[Drawing Room]
As I open my eyes, I see a familiar ceiling.
.. Ugh, where am I?
I sit up and looked around.
"Ah, this is the drawing room."
I press my shoulders and the other parts of my body that are aching.
I sigh, "Ha~ I think I overdid myself." I unconsciously said my thoughts aloud.
"You sure did, Princess. Are you feeling okay now?" I heard a familiar voice and looked behind me.
"Miss Deuwen! Were you with me the whole time? Did you carry me all the way here? and how long have I been out for?" I bombarded her with questions the moment I saw her as I try to stand up.
Miss Deuwen raises her hand to signal me to remain seated. "Princess, calm down. Indeed, I carried you all the way here and stayed with you the whole time. Did I perhaps make you feel uncomfortable with my presence here?"
"N-No, you did not. I apologize, I caused you quite the trouble."
"There's no need to apologize, princess. It's my duty to ensure your well-being, and besides, you were only out for a few minutes, so it was not really an inconvenience. Anyway, it seems like you fully exhausted your stamina, to fall asleep like that, letting your guard down in front of many people."
Well, it was partly the fault of your scent that I fell asleep.
"Uu~ Although even after all that, I still lost against Cassie. The Braymonts are really something else." I smile wryly.
"Fufu.." Miss Deuwen chuckles.
"Hm? Did I say something weird, Miss?"
"Not at all. It's true that the Braymonts are indeed well-known for being at the top when it comes to military prowess, which is a fact since soldiers trained by the duke can be considered as one of the best in the continent. However, despite all that, Lady Cassandra is still in a league of her own."
"Huh? What do you—" Before I finish what I wanted to ask, Miss Deuwen cuts my sentence.
"Looks like the people who worry about her highness can't wait any longer. Good day, Princess." She snaps her fingers which in turn cause the doors to open and in the blink of an eye, she is gone.
"Ah.."
When the doors opened, I see Vivi and Bea standing there with worried expressions, which immediately lightens up when they saw me.
"Your Highness!", " Ara!", Vivi and Bea rushes towards me.
Vivi is wiping her teary eyes whereas Bea is hugging me. I guess I really made them worry huh?
While Bea is still clinging onto me, I looked behind them and around the room but I noticed that Cassie is nowhere to be seen, so I asked, "Where is Cassie?"
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Bea shakes her head, ".. I tried to invite Sandra to go with me when I planned to come here, but her family didn't let me go near her."
Huh? Why would that happen? If I remember correctly, Bea and Sandra have been together since they were very little, and they get along like sisters. I can't think of a reason why would they stop Sandra from visiting me, although it's a different story if that's what Sandra wanted to do.
"Is that.. so?" I say with a solemn look on my face.
".. I'm sorry, Ara." Bea looked heartbroken.
"Huh? Why are you apologizing, Bea? I don't remember you doing anything bad to me." I look at her with a confused look on my face.
"I lied. I just knew that Sandra is not in a condition where she can face you right now. We've been together for so long, I mostly know whenever she is thinking about something.. I'm really sorry, Ara. When I see you look like that, I just can't lie to you." Bea continues to apologize while wiping her tears.
I hug her back tightly and comfort her, "..That's okay. I know that you have a reason for trying to do that."
...
After Bea calms down, I ask her again, "Did I do something to make her feel bad?"
Bea shakes her head again to confirm that it was not it, "Just give her some time, she'll come back sooner or later like nothing's happened. She's always been like that." She gives me a smile but I could tell that it was a bit forced.
".. If that's what she needs most right now, I'll gladly give it to her.. but if she takes too long to come to me, I'll come to her myself!" I say that with an assuring tone.
Bea nods and brightly smiles, "Mm! Thank you, Ara." She hugs me again as she says so.
.
..
...
A few minutes later, Bea seems to be sleeping on my lap.. My image of her from when we first met is so different compared to now.
As I stroke her head, she almost made a 'purr~' sound.
"Looking at her like this, she almost seems like a cat, fufu. Come to think of it, there seems to be no sign of Alex and mom anywhere. Hey Vivi, do you know where they are?"
"It appears that they are currently in the Throne Room with His Majesty."
Ugh, I almost forgot about that bastard.. What is he trying to do this time?
Aah~! Forget about him, more importantly, I wonder what really happened to Cassie? During the battle, I think we were having a moment where the two of us are gradually understanding each other better, I even thought we were having fun. Am I the only one who thinks so? I'm sure that's not it, right, Cassie?
"Princess? Is something bothering you?" Vivi looks at me with a worried face again.
"I-It's nothing, a-ha-ha." I try to laugh it off.
"A-Anyway, stop calling me princess, Vivi."
"But.. Lady Beatrice is here." she said while fidgeting with her fingers.
"It's okay! Bea is sleeping soundly after all." I welcome her with my open arms.
"T-Then, Ara.." Vivi shyly walks towards me and hugs me back.
"Ara, I was really worried when you fell down on the ground you know? Please don't overexert yourself like that again." she scolds me with a soft voice in which I think was cute.
"Hehe, sorry for worrying you.. Do you want to take a bath together later?"
Vivi's face turns beet red.
She says in a flustered voice, "M-Maybe next time."
"Haha, okay." I bury my face on her body and move it around. Ahh~ I'm craving for some cotton candies right now. I playfully bite Vivi's neck.
"Hyau! A-Ara!!" Vivi lets out a cute voice and gives me a glare with her cheeks flushed.
"Ahaha!" I laugh and accidentally glanced at my lap. There I see Bea silently staring at me.
Both Vivi and I simultaneously uttered, "Ah." While Bea is still looking at us.