He stands by the door, waiting for her appearance for a long 20 minutes, but yet she has not come out of the dressing room. 20 minutes is considered short, especially for a lady who is dressing herself up nice and well for big occasions. To others, it may seem to be a dreadful long time, however for him… It makes a difference on who is he waiting for. A similar past experience just flashed across his mind. He has once waited for her more than an hour plus long at the door. And so, for this mere 20 minutes, it can hardly means anything to him. Chuckling silently at this small conclusion he made, a female servant happen to walk past him, shooting him a weird look as if telling him, 'why is he chuckling to himself, has he lost it or something?'.
Guilford moved his right hand to straighten his collar, clearing his throat at the same time. He told himself to remain in a calm manner nevertheless, waiting for the princess to come out and additionally, trying not to convey anymore weird expressions/reactions to the passer-bys.
A few moments later, Cornelia opens the door but yet to step out of the room. Instead her hand is shown out of the door frame and is ushering Guilford to come into the room. Guilford looks puzzled. He stepped inside the room, closing the door and turns around to face her. Just as he starts to speak to ask her, he stops in his tracks, dazed by what is appearing in front of him.
Cornelia walks up to him upon seeing his dazed reaction. "Guilford, are you alright?" her face seems worried is placed right in front of his vision.
"Ah... Yes, I am alright." his voice slightly creaked and he clears his throat again, his cheeks blushing slightly. He is totally stunned by her beauty. The black gown dress she wore, though rather revealing, exposed her back almost completely. Despite the fact that he do not really like the low cut which exposes her 'assets' just like the earlier attire she wore, nonetheless it shows out her figure perfectly.
"How do you think I look?" She spins her body slightly.
"Stunning. You look gorgeous. Still I do not really prefer your dress, it's too revealing", he said to her.
"Same sentiments as mine. But Euphie… She picked it out especially for me, for today's banquet and I do not want to disappoint her."
"Alright then but I do not want other guys to be ogling at you." He said frowning.
Cornelia laughed, "So does this mean you are somewhat jealous?"
"Yes, I admit it. I cannot deny the fact that I am in love with you." After having said that, both of them blushed. "Well, before we go, we… No, I have to do something about that 'exposed' back of yours." Guilford said and walks over to her cupboard, and started to rummage around her clothing. He is trying to look for something to cover her revealing area, after a few moments he held out a silk-alike shawl to her.
"This will suits with the gown you are wearing. Drape it around and see how it is." Without saying anything, Cornelia does as what he says. Indeed, the shawl he has chosen matches perfectly with the black gown she is wearing.
"Looks great, this will not only prevent the men from ogling at you but it will also keep you warm since you are quite 'exposed'." Guilford looks very satisfied in his doing.
"Thanks, I appreciate the thought."
Guilford headed straight for the door, opening it. Tucked out his left arm, he turned his face slightly and said, "Shall we go then?"
Cornelia smiled at his small gestures, wrapped her right hand into his left arm and both of them left the room.
Arriving at the hall, Guilford saw a lot of people looking in their direction and could hear some talking about how beautiful Cornelia is dressed. Somehow, it feels like they are making a grand entrance but of course, all the attention is on the main character. Though feeling a little left out, he himself also does not really like all attention to himself anyway. Cornelia broke off his chain of thoughts, signaling to him and she parted ways with Guilford.
Making his way aimlessly through the crowd as there is nothing for him to do, other than waiting for the banquet to end; he saw Darlton and approached him.
"The two of you looks like newly-weds when coming into the hall" Darlton said while smirking at him.
"It's okay if you say this in front of me but you had better not say it to the princess or in front of anyone else." Guilford said with a little anger in it.
"Come on, relax my friend. I was just joking with you. You are taking it too seriously."
"Sure I am, because you are drunk and am blabbering nonsense here. Sober yourself up, will you? Before any trouble is caused."
"Geez, calm down, will you? I am sobered up enough. Sorry." Darlton says it sincerely to him.
"Fine... Guess I am too worked up." After all, Darlton is both his friend and comrade; in addition he is seniority above him. Guilford supposes that he should at the very least, respect him, but then again, as soon as Darlton has apologized to him, he lightly patted on Guilford's shoulders, somewhat giving Guilford the feeling that his 'sincerity' in apologizing seems fake.
Shrugging off his hand off his shoulders, he couldn't do anything to Darlton. 'Whatever...' is what Guilford is thinking right now. Minutes later, a voice speaks sounded through the entire hall, bringing everyone's attention to where the voice is from. It was actually the King speaking, and there he is with his family sitting behind him, giving a closing speech to the banquet.
Well, the content of the speech is expected, it's about the same ever since he entered into this annual ceremony about years ago. And so, Guilford is hardly looking forward to it but more like, he is looking forward for the banquet to end it as soon as possible. Sometimes, not to be rude but he really wondered just what is there to talk about given the very fact that the speech is almost the same each year; won't the King get bored in the slightest?
During the whole time while the speech is on, rather than listening it with pride that he is one of those who is able to attend the banquet, and the fact that it is the King himself who is addressing to them, Guilford does not seem to be enjoying it in the slightest.
"This is going to be a long one", he thought, he stood there, looking bored and his mind is wandering somewhere at the same time.
