Everywhere was bursting with joy and festivity. So many rides to enjoyed and booth to play games. Basically, everyone is just having one hell of a good time.
......except Cynthia.
The poor girl looked like she's either gonna hurled or faint, whichever comes first. And the main source of it is currently smiling at her with his 'charming' smile. He even had the gal to look concerned when he 'noticed' her pale complexion.
"Oh? Aren't you having any fun, Lady Cynthia?" Anthony raised a brow though she did spot a glimpse of a smirk before it disappeared. Son of a bit-
"A-Ah of course! Just not feeling too well" she forced a smile. Practically it was quite scary since it looked like she just had a seizure.
'Dammit, why is this trip already at a horrible start?!' She cried in her heart. First with the carriage ride and now the carnival. Fate was really against her.
"Your Highness" her saviour with green-haired saved her! Kathryn linked her arm with hers. "Pardon my intrusion but may we borrow Cynthia?" She politely smiled. "We have been planning this trip for a while though while I wouldn't dare to come between you two but..." Kathryn's smiled turned shared as her golden eyes darkened. "...we could only hope for some good quality girls bonding"
Kathryn is saying, "fuck off. You weren't even supposed to be a part of this trip when we planned it"
The Crown Prince wasn't oblivious to the underline meaning. He could easily detect the hostility in her eyes. Nevertheless, he shouldn't be greedy. Too greedy to be exact.
"Please don't mind me. Go enjoy yourself" the blonde boy hummed. "To be honest, I am feeling quite tired from the trip" he rubbed his temple. "I shall retreat back to the palace for some rest"
Cynthia didn't ask nor did she care really. The only she got from that is he's not gonna stay! Hell yeah!
She can't wait to try all the rides! Then try the delicious treats selling at the numerous food stalls around. Even Lily who wasn't usually comfortable around loud crowds was enjoying herself. The white-haired girl was munching on a huge pink cotton candy that was the size of her own head.
"Cynthia-sama!" The brunette girl-Avelyn called her over. She clasped onto her hands. "Finally! I thought the prince would've never let you out of his sight" she mumbled, pouting at the thought of the blonde prince.
"H-Haha sorry about that. I guess the Crown Prince just wanna spend some time" Cynthia practically choked that out without gagging.
"Aren't that just sweet?" Erina gushed, failing to see Cynthia's discomfort. Kathryn and Cynthia rolled their eyes at the blonde maid. Can't help the romantic fan.
"Well Declan and Wesley are definitely having fun" the blonde heiress laughed at the sight of the ginger-haired knight-Wesley stuffing his face with food and the dark-haired knight-Declan trying to pull his partner away from the food stands. A funny scene really.
"Huh...now it seems like Wesley gonna join an eating competition" Kathryn mused watching the ginger-head knight matched toward it. He spotted the venue and immediately wanna sign up.
"How about we join as well, Cynthia-sama?" Aveline's eyes sparkled brightly at her. "We'll get to experience such great fun!"
Cynthia sweated a bit, she didn't feel like eating. She was thinking of building up the appetite after riding the carnival rides. And to be honest, she's getting nausea seeing all that mountain of food just piling up there. How large is Wesley's stomach?!
Meanwhile, his partner-Declan only looked embarrassed. "Milady, my deepest apologies...for Wesley's improper behaviour" he sighed.
"A-Ah it's alright" Cynthia sweatdropped. "Though I don't think I can actually eat that much" she looked apologetic at her brunette friend. Avelyn only pouted in disappointment, "such a shame"
"I wouldn't mind joining ya" Yumi suddenly appeared behind making the brunette jumped. "Eep!"
Erina furrowed her brow in worry, "you sure you two can handle that much food? You'll upset your stomach" though both the pinkette and brunette only waved it off. Yumi hummed, "we'll be just fine" while Avelyn nodded in agreement.
Then two immediately rushed towards the competition, joining Wesley. The blonde heiress smiled at the two enjoying themselves along with the hyper ginger-head knight. Though the nice feeling didn't last as a shiver run down her spine out of nowhere.
"Is anyone feeling like someone's staring at you?" Cynthia shivered. She glanced around, trying to find the possible source.
Kathryn raised a brow, "no"
"Correction, is anyone feeling like someone's burning their bloody gaze through ya skull?"
