Chapter 319 – Epic Dinner

 I was busy reading a document when someone knocked on my office. I look up and find Rufus smiling at me.

 “It looks like you’re busy again. Aren’t you always busy? Did you even take some rest, purplany?”

 I put the document down and sighed. Rest? I don’t have time for that. I still have a lot of things to do. Not just for today but also for the whole week and the next few weeks.

 Lilla and I just finished talking to the people on the list, and I am currently reading all the details I have written about those people.

 “Rest? Rufus, you know I have agreed to have a joint project with his majesty, right? I need to work to ensure that everything will be okay. If I made a mistake, that would definitely reflect on the monarchy, and I don’t want that.”

 Rufus heaves a sigh and walks toward me to put aside my hair that is dangling on my cheeks. “You should really rest, purplany. You’re overworking yourself already. I heard you were out the whole day to talk to a lot of people.”

 I lean on my chair and look at Rufus. “Yes, I’m already preparing the documents needed for the joint project.” I frown when I remember something. “Wait, aren’t you supposed to return to the town today? Why are you still here, Rufus? I thought you would help Prince Fraser for the transfer of the villagers?”

 Rufus sits on the chair in front of me before he answers me. “Nope, I’ll be returning there tomorrow. I just dropped by today, so I can check how you are doing. Doctor Pascal asked me to check on you while I am in the capital because he knows you have a tendency to neglect yourself. And look at you? You’re overworking yourself again. I’m sure if Doctor Pascal is here, he will definitely get mad at you.”

  I heave a sigh. I don’t want to overwork myself. Who would want to do that? But I don’t have any other choice. My villainess days will start soon, and I want to leave something good for the Vrawyth people. 

 “Please don’t tell him that I’m overworking myself. I’m sure he would be worried about me. My Mother is already worried about me. I don’t want to worry him too.”

 Rufus reaches his arms to gently mess my hair. “If you don’t want to make people worry about you, then you should stop doing things that will worry everyone. Purplany, I know you only want to help, but there is always a limit to everything. Giving yourself too much will definitely have a repercussion on yourself. Give yourself a break.”

 I just nod my head so the conversation will end. I know if I continue to explain myself to him, the argument wouldn’t end. I know they are just worried about my health, so I wouldn’t argue anymore.

 I continued reading the document I was reading before he came. “I will, Rufus. I will so don’t worry, okay?”

 I heard Rufus sigh. “You’re not taking this seriously, purplany. I’m serious. You should start to take care of yourself properly.” 

 I just hum ‘hmm’ as an agreement. Then I continue reading again. I still need to do a lot of things today, and I don’t have time for chitchat. 

 Then there’s Prince Joachim, who decided to add to my problem. I put the document down again and looked at Rufus. 

 Bringing Lilla is already okay, but Prince Joachim is still a guy, and he also has guards with him. I think it’s best for me to bring Rufus too. At least with him, we can be assured that nothing will happen.

 “Rufus, are you busy this evening?”

  Rufus got silent for a while, probably thinking if he had something to do tonight. He then shakes his head after. “No, I don’t have anything to do tonight. Why? Are you still worried that I’m not okay? Don’t worry, purplany. You already said it before, right? The competition isn’t over as long as she hasn’t chosen someone to be her partner. So, don’t worry. I already made a plan how to win her heart.”

  I smile sadly at him. No matter what he does, he cannot win Princess Paislee’s heart because he is just the second lead, and the second lead is not meant to be with the female lead. Just like how the villainess will always end up alone.

 “Can you do me a favor, Rufus?”

 Rufus raises his eyebrow at me. “Why do I suddenly feel nervous about that favor you are asking?”

 I heave a sigh. “Prince Joachim, ask me and Lilla for dinner tonight. Can you also join us? I don’t feel comfortable around Prince Joachim.”

 Rufus frowns. “Prince Joachim Brissaud?” He got silent for a moment. “Sure. I would also like to have dinner with him. It’s been a long time since we have interacted with each other. I’m sure my cousin would love to have dinner with hi—” He didn’t finish his words and shook his head. “Never mind. He’s still in the nearby town. I’m sure he cannot return to the capital. After all, the villagers will move to the temporary shelter tomorrow.”

 I look at Rufus. I can see in his eyes that he is sad. Probably because he knows his relationship with Prince Fraser will never be the same. Since they are both pursuing the same girl.

  I sigh. I wanted to help Rufus reconcile with Prince Fraser, but I know this is what is supposed to happen. I need them to fight over Princess Paislee’s heart.

  And this is only the start. Soon, things will turn worst.

________________________________

  Rufus looks around the restaurant where Prince Joachim and us will be having dinner. “I thought you’d just have a simple dinner with him? But why does the atmosphere in here doesn’t look like a simple dinner? Are you sure Csille that we are in the right restaurant?”

  I look around the restaurant and frown. I’m definitely sure this is the restaurant Prince Joachim sent me in his letter. But how come there is no one around? The decoration of the restaurant looks weird too. It’s as if someone will having a romantic date here. Minus the romantic dinner table. 

  “I am sure we are in the right place. But I don’t understand why it is like this.”

