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Despite her non-acceptance of his highness’s gifts, he insisted he wore the clothes he bought her or it will be a tremendous waste of the kingdom’s treasury.

Seeing how it was, she was now forced to dress extravagantly and lavishly as also more maids have been assigned to personally look after her to make sure of that.

She still didn’t know what to think of it, why the crown prince who has always bullied her before, seems to be giving her favors like this. It doesn’t make sense in her mind, and she is unsure how to feel about it.

Of course, ever since the scene from the capital, the ladies have treated her entirely differently than before. Now she is not just visible to them but more so highlighted.

It was as if two factions has been formed in their circle. One, those who wanted to curry favors from her. And the second one, those who absolutely wanted to make her life hell during the entirety of this competition.

As for her cousin, she is yet to find out which side she chose to join. However, her gut feeling is telling her that there is no way her cousin’s pride can accept that she has somehow received more favor from the crown prince than she herself.

She nearly jumped from her seat when she was joined by her cousin in the gardens, sitting parallel to hers as she handed her a cup of milk.

“The scenery is pretty. Who would have thought the crown prince is fond of red roses,” Cinderella said so, as she accepted the cup of warm liquid.

.....

“Is this for me?” she asked, shocked at the kind gesture of the cousin who has always been cold towards her.

Cinderella raised an eyebrow before breaking into a kind smile. Even she can tell the woman is being fake.

“Yes, I had this feeling you were having a hard time sleeping,” her cousin said, her voice suddenly being so sweet.

“What made you think that?” she had to ask, her voice as calm as the night air.

“Of course, I knew that would be the case. How can I be too insensitive to my cousin’s plight if I knew exactly what she was going through?” Cinderella has a concerned expression on her face, it nearly made her stomach churn.

“What do you mean by that?” she couldn’t even try to let herself believe such a show of concern without doubting her cousin’s intentions.

“I mean, it must not be so easy to be in your position right now. With all the rumors about you and the crown prince circulating like wildfire. It must be too much for you to take,” her cousin’s eyes clouded, as if she felt indignation over whatever it was.

“What rumors?” she couldn’t help but clench her hand as she heard the words.

“That you have visited the crown prince’s chambers in exchange for all the attention he is showering you right now. I know it is too much. Even I feel so ashamed hearing of this evil speculation being attached to your name. I mean, if these talks reach grandmother’s ears, then what will happen? You know exactly how much she cares about the family’s reputation. She would be so ashamed that she would probably drag you out of here,” Cinderella’s eyes glinted in the dark as she felt her heart drop.

She didn’t know it was this serious. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that such issues would ever come to haunt her.

“Is it really something that is being said towards me and the crown prince? You know, it is one thing to talk about me but another entire thing to talk about his highness. If this is true and the crown prince finds out, I guess even a noble family cannot get in his way of retribution. After all, every citizen swore allegiance to the crown and swore to respect it and hold it with high regard at all times. Therefore besmirching the crown prince’s reputation by mindless rumors... it is a crime punishable by law,” she looked innocently at Cinderella as if those words just came out of her mouth without much thought.

“Indeed,” was the deep baritone that almost shook her to the core.

“A crime punishable by death,” the crown prince’s piercing gaze made Cinderella cower much to her satisfaction.

“Your... your royal highness,” Cinderella curtsied but the tremble in her voice did not lie nor did the pale coloring of her cheeks.

Right now, even she can say, her cousin felt trapped and scared. Having been found out like this by his royal highness, she is quite sure her cousin is slowly dying in stress.

“Yes, my lady. Of course, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation. But seeing that the controversy seems to involve me. I guess I have no other choice but to intervene and clear my name. More importantly, I would like to clear the young lady’s name,” he would glance at her and at that moment his face would soften a bit.

She felt really thankful and nervous at the same time. His presence always made her feel conflicting emotions like this.

“I- I was mistaken, your highness. I must have misheard them,” Cinderella’s voice trembled and for the first time, Mary saw her cousin shaking like a dog drenched in cold water.

“Is that so?” as he walked closer, Cinderella would back away, seemingly having forgotten that the pond was behind her.

A splash would be heard which caused a commotion as the servants gather around and helped her.

Some of the young ladies who were having a walk in the gardens also heard about what happened and are now staring at her cousin and of course the inexplainable presence of the royal highness and herself with all the curiosity they can muster.

“I’m okay. I’m okay,” her cousin would assure the crowd, all the while facing the humiliation as she curtsies again before the prince and asked for leave.

The crown prince nodded, unbothered by the stares. Then his golden eyes met with hers and a warm smile spread across his lips.

He would walk closer toward her and when he was close enough for only her to hear it, he would ask her, “Would you take a walk with me?”