James made his approach quite close to her. Adela took a small step back. When he saw no sign of stopping, Adela stopped moving backward. She stood there to confront James and see how long he could last. James halted his progress when he got so near Adela. "Did I not tell you to select my team, Adela?" he asked with a cheeky grin.
"Your Royal Highness, I shall be in the first prince's team aside from the fact that I don't want to think about joining other teams as well," Adela said to James in a harsh voice as she observed his eyes. "If I work with the first prince, I'll think more highly of myself."
James' expression changed as soon as he heard Adela. His hands tightened as his face hardened with wrath. His gaze was fixed on Adela, as was hers as well. Adela's expression abruptly changed. She noticed that James's eyes were becoming darker. She narrowed her eyes when she noticed it. She had thought that James had something inside of him she could not get, but now she was getting the vibe that James was not a normal guy.
"I think I am clear, your royal highness," stuttered Adela as she took a little step back.
James's eyes were beginning to grow red, but as he heard Adela's voice, they gradually returned to normal. Adela didn't even blink while she stared into his eyes. Suddenly, James touched Adela's chin, which made Adela arch her brows. She wondered what the second prince was up to. She attempted to retreat, but his hold on her was tight. He gripped her chin firmly. If she pushed herself, her chin might get scratched by his fingernails.
James got so near Adela's lips that it appeared he was about to kiss her. She narrowed her eyes as she spotted him leaning toward her. After holding her in his gaze for a moment, James spread his lips in a sensual gesture.
"I honestly believed that you would approach me and choose me. But-."
He paused in the middle of a sentence to look at her devout lips. Adela clenched her teeth and kept her gaze fixed on him. Suddenly, James used his thumb to stroke her lips. Adela did not know that James would take such harsh measures against her. James wiped the crimson color off her lips. He totally ruined her lips with his thumb.
"Prince!" Adela yelled louder than she normally would have, but it was useless since James was holding her chin. Adela cried out in agony with a faint moan. Looking into his eyes, she wondered how he could do this to her.
"But you kissed him as well."
Adela's eyes became wider as she heard him. Adela wondered how he might be aware. In response to his remarks, she felt uneasy. He might have checked her out because it was impossible for him to know. Adela kept her expression calm since she didn't want to appear anxious in response to his comment.
She said, "What are you saying? And what is this behavior, exactly? Do you know that if my father finds out, he won't be kind to you, prince?"
"Do you think I care?" James asked with a sneer on his face. "And do you think I saw nothing? I noticed your ruined lipstick some time ago."
"How dare you, Adela, do this?"
Adela suddenly arched her brows. She had been putting up with his conduct for a very long time, but finally, she had had enough. How could he possibly touch her lips? Adela pondered before sternly replying, "If you know it, then why are you asking me about it again? We did indeed kiss each other. Then what? Do you have any issues with it?"
James angled his head to gaze at Adela, and Adela turned her face as James let go of her chin. She took a step backward while wiping her lips in front of James. James immediately smiled maniacally at her. He remarked, "Adela, you are so confident in yourself and in him," while continuing to stare at her. "But what if he doesn't return from Targoviste on schedule?"
"What exactly do you mean? And I am confident that the first prince will come as he promised," said Adela.
James burst out laughing while gripping his chest. Adela was baffled by what she had said to him to cause such a fit of laughter. "You're very certain about that, right? Let's see, Adela, if he's able to come back before the tournament or not. Yet, I thought you would stop him. Alas! He hears no one, though."
Adela's eyes furrowed when she heard him. She wondered why James was so certain that the first prince would not arrive on time. Is it possible that James knew something about this, or that Camilla was right?
"How can you be so certain? Di- did you?" Adela parted her lips in disbelief.
As James said, "Maybe I'm not, maybe I am," he grinned widely and placed his finger over his lips. "I've heard that no one gets news of Targoviste from the border. Who can predict what may occur in the future? Moreover, I believe you will only be with me, Adela. There is no way you can become a part of him."
Adela became shocked upon hearing James; she could not understand what she should do now. Now she was certain that James had done something, as it had been his intention to move Richard from there before the tournament. What would they do if something happened to Richard while he was there? When James noticed Adela's worried face, he stepped forward, but when he became so close to her, suddenly he heard a voice.
"Second prince."
The voice sounded loud and appeared to be furious. Upon turning around, James furrowed his brows. James grew agitated, and it was obvious from the look on his face. When James looked around, he saw Alfred standing there, staring at him angrily.
But in an instant, Alfred drew his sword and launched an attack on James. James opened his eyes when he saw the Duke in such a bizarre manner and instantly moved back.
"Father."
Adela spoke to her dad in a worried tone. What was he going to accomplish? She dashed toward her father and grabbed his hand, shouting, "Father!"
"Did he do something wrong to you, Adela?" Alfred asked, as he grasped his daughter's hand.
Adela perceived her father's expression to be agitated. If she told him everything, that would be a massacre. Even though many people stopped when they saw it. James gritted his teeth and stared at Alfred. They exchanged furious looks with each other.
Adela attempted to exert control over her father by holding his hands and saying, "Father, calm down." She understood that if this news reached the Emperor, it would be disastrous. Additionally, sooner or later, the emperor would learn of it. Even so, she needed to take control of this circumstance immediately.
"Did he touch you, Adela?" Alfred instantly shouted in anger.
"Father, no, he didn't touch me," Adela gasped.
"Please calm down."
Alfred did not appear to trust his daughter's words. He pointed his sword at James and questioned him directly, "Second Prince, why were you so near my daughter?"
As he heard Alfred, James' gaze narrowed. Those who were present began muttering among themselves. They got here because they heard the duke shouting.
"What was the duke's daughter doing in this quiet place with the second prince?"
"We do not know. But why does Duke appear to be so angry?"
Adela's forehead furrowed as she overheard the chatter. She looked at James, who was now beaming at her father. "Did you not hear what your daughter told you?" he sighed. "We were only communicating our feelings to one another."
"What?" With shock and wrath, Alfred uttered his words.
When Adela heard James, she tightened her teeth and furrowed her brows. But when James saw Alfred becoming upset again, he chuckled and said, "Oh, come on, Lord Alfred, we were just chatting about the expedition."
"Right, Adela?" he asked, turning his attention to her.
Adela clenched her jaw. James moved closer to Alfred's sword. He put his finger on the sword and forced him to lower it down. Alfred lowered his sword gradually. James then moved in his direction before coming to a complete halt ahead of him and saying, "Lord Alfred, next time I won't allow this behavior. I could have raised my voice because of it, but as you are Adela's father, I did not. Yet, I'm worried that I could protest the following time. Just keep that in mind."
"Prince, I know the truth, and you also know the truth," Alfred remarked, quietly furrowing his brows. "I will see how you can go toward my daughter."
Adela lowered her gaze at this moment, since she was feeling both guilty and a little anxious.
"Uncle."
Ian appeared out of nowhere suddenly. He approached Alfred and bowed respectfully.
"Your royal highness."
To be continued.