chapter 39

" Your chamber again, my lady? What a pity, the weather is so nice today too. "

Glancing on Claire while looking through the window of the room slightly, Daisy slowly sighs when she knows that Claire wouldn't change her mind about staying in the room today too no matter what she said. Nods her head understanding when she looks at Claire, Daisy head out from the room and closes the door in despair. Even though my lady trying to hide it, who wouldn't know that the lady was currently avoiding the young master since it's been 2 days already from the day the both of them met each other. I heard that my lady even slapped the young master on the face! what happens between them though... sigh.

" My lady, I'll be at the library for a while. if you needed something, come and find me there, alright? "

" ..... "

Sigh. Walk away from the door, Daisy suddenly realized something on her way to the library. Sir Edward! What if I happen to bump into him on my way there?! I need to hide before..!

" Rawr! "

" Kyaaa!! Oh my god! Go away! Go away! " reflexes by shut her eyes and cover her ear with both her palm, Daisy begin to scream in frightened when someone approaches her from behind.

" Hahaha! Daisy, it's me! Your face was so hilarious! " bursts into laughter when he looks at Daisy's fearful face, Jade chuckles in excitement when Daisy has stopped her screaming and starting to glare with her intense gaze on him. Annoyed by his teasing, Daisy immediately punches Jade's arm harshly. " Ouch. Oh-oh Just like a murderer's face you got there~ If today I was destined to get murdered, I'll write in my letter that you're the culprit, Daisy." can't stop teasing his childhood friend, Jade begins to laugh with a big grin.

" Die then! go and die! I'll make sure today you got into a coffin! "

" Ahh~! Help me! HAHAHAHA! "

" What are you doing? Jade. "

Quickly stop to hit each other, Jade and Daisy instantly look at the person in front of them in stunned. They both speechless before they both step a little away from each other. Jade glances at Daisy who was suddenly in a state of loss of words, with a smile, he bows towards his master to make him draw his attention to himself.

" Greeting to the young lord, what makes you come here all the way without telling me first, young master Evans? " politely asked, Jade smile a little towards Adam and slowly he looks at Daisy who begins to tremble in fear.

" Let me escort you to where you were going to head to, young master Evans. "

Looks at his head butler that rarely acted politely to him but only when there's a guest at Allardis, his eyes naturally glanced on Daisy for a while before he comes to understand the situation. Adam smirked a little before he turns his way to the main palace without much talk.

" Then, escort me to where Eilidh is. I need to talk to him about his position. "

" As you wish, young master. " Rapidly following Adam from his back, Jade turn his face and wink his left eyes towards Daisy, with a smile, he said in a low voice. " Sir Edward isn't here since the knights had to attend an important meeting with the emperor today! "

" ah..! how did you..? Thank you! "

" Whatever for you, Daisy! Heh "

****

" You seem to be in a close relationship with the young miss of marquis Albert, Jade. " talking in his usual cold voice, Adam begins to slow down his step as his face begins to get bitter.

" ...well, she and I have been friends since we were little, she was kind of like a little sister to me, young master. "

" Is that so. " while heartlessly responding to Jade, Adam suddenly halts his walk and his eyes tenderly take a glance at Claire's window from her chamber at her palace in silence. With a bitter face, Adam slowly continues his walk again in coldness.

" .... " seeing his master that acted gloomy like that was all new to him which make him mute for a while there. Jade kind of enjoying it but at the same time, the young master wasn't like the same master as he once knows. Jade likes the strict, cold, cruel, and sinister version of Evans more than his new downhearted, discouragement, and his new disgruntled face right now.

" Hmm... Oh! " while slowly his face grows a slight grinning after he got some random idea in his head, Jade suddenly raise his arm to the air and feigned like he was praying to the god.

" Oh, my mighty Evans, where have you gone to...?! Oh god, please bring my merciless master back to me again..!! "

" ....Tsk. "

Glimpsed on Jade that begins to tease him like always, Adam lets go a deep sigh before he continues his walk again with his cold aura gradually growing bigger when he obviously ignore Jade who was walking beside him with giggles.

" Eek! Don't be mad, young master. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. hehe " Rapidly pat Adam's shoulder naturally, Jade smile while grinning his mouth like a stupid person.

" Don't put your hand on my shoulder, Jade. "

" Yes~ "

" ..... "

" Hm-mm~ " when he gets a little bored walking in silence with Adam towards the main building, Jade slowly humming a song as their walk takes a much longer time than expected.

" You're noisy. "

" Yes~ I'm sorry~" behaving like it was nothing and apologize right away has always been his style. Jade always gets called a bold guy since he's the one that could act rudely like that with the young master of Allardis. but sometimes, Adam who feels annoys with him will be snapped by his behavior eventually.

