"Are you okay, Michelle?" The smile on Valerie's face was replaced by a worried look. "You just bumped into someone!"
Michelle rubbed her forehead with one hand, while the other was on her buttocks. "I'm so sorry," she apologized without raising her head.
She had such a funny expression on her face that Nina couldn't help but laugh. She then bent down to help Michelle back on her feet.
"Come on. Let's get you up. Does your butt still hurts?"
"No..." Michelle tried her best to hide the pain she was feeling. After all, it was her who bumped into the person first. But as soon as she raised her head and realized that it was Nina who was standing in front of her, she tossed all pretension out the window. "It hurts! It really hurts!"
Valerie stepped forward and said in a gentle voice, "You have almost knocked down Princess Nina, Michelle. You should hurry up and apologize now."
"It's alright." Nina began brushing the dust off Michelle's body.
Upon sensing Nina's concern, Valerie couldn't help but frown. She heard that Nina was a cold and arrogant person who seldom made friends. She couldn't help but wonder why Nina was being friendly towards Michelle.
She thought Michelle was able to be one of Nina's bridesmaids
because of Leon. She didn't know Michelle and Nina were friends.
Nina watched Michelle intently before asking, "Why were you in such a hurry?"
"I have something urgent to attend to! I'll see you later!" Michelle was too caught up with thoughts of her flowers that she ran away from the princess without further preamble.
She didn't even seem to care about the pain in her buttocks.
Nine chuckled. But when she caught Valerie staring at her, she regained her composure and put on the same cold mask she always wore. She said, "You know Michelle because of my brother, right?"
"Yes. Leon treats her like his sister." Somehow, Valerie couldn't understand why they had to talk about Michelle. Nonetheless, she felt like she had to praise the other woman in front of the princess. "She's a very lovely girl," she added.
"Indeed she is," Nina said calmly. Nobody could read what the expression on her face meant.
Smiling, Valerie said, "To be honest, when Leon mentioned something about a sister, I thought you were in Lexingport City with him. It was only when I saw Michelle that I realized he wasn't referring to you at all."
Valerie watched the expression on Nina's face intently. But the princess was not giving anything away with her face.
'Princess Nina is really close to her brother Leon. Won't she get jealous that her brother sees a different woman as his sister?
Or am I being too subtle about this?'
Valerie's eyes darkened a bit as she sighed. "Michelle is really lucky. Leon treats her like his sister. It must mean she's as noble as you are, Your Highness."
"It seems that way."
Nina's tone was calm. Valerie, on the other hand, thought she was angry and was secretly happy with this reaction.
However, this happiness only lasted for less than two seconds. Nina added, "But there's one thing you didn't get right. Leon treats Michelle as his sister because of me. She is a really good friend of mine."
Valerie felt her blood go cold at what Nina had just revealed. She found herself unable to say anything to that.
The cold wind was blowing very gently, but Valerie felt the cold seep through her fingers and down to her toes.
She couldn't help but think, 'What does Princess Nina mean?'
"Is Michelle a good friend of yours?" Valerie had to clear her voice to keep it from trembling. She was still too shocked to believe what she had just heard. But she knew she couldn't show it to the princess. Nonetheless, her face turned pale no matter how hard she tried to hide her shock.
Nina glanced at her and noticed the look of surprise on her face. "Is there a problem?"
"No. There's no problem." Valerie tried to force a smile.
"Three years ago, I studied at L University with Michelle. She is my best friend in Lexingport City. You don't have to come here again. As for the ballet play you just mentioned, I need to check my schedule first. I'll let you know if I'm free to go," Nina said, turning around to face Valerie.
Valerie raised her head to meet Nina's eyes. They were as unfathomable as the deep sea.
She felt scared as if Nina could read her mind.
It was then that Valerie knew that Nina could feel her dislike towards Michelle. And it seemed like the princess disapproved.
Nonetheless, Valerie smiled and said, "Okay."
"You may leave now. You can visit Leon when he recovers and goes to C Mansion." With a cold expression, Nina left without giving her a smile.
The smile on Valerie's face disappeared as soon as she turned around.
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