Chapter 172 - Three Years Was A Long Time
Chapter 172 – Three Years Was A Long Time
Hugo was enjoying a cup of tea in the greenhouse in the imperial palace. The place was still left untouched, with withered leaves scattered on the floor. But that didn't bother him. The mess wasn't worth his attention, but the quietness in this place.
"Guess who?" A pair of delicate hands covered his eyes from behind, lips stretching playfully.
"I literally saw you come in, Ida." His voice was low, making Ida pout as she withdrew her hand.
"How did you see me sneak in? I didn't make a sound."
He glanced at her, watching her march to the chair across from him. "Your reflection." He pointed at the glass behind her, which made her turn her head to see.
"And even if I didn't see you, did you really think I won't sense your presence?"
"Ahh… sucks." She clicked her tongue as she set her eyes back at him. "Even so, you should've pretended you didn't see me. How can you spoil your mate's fun?"
Hugo kept his mouth shut as he picked up the cup of tea from his lips. Meanwhile, Ida could only watch him in silence. When he noticed she was simply looking, he arched a brow, eyes on her.
"What?" he asked while putting down the cup of tea.
"I'm just surprised how you look so fine and noble. When, in fact, you are barbaric."
"Is that all you got to tell your beloved mate after one year of not seeing him?"
"Wha — what?" Ida drew her head back, eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Do you want me to cling on to you like a submissive wife?"
"Why not?"
"Your Highness, please watch your words. It's very unhealthy for my heart!"
"As if my words have an effect on you."
"It has! You're my mate, and I am your mate. Whether we want it, we have some influence on each other!" Ida exclaimed defensively while he laughed like a devil he was. "Goodness. You just returned after conquering a country in the south and the first thing you do to me is to tease me."
"Sorry." He raised his hands while laughing, enjoying Ida's distress. "Anyway, it's good to see you again."
"I won't see you if I didn't come to you. You've been hiding from everyone. They were throwing a victory party, but they can't even find the war hero." She frowned while staring at him with displeasure.
"What's there to celebrate, Ida? We won the war, yes. But lives were lost, many lives." Hugo shrugged nonchalantly. "I mean, come on. If they truly want to reward me, giving me some peace is enough."
A shallow breath slipped past Ida's lips. Hugo had changed in the past three years. He was more vicious, stronger, and calm. However, that wasn't what worried her. What alarmed her was his indifference to most things.
It was not like he had lost all reasons to live. Hugo just… didn't care about most things. He only cared about himself.
"Don't frown." He broke his silence when her eyes softened with worry. "You make me think I had become a bad person."
"You are a bad person, Hugo."
He tilted his head to the side. "Well, that's your opinion."
Ida opened and closed her mouth. "About Rinnie…" she trailed off to study his reaction.
Nothing.
"What about her?" he quirked a brow, blinking cluelessly.
"Nothing. I was simply mentioning her name to see your reaction." Another sigh slipped past her lips while he let out a low chuckle. "Did you perhaps forget about her?"
"So what if I did? Scared I'll take you as my wife?"
"Your Highness, are you angry with me or what? Please don't shift your attention to me."
Hugo laughed, seeing her frown while looking at him in dismay. "I'm kidding." He shook his head.
This was Ida, his mate, whom he rejected repeatedly. And she… also rejected him. Although both of them were attracted to each other at first, they found a way to resist each other until they got used to it.
"I hadn't seen you for a year. How was your search for your first love?" he asked, changing the subject to her. "By the looks of it, there's no progress?"
"Why would you ask me if you're going to answer it?" Her expression instantly died at the mockery in his tone.
"Well, you rejected an alpha to someone you just met. You don't even know his name or anything whatsoever. How can you call it love?" Hugo cocked his head to the side.
Ida clicked her tongue. "Don't judge, alright? Haven't you heard of love at first sight? You should be thanking me instead since we're in the same boat. If I didn't fall in love with a stranger, you will not have any choice but to marry me."
"I do have an option, though."
"It's death." She rolled her eyes before she let out a sharp breath. "This mate thing is a joke. I mean, if you're not my mate, you're not really my type, Your Grace. You're too extreme for my taste."
