It had been a week since that day. Aria had not meet Prince Noah ever since the hunting day. Not even once. She was not sure if she missed him or not. But she surely kept thinking about him for that whole week.
She was also worried about her illness. She felt heartache for several times in that whole week. It was not that critical so she could hide the pain from her family especially from her young sister. She could hide it from her family so well in the first life, for sure she could do it for the second time.
"Aria. Do you like this one?" Her stepmother showed her a green dress. Aria was out for the first time with her stepmother. She was buying dresses for Aria.
"I like anything that you choose, mother." she slightly smiled. She was not very close with her parents. Of course, she felt very awkward. Her stepmother was a kind lady. She was a commoner who fell in love with a married duke.
She ran away when she finally knew that he's a duke and married to a noble lady. But the duke chased after her. She could not reject him when he was desperately in love with her.
When she finally married him, she wanted to be nice with his eldest daughter. She wanted the best for Aria but as the time went by, she just could not get closer to Aria's heart.
"I'll go there and bring the best dress for you." Aria's stepmother pointed her finger to the other section in the shop.
"Mother..."
Just when her mother took a few steps away, Aria called her. Callisa stopped walking and looked back to her daughter.
Aria stared at her mother's dress from the bottom to the top. It was an old yellow dress that Aria bought for her three years ago. It was already out of fashion. Callisa should have thrown it away but she kept it and even wore it again for their outing.
"Buy a new dress for you too." Aria told her. "Take the expensive one. Don't buy a cheap dress."
Callisa's hands trembled. "Aria, I shouldn't..." She had always buy cheap outfits. The only thing expensive her closet were gifts from her family members.
"Mother, you're a duchess now. You can buy expensive things. Go and choose for yourself. You don't need to buy anything for me." Aria smiled. Even when she smiled so beautiful, Callisa still think that she was far from getting into her daughter's heart.
Callisa did not say anything.
"I'll wait here." Aria told her again.
"Then, I'll go find one for myself. And of course for you too, Aria." Her stepmother insisted. She then left Aria. Aria watched her from afar.
"You're sad?"
Aria startled when she heard the unknown voice. She turned her head to see a lady staring back at her. Her smile was sweet and she gave a majestic aura around her.
"Do I scared you?" she asked again.
Aria did not know who the lady next to her but she had a feeling that this lady meant no harm to her. Aria let her guard down but she still felt awkward with a stranger.
"Pardon?" Aria replied with a question. It's a sign that she wanted the lady to introduce herself. The lady's expression changed. She chuckled as she finally realised that she had forgotten to introduce herself.
"I'm sorry. It seems that I forgot to introduce myself. I am Liliana Weinheart."
Liliana? Weinheart?
Aria quickly bowed her head as soon as she realised that the one in front of her was the previous ruler of Celadric Kingdom, Liliana Van Robersky, Prince Noah's cousin. "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty."
Liliana laughed. "There's no need to bow like that. I'm a duchess now. I'm not the king anymore. I gave back the throne to my uncle, remember?"
"Yes, I remember that quite well, Your Grace." Aria looked up. Liliana Van Robersky stood in front of her. The hero stood in front of her. Aria saw her for the first time and she was already speechless.
"Why were you sad?"
"Did I looked sad, Your Grace?"
Liliana did not reply immediately. She was thinking how to reply to that question. Aria quickly apologised as she noticed Liliana's change in expression.
"I did not mean to offend you."
"No no no. You didn't offend me at all, Lady Aria." Liliana replied.
Aria was quiet for a while before she finally answered Liliana's question.
"I'm not upset. I'm just socially awkward, Your Grace. I'm just thinking that I might not be good to be a noble lady."
"How is that true? Your confidence stance tells me you're a noble. The way you talk shows you're a noble. The way you dress shows that you're a noble. I'm pretty sure people will see you as a noble lady wherever you go." Liliana put a soft smile as she talked about Aria's good qualities. When she saw Aria's expression, she was sure that Aria was not convinced with her words. "Lady Aria, these are not sweet talks. I am telling you the truths."
"Thank you, Your Grace." Aria's eyes met hers. "Your words make me happy." Aria then remembered that she had never told her name to Lady Liliana. But Liliana had already said her name several times. She knew Aria way before they met for the first time.
"Your Grace..."
"Mmm" Liliana's eyes were looking at the dresses next to her. "Oh sorry, I was distracted by the beautiful dresses here." She let out small laugh.
"How did you know my name?"
"Oh, you're his fiancée, right? Of course I know who's going to be the next queen of the Celadric Kingdom."
"I'm not His Highness' fiancée." Aria quickly denied Liliana's statement. It's not that she disliked the title but she knew quite well that she had no chance of marrying him. He belonged to Riana. And she's going to die due to her incurable illness.
"But Noah fancy you so much."
"He's not."
"Darling, don't deny the truth." Liliana was a bit concerned about Noah's relationship with Aria. "I know that you already know how he truly feels about you."
Aria looked the other way. She was avoiding eye contact with Liliana. She was quiet. No response.
Liliana caught her already.
"I'm sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable." Liliana gave her an invitation letter with Weinheart's insignia. "Feel free to visit me whenever you come to Dimaria's royal capital. Just show this invitation letter, and the guards will open the gate."
Aria wanted to decline the offer but Liliana kept insisting her to have it. "Thank you, Your Grace."
"Let us meet again." Liliana replied. Before she left the place, she looked back again and smiled sweetly. "Lady Aria.."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"You're a nice lady. Be careful." she said before leaving the shop.
Aria was not sure why Lady Liliana told her to be careful but she could tell that Lady Liliana was serious when she told her that.
Liliana left the shop to go back to her carriage. Her husband was waiting in the carriage. He smiled sweetly when he finally saw her wife coming back to him.
"Did you get to give her the invitation letter?" Lord Albert Weinhert, one of the influential nobles in Dimaria Kingdom as well as Lady Liliana's husband reached out his hand to hold his wife's hand.
"Yes. I have." Liliana leaned forward to kiss her husband's cheek before she sat down. "Let's go to the palace."
"Are sure you're okay going there?" Albert's concerned expression was obvious. He knew what happened to his wife two years ago. He was there when Liliana finally killed her father.
"I'm okay." Liliana put her right hand to his cheek. "It's okay. You don't have to worry." But Albert was not convinced by her words. He put his hand on top of her right hand that was still on his cheek. His grip became harder.
"I really want you to stay out of this war." He murmured. "I don't want to lose you again."
"I know. But I must be there." Liliana leaned closer to her husband again. She initiated the kiss. It was soft and sweet. Albert wanted more but he restrained himself. "That child need my protection."
"And I need to meet that guy again. He messed up my family and he won't get away that easily."
"If that is your wish, I will support you." Albert took her into his arms.
"Thank you."
End of Chapter Eleven
A/N: I wish happy national day to the Malaysians. I hope the readers can continue vote this story. Every vote and comment will make me motivated to post another chapter in a short time. Anyway, have a nice day.