
While he was taking me, I couldn't help but to notice the grimace flickering in De Villiers's eyes but my mind was too vexed to comprehend anything else.
"Prince I-"
I tried to speak but he pushed me inside the room, kicking the door close.
Pushing me roughly against the wall, a squeak left my lips, convulsing by the fatality of his presence hovering over mine.
"You surely have begun to indulge in what you detest." He mocked.
Lifting my chin, locking his demanding orbs with my frightened ones. My heart began to beat rapidly, intoxicating my mind by the fear running in my veins.
"Prince Please-" I said, calling him in a croaky voice and was about to hold his face but he grabbed my wrist, knowing my smoothness is futile.
"All this reverence is meaningless, sweetheart."
His tempting tone wrapped itself around my neck vehemently, grasping my senses by the vicinity, locked between his arms holding me securely,
"So you better indulge in the breath I have granted…"
His voice converted into a scowl, shutting my teary gaze, I tried to suppress the sob residing in my vocal cords.
"Unless you want me to take them away."
A tear rolled down my cheek when he said it. I knew my pain was grazing his skin. That's why he is disturbed about my condition but he shouldn't have said it.
"Why are you doing this…?" I asked in a barely audible tone.
"You know." His cold tone came.
"You promised to save me from this! Educing terror was not necessary! You could use other ways too, Prince. Why do you choose the method which hurts the most? I can't stand you like this… Please… Please." I began to growl, pulling his shirt.
His gaze softened for a moment, traveling down to my lips, scrutinizing my powerless form with compassion.
We both knew there was no other way, I will become a fiend if this continued and this was essential to keep my sanity but I didn't want him to scare me anymore.
"I will be like this, even if it hurts, but I am not going to let this happen. I have promised myself."
Declaring, he held my waist firmly with one hand and pulled my hair to become adjacent to his level, pulsating my heart badly by the wavering distance.
"You are scaring me, Prince." I whispered, heartbroken.
A glint of sorrow also gleamed in his eyes but hidden behind layers of affectation, didn't let him show his true emotions.
"You should be." He whispered, leading his hand from my hairs to my neck, brushing his quivering lips over mine.
Pulling his shirt with anguish, I opened my mouth to speak something but a soft voice escaped my lips,
"Prince, please.."
"Cinzel, please…"
His response came immediately in a hopeless tone, tightening his grip over mine.
I sniffed trying not to cry but before we could get out from his uncontrollably miserable state the door banged open.
We abruptly pulled away and saw De Villiers there.
"Alright, I am so done with this fucking charade."