Chapter 11 — Jealousy Unknown

Jasper was enjoying every single moment of annoying Rain. Much to his dismay, he was starting to like her, and he knew he had to stop himself. He shouldn't make another mistake.

"Ms. Summers, where are you heading early in the morning? I went to your room yesterday morning and you weren't there." Jasper rocked on the balls of his heels as he stood in front of Rain, blocking her way.

She heaved a sigh of annoyance. "I was planning to fuck off your existence."

Jasper knew she was heading to his brother's chamber. He held back a chuckle that was about to escape his lips; he cleared his throat and said, "The queen wants to talk to you. Come with me."

Her eyes grew wide in horror. She followed him without saying a word. She wanted the queen to like her and denying her would mean less chance of Rain marrying Ivan.

"I should call her 'Your Majesty', right?" she asked him. He hummed in response.

They stepped into Suzanne's room. Rain gave her a bright smile, which the queen immediately disliked. "I am glad to see you that you listened to Jasper and came here without creating a scene," Suzanne said as she rested on the pillow of the easy chair.

Rain stood next to Jasper. "What was the reason for calling me, Your Majesty?" She tried to sound polite. At last, both Diana and Jasper taught her some basic behaviors.

"I need to talk to you, alone." Suzanne glanced at Jasper. He cleared his throat and walked out of the room to give them some alone time. "Sit down, Ms. Summers."

Rain plopped down unto the brownish sofa and fixed her long floral dress. Suzanne scrunched her nose in disgust as she eyed the dress up. It was unfashionably out of season.

"I heard you are trying to meddle into my son and my to-be daughter-in-law's life. I really hate it when someone tries disturbing my family." Suzanne gave her a cold look and continued, "Unfortunately, you are one of them. Why can't you understand that Diana is royally chosen because she is a wonderful woman unlike you?"

Rain bit her lip before speaking, "If you are here to talk me into leaving Ivan, my answer is no. I love him and I will marry only him. End of the story."

"I will make you a duchess if that's what you want. You can be a royal, just leave my son." She placed a phenomenal condition without any hesitation.

Rain gaped at her response but stayed put. "The only time I will leave your son is when I fall in love with someone else, which would never happen. I only love Ivan Cands."

The queen's lips curved into a smirk. "The kind of love you have is wonderful. You didn't even know his real name being Ivan Candelstone, yet you're tremendously in love with him."

Rain hated the woman in front of her. The queen was touching her nerves on purpose, and she was being successful. Rain's nose flared in anger. She knew Diana was perfect, in fact, Diana was so perfect Rain had faith that she wouldn't go against her promise. Just wait till the wedding. I will be the queen and sue you from England, Suzanne Cands—er, Candelstone, she thought as she stormed off the room.

Jasper followed the sulking Rain, without saying a word. He knew when to speak and when not to.

***

Ruyeli was in Diana and Ivan's room, teaching her how to outrun someone in a conversation. Diana was smart enough to grasp everything at first try.

"You did a wonderful job! Your task for today is done. After two weeks, you will be handling the wedding preparation. Suzanne is short-listing everything."

"I know. Mom told me." Diana raised her eyebrows. "Will I be able to learn everything in two weeks?"

"Of course! You are a fast learner." She put her hand on Diana's.

Ivan spoke through the phone as he entered the room, "Yes, Dad. I handled everything and the deal was signed. The organization will be launched." He was warmly welcomed by the two beautiful smiles flashing at him.

"I will take your leave now, Your Royal Highness," Ruyeli teased Diana, who rolled her eyes. As soon as his aunt left the room, Ivan plopped next to her.

He exhaled deeply, "Finally. I am unrestrained now."

"You seem stress-free." Diana twitched her lips before saying, "Did my massage work its magic on you?"

"Actually, we have to confirm whether it was really your massage or not." He leaned his back on a soft pillow.

"And how will we confirm that?" she asked curiously, making a smirk form on his lips.

"By giving me another massage."

Diana playfully glared at him. "We're still talking about massaging your head, right?"

"Absolutely! Why? I didn't know your mind functioned in a different way, Princess." He folded his sleeves and poured himself a glass of water. He liked teasing Diana. He used to do that over the phone but doing it and seeing her reaction personally was different yet funny.

Butterflies erupted in Diana's stomach when she heard Ivan calling her 'Princess'.

Why would he call me that? He is definitely saying it in a mocking way because everyone is calling me, 'Your Royal Highness'. Of course, this is the reason, she assured herself. Goosebumps rose on her skin.

She cleared her throat. "It's because your words change direction like unconfined liquid."

Ivan arched an eyebrow in amusement. Suddenly, he grabbed her hand and pulled her close. His green eyes were piercing through her brown ones, his finger gliding down her arm. He asked in a deep and husky tone, "Was it my words that gave you goosebumps?"

Due to the closeness, Diana's breath hitched. She didn't know how to respond or why her best friend was acting like that. She hated the effect Ivan was having on her. Gulping, Diana wished someone would save her from the effect Ivan was having on her. She didn't like it one bit.

And as if luck was on her side today, Diana's phone started ringing. She pushed Ivan's hand away and looked at the caller ID.

Ivan clenched his fist seeing that name flash across the screen. Why didn't she change the nickname? She should have. I will make her change it; he made an oath which he kept to himself.

She answered the call and was about to talk when Ivan grabbed the phone and turned it on the speaker, handing the phone to her once again. Diana gave him a confused look. He held up his hand as a sign to continue talking.

