Daddy held my head up and gently put the lid of the glass to my lips. He slowly poured the water to my mouth and after a second, my dried mouth felt wet and refreshed.
The liguid slowly rolled down to my dried throat and I felt Dad doing something to make my breathing light but my tensed nerve did not calmed down. I never knew, seeing the face of the person I hated the most had this severe effect on me.
Father rested his forehead to mine and whispered something calming.
"Calm down, Maxine. Please?"
"It is Dad, Baby, see?"
"I am just right here." he was muttering and I was able to understand some of it. All I know was he was worrying about me.
I couldfeel a dark aura sorrounding us as my nerve tensed more.
Was it from Dad?
What was happening that he needed to use and surround us with his aura?
It was calming but my nerves would not calm down. Something inside me was welling up and it made my chest hurt, different from lacking of air.
"Pa-pa. I-it hu-rts." I cried.
"Ssshhh. Everything is going to be fine." he whisphered in a reassuring tone. He held me more tightly and gently. I could feel how careful he was. He even wiped my tears and caressed my cheeks lovingly.
I could see how he looked at me as if he did not want to let me go. His eyes were pleading as he muttered words of love to his child.
"Milord! Please stop this!"
"Then what do you want? Let my daughter suffer while waiting for that bastard magician?" I could hear my father's angry voice.
"But Your Grace, you will hurt yourself!"
"I am fine as long as my daughter is fine."
"I beg you. This is insanity!"
"Maximus! Stop that!"
"Let me do that instead, Father."
"Listen to us Duke!"
"I can also do it!"
"Stop, you guys."
"But-!"
"It was his descision."
"You do not expect him to be killed by that, right?"
I could hear strange noises from the background but I could not fathom anything of it as the welling inside me started to be gone little by little and my feeling gets better.
I felt drowsy and my eyes felt heavier but I fought it because I want to confirm if what I was seeing was true or was it just a part of my clouded imagination.
Daddy smiled at me and whispered, "Sleep well, my child."
He kissed my forehead and that was what confirmed that this was all true. I closed my eyes without worry and let my conscious drift away while feeling as if I was being swayed like a baby.
I opened my eyes and what greeted me was an old grandfather clock infront of me in an upside down position.
I could tell that I was floating. I teied to float away from the grandfather clock but what greeted me were still clocks in different sizes, some of them had their hands moving in different speeds while other do not work at all.
I just floated and floated until I found something infront that suddenly became so large.
It was a big chest covered in chains and at the middle was the padloack that needes a key.
"We met again, child." said by someone behind me.
I looked over my shoulders just to find Servenia again but this time, she was sitting on her grandiose throne, screaming elegance and simplicity.
Half of it was clocks and half of it was the universe.
"Servenia." I called her name.
"Yes, child."
"Why am I hear?" I asked as I floated near her.
"The Graces were being restless."
"Why?"
"We were supporting you but it seems like you are planning something again."
"I am not planning something." I defended.
"You are." she said stubborly as if she really knows what I was planning. I stared for her for a moment.
She was not smiling and yet, her eyes looked like she was.
I could not help but to shiver upon scanning her. She was really majestic.
She still gives me the familiarity even if the time has passed for so long.
Had it really been so long?
I am starting to get tired by this cycle.
"Remember Maxine, you hold your fate. Frite gave you your fates."
"But Frite is still interfering my life."
"Of course my child, because you are the most beloved."
"If I am the most beloved, then why did Frite cursed us."
"It is to give you lessons."
"I do not need her love. I already forlon her love too long ago that I can not imagine anymore when. Just take me back to present."
"How snobbish." she chuckled but I did not gave her any reaction.
"Well then, I am happy to see you again, Thea."
I woke up again but this time, I felt my body as light as a feather. Have I been blessed by a priest? I do not think so.
I climbed down my bed and was about to open the door of my room when it suddenly opened from the other side. I was startled but Kathelina looked like more shocked than I was.
"Milady..." she muttered in a teary-eyed and looked behind her before shouting, "The Young Duchess has awaken! Quickly, call the healers and the Duke!" Kathelina commanded and everyone froze in their spot for a moment before they acted in panick.
(Heinrich's PoV)
It has been two weeks when Lady Maxineirah recovered from what happened.
The Lord gave his own aura to the Young Lady when her attributes gone bersek.
It was too weird. The Young Lady's attributes... it was... I did not know if there was something like that that has come to existence before her's.
It was so different, I could not explain it but I think it was... mixed.
It was only known by Zachrono family and Duke Gabriela and his son that I did not have to worry because I had know Lord Maximus and Lord Franzus since their childhood. I expect the Duke to be discreet with Lord Maximus' matters.
I felt stuffy while holding the Princess' letters, a copy that she sent on two different House. The Duke had doubts since Duke Gabriela sent the letter to Duke Zachrono with a 'playmate' word and so, My Lord had deployed third of the Secret Phantom Knights to thoroughly search for letters that the Young Lady sent.
I am not nervous... maybe, just a little.
I was wondering what would the Duke react if he knew what the Little Miss' was up to now.
Walking towards His Grace's office, holding the tray where two of the letters (copy) from the Princess reside, in the first time of my 17 years of service being a Butler for him, I felt excitement.
Would I be able to see new reaction from the current Duke?
I knocked twice to inform the Duke of my arrival before opening the door and let myself in. I saw His Grace with his glasses on, too focused on the documents in hands.
I gently closed the door behind me, trying not to disturb His Grace.
"Your Grace, I have brought the Young Lady's copy of letters for House Gabriela and House Ystradgynlais." I informed and far from what I expected, he did not ignored what I had said.
He raised his eyes to me and I could see how interested he was when I mentioned the Duchess.
"Letters?" he asked in a frown. I was amaze on how his expression suddenly changed. I cleared my throat and approached his table to give him what I have.
"Yes. She sent it last week."
"Last week? Then why am I only being informed of these letters just now?" he asked irritatedly.
I lowered my head.
"The letter for the Ducal House was simply sent on the post station and-"
"Post station, you say? Not in our private messengers?" His Grace cutted out.
"Yes. And the letter for the Viscounty was sent through a Phantom Knight."
"You mean, secretly sent?"
"Indeed, Your Grace." his brows met in confusion.
I myself was also confused with the Little Miss' purpose. I am wondering what was the Miss' thinking for sending two different letters in two different ways.
A simple sent and a secretive one, as if the Young Lady was purposely hiding the letters in a not obvious way from her father, The Duke. Discreetly.
But I am more curious of why did the Duchess sent a letter of friendship, requesting a male friend from both houses. The only son of Duke Gabriela and the fifth and neglected son of Viscount Ystradgynlais that she both did not really know in person.
Why would she...?
"Does Knight Halnois know about the latter letter?"
"I suppose." I answered hesitantly.
"But I bet he did not sent it himself." I added. I heard him tsked and cursed the poor Knight under his breath. I saw how the letters crumpled from his hands but he did not completely dishelved it and threw it on the second drawer.
The copy letters did have the seal of the late Duchess, the Little Miss did not used the official seal of the House which added to My Lord's confusion.
I could feel My Master's fury that was adding fire to my nervous-slash-excitement. They were giving this old man an entertainment. Hah. They should take it easy to a geezer like me.