chapter 23

Scribble. Scribble.

" Humm.. "

" .....? "

' ..However, I think about it.. "

Scribble. Scribble. Scribble.

" ..It's weird.. "

" What is it? "

Claire, who was focused on her paper startled by the sudden voice, quickly cover her scribble with a book and turn to face the guy while acted like it was nothing.

" Oh, my..! Sir Edward. What brings you here? You didn't have to escort me today since I wanted to just fool around at the garden. "

" ...There your highness dodge my question again... Well anyway, I happen to have a little break today since my master was just fooling around on these gardens. So I headed there to look at her doings. "

" ....?? "

While turn speechless by Edward's voice that sounds like he was sulking, Claire quickly covers her smile with her hand in an instant.

" ...Heh. Look like you're lonely without me, sir Edward. "

" ...! "

" I'm not! "

" Haha. yes, you're, sir Edward. "

" ..! your highness shouldn't.. "

" Very well, let's just said that then. " with a smirk, Claire glance at Edward and turns her sight on her paper again.

" Earlier, I thought you were someone suspicious, so I quickly hide my notes but seems it's you... "

" ...? what are you talking about, princess? notes? "

" Yes, it seems a little odd... Here, if I'm not wrong, doesn't your sister will have her debuted at a social gathering this month? but the last time I went there, I didn't take a glimpse on her though..? "

" ...Ah.. so this is about my sister? "

Quickly Claire nodded her head with a desperate face.

" Why do you want to know about her, princess? she didn't stand that much on the last bouquet so I think you shouldn't bother your thought about her, your highness."

" ..? "

" What do you mean, sir Edward? "

" ..... "

" ...Ha.. "

" Well, I mean that her presence wasn't that strong for you to make her as your acquaintance, your highness. "

" ...?? "

" Somehow, you seem to look down on your own sister, sir Edward. " with a frown, Claire stares at Edward in doubt.

" ..! "

" I-I didn't mean in such a way... I just worried about her, your highness. Please don't misunderstand my intention. "

" ..Why worried? it not like I would totter her or something.. "

" ...!! No, no..! of course you're not..! Please forgive me for my insolence words, princess! I didn't mean to..! "

" Then why? "

" ...! "

" ... "

" She was my precious sister.."

" ...??? "

" I know that much too.. so? "

While hesitating to talk, I look at Edward's hand that fidgeting to tell me the truth.

" it's just... Sigh.. "

" ..? What is it, Sir Edward? Ah..!! if-if you were burdened about this, you can just reject to talk about it, it-it's alright though..! I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable around me, Edward.. " with a guilty smile I put on my face, my eyes seem to beg for the information for more. Geez, Claire.. Don't you have any pity on this soul in front of you?

Whatever! this guy was just the only way for me to know about Maria's current actions. I'm sorry Edward but I need to use you on my plan.

" ..... "

" ..It's alright. May I take a seat beside you, princess? "

" ..!! of course! "

' Ah..! he's ready to open his mouth! such a clever trick you've used to trick him, Claire! good job! '

" .... "

I know it's a bit inconsiderate, but my eyes have been sparkling all over his thin, well-shaped, scarlet lips to open up for me. ' What's it is..! tell me! tell me! hurry..! hurry! '

" Well, it's about my sister's condition but I've never told anyone before... "

" ..? "

' Yes, yes. I know! Just tell me the truth about what was your sister scheming right now..! I need to surpass her if possible! '

" She had a weak body since she was born.. "

' yes? wait..what? a weak body..? did I misheard it or something..? '

"..... "

"...and.. Sigh... She was currently in a dying stake, princess.."

" ?? "

" .....???? "

' WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON RIGHT NOW??? '

" Pardon..? have I perhaps misheard you, sir Edward? she's dying..?? "

' MARIA IS CURRENTLY ON A DYING STAKE RIGHT NOW?? ARE YOU TRYING TO MESS WITH ME OR WHAT??? '

" ..Yes, she is, your highness. "

" ...? wait-wait a minute.. your sister's name is Maria, right? "

"? yes. Her full name is Maria Stiffany Almera, your highness. "

" ??? wha-what?? "

" How could that possibly..? "

" Well, we have used so many ways but there's nothing that could cure her sickness... Every doctor that has come to our mansion, all said the same thing that she doesn't have any time left... I felt sorry for her since she's still very young.. " with a hurting expression, Edward bend his head while trembling in sadness by his sister's misfortune.

