"Sorry? I don't seem to understand what your highness is talking about..."

Eurielle doesn't get him.

Is it that hard to understand his intentions after all?

"Euk-"

Gabriel grabbed and cupped her cheeks as she forced her face to look up at him.

"No. Who are you? The Eurielle I know doesn't act like you. You were obsessed with me." He leaned close to her.

Recalling Eurielle's actions, Gabriel noticed that everything about her changed.

Her taste in dresses, her way of speaking, her glances, and most of all, her attitude towards him.

Gabriel lost hold of Eurielle as he felt his left cheek being slapped.

For the first time in forever, Eurielle slapped him.

She was getting frustrated by his actions.

Every time she encounters him, she is always inflicted with physical pain.

"You-"

"You're being rude, your highness. Is it part of chivalry to grab me just like you did earlier?" Eurielle knitted her brows.

It was the first time that she openly expressed her anger.

"You never slap me. Eurielle doesn't act like you. You're not her. Answer me, who are you?" Gabriel was still stuck with the same question.

Eurielle couldn't believe him.

Nathalia was right. The prince was stuck in an illusion that she still likes him.

If that's the case, then she needs to pull out that illusion herself.

Eurielle slapped him on the right cheek this time.

Gabriel widened his eyes in surprise as he looked at her. He felt incredulous about her actions.

"The old Eurielle you know is dead. Please realize it yourself and move on. Wake up. Accept the fact that I, the Eurielle you once knew, is no longer obsessed with you and is tired of you. People change, don't you know that? And please stop pestering me already, it's uncouthly." She glared at him.

"What...?"

"And congratulations on your engagement with Lady Abigail. You've always wanted that, right? Seems like the meeting your highness set up with me went in vain. I wasted my time here. Farewell."

"Wait, Lady Eurielle-"

Gabriel grabbed her arm desperately.

Eurielle threw off his hand and glowered at him.

"And please don't touch me with your filthy hands. It's sickening."

With that statement, Eurielle left Gabriel alone in the garden.

*SLAM*

Gabriel touched the cheek that was slapped by Eurielle.

"She slapped me..."

"She said hurtful words.. towards me."

A tide of headache suddenly surged inside his mind and he grabbed his own hair out of pain.

"Euk-"

"Your highness, I brought you flowers."

"This one suits you."

"Your highness looks dashing."

"Your highness!"

Again.

Fragments of strange memories about Eurielle went inside his mind together just like that time.

"What is this? What are these memories?!"

"Your highness!" Abigail's voice brought him back to reality.

Realizing it, she was shrugging his shoulders.

"Abigail? What are you doing here? When have you been here?" He asked, still in the state of dilemma after Eurielle left.

"Since earlier! Before arriving here, I encountered Lady Eurielle and said that you were here. So I went to see you."

"What?"

"And you seemed out of it when I arrived here. Perhaps... are you having a headache?" Abigail asked.

"How did you know?"

"You looked hurt earlier... Please follow me. I'll make tea for you."

Abigail dragged him to Gabriel room and made him wait til she finishes making the tea.

Meanwhile, Gabriel was left confused of the memories he received earlier.

"Eurielle..."

Remembering her, he somehow feels strangely affiliated with her. It was like in those memories, he had no bad blood with her.

*Creak*

"I've brought the tea." Abigail entered with a smile.

She handed the teacup to him.

"Please drink it, your highness. It will calm your headache."

"Thank you."

Gabriel drank the tea slowly. It was warm and it truly calmed him.

At that moment, Gabriel forgot the fragments of memories he recalled earlier after drinking the tea whole.

He forgot the unknown and strange feeling he had towards Eurielle earlier and was left with sternness and hatred instead.

"Thank you, Abigail. It helped a lot. And Eurielle.. I need to somehow punish her rude actions earlier." His eyes glinted darkly.

"I'm glad." Abigail smiled. 'Thank goodness it worked.' She silently sighed in relief.

"Our engagement will be in two weeks."

"That's right. I actually invited Lady Eurielle for tea and talk with her."

"With her? I need to stay with you. What if she suddenly hurts you?" Gabriel suddenly acted protective.

"Thank you, your highness." Abigail blushed as she hugged him.

Without knowing it, Gabriel didn't see the grin that was pasted on Abigail's face as he hugged her.

'This Prince is in my palms, Eurielle.' She glared.

.

.

.

After leaving the palace, Eurielle was bored.

First, she was tired of the prince's actions towards her earlier. And next, she encountered Abigail and by doing so, she felt unpleasant.

And now, she was in a state of ennui.

Eurielle stood up from her bed and walked towards the balcony.

She stared down at the garden and surprisingly, she saw a puppy.

"Theo?"

"...!!..Rielle!" His face beamed as he saw her.

"What are you doing there?" Eurielle asked.

"I was waiting for you to come out." He smiled.

'Cute.'

The height from the balcony to the garden was high.

Eurielle suddenly thought of something fun.

What if she were to jump from that height? How would it feel?

"Theo, I want to jump. Can you catch me?" She requested.

Hearing that suggestion, Theo frowned.

He didn't want Eurielle to jump that far. Maybe it would hurt her in some way.

In a flash, Theo jumped towards the balcony easily and appeared in front of Eurielle.

"That's dangerous, Rielle." He tucked her hair behind her ear.

"How did you do that?" Eurielle was asking pertaining to the high jump he just did.

"Just something."

"Then, how about you just carry me and jump down? That would be better."

"Oh, that's acceptable."

Theo liked the thought of carrying her and feeling her arms wrapping around his neck. It was a better suggestion than her jumping alone.

Theo then carried her in a bridal style and Eurielle hugged his neck, waiting for the jump to happen.

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

It was far. From the balcony to the garden.

Eurielle felt this rapid heartbeat out of nowhere.

Yes.

If there was a right word to describe that emotion,

It would be excitement.