"Can you recite some Garvald language, Lein?" Maxine asked. She was lying her chest on the bed, wrigling her feet on the back and holding a quill on her hand while Maxlein - infront of her- was sitting in crossed leg.
"Actually, I am not listening to my teachers so I knew nothing..." Maxlein replied with hesitance and looked away while scratching his not itchy cheek. Maxine looked at him in awe but before Maxine could say anything, Maxlein said something.
"But! I heard you were eagerly learning the other language yourself." Maxlein commented. He felt weird complimenting his sister but he ignored it and forcefully pushed it deep inside him.
He would never let his insecurities overpower him again.
Once was never enough, it was too much to bear for her.
It was wrong, a mistake.
Maxineirah looked at his brother anxiously and was hesitating to answer.
She was not unaware of her brother's malice towards her. She knew it since the beginning but she never expected someone like Maxlein would do that.
It was not like as if she was belittling him rather, she likes the cheeky and free-spirited Maxlein, the way he slowly gets the point was cute while making his usual expression.
Maxlein smiled at Maxineirah because he thought the hesitance was for Maxineirah's feeling nervous since she had not shown to anyone that she know how to speak Garvald but for Maxine, it was a reassurance that Maxlein was fine with her showcasing her intelligence to his brother freely.
She recited some ancient sentences and taught her brother briefly about the basics that he could understand easily. Maxlein listened in awe, admiring his little sister who only not beatiful and cute but also brilliant.
"How could you be so smart, Princess." Maxlein was charmed and hugged Maxine to rub his cheek on hers. Maxineirah could not push her brother away and all she could do was to smile embarrassed.
Suddenly, Maxlein coughed that made him immediately backed away. He coughed well in his handkerchief that made Maxine worried.
"Brother! Are you really okay? You have been coughing for the last few days." Maxine asked, worry was evident on her voice as she patted her brother's back.
"Ha! This is nothing Maxine! Maybe I had caught a mild cold. Do not worry too much, your brother is so strong that can defeat five ogres single-handedly." Maxlein joked and laughed evily that made Maxine's face sour.
Did he really need to brag about it? She know how strong Maclein was, as a high ranking beast and only worried for nothing.
Maxine's visiting time was about to end when they heard knocks from the door followed by opening the door and polite voice spoke.
"Young Masters, I beg your pardon for the intrusion but His Exellency has something to say with the Young Miss." he asked with the half of his body was in and the other half was open.
Maxineirah was startled and her eyes widened when Maxlein suddenly pulled her into a hug.
Maxlein looked at the Butler with menacing eyes and pouting a little.
"But our time has not ended yet!" Maxlein protested and Maxine immediately got embarassed.
"You are just right in time, my visiting time has just ended." Maxine said the opposite.
Maxlein looked at Maxineirah unbelievably and gave her a begging eyes.
"Maxine~ how could you betray me~" Maxlein said in a singsong soft voice, pouting.
Maxine smiled at his brother and gave him a peck in the cheeks. The blood immediately rose up to Maxlein's face and immediately scurried away that he almost fell from the bed
"Do not you worry Brother, I will be here again tomorrow."
"F-fine! Do whatever you want!" Maxlein shooed and could not look straight at his sister's face, rubbing the back of his head.
When Maxineirah stepped out of the room, she looked for Kathelina but she was nowhere to be seen.
She was really wondering now where could have Kath flew off. Maybe, she could ask Kathelina next time.
Maxineirah was not just used withouth having Kath around. It was an odd feeling. Well, if Kath would not tell her, she do might beg her maid to stay beside her instead.
Maxineirah looked up to the aged man and the Butler gave her a gentle look.
"My Lady?" the Butler wondered.
She might as well ask the Butler about Kathelina for he might know her maid's location.
"Have you seen Kath around?" Maxine asked. The Butler adjusted his one-sided glass before replying to his little Miss' question.
"No, My Lady. Is something the matter?"
"No. No." Maxineirah slapped the thought away and they proceeded to the Duke's office.
The left alone Maxlein in his room looked at his handkerchief that he was gripping tightly. He coughed again and saw a mouthful of blood stained the white cloth.
Maxlein stood up with a blank face while holding the piece of cloth and walked towards the fire place. He then, threw the thing he was holding in the blazing fire.
The fire went bersek for a moment before emitting black smoke that flew up in the chimney.
Something atrocious in the handkerchief.
His mind was wandering somewhere else while his blank cold eyes were focused in the fire, dancing with the blaze as his eyes shone brightly with darkness.
DA DUN.
It wass as if the ground palpitated for Maxine upon seeing the other person inside the room. Maxine was in awe when she saw the green head guy back from the abandoned garden but she ignored him for a moment and ran towards her father's desk.
"Daddy! Daddy! I missed you!" Maxine jumped happily as the Duke immediately held her on his strong arms. The mysterious green haired Knight's small smile planted in his face hardened upon seeing how the Princess went to the cold Duke and jumped to his arms without hesitation.
It was like he just saw a rabbit jumped in a lion's fangs.
Now, he was in awe for the Princess' strong nerves. But he was more amused when the Duke's hard stoic face smoothens after holding his only daughter.
When Maxine looked at his direction, he cleared his throat and did the Knight's curtsy.
"I greet the Lady of the House. May Frite bless upon you." he greeted.
Maxine looked at her father confusedly. The Duke spread his arm toward the Knight.
"Maxine, meet Creston Francais Dello Tasogare Halnois. He will be your guard from today onwards." the Duke stated. Maxine was surprised and threw her father a shock expression.
"Sir Halnois? Guard? But I do not need him." Maxine refuted. The Knight with green hair felt like he was stabbed in the chest but he stilled his small smile.
Maxine thought she sees her Brother Maximo from the Knight because of his smile.
"Need it or not, you should have one."
'But I never had one in the past.' Maxine wanted to say out loud but it had only remained in her thoughts.
Maxine pouted and glanced at the Knight standing diligently without falter.
Looking at his green hair, Maxine suddenly thought about green chilis. She gulped and took her glance away.
"24/7?"asked hoping Maxine.
"24/7." His Grace responded looking indifferently and dignified as if no one and nothing could change his mind.
Maxine was now troubled. She could not have a full time Knight around her or it would be hard to slip away or maybe, her Dad knows about what she was planning and so he sent Sir Halnois to be her guard?
Was it? But that was impossible for her father to know.
She looked at her father suspiciously but Maximus innocently avoided her eyes and looked away as if there was something interesting in the side table situated in the farthest corner of the room.
She squinted her eyes at her father and pouted lips became longer.
"12/7?" Maxine bet but the Duke was determined to keep Halnois around her and so, he threw the both of them outside his office so Maxineirah could not complain to him anymore.
Maximus was really planning to put a guard beside Maxine long time ago but could not do it and did not know who to put in charge of his daughter's welfare. But after seeing Halnois in the garden and Maxine's disappearance, he became motivated to put Halnois in the said spot.
Moreover, when Halnois told him about his assume on Maxineirah's acts in the garden that was proven.
Halnois also gave him clue about Maxine being abused by her instructors though the Knight did not said it directly. He thought at first that the Vice-Captain of the secret squad was just playing around when he told him that but little did he know, it really was true.
Even if it was against Maxineirah's will, she did know that she needed a strong and wise Knight that could guard her.
Maximus even wanted and planned to put the Captain of the Secret Knights as her gusrd but the Captain has a lot to say so he ended up picking the Vice Captain, Sir Creston as Maxine's protector.
The Captain has a lot to run anyway.