"...is it him?" Lily pointed the hiding boy. The girls only sweatdropped at the sight. A very familiar boy with black hair and piercing green eyes that's glaring directly at Cynthia. He was peeking from a corner.
"Is it just me or do you see that dark aura leaking from me?" Cynthia pointed out. True to her words, an ominous air surrounds the young prince.
"Hmm, I didn't know Prince Edgar is a dark element user?" Erina blinked
"...that isn't magic" Kathryn sighed. "It's the brooding aura of a creep. Stay away from it, you wouldn't be caught in it" the green-haired pulled her away. "Let's check out the carnival games" she and Erina walked leaving them.
Cynthia sweatdropped as she watches her friends practically abandoned her. She sighed but flinched once her eyes met Edgar's hostile ones. "What did I do now?"
Being the sweet cinnamon bun she is, Lily hugged the blonde girl's arm in comfort. "...maybe it's a misunderstanding" she shyly smiled.
Cynthia sighed, "maybe but..." She glanced at the brooding prince once more. "...we wouldn't know anything if we just stand here" she smiled at Lily and gestured to Edgar. "C'mon Lily"
The white-haired girl was a little hesitant. She was a little frightened of the prince. He had a mean look on his face and looked weird hiding behind a corner. Though looking at Cynthia, she swallowed her fear and followed her while hugging her arm.
To be honest, Cynthia laughed out loud when Edgar's menacing look turned to a shock one. The boy didn't expect that they would confront him. Do you think you can glare at someone like a creep? She's too tired to deal with your crap.
"Second Prince of Anatasial~" Cynthia curtsy with Lily following in suit. "What are you doing hiding here? Wouldn't you want to join us?" She politely asked though she was cursing at him inside her heart.
"Y-You.." Apparently, he was speechless and didn't know how to answer.
"Avelyn, your fiance is enjoying herself and just entered an eating competition, why don't you join us to support her?" Cynthia asked again, her smile curving more into a smirk.
"I-I..."
"Oh my? Don't tell me, Prince Edgar is shy? Is that why you're hiding here rather than joining us?" Now Cynthia is clearly mocking him while keeping a gentle smile. Lily sweat beside her, horrified that her friend's words.
While Edgar is simply tongue-tied at her, "you.."
"If that's so, we should leave the Prince here, Lily. Let's join the other, I bet Avelyn would want us to be there" Cynthia lead Lily away as the two only gaped at her.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" then he exploded. He pointed at Cynthia with face flustered red from rage and embarrassment. Though the blonde heiress only raised a brow. She was waiting for it. Though many would question her courage to anger the young prince.
"Oh? What exactly did I do, Your~ Highness?" The blonde heiress goes right at his face. Her sapphire orbs narrowed sharply at him. "Did I offend you? Did I upset you? Or did I simply state the oblivious truth?" She caused him to move back against the wall. Lily was basically cowering behind them, the white-haired girl never seen this side of Cynthia before.
Edgar's rage diminished as a new emotion replaced it. The look on the blonde heiress's face was too familiar. A very familiar one every time he had angered his older brother. He gulped at the similarities.
He then flinched as Cynthia slammed a hand onto the wall, right next to his head. It was really an unusual position, a girl was the one towering over the boy instead. Cynthia's lips curved upward at the fear. "Oh? Little Prince isn't so brave now?"
His cheeks turned red at the nickname and wanted to restore angrily back but....the threat in her eyes tells him that it would only lead to a worse outcome.
"—C-Cynthia?" Lily hesitantly called out. The said girl turned to her and sighed at the sight of the tears in her ruby eyes. Cynthia almost forgot she was there, a bit caught up in her outburst. She released the boy from her cage which his knee instantly turned weak and collapsed to the ground.
Cynthia went to her shy friend and gently patted her white locks. "Sorry, Lily. I didn't mean to scare you" the girl only threw herself to her with a hug. The Claremore returned the hug as she comforts her, soothing the girl's fear.
Meanwhile, behind them, Edgar could only gape at the sight. He couldn't believe his eyes. Just a moment ago, she was so vicious and now? She had a gentle air to herself when comforting her friend. Edgar couldn't wrap his head around this girl. When they net earlier, she was nervous and quite meek. Is this girl bipolar or something? He couldn't help but assumed.
Luckily, well unfortunate for Edgar, Lily's tear has ceased, their attention returned back to him. The young prince actually flinched when those sapphire blue eyes shifted back to him.
