Aldrich

EVERY STAFF in Lucy's palace looked at them weirdly and started to whisper as they saw an unconscious man in Ophelia's arm. But they all run away after Lucy looked at them coldly.

After they reach a hallway that was pass the living room, Lucy ordered Ophelia to went upstairs and pick a vacant room for the unconscious guest they have and said to keep an eye on him until he gain consciousness.

Ophelia, of course, followed her Highness' order and immediately went to pick one of the vacant rooms they have.

The guest room was simple yet exquisite, although it does not consist anything, there are only furnitures, a bed, an empty drawers and cabinets, there were also a bookshelf that has numerous books. Ophelia approached the bed and lay the man gently Into it. Massaging her arms which was almost getting numb, she approach the door and stood by, watching the sleeping pale man till dusk.

A WRINGING noise woke Aldrich up, his head started to ache as he catch his breath, his stomach grumbled in pain. The young man Haven't eaten for almost five days after being thrown in the port of Gozania from the ship he was in.

Suddenly, he felt a soft and warm feeling, as soon as he realized that he was in bed inside of a dim room that only the light of the moon was able to make it a bit lighter. He was too exhausted and drain to even remember anything, not to mention, he's dying from hunger.

He gasped as to when he heard a voice coming from his left.

"You're awake, I see?" It was woman's voice, a maid perhaps.

Aldrich tried to speak up but no voice was heard, his throat was too dry to even speak. How pitiful. He then heard footsteps approaching him, it was too dim but he was still able to see the woman's face.

Her hair was messy, it seems like she only have woken up earlier than him. It was like a golden thread- her hair was like a golden thread that seem to shine even in this dim room. Her eyes was none like others. It was his first time seeing such a pretty color, a blue with a hint of silver.

'Is she really a maid?' He thought. To think such a beautiful person would be a maid, Aldrich at the moment even thought that she may be a royal in disguise, but he remembers that the Royals in this empire has carnation colored eyes.

Even so, this woman was a stranger. Where is he? What place is this? He glared at the woman beside him and suddenly reached his hand targeting her neck for him to choke when the door swung open and another feminine voice was heard.

At that moment, Aldrich withdraw his hand.

"My, how dark." Said the person who came in, the room has been lit up after as she switched a light on.

His eyes squinted not so used at the very bright light. Once his eyes adjusted he saw very clearly the woman beside him and the woman who came in.

The other woman has a reddish brown colored hair, he couldn't exactly see her face for the maid was In the way. But it seems like she brought food which eventually made his stomach to make such noise.

Ah.

How embarrassing.

"Oh, you're awake. That's good. Hurry up and eat plenty of food for you to replenish your strength." Said the woman with reddish brown colored hair. "You too Ophelia, I know you haven't eaten supper so dig in."

The girl who was Addressed as Ophelia complained and said that it was unnecessary. Aldrich then flinch as to when he heard how Ophelia address the woman she was talking to, Her Highness. A royalty, does this mean he's inside the palace? And perhaps they're also the one who brought him in this room?

Ophelia then approached him, placing a small table on top of the bed with a soup and salad and something that is easy to chew.

Somehow Aldrich find himself staring at Ophelia as she went to one of the couches and also ate the food the princess Brought her. What an odd girl.

***

AFTER delivering the two their meal. Lucy sat on the sofa as she lay down and watched Ophelia placing the food on the bed. She then suddenly saw the man staring at Ophelia as she sat on the couch near the window.

She didn't think much of the stare. Of course, Lucy had some thoughts, but they were more of a suspicion, after all, Ophelia was a maid who will die in that man's arm.

When Lucy got back from her chamber she remembered some incidents that happened around the third male lead- Aldrich Vemert. He was the worse version of Jazz, a colder and more harder to approach, not to mention, the novel describe him as a heartless Knight and Duke of the empire of Azazel. Five months after arriving at Gozania, Aldrich started to have feelings for Lucy and eventually became obsessive over her, he then tried to kidnapped Lucy at the night of the royal banquet, unfortunately Ophelia- a maid who happened to be outside of the garden tried to stop him, However, she who has no weapon was instantly beheaded by Aldrich's sword.

'That was the third arc of the novel. I definitely will not allow Ophelia to be near that jerk. But. . .come to think of it, at the end of that arc, Aldrich died with unknown cause. He wasn't poisoned, or manipulated; he just magically died after Jazz, Anthony and Erik rescued Lucy.'

It doesn't sit right with Lucy how things are escalating so quickly. The order of arcs seems to have been jumbled for unknown reasons. And she still wanted to know why and how did she ended up in this world, she needed answers. Will she be able to go back? What if she'll be stuck here? And has already died as jade?

Suddenly, her train of thoughts was interrupted when Ophelia spoke up.

"Your highness, are you alright?" Asked Ophelia worriedly.

Lucy stared at her for some time before smiling as sitting up, "I'm Fine, just lost in thoughts." She answered.

She then stood up and looked at Aldrich. He was still pale and seems like he couldn't talk at all. Lucy wanted to ask how he got into this situation, but it appears it was not the time. She then suddenly approach him as soon as he finished his meal.

"The royal physician will be here tomorrow morning, so don't even think to wander around. You're not in a good shape to be stubborn." Lucy lectured then walked away, leaving Aldrich puzzled.

There was indeed a royal physician, although they were not able to heal Lucy at such a critical moment that's why they relied upon the power of a mage.

Lucy ordered Ophelia to leave and rest, she does not want the incident indicated in the book to happen. The story is changing, why not grasp this moment to save the innocent people who got involved.