" Jade. "

"? yes, young master. "

Adam suddenly stops his walk and turns his body to face Jade's innocent face directly, his red dark eyes begin to intensely glare into Jade's eyes which make Jade felt goosebumps with chills.

" DO YOU WANT TO DIE just like Daisy said, Jade? I'll ask for a special coffin for you later after I successfully murdered you myself. " while bending his body closer to Jade, Adam directly threatens Jade while his big hand, quivering when he grips on his sword tightly and with his menacing aura which gets even more severe than before, Adam wanted to show how serious he is right now towards Jade.

" Eeek! young master~~ you scared me with your serious face all of sudden. " Close his eyes with both his palm to avoid looking into Adam's menacing eyes that were meant for him, Jade answered innocently scared and when Adam was fatigued to talk to him like always, Jade will wait for Adam to walk away first before he starts to follow him around. It's not the first time the young master behaved like this towards me. He's so soft when it comes to me~ Haha.

****

" My lady, this letter arrived this morning from Romanoff house and it was addressed for you." while her hand softly handed the letter towards Claire who was sitting on a couch comfortably, Lenny slowly bends her head down a little before she walks to head out from the room with a smile.

" ..... "

" Wait. "

Claire only takes a little glance at the letter before she makes Lenny stopped in front of the door with a perplexed expression. " Yes, my lady? "

" .... "

" Who are you? " tapping her fingertips on the table while her green eyes intensely look at Lenny who was looking a little suspicious with her strange behavior, Claire wear a cold expression on her face before she starts to glare at Lenny flinched figure.

" Wh-what did you mean by who I am, my lady? I am the head maid, Lenny. Of course. "

" Are you kidding me right now? "

" Wh-what..? No, I'm not. I serious am... "

" .....Ha.! "

" ..! " Flinch in startled, Lenny looks at Claire in chills when Claire suddenly let go a rough sigh from her gentle lips.

" Will you look at that? Lenny would never lose her usual calmness even when I'm questioning her like this though..? Plus, you've been exposed when you first called me using 'my lady' except the usual 'princess' like the real Lenny would call me. " smile in annoyance, Claire tapping her fingertips on the table even harder than before.

" So, I'm asking you now. Who are you, 'Lenny'? you should answer me when I'm still being nice here. " once again asking the same question towards Lenny, Claire straight her gaze on the stuttering Lenny before of herself, begin to cross both her arms and leg proudly while lifting her chin with a confident smile on her face, Claire glares on Lenny coldly.

" ...I-I'm..! "

" .... "

" ..... "

" pfft... HA.! "

" .... " Raise her left eyebrow when the fake 'Lenny' suddenly let go a little chuckle from her mouth while bending her head down strangely, Claire stare at her action while trying to maintain her confident compositions.

" I guess there's nothing to hide anymore since I've been revealed right on the scene, right? "

" ...? "

Shuu.

" ....!? " Out of nowhere, with her body suddenly froze in stunned by her own sight, Claire could only gaze on Lenny who suddenly transforms into a young boy with a shining dark black hair pair with beautiful silver eyes that shine like a sharp blade. But strangely, why he seems so familiar in my eyes even though this is our first time meeting..? who could this boy be..?

" You're indeed a quick-witted one like always, my lady. I thought you might not recognize my disguise since it's a prosperous one on the first try before."

"? " 'first try? back on the day, when he disguises as Lenny and gave me the letter from that guy? '

" ..?? " Her eyes freeze from blink when that boy suddenly gets closer to her and kneeling before herself with a bright smile, while she was trying to remember the event before, that boy has caught her off-guard.

" wha-what are you..? "

Gently that little boy that seems so much younger than me softly went his hand up to my direction and slowly reach out to my hand. He then puts his lips on the back of my palm when I could only stare at him in silence, fascinated by his charming look.

" Greeting to the princess of Romanoff, my name is Ashlen, the mighty spirit user of Light. Pleased to meet you again, princess Claire."

" ...!? " 'The mighty spirit user of Light', 'Ashlen'?? if I'm not wrong that this person belonged to..!

" Wh-what are you doing here?! " Rapidly standing from my seat in shock by his presence in my room at one of the Allardis mansion, My hand trembles in fear when I realized what the exact reason could be which make this mighty spirit user of the house of Romanoff happens to be here, introducing himself at me boldly like this like it was nothing at all. What's happening now?

" ....ugh. "

Press my lips with a slight frown on my face, I rapidly take a turn towards the window and shut the curtains immediately, scared if someone happens to saw or heard our secret conversation just now.

