Love Amidst Wars

thirty-four

"She loves me..."

"She loves me not..."

Jake continued plucking out petals from the flower he was holding with a bright smile. He sighed in relief when he ended with, "She loves me."

His little activity was soon disturbed by the sound of a few knocks on his door. "Who is it?" He cleared his throat and asked with a stern voice, placing the flower, now stem, on the desk.

Private Johnny entered his office and saluted to the Major before placing a formal letter on the desk, "It is from the palace, Your Grace. Orders from the Head of the Military, His Royal Highness, the Prince."

Jake's smile faded as he tore the envelope and took out the written letter. He read it thoroughly before setting it aside.

"What is it, Your Grace?"

"His Highness has ordered us to go on another expedition."

"Shall I inform the team, Your Grace?" the fellow soldier asked. The Duke nodded and watched as he left the office. The silence that came after was soon broken when a woman's voice could be heard calling his name in panic.

"Jake! Jake!"

He widened his eyes upon seeing Clarissa panting heavily at his doorway. "What are you doing here, Clarissa?" He asked bluntly before turning around to tidy up his desk.

"I heard that you're going on an expedition. Jay told me he's holding an expedition."

"So? Why are you here all panting and panicking?"

"You can't go!" She stormed towards him and held his arm, "Remember what happened during the previous expedition? You almost died!"

"I'm fine–"

"You almost got blown up by a bomb!"

He stayed quiet and exhaled heavily, understanding his best friend's concern. He gently released her hands from his arm, "I am a soldier for a reason."

"You're going to die if you–"

"I must protect the kingdom. That was what I promised to the king and the prince. To fight for the kingdom alongside them."

"You know Jay is trying to kill you! Why are you so stupid, right now–"

"It would be best if you leave, Clarissa. I am not in the mood of dealing with someone all worried and panicking."

He walked past her, heading to the door. She stood there with her jaw clenched, feeling annoyance rising inside her.

"Why are you neglecting me lately?"

He stopped in his tracks and tilted his head a bit, seeing her only at the corner of his eye. She scoffed in disbelief upon seeing his back facing her.

"We were supposed to be engaged. But you suddenly broke it off. It's because of Juliette, huh?"

"That has nothing to do with–"

"We've been friends ever since we were little. And our parents already planned for us to get married. Why did you change ever since she appeared?" She interrupted his words impatiently.

He answered her with only silence, the sound of his breathing filling the room. She scoffed again before looking away, "You can't even turn to look at me."

He left her without a word, leaving her in the empty and lonely office. She clenched her fists out of anger and frustration, taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"See, Dad," Juliette giggled as she taught her father embroidery, "You were supposed to insert the needle here! Now your French knot doesn't work."

Lady Jane smiled upon watching the father-daughter bonding as she drank tea. As they all spent their family leisure time together, the head maid came out of the blue before announcing, "His Highness, the Prince, asked to see the young lady."

Viscount William widened his eyes before putting his needle down, "Really?"

Juliette cleared her throat and touched her father's hand before leaving. As she stepped out of the manor, she saw Jay waiting at the driveway in his formal attire.

She warily did a curtsy before fiddling with her fingers, "What brings you here, Your Highness."

"I came here to tell you something."

"Well, I appreciate it if you make it quick, Your Highness. I am in the middle of something."

"The military is having another expeditionary force. We are going to help the Western Kingdom with their war."

Her heart dropped upon hearing the news. He grinned a little before averting his gaze to the ground, "I was hoping for you to at least be worried about me–"

"Will the Duke join this expedition too?"

His smile instantly faded and was replaced with a scowl. He bored his eyes into hers, his stare was enough to make her anxious. She backed away and lowered her gaze, "Forgive me, Your Highness."

"Here I was expecting you to give me words of good luck. Maybe give me something to remind you of. Just like how you gave the Duke your ribbon. Instead, it felt like I came here as his messenger."

"Forgive me for my ignorance and rudeness, Your Highness. I wish you come back safely and I hope all will go smoothly–"

"Forget it."

His stern tone made her flinched in surprise. She widened her eyes, seeing how the Prince frustratedly turned around to leave. He halted before looking at her, "Since when are you close to the Duke anyway?"

"I'm not. I am simply caring for him just like how I care for you, Your Highness."

"Whatever it is," he scoffed before continuing his journey back to his car, "He may not come back alive. You should not put too much hope on him."

She looked at his car as it drove away from the manor, still shocked after hearing his words. She was so nervous that her nails scratched the knuckles of her thumbs while fiddling with it.