The hectic days of preparing for the play began. There were a lot of people who wanted to be part of the play. They heard about the Saintess's promise of food and fair wages. Initially, the people were scared of Lucien because of the rumours about his childhood but those fears were erased when they saw how he truly was.
Lucien was very supportive of Euphemia and he took care of the things that Euphemia was too busy to handle. Euphemia got help from Rubiella too. The two ladies conducted the auditions for the main cast of The Sun King And The Moonlight Princess. Rubiella was happy to help. She was able to see Hansel after all!
There were times she would be able to sneak a peak towards Hansel and she had a feeling he was looking at her too when she wasn't.
One day, Rubiella was carrying a huge pile of costumes and she couldn't see where she was going while walking in the corridor. She was going to bring the costumes to Euphemia and they would be choosing the costumes for the characters.
"Oof!"
Rubiella bumped to someone and she lost her balance. The costumes were starting to fall from her arms. Rubiella could feel herself falling too.
A hand suddenly supported her back and stopped her from falling. All of the costumes fell on the floor.
Rubiella looked up.
"Hansel!" Rubiella said.
"Are you all right, my lady?" Hansel asked.
Rubiella nodded, blushing. She could feel his warm hand on her back. Rubiella stood up straight. His face was so close to hers.
"You didn't come when I invited you to dinner last time," Rubiella said, frowning, trying to look displeased.
Hansel looked ashamed. "I'm sorry."
He couldn't tell her that he was actually there the whole time, watching her to make sure she was safe.
"You should make it up to me," Rubiella said, trying to look intimidating.
Hansel raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"When this play is over, take me out to celebrate," Rubiella said.
Hansel's eyes widened. "My lady, that would be improper!"
Rubiella rolled her eyes. "Coward."
Hansel looked worried. "My lady, I'm a butler. You shouldn't be close to me so much!"
Rubiella leaned close to Hansel's ear. "Not close enough."
Hansel's ears reddened.
Rubiella smiled in amusement, quietly picked up the costumes that had fallen on the floor, and giggled at the stunned Hansel.
"I want your hair untied again when we celebrate, okay?" Rubiella said and left, giggling to herself.
*
*
*
Euphemia and Rubiella were having trouble picking out who would be the Moonlight Princess. There were some pretty women among those who auditioned but they did not have the kind of beauty that were perfect for the character of the Moonlight Princess.
One afternoon in the town square, a man approached Euphemia. He was one of the props maker.
"May I have a bit of your time, Lady Euphemia? I would like to refer someone as the Moonlight Princess," the man said.
"Where is she?" Euphemia asked.
The man looked conflicted. "Actually, she is ashamed to go out of her house. She was really beautiful in the past and she caught a nobleman's eye. She rejected him and he destroyed her face in anger. I was hoping that you could . . ."
Euphemia realized what the man was asking. He was asking her to heal the woman. Euphemia was scared to be in pain again but she felt guilty for not using her healing powers.
"I will have to take the Duke with us. Let me get him," Euphemia said and went to Lucien who was overseeing the construction of the stage.
"Lucien."
Lucien turned and smiled brightly at Euphemia.
"What's wrong? Are you hungry?"
Euphemia shook her head. "No, it's not that. Someone just requested me to heal someone."
Lucien frowned. "I don't want you to be in pain again."
"I know but . . . I have the power to heal, Lucien. Please. Could you come with me?" Euphemia asked.
Lucien looked like he wanted to shoo away the man who approached Euphemia but he could not refuse Euphemia's pleading eyes.
Lucien sighed. "All right. Let's go."
Lucien and Euphemia followed the man to a run-down house.
"Ayla, it's Walter. I have someone who can help you!"
"Walter, please leave. I don't need help," a female voice said from inside the house.
"Please, Ayla. I hate seeing you suffer. Please let me help."
