The air was crisp and cool carrying the hint of damp earth and decaying leaves. Sun rays were descending on the earth but it wasn't warm enough to counter the cold. In that heavenly environment Diana was sitting under a tree. Her hands delicately moving on the soft wool, knitting it into a beautiful scarf.
A person smirked from above, planning a little prank in her tiny head, she jumped down.
"Diana~"
"AH!" She startled, her heart racing as she leapt from her seat, needle and yarn flying in the air. "My lady, you startled me!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly.
"Hehe" A small smile was engraved on that face. Erin was proud of her mischief, seeing her she shook her head; it was impossible to get angry at someone as cute as her. Erin pulled her maid uniform,
"Diana, come with me." She wanted to walk with her to explore the garden.
"And what about your studies, my lady?" She questioned Erin. She rubbed her nose, not knowing what to say.
"How about you teach me on our walk?" A small idea came to her mind.
"If that's what you want." She sighed and started to walk with her. Both were walking through that garden, peacefully, smiling and laughing.
"Our house, Alfredo, lies on the western side in the Kingdom of Vallansia. Blessed with the power of red eyes, Raisis, the fire element." Diana started telling her important information about this kingdom.
"When will I start burning everything?" Erin grinned with joy. "I'm like a sunflower, right?"
Diana nodded. Walking forward, "Next is the Eastern border, where the house of Aerias lies. Power of the wind element that is white eyes."
"Like an anemone!" Erin jumped in joy. It was exciting to show her knowledge about flowers.
"Then comes the North and South border. House Marinus and Terrainus. They have water and earth element power and blue and green eyes. These four eyes protect the capital, golden eyes."
"So, they are marigold and lotus." Erin grinned at her.
"My lady, you have quite a good understanding of flowers." She praised her knowledge, patting her head. Her nose was up. "So which flower am I?"
"Mmm," Erin took a thought. Suddenly an idea came to her mind; she ran into those bushes near them. Diana tried to stop her, but then she let her go.
After a while, Erin came with something in her hand. Her dress was covered in dirt, small leaves were stuck in her messy hair. Diana pulled them out.
Erin's eyes sparkled as she presented the wilted rose, its delicate petals bruised and worn. "You're my lovely rose," she said, her voice filled with affection. "I couldn't find a fresh one, but this one's still special because it's for you."
Diana was halted by that unexpected gift. She didn't say anything or smile.
Erin tilted her head, not knowing what exactly was wrong. "You didn't like it?"
Suddenly she hugged her tightly. "I loved it, my lady." Erin was taken aback by that unexpected move; after a while, she too hugged her back.
**
Cian was lying on my lap, sleeping soundly. I brushed his soft hair. Apparently, it took me longer than I thought to wake up. I had been unconscious for almost two days; Cian didn't get even a little rest in these days. He was taking care of me, preparing medicines, and also imprisoning the maid in care.
It's my fault to be this careless; most of the nobles aren't satisfied with me being Duchess, so poisoning and assassination were guaranteed. It was dumb of me to be this careless.
"And also..."
The person with whom Cian was talking earlier was glaring at me with his gaze. For some reason he was angry at me. He had blonde hair and green eyes, a characteristic of people from the eastern border. He must be from House Aerias.
His gaze was making me uncomfortable...
"You've changed." Suddenly he said these words out of nowhere.
"And I don't remember how much," I told him. Just what the heck he was yapping about? No clues here, my brain was a mess; how am I supposed to know how my past self acted!
"HA" He was leaning against a wall. Thinking about it, with the way they were talking earlier, he seems quite a close friend of Cian.
"You weren't like that before." He had covered his eyes with his hands.
"That's the same line." It was getting boring. "Would you mind telling me how I changed?"
"...," he just stood there, deciding whether to talk or not. "It's difficult to distinguish whether you changed for good or bad."
"Are you going to answer or not?" He was pissing me off.
"You're still annoying as before." He smirked. "Looks like some things never change."
"For your kind information, it's been five days since I killed someone." My expression darkened. "And my sword is craving blood."
"Hahah"
He started to laugh. I think he has lost his mind.
"Whatever you do, I hope you will stop what you're doing now." Suddenly, he gave me a serious expression.
It was difficult to comprehend what he meant. What am I doing? Maybe combing Cian's hair...
Do you hate it? Are you his boyfriend or what?
"Remember." He came back to his position; with a cold tone, he replied, "He isn't an object of your pity."
It was confusing, so it was better to ignore his comment.
**
After that day, I thought it would be a little peaceful. We both started to spend our time like usual, but things didn't go as I expected.
Every cup of tea, every meal, every sip of water felt like a gamble with my life. Assassins seemed to lurk around every corner, waiting to strike. I felt like I was living in a never-ending nightmare, constantly looking over my shoulder, bracing for the next attack.
As if someone was trying very hard to kill me no matter what.
"My lady?"
"Ah!" I snapped out of my thoughts. A maid was combing my hair; she was the third replacement. Her name was Maya; apparently, she was from the East.
"Is this good?" She asked me.
I looked at the hairstyle; it was quite good. Maya had quite a good personality; maybe I can trust her?
"Rina, you will look good, no matter what," Cian answered from behind. He was lying on my bed, which he had already made his.
"Your highness, don't you think you should visit the palace at least once?" I asked him. From his information, it's been quite a while since the last time he visited the palace.
"Don't want to." He firmly refused, "What if someone snatches you away in my absence?"
This guy is impossible to predict.
"My lady, here," Maya gave me a ribbon to tie around my hair.
**
"My lady!!!!!" She cried out loudly, "JUST DIE ALREADY!!! WHY CAN'T YOU DIE??? YOU ******* WENCH, DIE!!" She was holding a knife in her left hand, lying on the ground injured.
"Your acting was quite good." I coldly answered. Maya was shouting all those annoying things, which I had heard a lot in my childhood.
"Who sent you?" I questioned her. She was bleeding from every part of her body. My sword was kept straight on her neck, ready to slice it the next second.
"AS IF I'LL SAY IT??!?!??!" She started to laugh out loud; I sliced her. Blood was splattered on my beautiful face.
Cian approached me, gently wiping the grime from my face. My eyes were lifeless and dull; it was boring and exhausting. To be on high alert, nobody to trust. The only person who was loyal to me till now was him.
"Rina," he hugged me. I closed my eyes; my body was craving rest. Whenever he was close by, it was easy to get good sleep; maybe it was muscle memory, which lets me relax around him.
"I'm tired." I announced, snuggling my face in his shoulders. I closed my eyes to get some sleep.
**
"Awake?"
I woke up, only to hear another male voice. It was that noisy subordinate from earlier.
"How long are you planning to stay here?" I asked him while drinking some water. Whenever Cian was absent, he used to send him here to protect me. Or just to ease his worries, knowing me I can beath this brat in total five seconds.
"Until his highness lets me." He spoke.
"Keeping that aside" He came near me, narrowing his eyes. He was in no mood of joking, cold aura surrounded him, "Just make it clear."
"?" I don't know why this guy always tries to be mysterious.
"What do you feel about him?" he asked in a cold voice. "Stop playing, and tell whether you love him or not."
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