Now feeling a bit better, Cynthia with a clearer head sighed at him. She even got to one knee and looked at him. "Prince Edgar, please do pardon my aggression just then. I was simply at odd as to why Your Highness seems to view me with such hostility?" She closed her eyes. "Have I done anything to upset you when we met?" She was genuinely curious.
"...uo...we....al...in.....leyn....ind" though he only mumbled under his breath.
Cynthia blinked at him, "pardon?"
Edgar took a deep breath before practically screaming it out, "you were always in Avelyn's mind!" His face turned redder but she and Lily only looked more confused. Biting his lips, he musters out "it was always 'Cynthia-sama that' and 'Cynthia-sama this'. I'm so sick of it!" Tears lightly glisten his green eyes. "You're all she ever writes. I'm her fiance yet you're more important to Avelyn than m-me..." His voice cracked at the end.
Cynthia didn't know what to feel about this situation. She had to guess it with the way he reacted to her taunting earlier. Apparently, the young prince was jealous of her? Though the thought seems absurd to her, she could help the laughter that escaped her lips.
Lily and Edgar looked at her in disbelief. What did she find funny?! Looking at their faces, Cynthia quickly collected herself and smiled at the black-haired boy. She placed a hand upon his shoulder.
"You must really adore Avelyn to even fear that I'll take her away from you" Cynthia giggled before getting up. Edgar only froze at her words as he combusts from the embarrassment. Smokes even came out from his head due to the heat. Cynthia smiled and reached out a hand to help him get up.
The prince was hesitant to grab her hand but he did so anyway. The blonde heiress easily pulled him up then help brush off the dirt and dust on his clothes.
He mumbled a small thank you under his breath, turning his head aside. He was so embarrassed, he couldn't even look at her. Cynthia chuckled at the adorable action and patted his head like she had done before for Lily.
"You shouldn't be so afraid of potential rivals or challenges. Inferiority isn't an attractive trait, you know?" She advised.
"S-Shut up..." He pushed away her hand but she wasn't offended. Based on her knowledge from playing Edgar's route, she knows that he always had an insecurity problem underneath all that pride. As the second prince, he had always in the shadow of his older brother but from what she had seen, Edgar didn't resent Collin. In fact, he had admired him with a touch of some fear. Cynthia internally sighed, she wished she knew more about Edgar's relationship with his family. The game wasn't so detailed on it.
Though one thing for sure, Edgar wasn't the arrogant brat she thought. Moreover, she was a bit surprised at her courage when she confronted him. Maybe it was because Edgar wasn't a threat? Or was it because she was too tired to be afraid? She didn't know. Sigh.
"A-Ah! The eating competition's about to start!" Lily gasped when she heard the loud announcement for the said competition. "Cynthia, we gotta go or we'll miss it" she clung to her arm.
Cynthia nodded, "alright..." She then glanced at the prince's solemn look on his face. He was already walking away from with a despair cloud over him. She stiffed her laugh and called out to him. "Prince Edgar!" He flinched and nervously turned to look behind his back to see the blonde heiress smiling at him.
"Why don't you join us? I'm sure Avelyn would be delighted to see her fiance cheering for her"
"B-But-" he tried to reject but Cynthia leaves many rooms to argue as she pulled him along with them. She was pulling both Lily and Edgar to reach the venue at a fast pace. Lily giggled finding it fun while Edgar was bushing in embarrassment. He only hoped no one would recognise him.
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"I thought you weren't gonna show up," Kathryn said as she caught the sight of them. Though she raised a brow at the extra company they brought. Erina let out a small gasp and quickly bowed down in respect, "Second Prince of Anatasial"
Edgar cleared his throat, nodding his head in return. Even he was aware of the uncomfortable actions that made them uneasy with him.
Cynthia sighed at the awkward boy before patting on his back...hard. "Prince Edgar here is gonna join us!" She grinned while the boy suffered under her hard pats.
"Ah! There are Avelyn and Yumi!" Lily pointed once she spotted them.
"Fight Avelyn!" Cynthia shouted out. "Fight Yumi!" She cheered for her friends loudly without any shame. "Fight! Fight! Fight!" She even jumped in excitement.
Kathryn sighed at her friend's actions, "pretend we don't know her" she turned her head away. Erina pat her shoulder, "don't be like that~ It's just Cynthia showing her encouragement"
Edgar only sweatdropped at them. His fiancee really has....some unique friends. Were all kids from Edolis like this?
