279/281: Most Suitable One
Most Suitable One
Beatrice couldn’t believe the mess she had made while drunk. She quickly turned her head away and firmly denied it.
“No… everything is blurry. All I remember is being with Uncle Arturo and Princess Ri, and then… I think I passed out.”
She swallowed, then hurriedly added, “Her Highness said you carried me back to my quartersst night. I haven’t properly thanked you… so, thank you. And I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble.”
Beatrice almost wanted to praise herself for not stuttering. It was a relief that she had managed to avoid Uriel’s intense, searching gaze. She refused to turn back, even straightening her posture slightly, worried he might notice how fast her heart was beating if she kept leaning against him.
Uriel didn’t answer right away, and the silence made Beatrice uneasy. She could already tell he wasn’t convinced by her excuse, and it only made her more nervous.
“Is that so?” he finally said, and she bit her lower lip hard.
“Yes, I really don’t remember. Tell me… did I cause you any trouble?” she asked, trying to sound innocent. She was confident Uriel wouldn’t dare mention what had actually happened.
After all, he was a gentleman… wasn’t he?
He let out a deep, heavy sigh, and she nearly held her breath.
Silence stretched between them again, longer this time. The awkwardness crept in, making her shift slightly before she spoke.
“Maybe we should head back… we left Lord Evan behind.”
Just then, she felt his arm tighten around her waist. The subtle change made her smile faintly. Every reaction he showed meant something to her. After all, why would he react like that at the mention of Lord Evan unless he felt something?
“Aren’t you a bit too concerned about him?” Uriel muttered, “He’s a grown man, Beatrice. He won’t get lost.”
“Well, I still feel bad. He was the one who offered to apany me, but I ended up leaving him behind. It’s rather udylike,” she pointed out. Then, after a brief pause, she added, “And aren’t you worried about rumors? He might misunderstand your actions… leaving him like that so suddenly.”
Another silence fell between them. This time, it was Beatrice who let out a heavy sigh before gathering her courage and speaking inly,
“Lord Evan might misunderstand your actions,” she said. “He could think you’re pursuing me.”
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Uriel scoffed, then hissed, “Are you that afraid of losing another potential suitor? That he might feel intimidated by me?”
“Of course,” Beatrice replied without hesitation. “Why wouldn’t I be? I want to have options… to see who among them is the best choice for me. The man I like already turned me down, so it’s only natural that I move on, isn’t it? I’m a woman. It’s not like I have all the time in the world to wait for someone who doesn’t want me. I’d rather move forward and find the best match for myself.”
“So much for someone who said she wouldn’t look at anyone else,” he muttered, clearly annoyed.
Her face instantly paled.
She remembered.
The words she had said the night before came rushing back to her, along with the reckless affection she had shown him. She had kissed his face over and over, clinging to him as she swore that she would only ever have eyes for him, that to her, he was the only man who mattered.
Beatrice inwardly enjoyed this side of Uriel. Who would have thought he could be so… childish? He was even muttering to himself, and she could hear every word with how close they were.
She found herself deliberately pushing his buttons, curious to see how long he could keep denying what
he felt.
“You’re saying something, Lord Uriel, but I can’t hear it clearly,” she said, a hint of a smirk on her lips. “I hope you’re not annoyed that I’ve decided to move on.”
She continued, almost innocently, “Lord Evan is loyal to His Majesty. He’s a good man who follows thews of our kingdom. A true gentleman… He’s never been involved in any scandals withdies. He doesn’t drink, has no vices, and enjoys reading and learning. He appreciates poetry and music, and-”
“That man has poor stamina,” Uriel suddenly cut in.
Beatrice raised a brow. “So what? As long as he performs well where it matters, then I don’t see a problem,”
Uriel suddenly coughed, as if something had caught in his throat, and she couldn’t help but grin.
A few moments passed before she heard a familiar voice call out, “Lady Beatrice!”
She turned, fully aware that Uriel was watching her. On purpose, she shed her sweetest smile and waved at Lord Evan. He slowed his horse as he finally caught up with them, matching Uriel’s pace.
“You rode off rather suddenly…” Lord Evan said.
“Ah, yes,” Beatrice replied lightly, “Lord Uriel thought there might be danger, so he instinctively urged the horse forward.” Then she smiled brightly and added, “I’m d you were able to keep up, Lord Evan.”
“It will snow soon. Let’s get moving,” Uriel said abruptly, urging his horse forward.
Beatrice leaned back against his chest on purpose, even wrapping her arms around his as it rested at
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her waist. She loved being this close to him. Uriel might not give her reassurance through words, but his actions spoke enough,
“Uriel… if you’re jealous, just say so,” she murmured, unsure if he heard her over the sound of the wind. ” Is it really that hard to admit you like me, too?”
After a brief pause, she added more softly, “At the masquerade ball, I truly n to choose a partner. I’ll find the most suitable one… and from there, I’ll try to build something real with him.”
Even as she said it, a quiet disappointment settled in her chest. Uriel’s heart remained closed, stubbornly
So.
Because deep down, she knew the truth.
No matter what she said, she would still end up waiting for him. He was her first love, and her feelings ran too deep to simply let go.
Perhaps she would only stop… the moment she saw him choose another woman and truly be happy.
D
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