Chapter 15: Mysterious
 
Vishiea’s POV
 
I pretended as if I was shocked and looked at him. “Your majesty, I believe we have resolved that issue. I am not Vishiea, but Anastasia. It’s quite disheartening that you have mistaken me for someone else.”
 
This is funny. I’m starting to love his confused look. I’m aware that they will eventually discover the truth, but for now, I can’t resist toying with their emotions.
 
He tightly sealed his lips and exhaled. “If that’s what you want. However, you can’t prevent me from thinking it’s truly you, Vishiea. I won’t give up until you eventually admit your identity,” he said while looking at me seriously.
 
He seems to find this situation quite exciting, doesn’t he? But what if I’ll tell him the truth? Would everything change? Would he admit that he was wrong and feel remorse for betraying me? I highly doubt it. A man like him only knew how to value himself.
 
“There’s nothing I need to admit, your majesty. If you’re questioning my identity. You can gather any information about me. But I know you already did,” I answered.
 
He closed his mouth tightly and leaned back. He’s acting like this because he can’t find any clue or information about me being Vishiea. I planned everything. I know the right time to reveal who really I am.
 
“Let’s forget about this,” he said casually. I bowed, “Of course, your majesty.” After I said that, our meal arrived. I mumbled thank you to the waiters and waitresses who delivered our food to the table.
 
Since we are here now, I will enjoy my food then. “Please, dig in,” he told me. I only nodded and started to eat gracefully.
 
As I dined, I observed him stealing a glance at me. I paused mid-bite and gazed back at him. “Is there something wrong with my face, your majesty? A dirt, perhaps?” I asked him.
 
“No, there’s nothing wrong. I wanted to look at you. But if you find it uncomfortable, I’ll stop it,” he said. Oh, looked at me? I smiled while shaking my head, “Not at all. I just found it weird to stare into someone you met yesterday.”
 
He shook his head and chuckled softly, “We’ve known each other for a long time, Vishiea---” I cut him off. “It’s Anastasia, your majesty.”
 
He let out a sigh, “All right, Anastasia.” I nodded. “Anyway, your majesty---” This time, he’s the one who stopped me from talking.
 
“Darius. You can call me by my name,” I stared at him. He allowed me to call him by his name? Oh well, how bizarre. I shook my head, “I believe I can’t do that, your majesty—” he shook his head too.
 
“I believe you can. That’s an order,” I shook my head and laughed. He’s making me laugh. “All right. If that’s what you want, Darius.”
 
After how many years, this is the first time I mentioned his name. The name I loathed the most. He nodded in satisfaction. “You can call me Anastasia in return,” I added. The smile on his lips widened.
 
“Sure, Anastasia,” I hate how my name rolls on his lips. I nodded, “Anyway, your majesty--- I mean, Darius,” he looked at me.
“Why?” he asked. “About your mate---” his brow furrowed. “Mate?” he questioned. “Yes, Rachelle. She’s your fiancée. Then, she’s your mate,” I will pretend as If I don’t know anything.
 
He shook his head, “No. She’s not my mate,” he firmly said. “she’s my fiancée but not my mate,” he added. “Oh, that’s unexpected. I mean, mostly, the one you’re marrying is your mate, right? No offence, but I’m shocked.”
 
He shut his mouth close, but then later, he talked. “I don’t want to talk about this matter,” sure. I know about that thing. You don’t like to remember the past.
 
“I don’t mean to offend you or something. But I think this doesn't seem right,” he arched an eyebrow. “Wrong? Wrong what?”
 
“This… all of this. You have Rachelle. I’m sure she’ll be furious if she knows this. Especially now that she was mad at me yesterday,” I said honestly. He only stared at me.
 
“And?” he replied. Is he serious? “And I don’t want any trouble. She’ll skin me alive the moment she’ll know this.”
 
He looked at me, amused. “Come on. I know you’re not scared of her. But to assure you, she can’t touch you.” I closed my lips tightly. A realisation hits me. Is this how he treated Rachelle? He’s treating her worse than he treated me before.
 
I mean, look at him. He’s having breakfast with me without Rachelle knowing. It makes me wonder, is he doing this also behind my back before?
 
I gritted my teeth angrily. “Are you okay, Anastasia?” I was pulled back into reality. I regained myself and nodded.
 
“Yes, I am. I’m full,” I said and stopped eating. He glanced at my plate and then back to me. “You barely touch your food.”
“I don’t eat that much in the morning,” I simply replied. “All right. Do you want to go back to the palace now, then?” he asked me.
 
“Yes, if you don’t mind,” he carefully placed the knife and fork on his plate and stood up.
 
“Okay. Let’s go back,” he decided. He helped me to stand up and guided me out of the place. The chauffeur opened the car’s door, “To the palace,” Darius said.
 
While on the way, I stared blankly outside the car’s window. I have no any idea how long I can keep my true identity here. And I was wondering how they would react. I know they will be shocked or angry, and I expect that.
 
I glanced at him shortly. He’s busy looking outside the car’s window too. He seems in deep thought as I am.
 
“May I know why you are looking at me?” he asked. I quickly averted my gaze. I was shocked to know he was actually aware of my actions.
 
“Well?” I composed myself and faced him. “I’m curious about you,” he raised an eyebrow.
“Everyone’s curious about me. But you’re more mysterious. Just like a puzzle that I wanted to solve,” he answered.
 
“Really? I’m not aware that I’m mysterious,” he chuckled. “You don’t have any idea, don’t you?” I shook my head.
 
“You’re mysterious because you’re Anastasia. The only daughter of the Duchess of Cullenfield. But you’re not mysterious as Anastasia to me but as---”
 
“But as Vishiea. I’m sorry to ruin your imagination, but I’m not Vishiea. You don’t have to be curious about it.” I completed his sentence. He only stared at me, and I stared back.