Euphemia could see that Walter cared a lot for the woman inside the house. It must be painful for Walter for the woman he loves to be in hiding because of her destroyed face.
"Ayla, my name is Euphemia. I'm the Holy Saintess and I can heal you."
The door was opened by a woman with a hood over her head.
"Holy Saintess and Your Grace, I thank you for your presence but I am not worthy of your help. Please forgive Walter for taking up your time," Ayla said.
"Ayla, Walter approached me because he really wants you to be better. Don't you want to be happy again? You will not need that hood anymore after I heal you. Don't you want Walter to see you be confident and happy again?" Euphemia said.
"Ayla, please," Walter said.
The woman under the hood finally agreed and let them come in. Euphemia and Ayla sat on two chairs facing each other. Lucien stood behind Euphemia to make sure he would be able to catch her if she faints.
"Lady Euphemia, my face, it is really gruesome. It might frighten you," Ayla said.
Euphemia shook her head. "I'll be fine. Let me see you."
Ayla removed the hood from her head. Euphemia's eyes widened. The damage the nobleman had done to her was terrible. Her face was burnt. Her left eye was permanently shut from the melted skin. Her skin was made up of patches of black and red.
Euphemia felt extremely angry at the one who burned Ayla. He had no right to do that to her!
"Lucien, is it possible to punish that nobleman?" Euphemia asked, trying to make her voice sound calm.
"Hm . . . yes. I can have him investigated and I believe we'll find incriminating evidence against him. If not, I will still make sure he is punished. Would you like that, Lady Euphee?"
Euphemia looked at Ayla. "Ayla, do you want him punished?"
Ayla's hands gripped her skirt tightly. "Yes, very much so, Lady Euphemia."
Euphemia nodded. "Lucien, please make sure that nobleman is punished."
Walter gave the details of the nobleman to Lucien while Euphemia shut her eyes and concentrated.
Banish the pain with might!
Bless thee with healing light!
A brilliant light illuminated from Euphemia's hands and shone towards Ayla's face. The light slowly disappeared and its place was Ayla's face as right as day.
She was very pretty. She had light blue eyes and light blonde hair. She had a face that exuded innocence and feminity. She would be perfect as the Moonlight Princess.
Euphemia smiled. She was glad that she was able to restore the girl's beauty.
Then the pain came.
The burning sensation.
Euphemia felt that her own face was ablaze.
She screamed and screamed then everything faded to black.
*
*
*
Euphemia woke up in her room. Lucien was sitting on a chair beside her bed. Lucien noticed that she was awake already.
"Lady Euphee!"
Euphemia smiled. "Lucien."
Lucien suddenly put his arms around her.
"You were in so much pain," Lucien said, his voice sounded strained.
"Are you crying?"
"N-no, I'm not," Lucien said and sniffed a bit.
"How long was I asleep?" Euphemia asked, noticing the moon outside her window.
"Two days," Lucien said, still hugging her.
Euphemia raised her hand to pat Lucien's head.
"I'm all right now, Lucien."
Lucien nodded and let go of her. He looked like he had not been sleeping. He had dark circles around his eyes.
Euphemia caressed Lucien's face. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
Lucien nuzzled his face on her hand. "I'm sorry too. If there's a way for me to get the pain instead, I would do that."
"Did you even sleep?" Euphemia asked.
"You're more important than sleep," Lucien said.
"Hm . . . I'm kind of hungry," Euphemia said.
"Do you want to eat here on your bed? I'll have them bring your food here," Lucien said.
Euphemia nodded. She still felt a bit weak. It must be the effects of healing or perhaps she was just weak from hunger.
"Would you like to sleep with me tonight?" Euphemia asked.
Lucien's eyes widened.
Euphemia realized what she had just said and blushed. "I mean, you just look so tired. It's my fault that you weren't able to sleep. If you prefer to sleep in your own room, that's fine too."
A smile slowly formed on Lucien's lips.
"I would love to sleep with you."