Heroine On Strike

“I don’t want Cullan to be dragged into this. No harm should go to him.”

Cladis found Ella’s words a bit strange. She didn’t say or deny that she had something going on with Cullan. Ella simply told Cladis that no harm should come to Cullan. Hearing her words, Cladis glared at Ella. Not only was his fiancée a perfect lady, but she was also very bold.

“So, for his sake, you don’t want him to get hurt. Do you want him to become emperor?” 

Cladis yelled out loud the first thought that came into his mind. Ella, however, smiled as she enjoyed seeing Cladis frustrated. After all, he had another woman by his side, yet he was angry that Ella was with another man.So she put on a more teasing face and answered quietly.

“No. I do not think he will want to become emperor. I just want to run away from you regardless of my friendship with Cullan.”

“Regardless of my friendship with Cullan…”

Trying to calm himself, Cladis repeated what Ella had just said. ‘Doesn’t that mean she’s not having an affair with Cullan?’ Cladis’s golden eyes were now focused on Ella.

She looked at him for a second, then answered slowly, “Of course, my decision has nothing to do with him.”

“Then why do you want to end this engagement? I thought you wanted to marry me so badly yesterday. You even wore that corsage.”

“And you didn’t wear the boutonniere! Also, you brought some other lady to the party.”

How dare he mention the corsage. Ella became angry and snapped back at him, causing him to frown. It was a mistake to talk about corsage while trying to find out why she had changed in a matter of days. He also forgot that he had not worn that boutonniere due to him focusing too much on what was in front of him. Cladis was frustrated with himself for being so foolish. Still, he couldn’t understand why Ella suddenly wanted to cancel their engagement for such a silly reason.

“That’s not enough of a reason to end our engagement.”

“Your HIghness, you had not fallen in love with me yesterday night. Am I wrong?” 

This time again, she did not hesitate to ask him a direct question. Not only did she not want to become the crown princess because of the workload, but also, she had no reason to live with a man who never loved her. Cladis didn’t immediately respond to Ella as he was deep in thought.

After a moment of silence, he responded, “Yes, that’s true.”

“Well, the same goes for me too. These past three years, while you were gone, I became a grown woman. I learned what love was. Yesterday night, I did not have even the slightest of doubt that I will fall in love with you. Everyone told me so, that you will fall in love with me, and that I will too. But, that never happened,” said Ella.

Cladis couldn’t say anything back to her. Instead, Ella looked into his eyes and smiled.

“Then, you suddenly brought your girl to my party. I saw you yesterday. That magical feeling that everyone was talking about never appeared. Instead, what I felt was reality slapping me in the face. The reality of a future where I foolishly stay by your side.”

It was a future that consisted of piles of documents, parties with women who use their words like swords, and other women who’ve won Cladis’ heart.Moreover, they would not become burdened with loads of work like Ella would. Just that thought of it gave her a headache.

“I can see that it wasn’t a pleasant reality.”

“That’s right. It was the worst nightmare. So, I decided I never want to live that life.”

“That sounds like you’ve made the decision not to marry.”

He gave Ella a confused look. Ella didn’t want to be careful around him anymore.

“That’s right. I won’t.”

Cladis laughed at Ella’s bold words. He then looked at her with amusement.

“Alright then. I wish you success. I’m curious how you’ll manage to do that.”

***

It felt like Cladis was daring Ella to try to run away from him. Trying to ease her discomfort, she destroyed the cake in front of her with her fork. Although it wasn’t ladylike of her to do that, she needed something to release her anger. The happiness she felt from earlier in the Glass Garden was now gone as she sat down at the cafe. She sat across Cullan, who was also in distress. He had been in that state ever since they talked to Cladis at the garden, and it seemed his soul had left him somewhere at the Glass Garden. As a result, Ella couldn’t focus, and she also couldn’t enjoy the delicious cake that she waited all day to eat. Both of them realized that they needed time alone and decided to head home. Ella refused Cullan’s offer to take her home. Instead, she rode a rental carriage that Joanne found.