"Hey, babe! How are you?" Aiden's voice echoed through the room.

Diana was uncomfortable talking to Aiden with Ivan staring at her intently. "I-I am good. What about you?"

"I am also fine, but only slightly. I miss you so fucking much. I just want to see you."

"Oh..." she trailed off. Ivan didn't speak a word, but he gulped a glass of water.

"Once I see you again, I will hug you tightly and never let you go. I love you so much." Aiden continued as Ivan tightened his grip on his now-empty glass, "I will kiss you senseless, Di—" before her boyfriend could complete the sentence, Ivan stood up and threw the glass he was holding at the wall, making Diana's phone fall off her hand.

"What the hell?" Diana hollered, "Are you okay, Ivan?"

"What happe—" Diana had cut the call before Aiden could ask anything. She ran towards Ivan and instantly started checking his hand.

"Are you okay? You don't have any wounds, do you?" she kept questioning him as she checked his hand. Ivan stayed quiet, looking at her beautiful face. How can a girl be so beautiful and perfect? he asked himself.

"The stress hasn't left you fully, I guess. I should call Rain—"

Ivan put a finger on her lips, shushing her. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him. "You are the one stressing out now. I am okay."

"Then why did you break the glass?" Diana asked as softly as possible.

The realization hit Ivan as he thought of the stunt he just pulled. "I-I just…I am going to freshen up." He pulled away and walked into the washroom, leaving her utterly confused.

Diana tried to understand what happened. She muttered, "He was okay until Aiden called. What made him throw the glass at the wall? Could he be…no. No! He is just frustrated because of not spending time with Rain. I should do something."

She told a servant to clear the mess and went to call Rain.

***

Ivan was in the jacuzzi, trying to think what and why he pulled that stunt.

"What is wrong with me? Why am I reacting like this? I cannot possibly like her in any way. She is my best friend!" he let out. "How could she allow Aiden to kiss her? I know he is her boyfriend, but I never allowed Rain to kiss anyone, much less that man! I am her best friend!"

The thought of Aiden placing his lips on Diana's soft plump lips was like a horror scene for Ivan; he didn't even wish to imagine it. He was confused about the way Diana was affecting him. His brain was telling him to take a break and calm down, but his heart screamed Diana's name.

"No. I need some time away from her. The more I stay with her, the more comfortable I will be, and start to feel the way I never felt with Rain." He splashed some water on his face, before drying himself with the towel. "I should leave," he mumbled one last time and got out of the room, only to find Rain sitting on his bed.

Oh, for God's sake, I cannot deal with this now. Why am I not finding Rain beautiful anymore? She had always looked beautiful, but now, Diana seemed more beautiful to me, he thought as Rain wrapped her arms around his neck. Guilt filled Ivan's heart when he glanced into her eyes.

Was I just infatuated with Rain? Is it possible that I wasn't really in love with her? he questioned himself but immediately shoved the thought away. What the fuck am I even thinking? I love Rain.

He snaked an arm around Rain's waist, hugging her. She gave a toothy grin.

"Finally, you are being yourself. You weren't even giving me attention. I was so scared, Ivan," she whispered, snuggling into his broad chest.

He didn't like the way Rain called him 'Ivan'. It felt different, it sounded better coming from Diana's mouth.

"Diana is so kind. Nowadays, friends like her are rare. After our wedding and once I become the queen, I will make her a duchess. She doesn't have to stay away from us then," she suggested.

Ivan wished to never let her go as well. But I must let her go. She has a boyfriend. He furrowed his eyebrows, not liking it at all.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Diana stepped into the bedroom. She was wearing a brown jumpsuit with a classy belt on her waist. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail. She looked cuter than usual, especially when her dimples popped along with her bright smile.

"Hi, Diana," Rain greeted lazily, her head still on his chest. Ivan wanted to Rain to loosen her grip on him, but he stopped, realizing it would be wrong to turn her away.

"I am glad that you guys are together. I really wanted to give you more privacy, but Mom was walking down the hallway, so I scurried in." Diana took her phone and started scrolling through Instagram. "Continue your romance while my eyes are glued to the phone."

"Sure!" chirped Rain. Even so, Ivan pulled her away.

"I am going to Italy for two weeks."

Hearing Ivan, Rain asked, pouting, "Why?"

He didn't answer because he wanted Diana to respond. Diana, however, didn't seem bothered and smiled at the phone. When he peeked, he saw her smiling at a text Aiden sent her. He hated the title 'Babe' now.

"Diana?"

Diana averted her gaze off the phone. She eyed him while speaking, "Were you talking to me?"

He got annoyed at her question. "I said I am going to Italy for two weeks."

Though she wanted to ask why, she controlled herself since Rain was in the room. Only Rain had the right to ask why.

"Oh, okay," Diana shrugged and locked her eyes with the screen again.

Why is she acting like that? Can't she stop talking to that piece of shi—Aiden for a minute? his questions were killing him. His nose flared in anger.

"Why are you going, babe?" Rain asked politely.

Ivan glared at her. "Don't ever call me that," with that, he stormed out of the room.

Rain glanced at Diana. "What's wrong with him?"

Diana sighed and continued chatting with Aiden, even though she wished to run after Ivan. Rain was stupid enough to not run after him. He obviously needed someone to talk to.

Meanwhile, Ivan looked at the garden from across the long corridor's glass, wondering what the unknown feeling he was experiencing.