“I’ll be going now with Sir Fionn, you girls behave while I am away okay!” Lady Marie, near the door, cloaked with pouch full of coins held by her right hand, said to us who were sitting on the couch in the middle of the room.

“Okay Miss Marie…” Lady Eleanna beside me, with a book opened in hand, responded to Lady Marie.

“…” While I only nodded at her.

After Lady Marie went out, I was left with Lady Eleanna watching over me. Originally I was supposed to be left with Lady Nieve, but Lady Marie said that she has an important meeting with her kind in this region. Well either way I wasn't left alone but... Lady Eleanna, she was… how should I say this, quite doll like when I first met her back in castle krone.

From her fair skin and her somewhat blurry eyes, it really gave me the jeepers. Not only that, she, I don’t know how, feels like coldness itself when being around her.

But now, I don’t know what happen as she feels more warmer than usual, like something so wonderful just happen to her that her cold aura just went out without any notice.

Though her aura was more welcoming and warmer now, I still couldn’t help myself but to act timid in front of her. I know that she’s like Lady Marie herself, caring and loving, she is her niece after all, but… yeah, I don’t want to jinx it, I’ll keep my mouth shut for now.

“So… what do you usually do with Miss Marie?” She asked, though a bit awkwardly.

I still kept my mouth shut, but I pointed at the book she was holding.

“Book? Uhh… studying perhaps?” She guessed.

I shake my head side to side.

“Ohh, then… reading stories?” She guessed again.

This time I nodded.

As she finally solved taht, she stood up from the couch and went to the bookcase near the exit door. While she was searching for a short story book, I went over to the desk and drank the tea that Lady Marie poured for us before she went out.

As I sipped this hot sweet water called tea, Lady Eleanna went back with a book in hand and I could see a bit of the cover and the title, it was called the Blue Bird of Caerbryn.

The story was about the Blue Bird of Caerbryn, named Erynris and the Lord of the Caerbryn, Count Dafydd. It started out with Erynris flying to the Count’s castle, the tale said that he was exhausted from his flight and was seeking a place to stay for a night, Count Dafydd, overjoyed at the prospect of someone visiting and even staying in his castle let him in, but what Eryrnris didn’t know was that when he stepped in Count Dafydd’s castle, was that his life would change.

He was served with delightful food and drinks, interesting and funny conversations, as well as warmness like none other, because of this he broke down, crying in happiness, saying that in his long life, he has only been welcomed with danger, coldness, and cruelty.

He asked Count Dafydd of why this otherworldly hospitality, even though he was but a stranger to him. The Count replied that Erynris was the first visitor since a very long time and seeing that someone has come to this old castle and even staying for the night, was something that he longed for because of how lonely he was living in the castle.

Though they became friends from that conversation, Erynris knew that this was only for a night. He was a sad at the prospect of leaving the only friend he has made, but he still needs to go north and in the crack of dawn.

And he continued his journey, going north to something that he never told. But he left something precious to Dafydd, it was a single blue feather that he plucked from his own body, Dafydd was a bit sad that he was left alone again but seeing this gift left him with a smile knowing that he has made a friend.

The story was quite sweet really, two people of loneliness and founding warmness in each other by chance, it… reminded me of my current situation.

I was captured to be a slave sent to be his… god… I don’t want to think about it anymore, that part of my life has pass and that… man… has finally got what he deserved.

All thanks to the Lord Protector, but even though he didn’t came like a shining white knight to save me, he did sent two of those monsters to the dungeon.

Thinking back again, I’ve never met the Lord Protector, my saviour, the things I know about him was from Lady Marie and she described him as a stubborn, destructive man that she cared for.

Well… either way I am glad I was saved by him and I am grateful that I met Lady Marie, someone so caring, so loving, and so patient to help me get through all of this.

Knock, knock…

“Who is it?” Lady Eleanna responded to the door being knocked.

“It’s me, Arthur!” as the door open revealing it to be Sir Arthur, I recoiled a bit and even got startled when he entered.

I’ve met him once in castle krone, though it was behind Lady Marie. He was quite the cheery and friendly person when he talked to Lady Eleanna.

He also for some reason has this aura of brightness like the sun whenever I took a peek at him.

