Ugh, my head hurts like hell. Remind me again why I agreed to have lessons because of the duchess's orders?
"What are you doing, Yllaria?" I discreetly sneered with the annoying voice of my etiquette teacher, Baroness Freya. When we first met, she immediately pointed out a lot of mistakes and made me study for a long time. She even went over time, causing disruption in my schedule. It resulted to me being unable to attend my swordsmanship class with a member of Umbra and I really got annoyed with it. But what annoyed me the most was her calling me by my name, not even addressing me properly.
This lasted for a week, her getting an over time with her class and delaying my other classes.
Right now, we are both having a class in the garden. I was reading a book for etiquette with the proper posture and attire, yet this teacher was speaking nonsense again.
"I told you to straighten your back and put your chin up! Stomach in!" She waved her stick on the different parts of my body, and even hitting me hard on purpose. I knew that I should be patient with this person, but I can't endure being humiliated for doing nothing wrong! I tried to follow what she said but I saw the displeasure in her face again. She was about to hit me when I caught her stick with my left hand.
"Dare to hit me again, and I won't hesitate to pull you down to the pits of hell, Baroness." I spoke in a sharp voice, making her flinch for a while but recovering shortly. She wore a proud smirk on her face, clearly mocking me even though I can feel her fear. "You can't do that, Yllaria." Her voice was laced with pride, making my blood boil. You're that boastful because you have a backer huh? It's clearly obvious that she has that mad duchess by her side. But that doesn't mean I'll back down.
I stood up from my chair, meeting her mocking gaze. Without hesitation, I reached for the collar of her dress and pulled it towards me. Due to shock, she wasn't able to react and was now looking at me eye-to-eye. Slowly smirking, I gave her a gaze that she wouldn't be able to forget. "It's Lady Yllaria, Baroness. Should I teach you the etiquette of formally addressing someone in a higher position than you?" Her eyes quivered upon hearing my statement. At this point, I already knew that she's afraid of me and she can't act because of it. "I never gave you the permission to call me by my name, Baroness. Could I consider that as a negligence on your part?" Her lips were twitching and I felt her anxiety getting more intense. She tried to struggle away from my grasp but by secretly using my earth power, I made my hand's grip stronger.
"Leave with your own will, or I'll make you leave in my own way. Choose wisely, Baroness." Those were the last words I told her and she was gone from my sight.
I breathed out and sat comfortably on the chair. I knew etiquette was important, but she was already going overboard. I won't let a baroness smear my family's pride.
"I guess I have to talk to Daddy about this." I whispered to myself. I was really tired this past week, mainly because of this demanding lesson. It wasn't really my intention to go around and be bitchy, but I hate being hurt without a proper reason. I closed my eyes and let exhaustion and the gentle wind lull me to sleep.
- - - - -
I groaned when I felt a dangerous aura nearby. Although I was feeling groggy, I raised my left hand and made an air shield that wasn't visible to human eye. As I opened my eyes, I immediately noticed a pair of red eyes that shone like ruby. The person was wearing a cloak and a mask, so I can only see those red eyes.
"Who are you?" I asked but the person didn't answer. Instead, he raised a sword and destroyed my air shield in an instant. Shit, is this an intruder? I stood up from my chair and ran towards the maze in the garden. I can't fight this person directly, so I have to use the terrain in defeating him.
"Ugh, this is such a bother." I muttered and summoned a wind blade to cut my skirt. It was now ripped and on a length that's a few inches above my knees. I hurried to run in the maze and tried to think of ways in defeating that person. Through the whisper of the wind, I can hear the footsteps of the intruder. I can also detect his location because of my earth power. He's not quite far from me, but I have to maintain distance for a while.
"Shoot." I immediately ducked when I felt a force rushing towards me. It felt perilous, and I was right. "Oh gosh." I muttered when I saw the all the hedges in the maze got cut to my waist's height by a blade. Damn it. Does that person wield magic? My eyes widened when he turned to my direction and rushed for me.
I can't use my powers visibly because I might get discovered!
Thanks to my small and quite agile body, I was able to evade the first vertical slash, but I can't forget the sound of the sharp blade that passed near my ear. Is this person really trying to kill me?
"If that's the case..." I picked up a stick and fortified it by my earth magic, also coating it with a little wind magic. I stared straight into this person's red eyes and became cautious with his next move. If it weren't for my air magic that I used to be aware of his next move, I wouldn't have been able to avoid his quick steps. I blocked his attack but I almost flew because of the impact of the clash. I planted my weight on my left leg and tried to kick his side, but I was too slow. He grabbed on my leg and threw me towards the hedges. I immediately felt pain in my body as I fell.
"Ah, it hurts." I muttered and tried to stand up again. I have no advantage here, but I won't give up. He made another quick slash towards me and I rolled to doge it. I feel bad for my dress, but it has no worth when compared to my life.
I concentrated air on the stick and slashed it towards the intruder. As I expected, he would be able to counter it, but I had a plan when I made that move. The condensed air turned into mist, creating a foggy surrounding. It was my chance to escape and I immediately ran for my life.
