And, that reminds me.. I rubbed my chin staring at the book...
The conversation, I had with Prince Zeno, on the day of my mother's death...
**
"Lady Rottenstein, I had checked in about the details of the Royal Page and his companions and it was conformed that they are indeed the traitors who had betrayed Fairytale. But.. The "Fairies " of the Tale, The Sleeping beauty whom you claim to have killed your mother, could not be arrested.. " he said decisively.
"And, why is that..? "
Prince Zeno took in a deep breath as he slowly spilled the bombardment my ears could ever hear..
"It's because... Their story events have just been "started" their next reincarnation, yesterday..."
"W-What..? "
"So, it's almost illogical for them to not be in their castle and give gifts for the heroine according to their story plot and instead attack the Cinderella household.. T-They have a perfect witness." he had said.
I flipped the pages more rapidly at the memory.
Ugh, but I know, it's soo wrong!!
I have heard that the fairies from the Sleeping Beauty were at the Fairy kingdom palace when the Heroine had just turned 12. And, this meant their story did not even run halfway through at that time, so how can they them be reincarnated all over again without even being completed..
And, if I am not wrong, I hunch, the words I read from my Grim tale book just had to do with this mysterious story timeline.
And, for this reason..
Flip!
Flip!
Flip!
I flipped the pages more rapidly.
I need more resources!
Suddenly, I heard the door knob twirl and the thombs of heavy footsteps slowly approach my direction.
And, before I knew it a thick dark robe embraced my shoulders and wet hair that were currently soaking with rainwater.
"Out on this putrid climate to read books? Pfft.. Do you always have to be so stubborn and never listen to my orders, Lady Rottenstein..? You are one naughty troublemaker.. Do you know that? "
I abruptly turned back frightened at the voice and stared at the terrifying form that instantly glowed with a flash of lightening lighting up his background.
"F-Fake Sir N-Nozen!?"
I squeaked in fright at the sight of the Second prince who had plastered his usual refreshing smile on his face revealing an extremely scary aura around him.
He was obviously very angry..
"Fake? Ah, that's too brutal, Lady Rottenstein.. Considering how that name was given to me by my mother too, though it might just be one of my out-of-castle disguises.. "
He continued smiling hiding whatever his true emotions were as I chocked.
"H-How did you f-find me? "
"I put a tracking spell on you.."
Prince Zeno said casually taking a book from the bundle of books I had arranged on the study desk.
"Huh! When!? W-Where?? "
"In your cheeks.. When I pinched them.."
He flipped the pages.
I immediately rubbed my cheeks and true to his words, there really were a few blue magic sticking on them. I frowned.
"You are a stalker."
"No, I am not."
He closed the book calmly and continued smiling his refreshing smile.
"..I would have found where you are even I hadn't cast any spell on you..."
".....?"
"The letter you have written to your sister reveals almost all the things you plan to do next, including the expected date and time of the return.. " He explained.
"A-Ah.. I j-just didn't want Drizzy-chan to worry about me.. H-How should I know, you would ever look into that!? "
I stammered when Prince Zeno rolled his eyes and shook his head slowly walking towards me with a smirk.
"Geez, being a sis-con, really is your greatest weakness, Lady Rottenstein.. " He hissed on my ears.
A thick blush immediately contracted my face at the smiling Charming's close contact and I immediately got up from the chair in alarm.
"S-S-Sis-con!?.."
Stop stammering Anastasia. Do not let him find weakness!
"A-A naughty brat like you, has no right to call me that way, Fake Sir Nozen! "
The chair dropped on the ground with a 'Thud' just like the temperature of the room at my words.
Prince Zeno's eyebrows abruptly knitted togather as though he had suddenly lost his calm composure. The enjoyment he had while teasing me was gone from his face and he looked as though he was actually stabbed on the chest by my insult on what I called him, now.
"This is exactly why I didn't reveal my true identity to you.. " he mumbled to himself straightening his posture.
"What?"
"You are still treating me like a little kid, Lady Rottenstein!" He spilled out and I tried reasoning with him.
"Well, I would, If you don't behave like one. How could you hide your identity from me? Don't you know how unruly that is? "
But, unfortunately, It seemed like my words had succeeded nothing but, tick him all the more because then...
"Ah, My sweet fiancé .." Prince Zeno slowly gritted his teeth with a forced smile and dragged..".... you say that, even though you are the one refused to listen to my orders especially after I had clearly explained them to you.... And, not to mention how you actually fooled me with your mysterious black hooded identity a few days back and left me.. in misery and vain anticipation... "
He smiled but, there was no good will in them and just then, the brightness of the lightning flashed behind us through the window soaked with rain, shone on his form tripling his scary facade.
