I could wake up Kath but I did not want to disturb her peaceful sleep, I should manage to make a milk myself and grab leftover cookies.
The night waa so quiet that I could hear my gentle footsteps, calm breathing, the crickets and trees rustling outside the windows as I padded my way in the dark hallway.
I made sure to descend the stairs carefully because it was a little dark and there was a little gap in each stairs for my little feet to climb down.
I assume, everyone was sleeping right now except for the guards outside, roaming the house.
When I walked pass through the basement behind the staircase, I heard something clattered. I stopped midway and glanced around to see if there was something or someone but I did found none.
Curiousity brought my feet to stood up infront of the basement’s door when I listened carefully on the low noise I heard.
I leaned my ears on the door to listen to the faint noise I was hearing.
“-herbals…poison…extreme…young…-“
Oh! I could hear them! But it was so hushed like whispers that I did not understand anything and could only hear vague murmurs.
I decided to ignore it, they might just be doing something. They are not assassins anyway. There was no way that an assassin could be so reckless like them.
I proceeded to the kitchen where I set my real destination. I could hear my stomach snarling. At least, for a moment, I forgot the frustrating and suffocating feeling.
Was this also an effect of having a child’s body?
This was quite both advantageous and disadvantageous.
When I arrived infront of the kitchen, I hesitated for a moment if I would enter or not because there were no lights inside but in the end, I still opened the door and paved my way in. I left the door open so a peck of light could enter the kitchen.
I rummaged through the cabinets to find a candle. I was careful not to make any unnecessary sounds.
I lit up the candle that I picked up in the upper most part of the cabinet before searching for anything to eat.
I found a box of milk in the cabinet while tip-toeing in the chair. I had a hard time reaching for it and when I finally did it, my eyes widened in shock.
I lost my balance!
Oh my-!
I shut my eyes and I fell down from the chair and the milk dropped on the top of my head and spilled. Not just that, my elbows hit some cooking tools and fell in the floor with me that created a loud, noisy sound.
I could feel the impact of my fall on my butt. Thanks Frite, my head did not bump on anything.
I shouted inside my mind when the sound of my fall echoed in the whole dark and quiet room that could wake up whoever sleeping. The candle I was using also died and I was shrouded by darkness again.
Now, I am wet with milk and my behind hurts. I stood up and placed my hand behind my back to massage it when I heard quite few approaching footsteps and peck of light from outside the kitchen.
“Who is there?!” I was startled with the high pitched voice.
I was frantic and quickly went back sitting to hide.
I did not know why do I still the need to hide although I was sure that they isa would immediately get busted in no time.
And this would probably be added to my long list of embarassing moments.
I did not know where should I hide but before I could ever crawl in the corner, the whole kitchen lighted up with magic. My eyes could not adjust so I rubbed my eyes but after rubbing my eyes, I heard voices that called pertaining solely to me.
“My Lady?”
“Young Miss?”
“Maxine?”
I looked up to the pairs of eyes that were now watching me. I froze and left dumbfounded at the moment. My eyes gradually widened in horror when I remembered my current state.
Bathing in milk, kneeling, crawling on the ground like a forced entry stray cat. Wearing a night gown that was only covered with a thin messy coat. And the worst case they found me in the scenario -sneaking in the kitchen in the middle of the night who was in search of leftovers just like a pitiful cat.
My mind turned blank as my sweat mixed the dripping milk.
Without thinking, I stood up quietly while eyes were following my every move and looking at me as I dusted off my self. When I returned my gaze infront, I saw them blinking silently at me. Patiently waiting for me to say something.
But what should I say in this kind of scene?!
“Good evening!” I greeted them normally and flashed a bright smile. Smile. Smile. Just smile, Maxine. Save your face. Save your pride. Pretend like nothing happened. Calm down and smile as usual.
I kept on convincing myself as I unwavering continue to smile infront of them.
None of them reacted and just looking at me in awe that made my eyes twitched.
I should not be nervous or else I might be punish for doing something like this. I need to go in their good side.
Maxine is cute. I am cute so let us use their adoration!
Did I already went crazy? Why did I see myself inside my mind with my fist infront of me saying like ‘fighting’?
“I saw a cat in my room. This biiiiggg and I wanted to take him as my pet but he ran away so I chased him here but sadly, he got away from me.” I told them, trying not to meet their suspicious gaze of me and fidget my pointing fingers with each other.
I gulped. Please turn a blind eye to this!
“Either way, I do not plan on chasing him any longer so I am going back first.” I said as I normally walked past them.
When I already passed through them, I glanced at my back a little and I almost jerked when I saw all of them staring at me plainly. Why do they need to look back at me?!
My inside already screaming in embarassment. I could hear my mind right now squealing ‘Aack!’.
I quickly turned around to face them and flashed my forced smile.
“Good bye, then.” I told them and half faced to leave the kitchen. Once I knew that they could not see me anymore, I ran away so fast -as if I was being chased- away from the hateful kitchen.
So embarassing!
Winter festival was one of the Asthal’s festival being celebrated every year, it is to show gratitude and beg for plea to the Godess of winter, Winfret for having peaceful snowfalls and to beg in kneel to continue the whole winter like this.
Snowfall this year were not that thick and carriages could easily travel on the road even in this cold weather that made mercenaries, merchants and caravans to travel with ease. They only need to deal with the beasts and monsters on the road if they encounter one.
I glanced down on the balcony. Everyone was busy preparing to simply decorate the Dukedom.
The servants were going back and forth since dawn while I was stuck here in my room, unable to come out for the shame I had done late in the midnight.
“Haaaahhh.” I groaned as I leaned on the fence of my balcony.
“What was with the long sigh?” I jumped in shock and my soul almost left my body when I suddenly heard the cold voice in my ear.
I turned to my heels and Brother Maxlein’s grinning face greeted me. His left hand was behind him while the right one was holding his sheathed sword hanging on his left waist.
“Brother!” I called gleefully and jumped over him. I wanted to kick him for surprising me but I might forgive for now.
“How are you doing Maxine?” he asked as he rubbed my head.
“I am supeeeer bored!” I told him, pouting. His hand patting my head paused for a moment while taking his time to stare at me.
He was looking at my face and yet, it seems like his attention was somewhere far away.
I tilted my head in confusion and brought my hand to his face.
“Brother? Is something the matter?” I called.
His reaction looked like as if he was snapped on the forehead. He smiled at me but I could not figure out why did it look weird for me.
“Do you have any plans today?” Lein asked with a pleading look. I hugged him and leaned my head on his waist
“Uhm…no? Unless you have plans for me.” I replied as I tried to reach his tied long hair behind him.
“Oh…I see.” He sounded different. A little gloomy, I think? But why should him?
Why does it feels like he was not in his usual self?
I think something was wrong to him. Did something bad happened?