The play touched Halia's heart, she remembered the first time she learned this story, she borrowed a book from one of her maids and cried her tears out that night. She wants to curse the Gods for not letting them get together and live their happy endings.
"Gods are cruel."she whispered under her breath.
"Yes, they truly are cruel and spiteful."
A man beside her added. She was startled and looked at the man curiously, not everyone will just curse the Gods just like her, well she was different. What unfortunate thing happened for him to curse the Gods just like that?
She laughed. "Ah, another unfortunate soul."
He shrugged. "The actors were a bit lacking but I'm still gonna give them a go for their effort. The ones in the Opera House was still much better."
"You're right. You seemed to be familiar with Opera Houses, may i know this gentleman's name?"
"I'm disguising but you can call me Armaros."
"That's an interesting choice of name, Armaros." she chuckled. Who on earth will tell a stranger that you are currently disguising?
"Would you like to see the original book of that story?"
"Sure, do you have it?"
Amaros shooked his head. "I own a small bookstore, its called 236 Store, you can go straight ahead this street and you will see it."
"Do you go around and advertise your own store to everybody?"
"No, i just think that you need to see my book store, it might help you." he then fixed his hat and walked away.
Halia furrowed his eyebrows. "Wait! What do you mean by that?" she tried to catch him but failed to do so, there was a lot of people in the plaza making it harder to catch him.
She gave up on catching him and just sat down on an available bench near the fountain. That guy is suspicious, it bothers her especially his last words. She was supposed to have fun this night but that guy ruined her mood. Halia then decided to go back since she has nothing to do.
-----
Halia woke up feeling groggy, it's been a week since her return. Every night she sneeks out to have fun outside, in the morning she sleeps as much she wants. She was still a patient based on Dr. Vesse's diagnosis, exempted from morning prayers in the church and responsibilities as a Saintess.
Since the fire broke out last time she never returned to her original room, she renovated the guest room and occupied it. After that, the officials from the Bureau of Investigation the caught the 'nonexistent culprit' of the fire. It was one her gardeners, she felt bad about it and decided to dismiss the case, she then transfered the gardener to a different villa.
"My lady, a letter has arrived." Yan cutted her thoughts and brought her back to reality.
She immediately got up and yawned. "Give it to me." she walked towards her desk table and sat down. The letter that she received was from the church asking about her overall health condition and wishes her full recovery. She just wrote a short reply and sent it away.
'I need to get rid of my Saintess status as soon as possible.'
Beside her table there was a small notebook, it was her diary. She wrote down all her travel destinations that she wants to visit after getting rid of everything. She doesn't want revenge or anything, she simply wants to live her life without caring about anything else. Revenge will just overcomplicate things for her. It's troublesome.
As she was writing on her diary she remembered the Birthday Banquet. She forgot her gift, not giving gift to the Crown Prince will make her suspicious. In her last life she gifted the Crown Prince a sword called 'Majestuex', it was a custom made sword by a famous smith. But now, thinking that she will gift that precious sword to the Crown Prince she feels that it will be a lost for her. She called the butler to handle the formal prcedures about the upcoming Birthday Banquet and told him that she'll give another gift to Crown Prince instead of the 'Majestueux'.
After hours of discussions of thinking for an appropriate gift they decided to send a shield blessed with the Saintess' divine powers. Halia also sent an advance apology letter for not being able to attend personally and that someone from the church will only represent her house.
Being free for a few days truly refreshed Halia so much, she enjoyed a lot of things that she never experienced before. She kinda regrets that this is only temporary and her real battle will start after the a week.
The awaited night came, the Birthday Banquet. She purposely didn't attend it but it doesn't mean that she did not want to watch it from far away. She wore again her disguise and dressed as a maid of the palace. Halia wanted to know what will changed this time especially she didn't attend, she knew the consequences of the so called butterfly effect, it might unknowingly affect future her plans, she needed to be prepared even for the smallest challenge.