"Heeh!! "
Scary.. He's too scary when he's mad!!
Frightened at his sudden change in demeanor, I immediately turned forward ignoring his presence, sat on the chair after tilting it and got back to flipping the pages.
Just pretend he doesn't exist, Anastasia. Just pretend he doesn't exist. Just pretend he doesn't..
"Heh, so are you trying to ignore me now, Ms Rottenstein? Well, but, I won't disappear no matter what you try."
He was clearly amused by the situation as he soon turned the rolling chair, caught hold of the chair's two arms and looked straight into my eyes. His blue eyes were filled with mischievous twinkles.
"You!... " I grit my teeth.
"Hm?"
I sank back saying nothing when he chuckled again.
"Why are you so cute? "
"Shut up! And, Stop trying to dissipate my anger. I am still mad at you!"
I said blushing and soon pouted my red lips answering his previous question.
"I-I don't care that I fooled you! And, don't think, I actually regret doing this, especially because you had already lied to me about your true identity, Pri-F-Fake Sir Nozen. "
"I never lied to you. I had only refused to reveal my true identity. "
"Both meant the same, You dorkus!"
I yelled back completely irritated and abruptly turned to the front flipping pages.
A big sigh escaped Prince Zeno's lips as he tingled his fingers with magic.
"..Will you at least just, hear me out, Lady Rottenstein.." He said formally in an exhausted manner. ".. I know that, you are totally mad.."
"Furious." I added.
"..F-Furious at me now.. But, why must you explode it to the poor old man, who is completely innocent to whatever's happening around us.. Not to mention that he is a foreign wizard from another country?.. "
He said when suddenly the form of the old mumbling wizard covered with my red cocoon threads popped out of nowhere wrapped with Prince Zeno's blue magic sparkles.
"Mmm.. Mmm.. " The wizard muttered.
I immediately looked at him with narrowed eyes and explain.
"Listen here, Stupid brat, I know you might not know it.. But, I am a villainess and the opinion of a person like me doesn't really matter much. So, I just had to force my way into the wizards house as I couldn't speak much about my situ... "
"Oh!..So, you just mean You have a serious problem with social communication..."
He translated with a blank look instantly crushing down all the pride I had in, confessing my situation into pieces.
My face flushed red and my fingers abruptly threw the book I was reading before right on his face!
"Shut. Up! Don't put things that way!! "
"Ow, Ow" the Prince abruptly rubbed his nose in pain and had his fingers dress his face.
"..Geez, it's very tough to put up with someone like you, big sister Anasta..You know that.. " he mussed softly as I blushed more.
"Then don't, Sir Nozen!"
"Well.. "
The prince heaved yet another sigh and spoke again in a formal tone.
"..I'm gracious of the neat way you always treat me Lady Rottenstein.. But, that is no reason why you had abused a foreigner who had just visited our town.. "
".....Well...I-I was f-furious at the wizard too! " I stammered abruptly.
Ah, I must get out the situation. I had acted thoughtlessly yet again. Now that the prince mentions it, this guesture could be treated as treason too. I mean throwing a book on the face of the country's prince! Oh come on! Why must I always be trapped under these circumstances!!?!
"And, May I know, why is that..? "
A strange voice suddenly interrupted me but I continued replying not noticing it.
"b-because h-he arrived late to the battlefield with the dragon in the market! I could almost be dead if he had delayed any more moment. "
"Well, I apologize for the inconvenience but, it is just that I had another duty to take care of at that time, young lady.. "
"That's preposterous! How could.."
"Eh..? "
I stopped abruptly in realization and looked at prince Zeno who mirrored a pale placid face on his facade. I slowly followed his gaze and my eyes widened at the little sight it now witnessed.
.
.
.
Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip!
Our eyes abruptly widened and to our surprise instead of seeing a pathetic old man trapped inside a giant butterfly cocoon, my magic, we found a perfectly fine wizard who was now dusting off his arms and taking out the tiny residuals of the perfectly shred and damaged silky red cage.
The wizard I had just thought, I had defeated with my threads wasn't just all well and perfectly fine. But, he was also smirking at me in an mischievous way that looked like a parent, watching their kid play pranks on them.
I opened my jaws in shock and knew my doom.
The wizard pretended to have gotten caught by me. But, he had actually been this strong all along!!
Yikes!!