Chapter 90: Chapter 90

"I greet the stars of the Empire, Your Highness, the second prince." Cecilia bowed and smile gently to the guest.

"Are you mocking me, Chili?" Max pouted and crossed his hand.

"I'm just doing some manner, Your Highness." She said when sitting on her chair. A maid prepares the tea and cookies to the table before leave them alone.

Max rose from his chair and walk to sit beside her, "Just greet me as usual. Besides, I will step down from the throne, next year. So, don't do it again. And, why you didn't cook again? These cookies look boring."

"But, it's tasted great since our kitchen staff are great, Your Highness. Anyway, I was forgetting the rice wine for my father on Aunt's house. So, I will go there at the noon."

Max's eyes sparkling so brightly, "I'll escort you."

"No need. I want to go by myself."

"How mean! You break my heart after kissing me! So mean!" Max whimpering and pretend to look so sad.

Cecilia rolled her eyes and wondering why did she feel calmer than yesterday.

The awkwardness was gone, and she can look directly to his eyes without any problem.

"Why did you come here? Is there something wrong?"

Max quickly smiled, "Nothing. I want to have a picnic with you."

"In this bad weather? It's look like almost rain."

"Bad weather? What are you saying? Besides, you are going to visit Kaleela."

"Max, I'm just doing a quick visit and left before the rain comes."

The green-eyed man pouted again, "Why did you ignore me, Chili?"

"I'm not."

"You were kissing me, yesterday. And now, you are cold toward me."

Cecilia smile faintly. Sometimes, Max acts like a child. Rather than feel annoyed, she thought it was cute of him. However, Cecilia won't tell him the truth. "It's not a kiss. It was a way to greet a fiancé."

Suddenly, he smiles brightly, "Waa! Then, greet me again."

"Your Highness, I already greet you. Anyway, what is the color of your outfit for the upcoming ball?"

Max looking up and try to remember it, "It was white with gold accent. Did you want to match color with me?"

Her purple eyes avoid his enthusiast face. "I'm sorry, Max. My father and I will be using blue color. The dress was made when I'm on the South Island using my previous size. Besides, we are not a couple back then."

"Cih! What happened with the timing?" He rolled his eyes, failed to hiding his disappointment.

"Max, did you ever hurt before?"

"Hurt? Me?" He asked with wrinkled forehead.

"My father said you used to have a scar. But, it's already healed. Well, it's okay if you didn't want to tell me."

Ah, so he knew it, as expected from that man, he thought to himself.

Max let out a heavy sigh before started telling her the story about the Hark's curse and how Cecilia healed it when she was drunk.

"What..? That's unbelievable… I mean…"

Max takes both of her hand and put it on each of his cheek. His eyes look directly at her, "You are always creating a miracle. Not just for me, but for anyone else, too. I'm so glad to meet you."

"It wasn't like that. I'm just--,"

He smiled gently, "I'm not overestimated you, Chili. For me, you are the miracle itself. So, it's normally for you to make one."

"You are a smooth talker, Max. Is this how you seduce a girl? No wonder, you became a playboy." Cecilia half jokingly said it and grinned so widely.

Max feeling annoyed and pinch both of her cheeks, "You always ruining the mood, Chili."

"Ack! I ammm sooowwry!" She tried to speak.

Max released his finger, "Apologize accepted because you are cute."

She pouted and holding his redness cheeks, "It's hurt you know."

"Ah, really? I'm sorry!" He's gently rubbing her cheek to reduce it swollen.

"Hmph!" Cecilia still pouted and refused to said anything.

"This is bad, Chili. You look a hundred times more cute, now."

She rolled her eyes before try to release herself. But, he didn't budge. "Wait, what are you doing?"

"Staring at you."

Max's green eyes fixed at her and Cecilia feels like she almost drowns on it. "Stop it."

"Why?" He asked while his thumb touched her lower lips. Giving some weird sensation to her.

"Max."

"What?" He put his face closer to her and wondering if she can hear his heartbeat. It's the first time he wants to kiss anyone so badly. His body was trembled and nervous.

"My father is behind you."

He flinched and quickly, turned his head to the direction.

No one here and when he looks at Cecilia again, she was laughing so hard.

"Oh, my. Haha, you look so pale!"

Max closed his reddened face with both hands, "You are so mean."

"Hahaha, I'm sorry. I never thought that you will be… Hahaha… afraid to my father!"

Max didn't answer and keep hiding his face.

She stops laughing when noticed that he didn't say anything for one minute straight.

"Max?" She flinched when touched his cold and trembled hand. "Are you okay?"

But, he kept silent. Cecilia, who feel panicked, pull his hand and stunned when saw Max's teary eyes while his face and both ears was as red as tomato.

"M-max," She lost her word and quickly hug him. He didn't react and make her become more afraid. "I'm sorry! It was a mean joke! I promised, I won't do that again!"

The silent was hanging in the air.

Two minutes later, he finally says something in unrecognizable voice, "Chili."

"Y-yes!" Slowly, she released her embrace and Max's expression was sad.

"I'm sorry for become a coward."

"No, no. It was my fault to play such a prank on you."

Max avoids her gaze, "I'm sorry."

"Can you look at me?" Cecilia asked with very gentle voice.

Meanwhile, Max feeling so embarrassed and want to bury himself to the ground.

A perverted man like me should've died, he thought to himself. Ah, why I'm so stupid! I should be ashamed of myself!

It was happened in several seconds when Cecilia's lip met his. Both of them was inexperienced, they don't know what to do.

Cecilia was the one who broke that sloppy kiss and suddenly, as if she realized something, she panicking apologize, "AAAA! I'm sorry! You look so cute, Aah! That's not what I meant!!"

Max blinked twice and his brain stop working. When Cecilia try to talk again, suddenly he was disappear.

She pulls her hair due to the frustration, "AAA!! I'M SO STUPID! A PERVERT LIKE ME SHOULD'VE DIED! HOW STUPID AM I!!"