Chapter 35: Chapter 35

ELOISA

Prunee, Kingdom of Howard

Eloisa could not stop thinking about Gian. Despite June's words of warning, the prince was affecting her in an unhealthy way. She could not eat nor sleep and she would be staring off into space most of the time.

The prince had consumed her entire being. With how things ended the last time they were together, Eloisa could not accept how they parted ways. Especially how Gian discarded her like a used napkin.

It is true that Gian was a notorious ladies' man.

The Duchess had been standing for quite some time in front of Pruneé. She hesitated to go inside because Gian might not be there. But she had a strong feeling that he would be there.

"Here goes nothing," she gave out a breath she did not know she was holding and entered the bar.

Pruneé was crowded with patrons tonight. Conversations carried over one another and the room was filled with a light hazy smoke of tobacco. But she had no trouble finding Gian among the crowd. He was sitting alone on one of the tables in the farther most part of the room. She was a little relieved to see him by himself.

She gathered all the self confidence that was left in her body and approached Gian.

Finally, Gian noticed her standing. At this point, Eloisa was lost for words. Now that she was standing in front of him, she suddenly felt shy.

"The last time you were here, you could not wait to jump me. But now, you're standing over there like a lost puppy. What do you need?"

There were many things running through her mind.

"From the beginning, Your Grace."

Eloisa straightened up and said, "We need to talk."

Gian scoffed as he leaned back in his chair, his arms resting on his chest. "Then talk. I can only give you as much since as you can see, I'm kind of busy."

There was something very different about the prince. The arrogance in his voice was intimidating her to the point that just froze, her mouth and brain failing her to make a response.

He's not the Gian he met the first time around.

Before she could gather her thoughts and stop gaping at him like a fish, a woman approached the table and sat down on Gian's lap, completely ignoring Eloisa.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I just had to say hello to my good friend over at that table. It's been so long since we've seen each other. Are you finished with your drink? We can go somewhere private now."

The woman, who still had not acknowledged the presence of Eloisa, curled her slender hands on Gian's neck, wrapping herself like a snake.

It was definitely evident on Eloisa'd face the disbelief and outrage she felt inside, for Gian's smile grew even crueler. Ms. Snake Hands followed his line of sight and her amber eyes widened with understanding.

"Oh, and who might you be?" Her voice was smooth and rich like butter.

"I, uh," Eloisa stuttered. All those years she spent in finishing school went to waste. This woman was the epitome of grace and beauty. She had never felt insecure. Not even back when her school was filled with girls who are descended from far richer and more powerful families.

"Ah," Gian smirked as she wrapped his arm around the woman's slim waist. "I think her name was Loise, Elodia or whatever. She said she wanted to talk to me, but all she did was just stand there."

Upon hearing the obvious rejection, Eloisa felt her face heating in embarrassment. The gall of this man to publicly dismiss him like he did not know her. Just the other night, he was inside of her for the love of Howard.

She knew that the prince was purposely doing this to hurt her. How could he forget her name? Did he not remember those times he moaned it with pleasure?

It was clear as day that Gian did not care about her at all. She was just one of the many girls in his long list of conquests.

"Gian could be pretty charming if he wanted to. But what I figured out long ago was he sees love as a game. He's only having a good time."

"He's only having a good time."

Eloisa could feel the tears building up from behind her eyes. But she forced herself not to let Gian get the best of her.

"How dare you act like you don't know me?" Eloisa's voice shaking with anger.

Gian sighed. "Look, you are humiliating not only me but also yourself. I thought it was clear from the beginning that what we had was a no-strings attached arrangement."

"No-strings attached arrangement? What are we? Sixteen?" Eloisa exclaimed.

"I know why you wanted to talk to me." Gian's eyes glinted with something beyond malice. "Let me set the record straight: I would never commit to anyone. So, what I can advise you right now is to remove yourself immediately from my sight and just stop your delusions that we would become a couple and I would make you my wife."

Eloisa just had enough. "No! That's not true!" The other customers near the vicinity of their table stopped their conversations to listen in to Eloisa's breakdown. "The last time we were together, you made me feel like you love me and that you have feelings for me!"

"For Howard's sake, please do not cause a scene here." Gian gritted his teeth while looking around to see that half of the room had their conversations lulled to a hush.

"Why are you doing this to me? Is this some sort of sick joke? Am I not worthy of your affections?" Eloisa asked.

"Eloisa --"

"Let me handle this," The woman interrupted Gian and stood up from where she was seated. She stalked towards her like a cat, graceful and predatory. Once she was close to Eloisa, she looked down on her because of her towering heels, something Eloisa could never pull off.

"Listen hard and listen well." The woman said under her breath, her voice felt like velvet to the ears. "You need to accept the fact that Gian does not do 'girlfriends.' He's a very special man. If you claim to be close to him, then you of all people should know that. He's the future King of Howard so naturally, he must be with someone who can keep up with him."

Eloisa was breathing hard. The audacity of this she-devil to underestimate her. "And how about you? Do you think you can keep up with him?"

The woman gave out a laugh that came straight out of a movie. It was full of lilt and came out sounding like it was staged. "Oh, honey. You clearly have it all wrong, don't you? Someone who thinks that they can keep up with a prince is delusional. Unlike you, I know my place."

Gian slid behind the woman and placed an arm around her shoulders. "Come on now, Ann. Have a little mercy on the girl." He was clearly amused by what was happening.

Ann's full lips curled at the sides in a smirk. "Keep in mind that all's fair in love and war. If you catch feelings, then you lose."

"Let's go now," Gian kept his eyes on Eloisa as he whispered in Ann's ear.

Ann gave one final smile at Eloisa and they both walked away, leaving her standing there like a fool, a turmoil of emotions going on in her head and chest: humiliation, insecurity, resentment, and devastation.

Eloisa felt her world spinning. She could not breathe and she just wanted to slump down and cry her heart out.

This must be what love feels like. It felt like absolute shit.