Kiss Me Not

Cedric walked to the spacious courtyard which was at the center of the palace where Olivia was supposedly waiting. It was his favorite spot in the palace. Almost all the royal parties and gatherings were held there. It had a classic and beautiful vintage garden decor that presented a serene and peaceful ambiance. (Note: Check comments for a reference picture)

He frowned when he saw that no one was around. He could recognize Olivia's face and knew a few things about her. When he lost his memories after his accident a year ago, Dr. Cain, with the help of a confidential team, put together a file that contained all the important information he needed to know. The file included events that were part of his life which no one else knew about.

In order to not let anyone know that he lost his memory, they made him memorize details and events involving certain influential people and secret data about the Royal Family. They managed everything so that except for a few trusted people, who would take that secret to their graves, no one else would suspect anything.

The incident from a year ago had to be kept a secret because it could take a toll on The Royal Family if anyone found out about it. It could be used against them by the people who were against the Royal Family getting involved in their nation's duties and wanted their privileges revoked.

Cedric and Olivia had had a great childhood and it was assumed that he liked the woman and had set his mind to be with her when the right time came. But now, strangely, his heart did not feel the same way.

He was startled when a pair of hands covered his eyes.

He cringed with pain when a memory of a similar scene came to his mind, but it was of a different place. A pair of hands used to do this before. But who was it? Was it Olivia?

"Cedric, are you alright?" He heard a woman's voice ask him and he saw Olivia's face before him. She looked worried and was about to touch his face but he moved out of her reach and casually remarked, "I'm fine. It's just a headache. I have them occasionally."

"Oh yeah, you have suffered from migraines since you were a teenager. Sorry, I startled you but this is how I usually greeted you and you could always guess it was me. I'm the only one who does this to you. This is the first time you didn't call out my name with enthusiasm.

Ahh, that hurts Cedric. Is one and a half years of separation from each other long enough to make you forget, huh?" Olivia pouted. She could not believe that Cedric had flinched at her touch like he was annoyed. This was the first time he had acted like this on her.

"I'm sorry, Miss Olivia, but a lot of things have changed in the time you're away," Cedric said with a blank expression. He tried to recall if he could remember her or anything about her but nothing came to mind.

"Miss Olivia? Seriously?! Did you call me Miss Olivia just now? Since when did you become so formal in addressing me?" Olivia burst out and Cedric inwardly cursed himself as he remembered that he supposedly used to call Olivia 'Livi'. He would have to pay more attention to matters such as this or else others might discover that something was wrong with him.

"I'm sorry Livi, but like I said it's been a while. Forgive me if I forgot to call you Livi, but I was not sure if you would still prefer for me to address you in such a familiar manner. By the way, Father is not available at the moment so he sent me to be your host instead." Cedric said and looked at his wristwatch.

He looked at Olivia to ask her about dinner, but his forehead creased when he saw Olivia's expression as she studied him from head to toe.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Olivia heaved a long sigh. Something was not right. There was something off with Cedric. He was behaving so cold towards her right now, which was so unlike his usual warm behavior towards her. Cedric was cold, ruthless, and stoic to other people but never with her. She knew him well because she was the only person with whom Cedric was confident enough to be himself.

Olivia looked straight into his eyes and said firmly, "I am back, Cedric. I know I've been away for too long but I have now returned to be with you. You promised you would wait for me. So what is going on? I wanted to tell you that I was coming back but I wanted to surprise you like this. Is that why you're acting indifferent now? Are you mad at me?"

Was Cedric playing a prank on her? But it was not in his character to play pranks.

Cedric creased his forehead because Olivia's words sounded like the two of them had some understanding before, but according to his briefing, and Will's words, he and Olivia were just close friends.

He looked at her with a half-smile and said, "We are good friends right, Livi? And I want to keep our friendship as it is. We are just good friends. I think my father must have talked to you or said something about us being together but I think you should know that I cannot accept it.

Not because I don't like you or I have something against you, Livi. You're a great woman and any man would want to be your husband but my heart only beats for just one woman, Livi. I have found a woman who has managed to capture my heart with just one glance."

Cedric felt guilty about being so straightforward. Was he being rude? He wondered as he saw the hurt expression on Olivia's face.

She looked at the man before him with suspicion in her eyes. This man was not her Cedric! She refused to believe that Cedric, her Prince, would have a change of heart so easily. It couldn't be!

Before Cedric could utter another word he heard Olivia ask with a serious expression, "Who are you? You're not Cedric."