"So you like softies?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly as if remembering someone. "Not a softy. I mean, my first love is a little peculiar. But overall, he is manly when necessary and adorable like a cowering puppy." Ida held her hand as her eyes sparkled. "He is the man of my dreams. I bet we would have a lot of fun."
"Once I see him again, I'll instantly propose since my mate had already rejected me," she continued her daydream, seeing her bright future with the man of her dreams. "I already prepared a long list of dialogues to touch his heart and –"
"Have it occurred to you he already found his mate?"
"Shut up." She glared at that nightmare sitting across from him. "I am having the time of my life, alright? Stop feeding me negativity just because you're a sad person!"
"But you're the one who came to me…"
"Shhh! Just leave me alone if you're not going to listen in silence!" she grumbled while Hugo raised his hands to surrender.
With that, Ida continued to daydream and spoke about her romantic plans for the man she was looking for. Meanwhile, Hugo just listened to her and would add side comments every once in a while.
Although the two of them rejected each other as mates, they became friends. The red string that was binding the two of them was still there, although it already runs thin by their persistence in going against their destiny.
How they resisted each other was a short yet painful story. Either way, they never regretted their decision. They would rather suffer than be with someone they knew they didn't like.
Perhaps this was the reason they were mates. Ida and Hugo… were similar one way or another. That was, they didn't want anyone to control their life decisions, especially on who to love.
"Ida, you should come with me to Althea. Who knows? You might find him there." He offered while Ida was huffing and puffing after his last side comment. "I'm being kind, you see?"
"You'll help me?"
"Why not? I have to meet someone there, anyway." he shrugged, feeling kind to lend her a hand since Ida didn't have people to look for this 'one true love' she called.
Her eyes lit up. "Let's just travel the world, Your Grace. I won't be coming back until I find him."
"I feel bad for him already. A wolf is in heat."
"Yes, I am. Any problem with that?" she roared with determined eyes. "No matter where he hides, I will surely make him mine."
Hugo scrunched his nose up as he could hear the crackle of the invisible fire engulfing Ida. Now, he somehow felt sorry for whoever she was after. This woman was crazy in love.
*****
Meanwhile, in the heart of a small kingdom…
A woman was dancing gracefully on the podium with the spotlight following her figure. In this dark theater room, everyone's attention was on her, holding their breaths at her beautiful figure in red.
With every turn she made, her red dress would wrap around her legs elegantly and hair amethyst locks followed her every movement. The flick of her fingertips was calculated and delicate, leaving everyone in awe while she danced to the sad orchestra.
Perfection.
Out of this world.
A goddess.
That was what everyone could only think while watching her. Men showed desire in their eyes while the impression she was leaving to women was… envy.
How could a person radiate so beautifully like her? Even though she was wearing a mask, one could tell she was a beauty.
The orchestra stopped while the woman made a beautiful pose. There was a moment of silence after her performance before applause and cheers resonated across the theater hall.
The woman's painted red lips curled up as this was another standing ovation performance. The crowd whistled, yelling for more, and just clapping. Some were even shameless enough to ask her hand for marriage as if they were afraid someone would ask before them.
She gracefully curtsied as to appreciate their response, before running backstage to give the stage to the next performers. Even when she did, she could still hear the disappointment from the crowd.
"Boss, this is the reason we told you to perform at the end." A middle-aged man frowned to welcome the woman while the latter was taking off her mas. "Now the next performers were getting negative responses. This is not good for business."
When the mask was off, she raised her head and smiled enchantingly.
Rinnie.
"Don't be like that, Bowie." She giggled.
Three years later, Rinnie looked more mature with that daunting makeup on her face. Even so, her face and eyes showed clarity.
"If I performed last, I would have to stay late when people request to see me and ask my hand for marriage, right?" she giggled playfully. "I'd rather collect their gifts early and then reject their proposals before we leave for Althea."
"She had become evil." Someone from the side mumbled, making Rinnie and Bowie turn their heads at him.
Edge.
Three years had gone by, and a lot had happened. One of them was Edge ended up tagging along with Rinnie and a few members of the Tarsa tribe. Now living as minstrels.. A group of traveling performers.