He is brought back to attention by the sounds of applauses, sounding throughout the hall. It was then he realized that the speech is already done. He followed suit and joined in the applauses.
"Don't you feel great after listening to the speech? Especially for us, the soldiers…" Darlton said to him, his body wavering slightly towards hi.
"Yeah, indeed." That was all Guilford could reply back to Darlton. After all, he did not register the contents in the speech. Not only that, he could not possibly asked Darlton what the speech is about for it will be too rude and disrespectful, to the King and Darlton. Guilford has no choice but to go with the flow of 'lying' and agrees with his question.
Even though the speech has ended a while ago, and the King has gone back, there are still crowds of the nobles in the hall. But it was none of his business anyway. Right now, since the banquet can be considered that it has ended, he has something else to attend to. The promise earlier made between him and Cornelia.
"I have to leave now, Darlton, since everything has ended." Just as Guilford is getting ready to leave, Darlton body nearly slammed right into him, almost making both of them fall forward but was stopped when Guilford managed to react in time, balancing both of them.
"What's the hurry, young man? The night is still young and the ladies are still here, why not try to make some friends?" Darlton said. His breath is reeked of alcohol, it was rather disgusting when he is speaking so near to Guilford's face, where he can feel the warmth and the smell right on his face. Heaving them up, he hold onto Darlton, making sure that he will not fall over again.
"He sure has drunk a lot tonight... So much to the extent of putting his own weight onto someone else's", trying to be sarcastic in some ways against Darlton's action.
"Someone should attend to you and do you know that you are drunk? And where are your sons?" Guilford asked as he is scanning through the hall, looking for any one of his sons. It is quite hard for him to do so, as not only do he have to stand in one spot looking in such big area for he knew that if they were to move again, they may fall down for sure and make a scene for themselves. Also, it is impossible for Guilford to move as Darlton has practically put all his weight over him.
"N-No idea where they are. *Hic* Probably making friends somewhere around here, unlike someone I know who doesn't..."
"Why are you so persistent? Do you not feel bored in asking me the same thing over and over again?"
"Nope, not at all."
"My answer remains the same. Now what am I supposed to do with you?" his tone expressing a bit of frustration in it.
"You can just leave me here. Sooner or later, they will come looking for me."
"I could, but not after seeing this state you are in now."
"Come on, I am not a three-year old kid that needs to be taken care of." Guilford is snickering softly at Datlton because not only do he sounds like a little kid kicking a small, his actions also seems somewhat the same of what a little kid will do. Dragging themselves together aimlessly nowhere, he saw Alfred, one of his adopted sons walking by. Seeing him in the crowd was like a ray of hope for Guilford. He waved and called out for him. Alfred heard and approaches towards them.
"Good thing I saw you, Alfred. take him." Guilford literally passed Darlton into his son's arm and heaved a sign of relief. "Your dad is drunk and he leaned onto me by chance, take good care of him. If I had not seen you, I will be dragging a dead weight with me all night looking for you guys."
"I apologized for the mess he is in and the trouble he has caused for you, Lord Guilford." Alfred said while balancing his father on his arm.
"No worries, anyway I have to get going. Get him home soon before anything happens."
"Noted. Have a good night, sir" Alfred replied. Guilford nodded and leaves the hall, walking towards to the dressing room for his princess.
Upon reaching the destination, just when Guilford is about to knock the door, the door was flung open from the inside, startling him.
"Oh, you are here, Guilford."
"Y-yes. I just arrived to pick you up, Princess."
"I see. I was about to give you a call that I will be leaving without you." Guilford can see that Cornelia is angry with him, it is an undeniable fact that he is late, its all thanks to Darlton. "I'm sorry, something cropp—" His sentence was cut off because Cornelia is leaving him behind. Trying to catch up to her is an easy task for him but, trying to explain the reasons of being late is another story.
Along the way, Guilford has been attempting to explain to her but he was given silent treatment. He hasn't realized that they have reached the parking lot until Cornelia stops and tells the driver to pass the keys to him as he will be driving her back. Cornelia seated herself in the back; the atmosphere in the car is so silent and dead. He can only have himself to blame, after all he is probably the second person knowing her the best. Especially that part of her where she hates people giving excuses or explanation as to why they cannot fulfill their duties et cetra.
"Going back to the military's dorm or to the main house?" Guilford asked, trying to break off the silence in the car.
"To the dorm." Cornelia answered coldly, obviously she is still angry.
"Okay. I'm sorry, honestly. What am I supposed to do to appease you?" Sounding a bit guilty and feeling depressed as she does not seem to believe him in the slightest.
"Just drive and say no more."
During the whole journey, none of them has said a word, even after they have reached their destination. Though feeling rather down, the fact that he is being ignored and is given silent treatment, Guilford escorts Cornelia all the way to her room. After making sure that she reached her room safely, he begins to leave until Cornelia stops him.
"Come in, we are going to have a small chat"
Finally I have done my Chapter 2. *Hurray* It's sure is long, very long plus tiring too. Thinking about how I am suppose to continue the flow of the story, my creativity level is vaporizing by the minute LOLS XD
But nevertheless, I am trying my very best to make the story flow smoothly. Should you find any parts to be weird, please bear with me.
Chapter 3 is going to be lemony by the way.