He was like an angel or even a god with that shining light behind him.

When he saw me recoiled a bit after he entered the room, he was dishearten, expectedly, I didn’t mean any harm, but my body just… acted on its own.

I, just… don’t want to be seen by them, by men, I can’t help it. There’s always this lingering thought in the back of my head when I see a men, thoughts of fear of what they might do to me…

But I know for a fact that he is a nice man, he too probably already knows why I am like this, there’s no malice I feel.

He proved it himself as he didn’t move an inch from the door, but stood there waiting for Lady Eleanna to go over to him. It really gave me the impression that he understands and was conscious of his presence to me.

After Lady Eleanna went over to Sir Arthur and discuss something… he then sincerely apologized to me because of his presence, he even bowed down a bit towards me.

Though again, I know this man is a very nice person, my body just acted on itself and recoiled even further back to the couch. He got the message and back down but without leaving me with something that made me… somewhat at peace.

“I am sorry for making you nervous Roison! So… I’ll leave these sweets here…” he then pulled out a sack from his pocket where he then opened it for me, it was filled with square white powdered things in it.

I then took a piece of this square food thing and tried it.

It was sweet! Really chewy, but really good either way, it made me relaxed even.

Because of this I wanted to say thank you to him, but… I couldn’t muster that much courage, but I did muster enough to grab his clothes from the back, trying to say thank you by reaching him.

“You want him to stay Roison?” Lady Eleanna seeing me grabbing his clothes, guessed that I wanted another company.

I didn’t really mind, his shining aura, act of kindness and understanding was already giving me peace and somewhat deafen my lingering thoughts about men… yeah… I think it’s fine…

But this wasn’t the last of the unexpected guests in this room, after Sir Arthur, her royal highness, Princess Amadela and Lady Sapphire, who was in her cat form, joined in.

She was the second person that I met when I was liberated from that man and the one I told to her who was our enslaver. My first impression of her was really like when a little girl meeting any kind of princess, she was elegant, magnificent even, like a fairy tale came to life, but her aura though…

It just revealed everything on why she has this feeling of elegance and magnificence, she was grieving woman, she was sad really but, she kept going with this mask.

I do hope she finds solace and can move on from whoever she is grieving to.

When asked why she was here, she said that she wanted to check up on me and… saying she was delighted would be an understatement.

She was more than happy than relieved that I was fine with Sir Arthur, she was really glad at this progress I made.

After that another came, Lady Ruith, Lady Chloé and Lady Sofía.

Lady Chloé was actually the first person I met after I was liberated, because… under the Lord Protector’s order, she was the one who liberated me as well as the other slaves.

I was still mess back then, numb in all kinds of way, but… this woman, all in black with a crow in her shoulder, omitting an aura that is a kin to Lady Eleanna, was the one who brought me back to reality.

Since then I’ve always looked up to her and someday I really want to be as strong as her.

First meeting Lady Sofía, she gave off an impression like the Princess as well.

Elegant, discipline, and dignified, but there was something else I got off from her, there was this oozing sense of superiority and triumph, like seeing a lion with roar that commands respect.

It was… quite tense really, I couldn’t help but be afraid of her, not out of fear… but out of respect.

Then there was Lady Ruith…

I… don’t know, she too has this feeling of coldness like Lady Eleanna and Lady Chloé, but… it wasn’t that of the harsh coldness they both have, it was… different, her aura omits snow itself but… it feels like she is chained to that snow, like she is being followed by it.

Her personality on the other hand was a real opposite of that snow, she was brash, cheeky, and even bold, she’s… like the Princess actually, covering herself with a mask, just in this case, rather than acting like an elegant princess, she’s acting like a mischievous girl.

The three of them explained that they wanted to discuss somethings with Lady Amadela and it was about a wedding, Lady Sofía’s and the Prince’s wedding plan to be exact!

While I was there sipping another cup of tea and nibbling one of those sweets that Sir Arthur brought, I heard them talked things like ‘how many guests would be invited’, ‘where the after party should be’, ‘what the color of the dress should the bridesmaid wear’, ‘what colour and type of dress should the bride wear’, and a lot more.

