chapter 24

" She has been lost consciousness for almost two weeks already, my lady. "

" .... "

" ....it's that so.. "

" Thank you for your hard work, Henry. You can take your leave now. Make sure no one knows about this. "

Since I haven't yet become an acquaintance with duke Almera just like Daisy said so I retreat my actions to send a letter to him and instead I hire a spy to investigate Maria's condition in duke Almera's mansion in silence.

Well, I can't directly make a move on Duke Almera since our family wasn't in a good term with each other. It's all because Duke Almera is under the grand duke's influence and their families have been the only rival for the title of the Paladin head troop since our ancient times. This strife gradually growing stronger when the 23rd emperor of Castella announced that the title would only be given to the heir of archduke Romanoff when one of my ancestors, Hadrian Romanoff, successfully managed the hard task that was given to him and brought honor to the whole empire as a grim riper of the battlefield.

" Yes, my lady. "

After the guy named Henry nodded at me and leave my room through the window, I slowly held both of my head in despair.

" This doesn't make any sense..! "

Bang!

Things on my desk, I throw them away with one shove. In anger, my breathing getting more intense since the news of Maria came into my own ears.

" Oh god! my lady, you hand is bleeding! " After burst into my room without permission, Daisy quickly wrap my bleeding hand with a handkerchief and while worried, she said to me to wait for her while she runs off to call for a doctor to treat my wounds.

" ...I couldn't think of anything anymore.. ugh.! "

Bang!

Again, this time, everything on my shelf has been thrown away to the ground too, and now my room has become a complete mess.

" Why?! Why would you were dying when I'm trying to have my revenge on you?! "

" ...princess.. "

Flinch.

Stunned by the sudden greeting, Claire bends her head for a while to take a deep breath, and slowly she raises her head up in calm.

" .... "

" Lenny? What does do you want? "

Lenny with her usual composure calmly walks towards Claire and bends her head a little when she's already stood in front of Claire's desk with a bow.

" This letter is addressed to you, princess. "

" ...Letter? Give it to me. "

Slowly without any doubt, I opened the letter that no address was written on it and read through the content in silence.

' My Claire, I knew about your anxiety over the matter of Maria... '

" ....!! "

" This! where did you get it from, Lenny?! "

" .... "

" ....Lenny..? "

I turn speechless when I look at no one in front of me anymore. Even her single trace has gone.

" Lenny, are you there? " I quickly head out from my room and run through the corridor to find Lenny.. but unfortunately, she's gone.

" Oh my! what's wrong with your hand, princess? are you alright? "

Shocked by the sudden appearance of Lenny from behind my back, I turn speechless again by her worried gaze on me.

" Hm? why do you look at me like that, princess? was there something on my face? " quickly Lenny rubs her whole face with her small palm and looks at Claire with a frown since Claire didn't change her expression at all.

" Wasn't you're the one that came to me before and gives me a letter, Lenny? " dumbfounded by the situation, I in a doubt immediately look at Lenny.

" Letter? what's the letter you were mentioned about, princess? I do not yet visit your highness since I had so many works to be done today. " Lenny tilt her head in dumbfounded by my question towards herself.

" What? no, I'm sure that person is you, Lenny. I see you with my own eyes. "

"? but I didn't though... "

" If it not you... then who? "

Looking at a big frown on my face, Lenny suddenly smiles at me with a warm gaze and she touches my sleeve to make me calm. " I think you must feel very tired today, princess. It's almost midnight yet you didn't go to sleep. Let me escort you to your room now. Ah! but we should treat your wounds first, princess. Let's headed to the medics beforehand. "

" .... "

" Okay.. "

****

' My Claire, I knew about your anxiety over the matter of Maria... '

Once again, I read through the content in wonder. Even though it already turns midnight, but my eyes seem like it can't close at all..!

' There's only one person who would address me like this.. '

" .... "

" But even so he's returned, how could he knew all of these scenes..? "

' My Claire, I knew about your anxiety over the matter of Maria, but trust me. She will be alright. Don't worry and just try to remember what exactly she does at this time. My Claire, I knew you're smart so remember why she could get her title in the first place. '

" It such a rough written... just like him. "

In a little sigh, I slowly get up from my bed and walk towards the balcony in tiredness.

" If you're back, things wouldn't get this mess.. "

' In the letter.. what does he mean by 'her title'? do you mean Maria's title as a saint? '

" .... "

" ....Ah! "

" ..Yes... If I think about it back... That's true. In the past, wasn't she accomplished that title in this time too? Yes. It was the time when we would have our debutante in two years so I always had to stay at the emperor's palace to take my etiquette lesson and I would often hear the maid talks about Maria's succession within the empire in this time as well..! "

" But how did she get this title in the first place though...? "

' She's got her glory with what..? '

" .... "

Yawn...

