Chapter 43

"Lady Etkinson" Alice heard a voice.

But she did not turn to check who it is, she just walked her away ignoring it.

"Lady Etkinson" the person continued to call.

But she still ignored. Instead, she increased her pace. But the person easily caught up with her.

"Lady Etkinson" he called walking beside her.

Now she cannot ignore him. She cannot even escape. She forced a smile on her face and looked at him, straining her neck again.

"Lord Fogriever" she said, "how are you?"

"I… am fine" he hesitated to answer the weird question posed on him like they have met after a long time even though they had parted after the breakfast.

"I see" Alice said and walked away slowly.

"Lady Etkinson, where are you going?" Harrison asked.

"A place where you can't find me" Alice whispered.

"Yes?" Harrison asked as he couldn't hear her mumblings.

"I am just taking a walk" Alice answered.

And it was the truth. It has already been a week since he confessed his feelings to her. And since then, he has been seriously chasing her, making Alice to find new places to hide. Currently, she taking a walk in the greenhouse.

Since a week, she was unable to sleep properly, read comfortably. She cannot even walk in garden because the Northern people had occupied most of it and she doesn't intend to stumble with their heir. Irritated, she planned to take a walk in the greenhouse, thinking that no one will disturb her.

But look at her luck. Even though she had walked sneakily in her own home, she was still caught by the very person she wants to escape from. She cannot even tell them to go away rudely, because he always makes an innocent face whenever he sees her.

She sighed.

"Do you want to take a walk with me?" Alice asked.

"Yes" he said immediately, as he was waiting for this question.

The greenhouse was filled with flowers of various colors. There were many medicinal herbs at one side. One the opposite side there are many vegetable crops grown in an array. As they viewed the plants, with Alice explaining their importance, and Harrison nodding his head thought he did not understand anything, time passed away.

Then they suddenly heard few voices coming from outside. Alerted, Alice took Harrison and hid among the tomato plants.

"Lady Etkinson" Harrison whispered, "why are we hiding?"

"Because someone is coming" Alice whispered back.

"So?" he asked, still whispering.

"If someone sees us together in this deserted greenhouse, what will they think?" Alice asked.

"They will we are on some secret date" he whispered, shyly.

'Stop blushing' Alice really wanted to shout.

But she controlled herself, when she heard a familiar voice.

"Do you like it?" she heard a child's voice.

She peeped through the leaves and found a blonde-haired boy and a navy haired boy were looking around. There was even a big white-haired boy walking with them, sticking it's tongue out.

"Woah… this is really beautiful" the navy haired boy said with wide eyes.

"Woof" the dog barked in agreement.

"Liam didn't you promise me if you show you something you think beautiful, you will teach me your sword skills" Daniel reminded.

"Fine friend. I will teach you. But instead, can you bring me here every day?" Liam said with sparkling eyes.

"Then this is a deal" Daniel said and stretched his hand forwards.

"Deal" Liam shook the extended hand.

"Is he still sticking around that rude guy?" Alice whispered.

Since Daniel broke his hand, he hadn't been visiting her. He always spends time with his new friend. He seems to have forgotten his family and his sister whom he promised to protect when he made a friend.

As they shook their hand, Snowball was walking around, sticking his nose to the ground, as if he smelled something. He walked around the greenhouse for a while and finally reached goal. He barked loud when he spotted Alice and Harrison who were busy peeping.

"Woof. Woof" he barked happily.

Alice was startled. When she turned around, she found Snowball ready to jump on her. It jumped on her perfectly, flattening her on the ground, and licked her face continuously. After it felt satisfied, it looked at Alice with innocent face, asking her to pat him.

Alice, patting its head whispered, "good Snowball. Cute Snowball. Get off from me."

Snowball did what Alice asked him. It stepped aside, letting Alice to get up and sit comfortably. It then barked waiting to be complemented.

"Woof" it barked.

"Why is Snowball shouting so much?" Daniel asked suspiciously.

"It must have found a butterfly to play" Liam said.

"I guess so" Daniel accepted the answer and showed Liam around.

Alice who heard their conversation, alerted. She saw Harrison patting Snowball without any worries. Looking at the two idiots in front of her, she really wanted to go and jump into some pond.