" She often said to me that she wanted to walk around like everyone else but since her body is so weak... I couldn't grant her wish..! she currently just laying on her bed all day long and only put a pitiful smile on her face.. my precious sister, Maria.. ".

" ....?! "

" ...I-I... I didn't understand it at all... How could she be dying...? "

Looking at Edward's expression, there's no way he would lie about this matter. With that, Claire doubted the reality in shocked.

" ... "

" I'm sorry to make you tell me this story about your little sister, but I will take my leave now, sir Edward. "

While confused by the situation, Claire quickly headed towards her room with a big frown.

' What did he mean by dying?? she supposed to live happily ever after with the crown prince at the end! what all of this twist..? '

" Then how about my revenge plan? if Maria did not end up with Noelle...Then.. who would take my place? "

" ...What is all of this nonsense..? This doesn't make any sense at all..! "

" My lady? are you alright? "

Claire in speechless, quickly turn her face towards Daisy who was looking at her with worried written all over her face.

" Daisy.. "

" Yes, my lady? "

" ..What should I do, Daisy..? "

"? what is it, my lady? "

" ....I-I.. "

" ...I've suddenly lost my exact reason for all of my actions up until now.. "

' Why though all of this happened?? ugh. ' my head started to get heavy with the sudden information about Maria...

" ...! My lady! your face has turned pale! we should call the doctor right away! "

" No-no, you don't have to. Besides, quick, request to meet duke Almera at this instant. "

"? duke Almera, my lady? "

" Yes, and do it in silence. No one should know about this. "

"..but since when you've been an acquaintance with Duke Almera, my lady? "

" Stop asking me questions and just do as I said, Daisy! " with a firm and ominous glare, Claire stares at Daisy in annoyance.

Flinch.

" I-I'm sorry, my lady. "

In flustered by Claire's sudden shout, Daisy quickly heads out of Claire's room in shock by her intense voice at her.

" Does the princess mad at you, Daisy? "

" What? what? the princess would even mad at Daisy too? "

With just a single shout from Claire's room, every servant in Allardis has gathered at the kitchen while blocking Daisy who was in hurried to write a letter to the duke.

" No-no, she didn't mean it at all! I just happen to make her lose her temper for a while there. There a no bigger problem at all. " with a big smile, Daisy quickly bows at them and continues to run towards the office in hurried.

" Look at her... I pity her because she has to serve that icy princess all by herself. "

" Yes. me too. since the princess didn't want any servant of the Allardis to serve her, Daisy was the only one to take care of the princess. "

" Hm-mm, she had so much on her plate since that arrogant princess only wants her for herself. "

" What an annoying person, the princess is. "

" Well, just look at her all-knowing face. Even her gaze wasn't.. "

" What is all of this ruckus about? don't you all had some more works to do? "

' Yikes..?! the head maid! '

" We-we're really sorry, madam Lenny! "

After looking at those anger faces of Lenny, all the maids quickly return to their position in hurried while Lenny sighed at their impudent actions towards the princess.

' If the princess happens to hear those murmur of yours... I didn't know what would happen to your guys. '

" Look like the rumors have been spread within the palace maids now, it just takes a moment where the princess would hear about it too.. "

While saying that, Lenny's eyes simply glance at someone behind her with a suspicious gaze.

" Do you want me to settle it down? "

" .... "

Suddenly, a guy in the dark quickly shakes his head a little and takes a glance at Lenny with a smirk.

" Don't bother.. "

"? "

" What do you mean by that, master? "

" I will take care of that matter on my own. you just have to keep on watching over her, Len. " while saying that, the suspicious guy lean on the wall with a mysterious smile, he turns his body and vanished away from Lenny sight in a flash.

" ... "

" Yes. I understand, master. "