Accidentally In Love *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

Can I Buy You A Toaster For Your Bathtub

Chapter 26: Can I Buy You A Toaster For Your Bathtub

Imrei POV

I couldn't open my mouth after what Obi had said. I couldn't decide what was true and what was false. I'm not sure what I could have even said. All I could do was walk away. It was too much. It was all too much. I have to find Mitsuhide. He has to tell me his side. I have to find out if Obi is telling the truth. I make my way through the servants quarters down to his door. His patrol shift ended over half an hour ago so since there's no kickback tonight, he should be inside. I knock and open the door as soon as he starts to tell me to come in. He looks up at me in surprise and asks if I'm okay.

"Why did Master Zen place Obi with me?" I ask instead.

"What?"

"Answer my question please."

"To protect you after the incident."

"And?"

"Because he felt that you and Obi would be good together so he picked him as a partner for you."

"Did you and Master Zen plan the fake marriage?"

I stop my pacing and stare him down with my arms crossed over my chest.

"Yes... But-"

"Why?"

"Because he thought that since you two weren't getting along that if he convinced you that you two were fake married and he found enough excuses to stall the annulment that you two would fall in love and stay together. I only went with it because he asked me to."

"When did Obi know about it being fake?"

"I wasn't supposed to tell either of you but it slipped out a few days ago while we were fighting. He wanted to tell you but was too afraid to."

"You were supposed to be my best friend... Why would you go along with all of this? Why didn't you tell me? You and Master Zen were both manipulating me for over a year now... Obi too."

"I'm sorry Imme. I hoped that over time Obi would have made up for hurting you back then and that maybe you'd find happiness with him. I've seen the way you looked at him. You love him."

"It wasn't your decision to make. It wasn't Master Zen's decision either. All you've done is hurt people, even more than just Obi and myself."

I haven't been able to sleep, my mind just keeps racing through everything that I've learned tonight. The only person that I desperately wish to speak to is not here. I'm not sure when Master Zen is returning but he is the mastermind behind the whole thing. I want to talk to him, to yell at him, to ask him why. I can't yell at him though. Beyond being my employer and childhood friend, he's still the second prince of Clarines. I'm fairly certain that wouldn't go over well. I look out across the grounds from my perch on a third story balcony, my back against a column with my legs stretched out across the thin rail. There are horses coming in from the main gate. Master Zen and Kiki are returning. Perfect.

"How could you!?"

I may have lied about not not yelling at Master Zen. I found myself waiting for him outside of his office and asked to speak with him privately. What started out as a few simple questions turned into me yelling at him and I can't stop. There was a lot more pent up anger than I'd previously thought.

"You needed someone in your life like that and Obi was a perfect fit."

"Who are you to decide who I need or don't need in my life!? Prince or not that is not your place. You had no idea what the relationship between Obi and I was like. What if I held feelings for someone else and you threw them by the wayside with your stupid little matchmaking scheme? Do you have delusions of grandeur beyond being the prince? Do you think you have the right to be playing God with people's lives like that?"

"Look Imrei I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done any of this without your permission-"

"My permission?" I let out a short harsh laugh. "I would have never given you my permission to mess with my life like that! Who I love or don't love is my business and mine alone. You even dragged my best friend into your mess and now I don't trust the one man that I cared about the most in this castle. He was the only one I trusted and you ruined it!"

I leave Zen's office and cover my face with my hands as I take a ragged breath. I got relieved of my position within the castle and have been cleared to leave when Izana is ready. I feel myself sinking to the floor as I finally start to crumble. A set of arms lightly wraps around me and keeps my knees from hitting the marble floors.

"It's okay, Imrei. It's okay... Let it out."

"O-Obi...?"

"Shh... It's okay. I'm here."

I cling to him as I feel him gently lift me into his arms. We're moving but I don't bother to move my face from his chest to find out where. I finally peel my face away when we settle on something soft. We're in his room, sitting on his bed with me in his lap. He offers me a thin smile and rubs his thumbs under my eyes.

"Are you okay?"

I nod slightly and sniffle before apologizing with a cracking voice.

"Obi... Can we start over?"

"Hello there, I'm Obi. It's a pleasure to meet you." He greets with a cocky grin as he holds out a hand for me to shake.

I giggle and shake my head. "I'm Imrei Hale, the pleasure's all mine."