Escape was the only thing that I thought about, yet my hope was crushed when I felt someone lock my arms behind my back and pushed my down the ground. I felt my bruises stinging and my breath was uneven. Struggle was useless, so I decided to turn my head and stare at the intruder's ruby eyes. Those eyes were emotionless, and I countered it with a brave gaze.
"Will you kill me?" I asked him, and I guess it took him by surprise, making him loosen his grip on me. I took that chance to turn my body and remove his cloak and mask of his face, and my eyes widened with the sight of the intruder.
Oh my freaking gosh...
"You look gorgeous." I subconsciously blurted out while staring at the woman hovering over me. Yes, it was a she.
She has straight, ash gray hair was tied up into a ponytail. Her ruby, cat-like eyes popped out because of her fair and glowing skin. She didn't look gentle at all, but instead she depicted an image of a fierce woman. Sharp nose, perfectly arched eyebrows and thin lips. Oh gosh, why do I meet a lot of beautiful people in this world? My eyes darted to a necklace that dangled on her slender neck.
It was a gold and thin chained necklace that has a pendant of a crescent moon that was adorned with small rubies. Along with it was design of a small phoenix that rested on the crescent moon, having an emerald for it's eye. Wait, this pendant...
"Are you... my teacher?" I immediately asked her and she was still stunned. "Uhm, Miss?" She snapped back to reality and immediately got off me. She stood up and wore her mask again and offered her hand to me. I smiled at her but stood up on my own, dusting off my ripped dress in the process. I guess I already understand what was happening.
"Please pardon my insolence, Lady Yllaria." This beautiful woman bowed to me and I instinctively waved my hands. "Oh no, it's fine. Please raise your head." She raised her head and looked at me with fear and worry. "Please don't worry about it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is a test, is it not?" I asked her and it took her a while before nodding.
"I'm sincerely sorry, Lady Yllaria." I can sense that she's genuine with her words and I smiled at her. "It's okay. By the way, what's your name? You'll be my teacher, right?" Before she could even answer my question, a cold voice spoke behind me.
"Kathleen... What did you do to my daughter?" I jumped out of surprise and turned behind me, just to see a livid figure of my father. Oh gosh, when did he even arrive? I wasn't able to sense him at all. "Daddy..." He didn't even spare to look at me, he was just glaring at Miss Kathleen who was now meeting Daddy's gaze.
"Forgive me, my lord. I was just--" Before she could even continue her sentence, Daddy's anger reached its peak. "It was just a test?! Don't give me that shit! You told me that you'd test her on the training grounds, with her fully prepared! Yet you attacked her while she was sleeping here in the garden, totally defenseless!" Daddy was breathing hard, his anger was seething in his voice that I can't help but flinch. I thought Miss Kathleen would back down, but she didn't.
"Oh shut the hell up! Don't cut my words and don't snap on me, you bastard! You asked me a favor to teach her, and I wanted to test out if she's really willing to take on a sword! You know that learning it can break someone physically and mentally! The enemy would never reveal when they would attack, and this was just a simulation of it! You also told me about her secret, that's why I know she'll be fine! I was actually holding back so don't get overprotective! We both know that she has the resolve the fight, so support her with all your might! It doesn't mean that if she's a child and girl, she would be utterly defenseless." My mouth gaped with Miss Kathleen's remarks. Oh gosh, she's my new idol now! This woman is really brave, but I felt nervous for her after seeing Daddy's dark expression. I looked around and saw Sebastian walking towards us.
Sebastian, help!
He must have noticed my distress and gave me a small smile. What was that for, reassurance?
"My lord." Sebastian called out for Daddy but the latter didn't move. I saw Sebastian sighed and signaled me to call out for Daddy.
"Daddy?" I asked him in a cute way and tried to approach him. He met my gaze and I immediately saw his anxiety and concern. I smiled at him to assure him that I'm well. He immediately hugged me and I caressed his hair. "I like Miss Kathleen, Daddy. Can she be my teacher?" I asked him but he didn't answer.
"Please?" I tried to persuade him and he sighed. "Yes, she will be your teacher. But never mind that now, let's get you treated." He carried me and I didn't struggle because I knew that he's really worried about me.
When I met Miss Kathleen's eyes, I smiled at her and gave a small wave. "Thank you." I mouthed and she bowed at me before disappearing in a flash. Well, I guess I'll have a new lesson incoming.
'Don't forget your magic lesson, lady.' I silently gasped upon hearing a familiar voice in my head. I didn't hear his voice or met him ever since we got out from his space.
Ambrose!
'Yeah, it's me. We'll still have training, okay? I already saw what happened this week and meet me in the library if you have time.'
I have a lot of questions for him. Why did he disappear after I trained in his space? How is he able to communicate in my mind? Who is he, really?
'Some questions are never meant to be answered, lady.'
I sighed with his answer. Okay. I got it.
'Good. For now, rest.'
His words were like magic and I felt my exhaustion and pain. I felt a soothing wind caress my body as I closed my eyes and let the darkness take me.