Bye

"More likely so I like him, more than I should."

I suddenly opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling of my room. I very slowly sat up on my bed as my head feels very heavy and there's like ringing in my ears. Nevertheless I feel like I've said something really stupid yesterday.

I like him, more than I should.

Then it dawned on me. I said it. I really said it!

"OMAYGOD!"

"W-what is it, my lady?!"

I looked at Rory who rushed inside my room and quickly looked around, scanning the area.

I pinched my arm to calm myself down. I shouldn't worry the kids more than they should already. Stress would not be good for their growth.

"I was just suddenly woken up by my dreams, Rory. Do not worry." I smiled then wiped my face and eyes. I looked at myself, I'm in my sleeping wear, which is a red cotton robe. Ava and Eva must have changed me up last night.

"Is that so, my lady. Very well. I'll send Ava to give you some medicine for hang-over."

I just nodded as he left.

I placed both my palm to my face and let out a heavy sigh. I just really, really, really hope! That Hue didn't catch on what I really mean.

I mean, do I really mean it that way? Do I really like Erden? Am I being serious here? Are you being serious Reenste? Are you for real on yourself now?

I get it. Erden's a handsome guy. With his long slick black hair, his fair white face, those perfectly arched eyebrows, his almond shape and deep dark blue eyes that are like the night and stars above, his symmetrical luscious thin lips, and the unexpected smile he gives that makes my heart flutter.

I mean come on! I've literally described him as someone who looks like a god. So I get it! That's why I like him, but more than that. He knows the real me. The me who isn't this Reenste. The me who is missing my family. The me who worked my ass off to death. The me who is living now to this body. The me whom he know and accepted.

"Ahh...shit. I really do like him more than I should."

But still this doesn't make sense. It's like I've only met him 3 times. We really haven't interacted much right? Am I desperate for someone? Plus I shouldn't feel this way! I'm in the consort selection. I would be punished for involving myself with another man. Erden would be punished because of my own selfish feelings.

"AHHHGGHHHH!"

I grabbed one of my pillow and stuffed my head on it and screamed my lung out. I should just forget all about this. We should just be friends. For his sake.

"M-my lady? A-are you okay?"

I quickly sat straight and looked at Ava and Eva who's really worried and weirded out with my actions.

"Hahahaha! Y-yes... I am just.... doing a new training routine." I swiftly got up from my bed to fix myself and go out.

--------

"Is our Lady, okay? She's been sighing a lot since she left after breakfast..." Elvio is uneasy as he continue to swept fallen leaves at the backyard. Eva on the other hand is gathering the swept leaves at one side to be used as a compost.

"I'm not sure, but someone should relay Master Zuo's message soon to Lady. The assistant did emphasized that whatever it is on the enclosed envelope is due in two weeks."Eva then sat still looking at the leaves, as she hugs her thighs thinking deeply about her Lady's weird behavior.

"Well... it's not like, Rory didn't tried... Lady Reenste is just really out of it today. Our poor Lady Reenste, what must she been thinking for her to be so sad." Elvio said and slowly stopped on sweeping and his eyes began to be damp from the tears. Eva saw Elvio began tearing up thus she can't help not to tear up too. They were very worried to the person who have been smiling and caring for them. So the this kids cannot help but just be sad about it.

Ava with basket filled of washed clothes walked in the backyard and the scene. Which alarmed her and she quickly went to her peers.

"W-why are you two crying?" Ava inquired as she puts down the basket.

" Are you okay Eva? Do you feel hurt somewhere? Elvio? What happened? Are you hurt too perhaps?" Ava asked many questions that the two just stopped from crying and stared at Ava who's really worried for them.

"What?" Ava still freaked out asked both as they look at her. Then Eva and Elvio wiped away their tears and laughed together as they realized that they just cried while doing their chores.

"Your face, sister..." Eva said between her laughs. Elvio lightly nods as he looks at Ava who sweated a lot due to her worry.