With all the loud cheering, Avelyn and Yumi spotted them in the crowd. The brunette girl smiled even wider once she saw her fiancee with them. "Prince Edgar!"
"How cute, he finally got out of his hole to cheer for you" Yumi commented though still with a monotonous tone.
"Eh?" The brunette didn't get it.
Yumi waved it off and locked her blue gaze to the foods instead, that's what's more important.
However, besides the two, Wesley sulked. "Milady has forgotten me" he mumbled. Heck, even Declan wasn't paying attention to the competition. The black-haired knight is more focused on the blonde heiress and her company.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen! At the sound of the gong, you shall begin eating!" The announcer well announced as the gong quickly followed after his words.
Immediately, every competitor dived into the foods prepared. Meat, bread and many more to offer.
Cynthia's cheers grew louder as she was practically screaming her lungs out. Lily was next to her, jumping in anticipation. Caught out in the excitement, Edgar had unconsciously joined in, cheering for his dear fiancee.
~ Time Skip ~
"Arghhh" an orange-haired knight groaned. A dark cloud over him.
Erina smiled in pity, "it's alright, Wesley. You'll win next time"
Cynthia hummed in agreement, "you win some, you lose some. Get over it" she rolled her eyes at the melodramatic knight.
Wesley turned to her with tears leaking from his eyes like fountains. "You're so cruel, Milady!" He cried out. "Why couldn't you comfort me like Erina here?!"
"Cause you're an idiot" Declan coughed to his fist. Wesley snapped his head to him, "I heard that!" He pointed at the black-haired knight.
Declan only shrugged, "what? It's facts. You shouldn't be so upset about losing in such competition. You're a grown man"
Wesley's brow twitched, "well it would hurt so bad if a little girl didn't beat!" He pointed at Yumi as the pinkette girl carried a bigass trophy.
Yumi turned to him and blinked, "what? I like to eat"
Cynthia burst out laughing, "yet you've beat grown-ass men. Where do all those foods even go?"
"They say if you actually use your brain more, you'll burn more calories. Try it sometimes" Yumi hummed, walking away. Cynthia's veins popped, "why you?!"
"Ara ara~ don't fight now" Erina tried to stop any fights from breaking out while Kathryn keeping a hold on Cynthia. Lily and Avelyn giggled at the scene.
Although, Edgar felt out of place. He quietly asked the dark-haired knight closest to him. "Are they always like this?"
Declan chuckled, "it's never a quiet moment with them all together that's all I could say"
The second prince of Anatasial only blinked at the knight's answer. Then again, as a child, he had never been really close with any child he's age.
"Ah! Let's try the carnival rides, Cynthia-sama!" His fiance's cheery voice caught his attention. He turned to see the brunette tugging on the blonde's arm. The sight brought displeasure to him as his lips curved into a frown.
Though the young prince's dark aura didn't go unnoticed by them except for Avelyn of course. Cynthia sweatdropped at the easily emo prince. How insecurities does this guy as a child?
"U-Um, why don't you invite your fiance, Avelyn?" Cynthia gestured to the brooding prince, who instantly turned bright. Edgar looked like a puppy, you can see the ears and tail wagging.
Avelyn blinked as if she just remembered he was still there. "A-Ah, Prince Edgar" she looked embarrassed. She was so caught up in her own excitement. The brunette immediately linked arm with him, smiling bashfully.
"Shall we go on the carousel?"
Edgar could only nod his head in complete joy. As the two couple set off to their own little date, the black-haired prince had turned and gave thumbs up to Cynthia.
Of course, the blonde returned it with her own and a grin smacked right to her fast. That's one way to get a prince to stop hating you....be a wing-woman.
Now that's clear, Cynthia could only hope their trip will be smooth sailing.
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Author Note:
Hey hey hey!!!!!!!!! What's up y'all? Did y'all enjoy this chapter?
I personally enjoy writing about Edgar and his jealousy fits~ nuhuhuhu~
So what's your thought on Edgar and Cynthia's interaction? And no I repeat no he won't be a love interest for our crazy blonde. There's another reason why the girl was in his like lists~ bet y'all can see why soon enough! (*'∀'*)
So let's not forget to vote and comment! Show your love for this hopeless story of mine (￣ω￣;)
Stay safe and see ya next time!!!
Sorry again for the late chapter!