'W-Wedding?'
She had been fussing over how she was going to ruin their engagement from day one and here he was, cutting through all formal proprieties to checkmate her with a single move.
What were her thoughts, he asked?
"That would be a disaster!"
Ruby answered without thinking. Again. And regretted it 3 seconds later.
What was exactly wrong with her?!!! Ruby hid her face with her two hands, though that wouldn't be necessary for the mask had hidden it all.
She shouldn't have been too straightforward. What if the man grew suspicious of her true motive?
As Ruby started panicking inside out, Julien suddenly burst into a series of laughter. The man seemed to be having the time of his life, his reaction confusing Ruby.
"You are surprisingly honest. Is it because of what happened that day? The ambush?"
Ruby shook her head. Yet another wrong reaction. She quickly fixed it by nodding like crazy.
"I'll take that as a no, then." Julien chuckled softly, his voice brushing against her like feathers.
He then returned to his seat, his movement languid as he motioned for Ruby to make herself comfortable.
Ruby's heart skipped a beat. This man… Why was he being so gentle today? He was making her nervous for no reason.
Ruby took the sofa next to his. Not too close, and not too far to avoid raising his suspicion.
The man seemed to be satisfied with her choice as he continued to question her, "If it wasn't the ambush, what was it that troubled you?"
The tease in his tone made her insides curl in discomfort. Ruby unconsciously shifted in her seat.
She was generally an active person. However, why did she always find herself in a passive position whenever she was up against this feeble-looking man?
"I– I just think it's too sudden. Could you give me a little more time to adjust?"
She forced out a reply. A little too weak, she admitted.
It's best if she could stall the time to allow herself more opportunities to strike back. Ruby peeked at the man's reaction, her shoulders flinching when she saw the man's cheery face turning solemn.
The air surrounding him seemed to have dropped a few degrees by then, when his smile suddenly returned with an additional chill to it.
"Oh? I thought that you're getting uneasy with the lack of events these past few days. Or… is it that these few days aren't enough for you to find out about me?"
Ruby's eyebrows twitched. Had she been caught?
She was panicking internally and yet, on the surface, still carried herself with a calm composure, "You spied on me?"
The accusation in her tone was intended to prick; However, when it landed on Julien, it had instead tickled.
"Spying is too strong of a word, Miss. After all, you're now in my territory, it's inevitable for me to learn about your moves, whether I have asked for it or not."
Julien leaned back on his seat, visibly relaxed and entertained.
On the other hand, Ruby felt as if she was sitting on pins and needles. She didn't dare to utter a word, especially not when she seemed to have fallen into his trap and now, surrounded from all sides.
The only thing she could do now was hide behind her silence and put up her defense like a porcupine brandishing its thorns, waiting for the right moment to strike back and break free.
Julien looked at her defensive form as if he was enjoying an entertaining show. Mario was right. She was truly simple-minded—Who's the idiot who had sent her here?
No matter what, since she had offered herself to him, it would be a waste to not put her into good use.
"So? Do you like what you find?" Julien pushed forward.
Ruby might have her entire expression hidden beneath the faceless mask, but all he needed was a glance at her eyes to probe what's exactly in her mind.
Afterall, her eyes were just too clear. They were like a pair of mirrors, and mirrors never lie.
"I found nothing." Ruby huffed out.
She was speaking the truth, and with incredible annoyance at that. Julien snorted. Surprisingly, he actually felt bad for her, this clown-like fraud.
"What do you want to know about me? I'll tell you since we'll soon become husband and wife." He spread his arms and offered out of rare kindness.
Ruby didn't take his offer. She stayed rigid as if rooted to her seat, the word "husband and wife" frightening her so much that she didn't dare to move an inch.
But then, something seemed to have clicked in her mind as she found her opportunity in his provoking offer—a chance to get close to him, to probe his weakness.
This was her only chance.
"Actually, there's something that has been bugging me since the day I arrived in this house." Ruby suddenly said as she leaned forward, her eyes boldly meeting his.
Julien was intrigued by the sudden sharpness in her demeanor.
"Oh? Please do tell." To his surprise, he could even hear the slight impatience in his voice.
"How are you going to differentiate us if we all wear our masks?"
Julien frowned. Nothing out of ordinary.
"I will manage." He answered coolly, not even bothering to mask his disappointment.
But then, what the girl did next stunned him.
"I'll help you."
She raised her hand and removed her mask, her movement so fast that he couldn't stop her in time.
"You!" Julien's breath hitched. Despite the blaring alarm setting off in his mind, his eyes betrayed his will and carelessly wandered from her fair cheeks, plump lips, round button nose, then—
Screech!
Julien jumped out of his seat as if it had caught fire and quickly turned around, directing his sight anywhere and not the girl who had exposed herself.
"What do you think you're doing? Do you want to die?!!"
His shout was loud and fierce and yet, it had failed to suppress the demonic whispers against his ears.
They were coming. The monster within him had been stirred awake.
But then, he heard her voice, ever so soft and light as if nothing really mattered.
"Flowers."
"What?" Julien blurted out almost immediately, not understanding a word.
"I've drawn some flowers on mine so that the next time you see me, you wouldn't mistake your wife as someone else."
Silence.
Hah. After a short while, Julien finally let out a speechless snort as he raised a hand to his forehead.
"Are you hitting on me?" He finally arrived at the conclusion, although he himself couldn't believe that such a thing could actually happen to him.
"Did I succeed?"
As the girl's voice fell, Julien turned around to a mask of blooming flowers. They were painted so life-like, and in a colour he thought she would've liked.
The girl succeeded. His heart had skipped a beat.
However, he didn't like it.
Not even a bit.