Why is she here? I greeted her. "Greeting madam Belinda" all the other girls with Claire and herself bowed to Ms. Belinda.

"What were you talking about to slip the wine?" she asked. "It's nothing madam Belinda it was my fault, I apologize to Lady Catherine for spilling the wine." and she turned to leave.

What did I just witness, it was all mess before aunt Belinda came and now it's solved in just few seconds. "My sweety are you okay, did they hit you? Tell your aunt, I will teach them a lesson." "No, no they didn't hit me, just said something." "What did they say?"

"They just talked about the divorce and how I should know my place and act like that"

Crunch, Crack

The wine class which aunt held broke. "Are you alright?Aunt, your hand?"

"Nah it's normal you know, I am fine" I took out my handkerchief and wiped the wine from her hand.

"You know you are just like your mom." and she hugged me. "Greeting madam Belinda." A girl of my age came to aunt.

"Oh it's nice to see you Maria. This is my niece Lady Catherine." She greeted me immediately. "I will leave you two, it will be awkward for an old lady to join two young lady's discussion."

What?! She just left me with a stranger. Now what should I talk about? "Lady we can move to balcony" "Yea sure." I should just go with the flow. We both walked to the balcony, wow the wind is refreshing but as it is dark, it's a bit creepy.

"My Lady" she kneel down, wait what is happening? "I am sorry for my rude behaviour when we were small" what is she saying?

"My name is Maria Cyprusis." Huh why do I feel I have heard this name. Yea I remember it's that girl from the memory, the girl with attitude (reference to ch 13)

"No it's ok" I helped her to stand up. "I want to take the oath of sword." Maria took out her sword, what is oath of sword? 'That is to say she is willing to even sacrifice herself for you, like she is your bodyguard now.' What no!! I can't except it why should she sacrifice herself for me?

"I am sorry, but I won't" I refused firmly. "No lady, please except me as your sword. I want to correct my wrong doings that I have done to you."

"If you want to correct your wrong doing, why don't you become my friend?" I extended my hands to her. She looked at my hand.

Hesitatingly she extended her hand. I held her hand. "So then we are friends right?" I asked smiling at her. She nodded.

"Then let's go and enjoy the party." Her face brightened. We walked back to the ballroom.

"May I have the honour to dance with my lady?" Michael came to me out of nowhere. Maria pushed me to Michael and winked at me. She is really weird.

"Sure" I accepted his request with a bow. He lead me to the dance floor. The music started.

Wait, I think I am forgetting something. "Let's go my lady" We went to the centre. I looked around.

Huh? Why is the music a bit different than when I practiced at home? "Your highness is this the second music?"

"No my lady, it's the first" "Ok, wait what?"

I remembered what Sara said "My lady should dance in second or third music, not the first. Remember my lady."

This is not good. Michael took my hand and started with the steps. Wait!!! Frost what should I do!?

'Tell him'

What seriously? That's embarassing!

Then what, master want to fall down? I sighed.

"Ahem your highness"

"Please call me Michael."

"How dare I call his highness," He suddenly spinned me. No I will fall down!! He held me just before falling.

"Michael, only you can call" he whispered into my ear.

Gulp

Stop that thought get to the point Cathy! "Actually I have only practiced the steps for second and third music."

"No problem." He smiled at me. "You can follow my steps."

After that it was hell, I went on stepping on his foot missing the step and beat. Also the heels which I was wearing was one of a kind. I gave an awkward smile to him. He didn't even clench his teeth. Fortunately the music ended. We ended the dance with a bow to each other.

The music ended, I have never had this much happiness in my life. She quite has the talent to step on foot. "I am really sorry your highness." she looked at me with puppy eyes. Oh lord how can I resist that. "I will punish you if you won't call me Michael." I whispered to her ear. She looked at me and her cheeks went red as rose.

"Your highness" Zion came to me. He whispered,"Sir there is a lead about the kidnapping case." I nodded. I smiled to Catherine. "Please wait here I will be back." and went to the balcony.

"Report" casting the magic barrier, I looked at Zion. "Your highness it seems her lady was last seen in greenhouse."

"Is this what you found? Even the child on the streets knows this." Zion gave me a piece of black silk cloth.

"Apparently this cloth was found in the greenhouse. But the lady didn't wear a dress of silk. Emma, maid of Lady Catherine has testified it. It was also said that no one else was there other than her lady itself." Then that means someone broke in.

"But if I am not wrong greenhouse is protected by a spell right?"

"Yes then they would have detected the person, but it seems it wasn't a human, someone who could break Yorus sage's barrier and detecter spell. Sir I don't think this is something normal. I have a bad feeling about this. I think the rumours are-" I glared at Zion. I sighed. "Don't jump to conclusions. Investigate it." "Yes sir!!"

"But your highness, I think you are not normal." Zion said while looking at me with his hand placed on chin.

"What do you mean?"

"Before, you never cared about others so just casually speaking--"

"I think I have been lenient to you these past days. Tomorrow five in the morning assemble at the practice ground."

I could see, soul leaving from his body. Yea I know I am being weird these days. The only thing I see when I close my eyes is her. I placed my hands on my face. I can't help but worry about her.

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