crown [C. TARTAGLIA]

15

it had only been two days since childe last saw you. after the hug you immediately pushed him away and told him to distance himself or else you would leave the palace.

of course, this didn't stop him from actually checking up on you.

he sent some maids to become unnoticed by you, and had them report to him about your whereabouts. he knew just how sharp you were so if he were to follow you personally, you would know immediately.

still, he couldn't help but to feel the slight regret on confessing his feelings. he just couldn't keep it in any longer, he wanted you to himself and no one else.

this plan backfired and now, childe couldn't even see you.

the young prince sighed and rests his back on his chair after signing some paper works on his desk. he looks around him, missing your presence.

he frowns at this. usually you would be standing behind him or reading some book on the couch in front, but now that you were gone he couldn't help but to feel some part of the room was missing.

"oh? why the long face, little brother?" valentina enters the room upon seeing the look on childe's face.

he rolls his eyes, "what are you doing here?"

"can't i check what my brother is up to? now that you don't have a guard and all, i worry for you." the woman says, sitting on the couch with her legs crossed.

"spit it out valentina, what are you really here for?"

"such rudeness." she sighed. "very well, i've come to deliver this." she tosses the envelope she was holding to his table.

it was sealed with a mark very familiar to him. his eyes squints at the realization, "god, what now..."

"did you really think you could get away with rejecting her offer to be your partner for the ball?" valentina chuckles. "she is your fiancé, childe."

"that woman irritates me." childe threw the envelope without reading what's inside.

"watch your mouth, you know very well that you would get married to a noble at one point." she glances at the young man. "i warned you not to get too chummy with that guard of yours."

"shut up, i don't need to hear any of this especially from the likes of you." he smirks. "don't you think having an affair with a commoner is much worse?"

"you little–" valentina grits her teeth in annoyance. "whatever. i'm leaving." she shuts the door to his office harshly, childe couldn't help but to scoff.

with his older sister out of the way he picked the envelope back up, ripping it open to read the contents of what's inside.

dear prince tartaglia,

tomorrow is the day of the ball, i expect you to be my partner for the day and escort me all throughout. this is a perfect chance for us to get to know each other, don't you think?

sincerely,
ningguang.

"tch." childe crumples the paper and threw it into the bin, sighing as he did so. "damn it."

he was never interested in marriage in the first place. it was all the queen's plan, she did the exact same thing to his older siblings as well. for andrey, he was fortunate enough to fall in love with someone of the same title which was why they were married legally.

for valentina, she didn't care about getting married whatsoever. all she cared about was the power and money she would get if she were to get married to a noble despite being one herself. so when she did get married, she didn't act the part of a wife and instead lived her life in luxury. later, childe found out that she had been in a relationship with various men without her husband knowing (not that her husband cared either). it was certain that valentina didn't care about any relationship status.