Nobles of all positions came, even people from allied kingdoms came to congratulate the crown prince. Of course, the star of the night will not be forgotten, there he was talking with a bunch of nobles while a flock of ladies preyed at him. He was the man whom every woman dreamt of including Halia.
Crown Prince Zamorra was indeed the man worthy of his title, he was brave, upright and valiant, at the same time charming. Although Halia's adoration didn't reached him in her last life, he neither treated her bad nor warm. He treated her with respect as Saintess protecting the pillars of the Kingdom. This is one of the reasons why she didn't desire revenge or maybe deep in her heart she was still longing for him that's why she felt like revenge is futile.
Halia continued to serve wine to the nobles occasionally assisting them whenever she was needed, currently there was nothing that she needed to be guard on. She sighed feeling tired because of the constant walking and running around. She decided to go out for a refresher near the garden so that people will not see her. The moonlight was bright yet lonely tonight, there was no stars so it feels incomplete fo Halia.
She stared at the moon and closed her eyes to rest not knowing that people has arrived just near her.
"I feel a deep connection towards you, my lady! I do not care about your background nor your social standing, please give me a chance to be your lover!" the man confessed with a solid determination hoping that his adoration will be reciprocated.
Halia was startled by the sudden confession, she looked around to see who was confessing to her. A noble man confessing to maid, that's questionable, especially nobles are prideful and egoistic.
After looking around, it was not actually for her, she peeked through the bushes to see the show. Her lips twitched when she sa Yvette Hensman. It's her love rival.
Yvette Hensman was a petite woman with brown wavy hair. Her hair was a common color yet it did not diminished Yvette's beauty. Her emeral like almond eyes were very lovely, even her aura is lovely, it's not hard to guess why people likes her.
"Forgive me, Sir, but i currently haven't thought about having a lover so i will have to kindly refuse you." Yvette answered kindly.
"But my feelings for you are real, i already talked to my parents about pursuing you and they've already agreed with me. Please give me a chance, i promise to treat you right!" the man pleaded Yvette.
Men like these are usually pure and naive. They will be a target for ladies who seek of quick ascension. Doesn't mean that their love is true will automatically lead to a happy ending. Such a pity for such man to be rejected.
Halia remembered this man, he was an outstanding imperial knight in her last life. His name is Alexander Amir III. He has an innocent face contrary to his profession as a knight. The most eye catching part about him is his lovely dimples also his smile.
In her last life she heard that he got a commoner pregnant and took responsibility of it by marrying her, of course his family objected it, he then gave up on his noble status and had gotten demoted from being an imperial knight to a palace guard.
Just after giving birth, the commoner left, it was said that the woman was actually seeking to raise her status that's why she married Alexander but Alexander gave up on his noble status. Alexander of course was devastated, he was busy taking care of his child and was often absent from his duties as a palace guard, naturally he will be dismissed. His life fell apart, it was the price of his naivety, although he was the victim, he still lost in the game of fates. Alexander was later then found dead together with his child after falling from a cliff while finding herbs to sell.
"Your feeling might've been real but i sincerely don't have any thoughts of having someone right now." Yvette was resolute on rejecting him.
"Can't you think of it longer? I am not hurrying you, you can think of it when you go back home." his voice sounded small, Alexander wa also lowering his head, Halia bet that he was on the verge of crying.
"I'm really sorry, but my answer will not change. Please excuse me." Yvette curtsied and left. Halia followed Yvette with her eyes, she saw Zamorra appeared and whispered something to her after that they walked away to a different direction. Alexander did not noticed Zamorra because he was still lowering his head.
The man was still standing like statue but droplets of tears was falling on the ground. The soft hearted man was indeed crying. Halia planned to leave also but she heard the guy sobbed even louder.
She sighed. This is normal, being a Saintess naturally means you are compassionate towards people who are pitiful. She cheered herself, she wanted to stop being compassionate and steel her heart but she really can't.
Before she knew it she was already handing a handkerchief to Alexander.
TO BE CONTINUED....