Yale’s eyes were barely open, and his thoughts were dizzy. His head turned towards the side and all he could see were the two candlesticks. At this distance, at this moment, he thought it was the sun. And this room - a large shadow cast on him. Wasn’t it the same as that time?

A person wearing a halo of the sun stood in front of him. Destiny? Should you call it fate when you are traveling West and your companion climbs the hill first and turn towards you? Surely, it seemed the case that treacherous day.

“Yale Alucard, you simply didn’t fight me for a woman.” The speaker’s shadow fell on Yale.

The blinding sun didn’t let Yale see the person’s face. But he could image it, every line the lips made, every move the eyes made. Was the voice magical enough or did the day long life and death battle change something?

“I have no right.” Yale closed his eyes and said.

“You open up more and more after every battle.”

Yale imagined a smile. Crucifying, how crucifying! He felt ashamed to ask for a rematch again. But he knew he would, he had to. At this moment, the blank space in his heart ached more than his wounds.

“Your love for this woman has all burnt up into strength you used to face me.”

“Tell me, my king, what do I need to ever open these eyes again?”

“Ambition-”

Yale let out a deep breath and his eyes snapped open! The memory from the past had completely vanished along with the pain. He coughed out a few mouthfuls of blood, but his body didn’t complain in the slightest. A strange glint appeared in his eyes just as he realized what had happened.

At the side, Arnacia was screaming wildly inside her heart. An unfathomable scene played out in front of her - Yale’s body shined in an eerie light. Too many unknown variables were present here. Was it really the world of her favorite light novel?

The veiled lady broke from her momentary stupor. This development was out of her wildest imagination, fear slowly crept onto her. Yale was already getting up. She raised her leg through the right split in her dress and stomped down with all her might. This time, not only the heel but her entire sole crashed onto Yale’s head like a hammer.

A muffled sound echoed; it shuddered the soul of spectators. The cracked tiles were far ghastly than before. Even Rose had closed her eyes for a second, let alone the young maids.

Yale’s hand did not have enough strength to hold the rapier anymore. It slipped out of his hands. But even then he was barely able to push his body towards the side to lie on this back. The result was unimaginable! His shining body twitched with rough breaths as he struggled to keep his eyes barely open. Slowly, the eerie light subsided, his breathing stabilized and eyes closed.

Arnacia felt hopping mad on witnessing the scene. In her view, from start to finish, the veiled lady stood there like a goddess.

‘Queen Afeefa!!’ Arnacia screamed in her heart. She felt like her body would go out of control any moment now. The ecstasy was unmanageable. She walked towards the queen, but her movements were stiff.

“T-Thank you-u so much!” she blurted out.

Queen Afeefa was the first wife of King Nicolas.

‘But! She only married him to stabilize the kingdom. Just like her name, no! Even better, she is purer than the heavens itself!’ Arnacia wanted the queen to touch her. Was this even real if he couldn’t?

“Autograph!” Arnacia put forward her hand. “Please!” Her heart skipped a beat when the lady turned towards her.

‘Oh no! What did I say?!’ She wanted to pull her hand back, but it was difficult to get off a riding horse.

“Autograph?” Afeefa asked.

“Y-yes! Can you touch my hand to tell me this is real?” Arnacia said with little thought.

Queen Afeefa looked towards her hand, then at her face. A smile escaped her red lips. Through the netted veil, the red looked like a blooming rose in the middle of the moon. The queen removed her gloves and lightly touched Arnacia’s hand.

“Silver Knight Rose, tie them up then show the girls outside,” Afeefa said.

Rose acknowledged awkwardly. She had her own speculations about the veiled lady’s identity. But questioning directly was one of the rudest things she could do. After tying up the two men, she led the maids outside.

After coming out of the dark hall, the surrounding truly felt like a fantasy world. The contrast seemed uncanny to Rose.

But for Arnacia, the weather was bright and blue, similar to art and anime.

Rose bid the maids a quick farewell and rushed back to the upper floor.

“She was so cool,” Arnacia said. Most of the unsettling thoughts vanished from her mind after Queen Afeefa defeated Yale. Not to mention, it was very easy and took only two kicks. The shining Yale looked more like a gimmick.

Arnaica stretched herself and adjusted the basket on her back. She wanted to bask in the feelings more, but her attention quickly shifted. A fruit wagon was passing by. She took out the shopping list. Earlier today, while following the knight, she saw a few points of interest. These shops had the items she needed.

“Give me your shopping list,” she asked Isabelle, who quietly handed it over.

“You must be tired. Don’t worry, I will handle the rest,” Arnacia consoled Isabelle, then moved towards the marketplace. She constantly hummed along the way and replayed the scenes of Queen Afeefa in her head.

The maids soon reached their destination. Apparently, Arnacia walked one step ahead and Isabelle followed. Slowly, the baskets filled with goods and shopping ended.

‘Phew, such a long day.’

It took two maids much time to get back to the maid training camp. They followed the path up the hill. Baskets were heavy but neither of them felt tired. While crossing the Redcherry bridge, they saw a figure standing in front of the main door of their sleeping quarters.

‘Oh, crap!’

The long day wasn’t over yet.