CHAPTER XXVI: POSSIBLE MALE LEAD?

After her story telling, the children fell asleep under the shade of the huge tree. When she looked for her knight, it seems that her story telling could not just affect children, but also, his knight. Caville was peacefully sleeping under the tree beside them.

She decided to stand up, and stretched her limbs up high. "I need some water."

She glanced to the foster house, but she thought that she could also want to wash her face. She pivoted her feet towards the direction of the river.

The river was near from the foster house. She reached it just by a few steps. She remembered the python that they encountered in the deep part of the forest. The thought made her faintly shivered.

When she approached by the river, she crouched and drunk water from it. It is clear and clean. While savoring the freshness of the water, she heard a sound of splash. Splash.

The sound was coming behind of the giant rock. She automatically took two big rocks from the ground. After all, Andrew killed the python through rocks so it became prompt to her after that incident. She walked gradually behind the giant rock.

"Samuel, it was just a squirrel."

Until she heard a voice from a boy, she didn't throw the rocks, but instead, hid it on her back. Her safety come in first. She was still not sure if he was a bad guy. Then, she slowly peeked from the giant rock. It was a boy drenched in the river. He has this golden hair and bluish green eyes and was wearing a light white polo shirt and black pants. The horse seemed to accidentally throw him in the river.

With frowned face, he stood up and approached the land.

As the boy walked closer from where she was, she inevitably stepped back. Unfortunately, she treaded on some dried branch on the ground that created a crackle sound.

Crack. Flinched.

"Who's there?", the voice coming from the boy sounded threatening. It even took the sword from his sheath, and pointed it in her location.

It was too late for her to run away, and there is only reason why the boy is in this part. Hunting. So, if she will run away, it would be an easy feat for a hunter to catch her.

"The boy doesn't appear to be a bandit or a bad guy," she thought.

In fact, they might be on the same age. She threw the rocks away before getting out from the giant rocks. Looking closer, the boy was very handsome, a type of a delicate flower. "A kpop idol."

"Umm, hello?" She hesitantly greeted.

Seeing the lady, the boy loosened his tight grip at the hilt of his sword, and took it back from its sheath.

"What are you doing here? State your name!" He sternly questioned her.

The sound of questioning was quite rude for both strangers. It can't help but it did prick her some annoyance, but she calmly answered his question. "I was from the foster house near here. Before I answered your second question, you. Who are you first? It was my first time seeing you here."

Give and take, you, rude boy. She pouted in her thought.

"..."

The boy was in agape. It looked like that her questioning was unworldly to him.

"Did I ask something wrong? I just gave back his rudeness."

"You don't know who am I?" He shouted in disbelief and frowned face.

"Would I ask if I know who you are in the first place? I don't think that you are striking the proper tone, Sir." She didn't control herself from speaking informally even it would appear rude. She thought that the boy started it first.

"..."

The boy slightly flustered from how she responded to him. With grimaced, he asked again, but in curious manner. "You really don't know who am I?"

Her eyes went cold from the reiteration made by the boy. She decided to give up talking to him. She bowed and said. "It was nice to see you, but I really don't know who you are. Anyway, I will go now if you have no—."

"Wait."

She was stopped in turning her back from him and unenergetically asked. "What?"

"..."

The boy turned to his horse, and took a towel from the baggage that was tied. He draped it on his shoulder and finally, introduced himself.

"My name is Nikolai Gabriel. I apologize for being rude a while ago. May I kindly know your name?", he changed his tone and politely asked her.

"Gabriel? I never heard of that surname before. Hmm, but it quite rude to directly ask if he is part of nobility. His get up looked like a hunter than a noble man."

"Apology accepted. Same as I for my rudeness. To make it up to it, My name is Beatrice Delavine Croix.", she introduced herself politely.

"You are the daughter of Marquees Croix?" "but you did not know who am I?," he mumbled the last line.

"???" "Were you hunting?" She said by changing the topic. She thought that it would be wise to forget her displeasure towards him.

"Yes. I am."

"Were you lost?", she sincerely asked with worried in her voice. Although the grande forest was known for great hunting arena, this part near at the foster house was far from the designated place for it.

"I'm not. I just heard the river and followed it to drink some water.", he answered hurriedly, stiffly.

What with the weird act? "I see. Then, it was nice to meet you. Hope we could meet in the future." She said with a smile and waving a goodbye.

"Wait."

"Again."

"Actually, I'm... I am with the Crown Prince. I am one of his attendants. So, any minute by now, he'll be here. May I kindly know how to get out from this forest?"

"So, you were really not lost?", she languidly responded.

"..."

He was embarrassed from her bluntness. It was true that he was lost. However, he just can't accept it when the lady asked him. He found his pride was on the line. He thought that it would be a humiliating story for a person who is hunting to get lost in his own hunting area.

"Wait. Did he just say Crown Prince? Oh My! Then, I have to get my butt out from here immediately. If it is the Crown Prince, there is a big chance that he may be the second male lead of this novel. Possible death flags.", she thought.

Sigh. "If you went straight here, you will be able to see the road." She calmly gave the direction after she figured out that the boy had no plans in responding her sarcasm.

"Thank you."

"Then, please excuse me. I'll be going now."

"Wait."

"Could you just leave me be?"

"Aren't you interested to him, the Crown Prince?", he curiously asked.

"Hmm. Now that you ask, I am, of course."

"Who would not be? Of course, I am. It is a prince. Who on earth would not be interested on him? But in my current situation, knowing him is not healthy for my lifespan."

"..."

He stared at her and thought deeply. "Then, why are you looked indifferent?"

"But it would be better for not to see him now, because it would be embarrassing for him that I, lady from Marquees Croix family, know that he was lost in his own hunting time.", she continued with slight sarcasm again.

His face flushed hearing her straightforwardness again. "Ehem. Yes, you are right."

"I hope you and his highness be safe on your way. Please excuse my benevolent self, Sir Gabriel." At this time, she decided to leave with a curtsy.

"Ye-- yes.. Thank you. Take care on your way."

"Thank you."

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MARCHHHHHHH on mondayyyy.

Hi, my fairies. I already posted it to my conversation/announcement, but I just cant contain my happiness. For those who havent know, the light novel, I dont want to get married, has already its manhwa. It is already in 19 chaps and on going.

Just so you know, my main characters were portrayed from it. Though, there will be a slight difference as the promo chap and the on going chaps were both somehow different in appearance/graphics. Nevertheless, I will remain with its promo chap. (credited to its rightful owners)

another info, the boy in this chapter is my last reserved male lead. Yes. I know the story is starting to get twisted, but hope you will enjoy the end of it.

ANYWAY, dont forget to click the star below, VOTE, and/or follow me.

Lovelots,

isaiah ^_^