  Lilla, who is standing beside me, tug the long sleeve of my dress. “Dame Csille, there’s a waitress there. Why don’t we ask her?” She then points in the direction where the waitress is, and true to her words, a waitress comes rushing towards us. 

  The waitress smiled at us, but her smile got frozen when she saw Rufus behind us. “Pri-Prince Rufus?!” She immediately does a curtsy. “Apologies, your highness. I-I didn’t know you were with Dame Csille. I-I… Prince Joachim didn’t inform me that you’ll be here.”

 I raised my eyebrow when I heard Prince Joachim’s name. So, we’re really in the right place. 

 I looked around again, and my expression turned grim when an idea popped into my head. I just hope what I’m thinking is not what it is. My life is already complicated. I don’t want another complication.

 I know I am the Villainess but don’t I deserve some peace too? 

 The flustered waitress gestured her hand towards the pavilion. “Please follow me. His highness, Prince Joachim, is already waiting for your arrival.”

 The waitress led us to the pavilion, and inside the pavilion, there was a long table that could probably accommodate ten people. On the long table, there is food prepared. It actually looks like a small feast because of how much food is on the table.

  Lilla, who is standing on my left side, gasped when she saw the amount of food on the table. “I thought we would only be having a small dinner. I didn’t expect we would be welcome by a small banquet. Is this how royalties treat their friends?”

  I look at Rufus and to the food on the table. Is this how royalties treat their friends? I almost want to roll my eyes at Lilla’s remark. Rufus is a royalty too, but he never treats me like this. Instead, it was I who always treat him. I guess he is built in a different way.

  Rufus, who is standing on my left side, chuckled. “I think I already know what is happening.”

 I frown when I hear what Rufus says. What does he mean by that? What does he know?

 I was about to ask him when Prince Joachim suddenly spoke behind us. We all look back and find Prince Joachim being pulled by his guards. He has a big smile on his face. It looks like he was really happy seeing us, which makes me confused. We’re not that close, so how come he looks so happy? It’s as if we are his long lost friends that he hasn’t seen for decades.

  “Dame Csille, Miss Lilla,” his smile froze when his gaze landed on Rufus. “Prince Rufus? I didn’t expect I would see you here.”

  Of course, you won’t. I didn’t tell him I bring Rufus with me because I don’t think he’ll appreciate it, and I can see in his eyes his disappointment.

 I smile apologetically at him. “Apologies, Prince Joachim. Prince Rufus insisted on coming with us, so I had no other choice but to bring him with us. I hope you would understand.”

 I was waiting for Rufus to refute, but he didn’t say anything and just stared at Prince Joachim for a couple of a seconds. “I hope you wouldn’t mind, Prince Joachim. When I heard from Csille that she and Lady Lilla would be having dinner with you, I immediately forced myself to come with them. It’s been a long time since we had dinner, right? So, I was hoping we could relive those moments before.”

 Rufus, Prince Fraser, Prince Joachim, and the other royalties of the Yesian and the Saiven Kingdom used to spend time together when they were young. The Kings of the three Kingdoms do this to establish relationships between the royalties and the heirs of the Kingdom. So they can still maintain the alliance between the three kingdoms.

 Prince Joachim got silent for a moment before he smiled at Rufus. “That will be great. I was actually hoping to have a meal with you and Prince Fraser. However, I heard you were not on good terms, right?”

 I feel Rufus tense with Prince Joachim’s question for a few moments before he laughs. “Not on good terms? There is a rumor like that?” Rufus looks at me. Disbelief is clearly written on his face. “Purplany? You heard that? There is a baseless rumor like that?” He laughs again before he looks at Prince Joachim. “Where did you hear that rumor from? You know how close Prince Fraser and I ever since we were young. Do you think it is possible to happen?”

 Prince Joachim just smiles at Rufus. It’s just a harmless smile, but I feel shivers in my spine. 

  What was that? I don’t understand why I feel like that, but I am definitely sure that it’s not my imagination.

  Prince Joachim gestures his hand inside the pavilion. “What are you all standing there? Come inside. I hope you like the food that was served. If anything is not to your liking, please just tell me so I can ask them to change it for you.”

 Rufus chuckled. “That was so generous of you, but since you have offered, it would be rude of me to decline.” He then started to pinpoint the dishes he didn’t like and ordered food he liked. He wants to change almost half of the food on the table.

 Lilla leans on my ears. “Dame Csille, I thought Prince Rufus is friends with Prince Joachim? So, how come he sounds like he has resentment to Prince Joachim?”

 How would I know? Rufus didn’t mention anything about it. 

  I just shrugged my shoulders and whispered to her ear, “I don’t know, Lilla. Come on, let’s just sit down so we can get through this. I’m tired already.”

  Although I brought Lilla and Rufus with me, I still don’t like being alone with Prince Joachim.

 Lilla and I find a place to sit while Prince Joachim and Rufus are having a fierce staring contest. 

  Does these two Princes have resentment against each other? But what can Prince Joachim, who is the forgotten Prince of the Yesian Kingdom and a disabled person, can do to make Rufus resent him?