"I entrusted my daughter to you for a short while, and why the hell is she crying now? What did you do, you bastard?" I heard Daddy's voice from the door and I mentally sighed upon sensing his murderous aura. He's really protective of me. Before hell would break loose, I made my move. "Daddy! How are you?" My cheery and soft voice was more than enough to calm my father from going berserk. Gone his deadly aura and was replaced with a soft expression and a little smile on his face. He walked to my direction, but before he could even reach my bed, he was immobilized. It took me a while to realize that this was Ambrose's magic.
Daddy glared at the magician who was also looking at him with sharp eyes. "Release me." I felt helpless as I felt another surge of mana radiating from Dad. Ambrose was laid-back in his couch, he was even smirking at my father who was now trying to escape the magician's bind. "Why would I? You dare disrespect me, brat?" Irritation, that's what I heard from Ambrose's tone. Ugh, really?
This would take a long time if they would continue.
"Brat? Me? You're the small one here, kid." Daddy answered and I could also hear his annoyance. Ambrose didn't say anything and just crossed his arms, but I knew he strengthened the spell binding Daddy. I heaved a deep sighed and they turned to look at me. I stared at them coldly with the childish attitudes they're showing. "Are you two for real? I don't mind if you fight or whatsoever, but remember that we still need to attend the funeral. If you don't have plans on coming, then fight somewhere else." I told them and went down from the bed on my own. I didn't look back at them and just headed for my bathroom. I took my robe and entered the bath.
"Yllaria! Won't you need a maid?" Daddy asked me and I just sighed as I started to take off my clothes. "No need, Dad. If you have time to ask me that, then you should also prepare. You too, Ambrose. Also, please leave my room." I told them and I heard footsteps and the door of my room opened and closed.
After putting a flower extract on the tub, I submerged my body into the water until my neck. "Ah, how relaxing." I muttered to myself as I remembered the things Ambrose told me a few minutes ago. "I guess I need to expand my mana capacity more." Honestly, when I felt Cain's mana, I already knew he was on par with my mana capacity. It really hits different when it comes to a noble's mana.
"But... Dark and Fire magic, huh? Quite dangerous." I said as I played with the water. Then there's the funeral today. "Though, why the Enchanted Forest?" I asked myself as I remembered that the real Yllaria died there. In the outermost part of that forest laid the chasm, wherein this identity met its end.
Also, even though it was name Enchanted Forest, there weren't any reports of enchanted creatures there. If there was one thing significant about that forest, that would be the abundance of magic and mana in that area. Based on a book, the place looked ephemeral, truly enchanted, because of the abundance of life in that forest. The trees weren't the usual tree, as they were more full of life, and sometimes one could see a tree glowing due to the abundance of magic there. It was like the whole forest was alive and it was a magical sight to behold, thus the name of the Enchanted Forest.
Enchanted Forest was not only a place where Yllaria 'died', but it was also the first place where Cain and her had their first date and that's where Cain proposed to her. Quite painful, don't you think? The place where they first formed their love and witnessed their union, was also the place that witnessed their bitter parting.
"How tragic." I uttered and decided to go up. It took me quite a long time there, and I was already feeling a little cold. Now that I think about the story again, there were really a few parts of the story that I can't remember. Like who the traitors were and a few significant events. I can't remember the happenings specifically, but I have a feeling that those parts were important. "Though it would have been better if I remembered the traitors." I said to myself but just shook my head afterwards. There's no point in trying to remember something that you already forgot. For now, I just need to devise plans to survive in this world and make sure that my family would be safe.
My first meeting of the prince changed, and this would clearly affect the whole flow of the plot. For now, I guess I have to go with the flow and see what would happen.
"Huh? I already changed?" I was shocked to see myself wearing a dress. A small laugh escaped my lips upon realizing that I was too preoccupied that I didn't notice my body moving by itself. I was wearing a black gown, that had white accents to it. It complimented my white hair that I tied up in a braided half-updo. "Well ,whatever, time to go." I said and headed out of my room. I saw Teacher Kathleen in her usual knight clothes and a worried smile on her face. Before she could even ask, I cut her off.
"I'm fine now, Teacher Kathleen. How about you?" Instead of answering me, she gave me hug and I smiled. "I'm sorry for being unable to help you." I heard the guilt in her voice, which made me sigh. "Don't say sorry, Teacher Kathleen. You did what you could to help me, don't sound so down." I comforted her with a soft voice. "Are you truly fine, Yllaria?" I nodded and she sighed out of relief. It took us a few seconds before breaking the embrace and I noticed Sebastian approaching our direction. I smiled at him and waved my hand, and as a response, he bowed.
"Forgive me for not being of any help, my lady. Are you feeling fine now?" He asked in his usual polite voice. "You sound a lot like Teacher Kathleen. Don't think you're useless, Sebastian. I'm guessing that you had a hard time calming a raging storm, am I right?" He raised his head to meet my gaze and gave me a smile before nodding. "You've done well, Sebastian. Also, I'm fine, thank you for your concern. Should we head now?" He nodded again and led the way.
"By the way, where's Daddy?" I asked them. "He's waiting at the entrance of the forest, my lady. We'll also be heading there by a carriage. It's just near this manor, a few kilometers to the west. It would take at least 30 minutes to reach there." I nodded with his explanation. "Did Daddy go there alone?" It took Sebastian a few seconds before answering. "He headed there first with the third prince and the blonde young magician." My mouth gaped with Sebastian's answer.
Wait, Daddy with Ambrose and Cain? A protective father, arrogant magician and emotionless prince, all together in one frame?
"Won't there be a disaster?" My words slipped out of my mouth and the two suddenly came to a halt. They stared at me for a while and as if on cue, they sighed. Judging from these two's reactions, I guessed that they barely stopped a disaster from raging on. "Would you mind filling in the events when I was asleep for a day?"
Despite the talks I had a few hours ago, I felt something weird between Daddy, Ambrose and Cain, especially between my father and my mentor in magic. It might be because of Daddy's protectiveness that he glared at Ambrose, but I didn't expect that my father would immediately reveal his emotions toward the magician. He even called him a bastard, even when he usually tries to avoid cussing in front of me. Was it really just because I cried? Or was there something deeper? Also, Ambrose made Cain follow him with a threat. The prince even listened to Ambrose quite well, which was not I expected of his character. Was there something going on?
I looked at Teacher Kathleen and Sebastian who looked like communicating through their eyes. After a while, they looked at me and nodded.
"Well, I guess you have the right to know this, my lady. Let's talk while heading to our destination." Sebastian said and he started to narrate the following events when I was asleep as we made our way to the Enchanted Forest.