“L-Lady Gabriel?”
“Huh?”
While Gabriel was lost in the memory lane of the fateful day that brought doom in her life, Lilith’s sudden loud call brought her back to reality. Even though she had tried hard to forget each and every incident of that dark day, but it still haunted her memories, making her remind every little detail quite vividly.
As she stood still, a faint throbbing ache stirred her heart when she realized history had painfully repeated itself the same way when she had just hoped for a new beginning with Zordan. Even after the long three years, the loop of events made her self-doubt as if she was cursed and forbidden from attaining the bliss of love.
Holding back her tears, before Gabriel could utter a word, she noticed Lilith had approached her closely, tapping her shoulder with her gentle arm. Just feeling her touch, it led a fierce blaze of anger to ignite inside her as she quickly shoved her palm away, retreating a step back.
“Lady Gabriel, what were you thinking so hard? I called your name a few times but you weren’t responding...Are you feeling sick?” Putting a concerned face, Lilith stared at her cryptically as she also noticed she was avoiding her touch.
“I am not sick…and I don’t need your concern either!” Gabriel coldly scorned, keeping a fixed gaze still on her. She was suppressing her urge for tears and in a trembling voice, she commanded, “Move aside, you are unnecessarily wasting my time.”
“Sister Gabriel,” suddenly, Lilith quickly changed her tone into a pitiful one and crept a step near as she tried to hold her arm tenderly. With a glum face, she sounded quite morose, “I know you still detest me even when it has been 3 years already. But, I still couldn’t forgive myself for being the reason behind your broken engagement. And, when you suddenly disappeared from the castle without a trace, it was so hard for me to even breathe!
That’s why I decided to leave the castle too to pursue my higher studies but the truth is that I am still burdened by these guilty emotions. But, I had no idea, such a tragedy would ever happen when I came back here.”
Watching the sorrowful look on her face, the corner of her eyes curved into a mocked smile as Gabriel grunted at her, “Do you still consider me as a foolish woman who would fall for your innocent act? How long are you going to be like this?”
“No, sister Gabriel—”
“And didn’t I warn you not to call me again by that!?” Before she could complete her sentence, she grumbled out at her, rolling her fiery eyes bigger.
Facing her burning rage, Lilith paused for a brief moment but Gabriel charged a cold glare at her as she further charged, “After the betrayal you gave me, you should be grateful to me that I didn’t disclose your brazen affair with Prince Marcus in front of the whole kingdom when he was still engaged to me! You lured someone else’s man and yet still, you put that innocent act before me?”
“No…Please believe me, we had nothing going on between us, Lady Gabriel!” She still sounded persistent, as she tried to convince her in a hefty voice. “If it had been like that, then we could have gotten closer after you called your engagement off, but that was never the case. When you ran away from the castle, Prince Marcus started spending most of his time with the knights instead of living here. I know it was a fatal mistake and I am truly sorry to you…but at least give me a chance to explain—”
“Enough of your crap!” Suddenly, Gabriel scorned a disdainful grumble at her, cutting in between her mumble. With a glisten of tears shining in her eyes, she asserted, “I had considered my respect towards your father’s important position in our kingdom and I kept my silence. But…I don’t want to be involved with you by any means, so…please stay away from me. I had enough of everything, Lilith.”
“But, Lady Gabriel…” Strangely, she showed no sign of backing out and stared blankly at her with her big eyes swelled with tears. Somehow, she appeared deliberate in winning her faith back as she moved a step close and tried to hold her hand while tears started to drip down, “Please believe me, I just want to apologize to you properly at least…”
“That’s enough, Lilith! You are making me uncomfortable now! Just move aside and let me—”
But before she could finish her loud rumble, a strong grip of masculine, a big arm suddenly grabbed Lilith’s hand which was holding Gabriel by her wrist. Both of them flinched a bit hard at the sudden unknown interruption and turned their faces around to take a glance.
But to their utmost shock, the unknown approach was no one other than Zordan himself, as he stood gallantly tall. Gabriel almost froze in shock to find him next to her, whereas Lilith seemed entirely startled to utter a word. Zordan retained a cold, stern look on his face as his dark onyx eyes were solely focused on Lilith.
“I guess, you shouldn’t be making someone uncomfortable especially when she is going through a hard time.” In a calm yet heavy pitch, Zordan uttered his answer while tightening his hold over Lilith’s arm as if he was indicating her to leave Gabriel.
However, Lilith was quick to realize his signal and immediately unleashed her arm, holding a small nervous smile on her face towards him.
“O-Oh, M-My greetings to our Crown Prince. I…I didn’t realize you will come here looking for L-Lady Gabriel. And, you must be mistaken, we were just having a conversation.” Quickly Lilith changed her tone into a cordial one, hiding every trace of the conversation they were having a minute ago.
But, holding that aloof look on his face, Zordan turned his glance towards Gabriel and conveyed in a calm tone, “You shouldn’t be late anymore for the cremation ceremony. Let’s go.”
Whereas keeping the frozen look intact on her oval face, Gabriel raised her face and peered a scornful glare at him as she thought, ‘What is he doing here?’ ’
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