"Your Highness, the Crown Prince will be joining you for dinner," Lily announced as Portia prepared to head to the dining area.
Portia paused, surprised. She usually dined alone in the Crown Prince's residence and after the way Cristiano had stormed off the previous day, she hadn't expected him to join her tonight. Or well, any night. Their relationship was not that of a normal husband and wife.
She remained silent and merely nodded in acknowledgement. Before she could ask further, Lily added, "His Highness may arrive later than your usual dinner time."
"That is not a problem," Portia replied. "I will take Blue out for a walk."
She and Blue usually strolled through the gardens after dinner, but since their meal would be delayed, she decided on an early walk instead. Moreover, she was not sure if the walk would even be possible after the dinner. She could understand human complexities but Blue, the spoiled pet, could not and would not.
As the two of them wandered along the garden paths, a figure stepped in her way.
"Your Highness," Portia greeted with a polite smile. She was caught off guard by his presence but she maintained the grace that befits that of a crown princess.
The person was none other than Prince Jackson. At the sight of her, he gestured for his attendants to leave as he signalled that he wished to speak with her privately. Something that made her feel awkward and…wrong?
"I have asked you to call me by my name," Jackson said, a teasing note in his voice.
Portia hesitated, recalling Cristiano's warning to keep her distance from Jackson and especially never to address him informally.
With a polite smile, she replied, "That would be improper. I request His Highness to ask anything of me but this."
Jackson chuckled. "You are quite peculiar."
His gaze lingered on her face for a while as he was drawn to the way her hair gleamed under the moonlight. "You are unlike anyone I have ever met," he murmured. She was more beautiful than any woman he had ever met. Had she not been wolfless she would be the one Alpha would start a battle for. Once again, something so perfect fell into Critiano's lap without even wanting. What a hypocrite fate he had!
"Yes," Portia said simply. She was not like anyone in this palace as she was weak, wolfless, and apathetic. She did not belong here. She did not belong anywhere. She wondered if the likes of her had ever a place where they belonged. Or would she spend all her life being an anomaly?
A flicker of vulnerability crossed her face that would have gone unnoticed by most but not by Prince Jackson. Nor by the silent figure hidden in the shadows, watching the two of them,.
Portia quickly said, "I should take my leave."
Before Jackson could stop her, Blue was already dashing toward the Crown Prince's residence which left Portia no choice but to chase after the dog in her heavy gown.
"Blue, stop!" she called, but the mischievous creature only barked in response and kept running.
It wasn't until they neared the Crown Prince's residence that Blue finally came to a halt and began panting as if proud of its little stunt.
Portia sighed, bending down slightly. "You were running away from Prince Jackson, weren't you?" She narrowed her eyes at the dog. "Don't think I didn't catch on to your trick. Aren't you a little grumpy troublemaker? One day, you will land me in real trouble."
But instead of turning back, she and Blue continued toward the residence. Just as they stepped inside, Cristiano arrived.
Now, husband and wife sat across from each other at the dinner table.
Silent.
Portia felt as though she had done something wrong. A strange sense of guilt settled in her chest. Finally, she broke the silence.
"Your Highness?"
Cristiano looked up, his expression murky.
She hesitated for a moment before saying, "I met Prince Jackson outside our residence."
Cristiano's attention sharpened, not at Jackson's name, but at the way she had said our residence.
It didn't anger him. It intrigued him.
He raised a brow.
"We didn't talk much," Portia continued carefully. "He just asked me to call him by his name, and I apologized for refusing."
Cristiano leaned back, watching her closely. "Why are you telling me this?"
She blinked, a little taken aback. "Because my mother always tells my father everything. Especially things that could cause confusion or problems in their marriage." She paused before adding, "Although you do not see me as your wife, I still treat you as my husband. I don't want any misunderstandings between us."
Cristiano let out a dry laugh. It wasn't amusement. It was anger, frustration, and something else he couldn't quite name.
Portia Hawthorne. Ever so perfect.
The meal continued in silence until and near the end, Cristiano finally spoke.
"I found out that it was my mother who ousted Isabella."
Portia simply nodded.
No apology. No gratitude. Nothing.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
By the time the meal ended, Cristiano was drowning in frustration. She didn't care. She didn't bother to care. He was tormented with guilt, but she remained indifferent.
In a fit of anger, he left the residence as his steps were heavy with resentment.
Moments later, he found himself at the courtesan's place, where people cared about him. Where his words and feelings mattered.