"You guys!" Ava wiped herself up with her sleeves then gave both a light hit at their head.

"Go back to work!"

Ava after reprimanding the two, took the basket of washed clothes to go and hang the clothes to dry. Then he saw a man riding a horse near the lake then approached the door going to the library. She then slowly put the basket down to approach the man and see the person clearly.

"What are you looking at?" Elvio asked and walked near Ava. She then turned around to Elvio who were near her and almost bump her head to his.

"Goodness!" Ava jumped out from the place she's standing when they almost brushed near both their faces.

"Oh! Sorry Ava." Elvio reached out his hand to help her up. Ava looked at his face. For the past week Ava always seen him as somewhat a really weak kid, even borderline a weak girl because of how he's really pretty. But now with his hair swept back and sweat on his neck and top emphasizing his collarbone and his sharp jawline.

"It's fine." Ava said as she sees her sister's worried face as she quickly went to their side as Eva saw Ava fall. Ava stood up on her own and pat her skirt clean and Eva reached them worried.

"What happened?" Eva asked her twin sister. Ava just smiled and patted her sister's head.

"I'm fine I was just shocked. I was looking at someone." Ava then pointed at the man who's now standing outside the door going to the library. The wind blew and some leaves fell. The man's long black hair was blown away by the wind as he stand there looking at the door. The three who witnessed the scene can't help not to be mesmerized at how regal he looks just by standing.

"Maybe he's here for our Lady?" Eva said as her eyes sparkles from the sudden hope that her Lady wouldn't be sad anymore. So she very quickly run to the man. Ava and Elvio was caught off guard and just ran after Eva when she already got a head start to them.

"Mister! Mister! Are you looking for our lady?" Eva asked full of hope and her expression was really looking forward to the answer. The man then turned to her. His deep dark blue eyes glistened from the light of the sun, but he didn't showed emotion from the girl's question.

"Hey! Eva just don't run like that all of the sudden!" Ava said to her twin sister and immediately pulled her to the side and reprimanded her. Elvio on the other hand and looked straight to the man in the blue robes looking at them indifferently. Then looked at the door leading to the library.

"You're our lady's friend, right mister?" Elvio asked. The man didn't nod nor uttered anything, just kept looking at the place. Waiting for the door to open.

"Our lady... She won't go out right now. She's in her room. We don't know why, but today... She kept sighing and.... she's really sad. Our lady is really sad right now and we don't know why." Elvio said as his shoulders are low and he looked down. He remembered his lady's face sighing and looking from afar earlier. She tried to hide it, but it seems she's really sad about something.

"Reenste is sad?" Elvio looked up to the man and found the man frowning. There's disbelief in his eyes and also worry showing in his face. But it quickly vanished when the man noticed that Elvio was staring.

"Yes... Mister, I know you. You're Lord Erden. I know it was disrespectful of us not to properly greet you, but right now our lady is sad. Back then when we just got here in Shen Courtyard, I saw you with our Lady. You were talking to her. You even said she's special... So does that mean you like our lady?"

Ava froze from reprimanding her sister. Although she was reprimanding her, it was just a pretense to drive away Eva away from the man, but she is still in fact listening to the conversation. Thus she froze on what she heard. Eva also just shut still and waited quietly for anyone to speak.

The whole place they're in gone quiet. Only the occasional strong gust of wind and the leaves flying can be heard. The birds didn't freely chirped as if waiting for Erden's answer.

Then that's when the door opened and a woman in her red and black colored fluffy cotton robes that emphasizes her fair white skin. Her unkempt hair that still looks glossy and smooth. Her sleepy looking eyes who then turned to a shocked one when her sight fell to the man whom he was just thinking earlier.

"Erden? What are you doing here?"

Lord Erden then turned his attention to Reenste and then he cleared his throat before speaking. As if afraid that he might say something else.

"I'm here to say goodbye, Reenste."