Royal Flower

Chapter Eight

Chase drew the curtains back, desperately looking for Amaryllis. His heart sank when she was nowhere in sight.

What is she doing? She was the one who wanted the party today, apparently, yet she's not here.

Chase then heard two familiar voices to his right.

"Violet, can't you just apologize to Rose? You went a little too far back there," Lily said.

Violet, who had been walking towards Julian, stopped and replied, exasperated, "I can't deal with her today. Lily, please, I just... I'll deal with her later."

Violet turned and quickly went to meet Julian, who had been watching the two bickering sisters worriedly.

Lily sighed and slowly walked towards a corner table, away from the main crowd. If anyone had paid her any attention it was obvious that she looked upset. All the guests were mainly too busy mingling around with one another to notice or they merely came for the free food.

Chase regarded Lily curiously. Amaryllis still isn't here. From what I have seen it doesn't look like Rose would have helped Flora kill my family. Chase had a small idea on how some of the Azalea royals were like. Rose was very passive but deep down she harbored a lot of feelings, Violet could prove to be very impulsive, and Amaryllis was like a second Flora, according to how Reese would describe her.

What about Lily? She's Flora's second child... I don't know much about her except that she can wield ice.

Before Chase knew it, he found himself approaching Lily's table. Lily was wearing an ivory gown and her blonde hair was tied in a some-up-some-down ponytail, revealing small diamond earrings.

"Is everything all right, your Highness?" Chase unintentionally blurted out.

Lily's green eyes instantly looked up to meet Chase's gray ones. Lily was awestruck for a moment, a little startled by Chase's sudden question.

She finally composed herself and smiled brightly, "Yes, everything is fine." Chase nodded awkwardly before Lily added, "Why do you ask?"

Chase shrugged before stating, "You looked upset from where I was standing."

Lily's eyes averted towards the ground. She gave another warm smile as she said, "No, I'm not upset." Lily didn't see, but Chase rose an eyebrow slightly. He saw through her lie, even though it looked quite flawless. If someone else had asked her they probably wouldn't have seen through it, seeing that she was talking casually while smiling.

Chase tried to find something to say, but he ended up saying, "I'm glad you're not upset, your Highness." He immediately felt a little sheepish after saying that. Pull yourself together, Chase.

Lily laughed lightly, as if amused. She asked, "What is your name?"

Similar to his encounter with Fern, Chase said, "My name is Chase, your Highness."

"I'm Princess Lily, it's a pleasure," Lily replied, her green eyes twinkling.

"It is definitely an honor," Chase added. When he took another look at Lily, he noticed she had Flora's nose and lips. He cleared his throat. "Please allow me to offer my condolences, your Highness." He hadn't said to Fern when she ran into him, but he felt... obligated to say it to Lily for a reason he couldn't explain.

Lily nodded and flashed another smile, briefly thanking him. Part of it reached her eyes, but Chase saw that there was still a small part of her eyes that was sad. He clenched his hands tighter behind his back. I don't have the right to offer her my condolences. I killed her mother; her sisters' mother.