" ..Hm..? I'm feeling sleepy so suddenly.."

" Let's just sleep.. first.. "

" ... "

Swish...

" ...!! "

" Whaa-! "

Fwoosh...

" .... "

" ....fuh..erm.. " Looking at Claire who was sleeping soundly in his embrace, the mysterious guy that appeared from nowhere suddenly tighten his grip more on her fragile body.

Sigh... " Good thing I manage to hold her head before it hit the ground. "

" ....Tch. "

" This girl! you know how they would throw a tantrum if you were to catch a cold?! wandering alone on the balcony and just fall asleep here like it was nothing..! "

" .... "

" ...Sigh, calm yourself. Nothing good would happen if she were to wake up now and saw your face in front of her.. "

Slowly, the mysterious guy lightly carried Claire's small body into her room and gently he lay her body on the bed and pull the blanket through up her whole body.

While standing beside her bed in silence. He takes a glance at Claire's sleeping face and slowly his hand unconsciously caresses her pinked hair.

" .... " with tenderness on his eyes, he looks at Claire in deep silence.

" Don't stare at her like that, you make me jealous, master. "

Flinch by his right-hand man words who appeared from his back so suddenly, the mysterious guy quickly coughs a little and in flushed by his actions, he takes a step backward from Claire's bed.

" .... "

" I know... "

" ...? I have been wondered since the first time you took me to this mansion. "

"...what is it. "

" Well, you said this is a secret mission from one of our customer's requests but it seems like it wasn't something like that at all, huh? "

" .... "

" ....Yes.. you're right.. it simply because of my selfishness.."

" Hm? "

" That's quite easy for you to admit the truth. Well, then whatever. Anyway, who she is to you though, master? "

" ..... " speechless by his right-hand man again. The mysterious guy slowly bends his head and leans a little towards Claire then gently, he slightly touch her face with a slight smile on his face.

" My precious person.."

" Hm-mm, precious, huh? "

"..Well, if that the exact reason. Then, seem like there much more works to be done, right? master? "

" ...Yes. "

****

" I think there's nothing I should teach you anymore, seem like you'll be alright on your coming of age ceremony, lady Claire. "

" Oh my, you're flattering me for too much, countess Barnes. Well, thank you for the lessons today. "

" Oh dear, look at how gracious your attitude is! you're such a perfect lady, lady Claire. No wonder even the crown prince might fall for your beauty. "

" ...Ah.. yes.. "

" Thank you for the compliment, countess Barnes. I would accompany you to your carriage. "

" No, no. it's alright. I want to meet my son before I left. "

" Oh? your son, sir Gary. Am I right? "

" Ah. You knew him, princess? "

With a smile, I'm trying to take a chance to get the countess attention slowly gradually in me.

" Yes, I knew him. He once happens to escort me when I had my break at the capital streets. "

" Ah... I see.. please look after him more, princess. That boy always messed up things... I'm really worried when he first tells me that he wanted to become a knight at the capital.."

" My! you didn't know about lady Maria? she's quite famous now! "

" What? are you talking about Duke Almera's only daughter? wasn't she's always sick and doesn't show herself at all social gatherings? "

" That's true but.. "

" Ehem. "

With a single cough from countess Barnes's mouth, every single maid that has gathered together beside the corner of the mansion quickly shut their mouth in fear.

" We-we're really sorry, your highness. " and thus, they make their way through the corridor speechless by their slipped tongue.

" Hm! those impudent maids! how could they murmur like that in front of the member of royalty..! "

" Oh my. Don't get angry on my behalf, countess Barnes. It's alright. The truth is I'm quite getting my interest in their talk before, may I know what the current rumor that has been spread among the palace's maids? "

" Ah.. "

" Please pardon my actions, lady Claire. "

" It's alright. So, what's all of this ruckus, countess Barnes? "

" Um. Well, it's about Lady Maria Almera.. "

And from then, I happened to learn about Maria's existence in my life, the daughter of Duke Almera and the woman that unexpectedly changed my life with a single smile of her that catch Noelle's heart at the first sight.

****

Gasp!

Blinked my eyes in shock, I slowly held my aching head and get up from my bed in the blank.

" My lady? you woke up too early even though you went to bed late last night. Have you perhaps had a nightmare? "

Quickly Daisy leans the back of her palm on my forehead with a wondered face.

" Hm-mm, seem like you didn't catch a cold but you're sweating too much, my lady. "

" .... "

" Daisy.. "

"? yes? "

" Can you call Lenny for me? I had something to discuss with her immediately. "

" Madam Lenny? but for what, my lady? are you perhaps feel sick anywhere or your body.."

" Daisy. I might know the way to change his grace into his original form back. "

" ..? pardon? the way you said, my lady?? "

" Yes. A method to save Evans from his curse. I've already known the way. "