Liz was sweating rather profusely right now. She has had a girl’s talk earlier this morning with Vanessa. Vanessa was rather carefree about Liz’s feelings towards Alex. However, she did warn that Amelia might not be so light-hearted.

It turned out that Vanessa was very much correct!

Liz was being confronted by Amelia at this very moment. After serving tea, Liz had escaped the room as fast as she could, or so she thought.

Amelia had followed right behind her without a word.

“Follow me!” Amelia commanded with a deadpan tone as she quickly took the lead and headed towards the garden.

Liz had no choice but to follow. She knew that Amelia would be her biggest obstacle towards gaining Alex’s affection!

Alex was too young and inexperienced in the ways of love and life. Liz felt that if she tried her best, it would not be long until Alex would develop some feelings towards her.

If one asked what spurred her feelings of love towards a younger boy, she’d have no real answer to give.

Why does one love another? Sometimes the answer can be simple, other times, complicated. However, a lot of people will find that there is no answer. They love another without reason. Why does love need a reason anyhow.

It can bud from the smallest of things. A simple smile, a helping hand when one was lost. Maybe just being in one’s presence during hard times.

Liz did not know why she liked the boy. Was it true love? Did she want to spend the rest of her life with him?

She did not know the answer to those questions. But, she’d try her best to find out. For now, though, there was an obstacle to face, a rather tough one.

Liz followed Amelia to the little gazebo. Amelia signalled the scared looking maid girl to sit opposite from her.

‘Why’d I have to look like a villainous wife? I only wanted to talk to the girl. Ahh!! Damn Alex! Provoking trouble left and right!’ Sorting out her internal turmoil, Amelia took a careful look at the older girl, or rather woman, sitting across her.

Amelia knew that she was beautiful for her age. Only fifteen and there were already countless proposals sent to the Duke’s mansion every day.

Whether they were for herself or her prowess as a mage and her identity, she did not know. She did not care to know. It was more likely to be the latter anyhow.

Liz was a pretty woman. Not gorgeous like Amelia. Just pretty. An innocent beauty with brown hair and a few freckles. The very picture of a wild flower amongst weeds.

Amelia had obviously met Liz long ago. She didn’t think much of the maid back then since there was no intersection between the two.

“Let me introduce myself, formally.”

“I’m Amelia von Gray, sole daughter of Duke Edward von Gray. Currently in a relationship with Alex.”

Liz gulped. She knew that the pretty girl that came along with Alex most weeks was a princess. Only daughter of a Duke. Still, hearing it from the person from herself was intimidating. Especially if she was seemingly trying to steal the girl’s boyfriend.

“…My name is Lizzy…people just call me Liz…Umm…your highness, what’s this about?”

Liz tried to be as polite as she can as she tried to probe Amelia’s intentions, even though she’d already guessed it.

“Ha…Don’t be scared…I’m not going to tell you to stop liking Alex. And no ‘your highness’ please. Just Amelia.

“And you aren’t the first. Just last month, there were three girls trying to seduce Alex. Of course, I knew they were just after his potential.” Amelia shook her little fists in anger, remembering the vixens.

Liz fidgeted and didn’t know what to say. It seemed that Amelia was OK with her, for now.

“Oh, don’t be mistaken though, if Alex doesn’t want you around, I’ll do whatever it takes to make you leave.”

The sharp glare and sudden change in attitude made Liz hold her breath or at least it would if there wasn’t a pout in her beautiful lips. Liz tried very hard to not break her facial expression, causing her to have a rather scared looking expression. She thought that this little beauty was very adorable.

Unaware of Liz’s thoughts, Amelia was having troubles of her own. She felt somewhat funny. This older woman was so easy to read! If she were to just be herself and stay in Alex’s presence, perhaps it won’t be long until the boy succumbs to her pure charm.

Liz suddenly laughed out a little. Realizing that she was being a bit rude, the maid did her best to restrain herself.

“I’m sorry, Miss Amelia, I just couldn’t help it. I thought you were going to be angry at me and tell me to stay away from Alex…”

Amelia pretended to be a bit upset. “Hmph, this miss has a big heart! I will allow you to be near him for now!”

“Oh, by the way, so you are obviously not going with Sister Vanessa and Master Kyle, right?”

“Ah!” Liz recalled that Amelia has not been informed that she asked to be Alex’s personal maid at the academy. Looking rather awkward, she replied.

“That’s right, I won’t be going with them. I’m staying in the capital……as Alex’s personal maid…”

Peeking at Amelia’s expression for any signs of anger, Liz relaxed when she saw that Amelia donned a thinking pose. ‘So cute!!’ Liz, who wasn’t all that aware about her own attractiveness, was a bit jealous of Amelia.

“That’s clearly impossible!”

“Eh??”

Liz raised a confused voice at Amelia’s sudden exclamation.

“I won’t allow you to steal a march on him! You’ll be my personal maid instead. Our villas are next to each other anyways!”

As the two girls were in their bonding (?) session, Alex was being lectured on how to treat girls from his big sis.

‘Sis! Please don’t tell me everything Kyle has done for you over the last four years!’

Both Liz and Alex were suffering in their own way.

***

Meanwhile, in a busy market place in the city, Kyle was walking back to the parking lot that he’d left the carriage at.

Kaylee was riding on his shoulder, nibbling a sweet that she’d got her father to buy for her.

As Kyle was going through a mental checklist of things to be done before the trip while walking along the road, he was interrupted by the way of an old man standing in his path.

Kyle stopped a few steps away from the old man. Staring at the recent acquaintance with a funny look, he asked.

“What are you doing here?”

“Hmph! This ancestor has come to challenge you to a fair fight! Last time, I do not know how you escaped, but if that’s all you can do, then this old man is going to teach you a lesson!”

The old man’s voice was not loud but it was still heard by the surrounding people, who stopped and looked at the two parties with interest, expecting some entertainment.

Kyle struggled to not laugh out as his stare changed from one of surprise to pity.

“Oi, are you an idiot? Why would you come challenge me in this location? What if you lose? How will your children have the face to call themselves the royal family?”

The crowd got into loud murmurs from the words ‘royal family’. People didn’t know if the information was true or not. However, rumours didn’t really need truth to spread around!

“You!! How’d these peasants know that I’m from the royal family if you didn’t say it out! And who said we’re going to fight here?!”

Kyle turned to Kaylee, and said. “Little girl, don’t be like that kid ok? He’s clearly lost it. Can’t even take a joke.”

Kaylee giggled and nodded cutely. Her current attention, however, was more towards a nearby stall selling some nice looking sugar coated fruits.

The crowd around them was now pointing fingers at the old man and laughing. Of course, no one really believed that the ‘crazy’ old man was from the esteemed royal family.

The royal ancestor, who was too easily provoked for his age and experience, could stand the situation no longer. He bellowed and shot towards Kyle and Kaylee with full speed.