" Hm-mm, the lady seems like she scared to meet me once again. Are you afraid that I'll hurt you or something just like in the past? "

Clench both my teeth and fist in annoyance with his arrogant words towards myself, my face gradually get fierce a little when I recall his actions towards me, back when I was a little kid.

" I-I see that you've never changed, Len. " trying to gather up some courage, I glanced at him before I slowly take a seat on my bed while trying to maintaining my remaining strength. I've never imagined that we would meet like this but it doesn't matter now. if Ashlen is here then that's mean that guy might be here with him too.

" Well, I'm kind of forget about my lady this whole time and end up protecting you all the way because of him. I don't know what have possesses that stupid brat which makes him had some nerve on brainwashing the mighty spirit user such as me. But, I will let it slide now since it might be interesting soon. "

"? What did you mean by that? "

'Brainwashing him'? How strong 'that guy' is if he already can hypnotize a mighty spirit user of Romanoff that was known for his strength? Does he secretly come by the Romanoff mansion all this time without my father's knowing too?

" You know where is he, right, Len? "

" Well. First, let's stop talking in an atmosphere like this and talk comfortably, alright my lady? Come here. " waving his hand as a signal for me to sit on a couch in front of him, Ashlen smile a little before he arrogantly leans on a couch while crossed his leg in a bad manner.

Ashlen Light. Who wouldn't know about him? the distinguished spirit user of the house of marquis Light that has been protecting the Romanoff heirs for generations and the family that has the strongest spiritual powers in the whole continent of Castella under the Romanoff archduchy, He even stronger than Eilidh as the next heir of marquis Light.

The spirit of the sword of grimfrost, Eilidh, who was the second-best while being the villain's core of strength in the past when Adam went to the battlefield and return as a hero of wars which given him a name of 'Dark crimson' as a title for his bloody strength, Ashlen was said to be more powerful than Adam back then too.

I wonder why Ashlen came here like this when he was supposed to be by that guy's side all the time.

" I'm sure that father has entrusted you to protect him even though father decide to abandoned him a long time ago, right? so what are you doing here, wandering around like a useless spirit user? Us, Romanoff has given you freedom just so you could protect him no matter what, Len. " coldly glance on Ashlen while taking a seat on my comfy couch again, I face his face while bluntly said what was remaining on my head from when I first recognized him earlier.

" Ha. Don't be mad. I'm here though because of him too. like I said earlier, he seems like he has been possessed by something? He strangely acted like he's so fond of you until when I make a fuss about it, he immediately hypnotized my mind and make me like his slave! Tsk! That impudent brat really needs some hard lesson later! "

" .... "

Seeing as how he looks so angry because of him, I suppose that guy hasn't come back here just to seek revenge? He might forget about our past... Nah... it's impossible no matter how hard I think about it. That guy suddenly become so fond of me? is he gone mad or something?

" Then, about the letter you gave me last time, that was from him too, right? I recognize his handwriting since it was a little rough. Plus, what is his reason to be so kind to me all of sudden? After all, he despises me since we were little, remember? " Shrug my shoulder with a big frown on my face, confused when he acted like this towards me, make me felt like something is fishy.

" That's why I said earlier, master acted weird these days... strangely weird! He is not like he's normal self at all and he's even secretly often comes here to see you in the midnight too.. and even dragged me all the way like a dog! "

" ...??! "

" Wha-aa?? In-in the midnight??! When I was asleep on my bed wearing my sleep attire?? Are you both crazy!!? " stand up from my seat in shocked again by the news that came out from Ashlen's mouth, I clench my dress in annoyance.

" Hey! Don't throw your anger on me! toss it to that impudent brat! "

" But still-! "

Knock. Knock.

" My lady? are you alright? "

Immediately Claire glances at the door before she turns her face on Ashlen again in startled.

" Yes! I'm alright, Daisy. "

" ...okay. If something's wrong, please tell me, my lady. "

" I will! "

" .... "

" ..... "

Is she gone now? seem like it's quiet for now. I shouldn't snap like this and make everyone knows Ashlen's unwelcome presence in my room right now.

" Ha. I'm sorry. Then, what's the exact matter that makes you came all the way here under that guy command, Len? " slowly trying to calm myself back by sitting on my couch again, my body leans back in exhausted while my face wrinkles in tiredness.

" I don't know but I think he wanted to take you home on the upcoming banquet that was being held soon, my lady. He said he wants to snatch you away from the villain or something like that? "

"? Hmm? "

" snatch me?? "

" Yes. He even commanded me to make that young master grow some hatred on you before he could properly monopolize my lady for himself. "

" ...!!? "

" What the heck??? "

Is that guy really insane or what??