While they went on talking about Lady Sofia’s wedding, the door was knocked again where another of the unexpected guests came, but… they revealed themselves to be his royal highness, Prince Kristof, his grace, Grand Duke Alaxandair and Sir Pere.

I’ve seen the prince once, he was actually beside Sir Arthur when I first saw him.

One thing I’ll say is that he has this aura that yells arrogance and boastfulness, but unlike his fiancée, it feels more like a man who is overcompensating on something…

Sir Pere on the other hand was a quiet one, his impression gave me that of a man with little words but if he uses his mouth, it was sure to be of a man who only says the most necessary things.

His aura too was oozing that of a calm man, living and enjoying the moment.

But His Grace…

He actually has this feeling of coldness like his sister, Lady Ruith, though it was more akin to Lady Eleanna and Lady Chloé.

I also feel something sinister in his aura and dare I say his heart, he does give an impression of a man that has dedicated himself for… something, but… I am actually quite afraid of what he is dedicating himself for, because of that sinister feeling I felt for him.

When they showed themselves, I, again, sadly, recoiled and cowered a bit like when Sir Arthur came.

They of course already knew about my condition but… seeing Sir Arthur near me where I wasn’t that scared with him, left a really bitter sour taste on what they just saw, I can feel it in them that they felt a bit slighted at this sight and it got worse when he… joined too.

After knocking and opening the door, I expected myself to recoil back again, but… the one who entered, was him!

Clothed in green and Lady Marie’s description of his hair was not an exaggeration, his hair really was white as milk, it was him, my saviour, the Lord Protector.

I… was speechless, more enamoured at seeing him rather than being recoiled, I… just, I don’t know, something just felt familiar when he entered, it was something I was very curious at, I even dropped down off the couch and went over to him.

He was of course a bit surprised when seeing me coming near him, well… everyone in the room actually was, but I just couldn’t help but coming to him and trying to solve why his aura just felt… so familiar.

Then… I saw it, a scar in his chest, a lucky catch by my eyes as I realized it now, why he feels so familiar, so… safe.

He’s like me…

I know first and foremost that our old scars and wounds are probably different, but knowing this, that he’s like me, just… made me felt more safer with him.

It’s as if… he will know and understand my pain, the pain that is still eating me, torturing me, I feel that he will know it through and through.

I guess… that’s why Lady Marie could handle me.

“First it was Sir Arthur and out of all the men here, it’s you? What… you shared some kind of similar pain with one another?” Out of nowhere his highness lashed a bit at the Lord Protector, but hearing him saying this, with that kind of tone, didn’t made me cowered in fear, I felt… angry, I felt like I wanted to shout at him, I…

“YES…” somehow, someway… I shouted, by Lux I shouted! “We… shared the same pain, I can… feel it in him…” I then looked at him, seeing him in awe at me as I even took a more bolder step, I held his hand, his… callous hands. “I… don’t know, if it is the exact same… but… what I felt… in him, is a pain… like I have…”

The room was in awe, everyone already knew my condition and they knew that I am like a delicate flower.

But when they saw me shouted ‘yes’ at the Prince and even continued on finishing a sentence, even if it was patchy, they just… stared at me with amazement.

For me on the other hand, reality snap back with embarrassment looming in my head as I realized I just shouted at the prince…

“Hahaha!!” While I was there reflecting on the embarrassing shout I directed to the prince, the Lord Protector, laughed joyously while looking at me and then to the Prince. “You heard her Kristof! Hahaha…” he continued his jovial laugh while putting his hand on my head, it was… more embarrassing now, because now it felt like was being treated like a little kid.

After that we continued our previous rowdy activities in the room, eating the sweets Sir Arthur brought and drinking another batch of tea that Lady Ruith called for from her maid, waiting until Lady Marie came back which she did eventually with Sir Fionn.

But Sir Fionn was holding a bag of something that got the attention of the Lord Protector, he answered that it was a bag of coffee beans that… Lady Marie stole.

“Hahaha….” I don’t why, even though the Lord Protector was livid at this situation, I couldn’t help but laugh at what Lady Marie just did and it of course shocked everyone including Lady Marie herself, and like the Princess, she couldn’t help but be ecstatic and delighted at the sight of me laughing.