The blue sky seemed to be engraved onto the lake that was as silver as a diamond flame as the atmosphere was a convent lively. Butterflies are fluttering around in the middle of the clear glass water as if they're having a their own conference.
"How did you come across to this place?" I asked as I was mesmerized by the scenery. It's indeed better than the garden. "My mother used to bring me in here whenever we have some enough money. We would sit on a blanket like this and eat quietly as we talk about her day and our ideal life. She wanted to become a knight, but she's pregnant when recruiting starts so she let go of her dreams and chose to take care of me instead."
"Unfortunately, I don't have a father. I was the fruit of her mistake, yet she treated me and told me that I was a blessing she hadn't expected." I was about to speak when she looks at me with gentle stares. "I'm not sure whether you're pitying me or not, but I'm currently happy with what I have right now." I drank some water as I began to bite the sandwich.
"I think the General is a very strong individual inside and out." She let out a little chuckle as she returns her gaze at the lake. "I wasn't as strong like this until I met her highness' sister, Lady Helvetica."
"She told me to be the BEST and not just BETTER." That sounds eerily similar to my sister. Perhaps, the stem of Helvetica's disgustment towards me is that she doesn't like weak people as she has learned to be independent just like what she stated previously.
"But I can see that you've already improved." It's quite astounding that she could command an entire battalion. "I'm doing it for myself, Your Majesty. Not only for the Empire, but also to exceed your expectations towards me."
"I guess, I'm pretty lucky to be assigned as the General because it allows me to put my leadership skills to the test. I would have given up if it hadn't been for your sister's encouragement towards me. The sheer number of people I'm dealing with, initially overwhelmed me, after all." I chuckle as I know how difficult it is to command an entire army of knights.
"But as time passes by, I noticed that those knights are distinct from the previous knights because they understand the value of respect. Back then, the General used to mock me simply because I'm a woman, but Her Lady Helvetica helped me to earn respect from the crowd." Why do I feel irritated all of a sudden? It's not like I'm bothered by Helvetica's name, but I feel weird if it comes from her.
"My sister has a fiancé, Miss Vien." She looks at me while tilting her head slightly. Pretending to be confused, eh? "If you like my sister, say it directly. But don't ever expect me to help you as my sister has a fiancé already." It was then that I knew, I had lost my composure for a second.
"Your Majesty, I'm not saying that I like your sister. I'm expressing my gratitude—" Isn't it the same thing? You adore the person means you like her.
"Then why don't you say it to her? She's having lunch with Lady Camilla in the garden. You should thank her for giving you a chance." The fact that I feel like throwing up makes me want to get out here.
"Are you alright?" How can I be okay when all she ever mention in front of me was my sister's name? "Yes, I am. We should eat before the soup gets cold." How can someone be so numb towards another person?!
"You sound irritated. Did I say something wrong?" Don't ever mentioned anyone's name when you're with me. Can't she feel that I'm annoyed? "Your Majesty?" She called as I decided to face her.
"Are you jealous—" I cut her.
"Did you invite the wrong person? Because, if we're only going to talk about my sister, then better invite her here rather than me." She laughs loudly as the birds started to fly.
"What's funny?" She wipes her eyes as she looks at me. "Can you hear yourself? You're getting irritated whenever I mention your sister's name! You know that I don't even like her the way you're thinking." She composes herself as she smiles.
"I'm not mad about it, just be honest, General—" She cuts my words as she speaks.
"The one I like is you, Lady Lithia. That's why I planned to bring you here. Although this lake has a tragic story, but this place witnessed the love between my mother and her first love and how he died in the battlefield. If it wasn't for his position as a knight, mother would've marry him." I'm just staring at her, trying to recall what she just said. My body seemed to pause for a moment as I tried to process all of her words.
"I'm fine if you just see me as your knight. Love doesn't work on a give-and-take basis. Even if I don't stand a chance, I will still support you in the future, Your Majesty." I bit my lower lip slightly as I'm trying to remember what Lady Devourah states a little while ago.
-
"It's just you were so obvious, yet you keep on denying your feelings toward the General. The fact is that, you wanted her attention all the time, Am I right?"
-
Now that I think about it, It's been a month now since Helvetica appointed her to become my personal knight. I assumed that she was simply spying on me, so I avoided getting too near to her and planned to send her back to my sister's side again. But I never imagined that one day I'd woken up wanting more of Vien's attention. Perhaps, I was just denying because I was scared that it was only an infatuation than admiration and that, I might hurt her in the future.
But now that I'm picturing her with someone else.. It's not really pleasant in my eyes.
"What if I'm feeling the same way?" She looks up in the sky, gazing the clouds with such happiness visible in her eyes. "It's your decision, Your Highness, but I won't force you to like me as love doesn't work on that way. I simply felt like confessing even if it's not the perfect time. I'm afraid I'll humiliate myself in the garden, so I decided to talk with Lady Camilla and your sister to eat on that spot and they agreed with it." I'm sure that it wasn't just a normal request. Knowing Helvetica, she will ask something in return. To think that she'd ask for my sister's assistance..
"Did you plan this?" She gets some strand of my hair as she kisses the end of it. "If I didn't confess sooner, I might come to regret it. After all, I despise the sight of you with another person." So she wasn't numb..
She just doesn't have the courage, like me. "Princess Lithia Ethereal, may I like you?" She asked while slowly raising her head. It wasn't the usual question for someone who likes another person. But how can I even reject her if I'm feeling the same way?
"It can't be helped isn't it? Then, I'll grant you permission to like me, General Vien. Please take care of me in the future." I chuckle as I couldn't convey my joy when she stated those things. The trees are waving their branches as if they're trying to clap their hands.
"I will make sure of it. Until then, let me take care of you from now on and if you're uncomfortable with it, please let me know in advance, Your Majesty."
I..
I may not be able to sleep tonight..
***
- HELVETICA -
"Do you think they have the courage to confess?" Camilla asked as we eat in the garden. I smile as I set my coffee down. I'm not normally the sort of person to listen to other people and accept such requests, However it's entertaining in my sight.
"We can only provide them with the space they require. It was up to them on how they will use it. My sister may appear to be a fool, but she can't take hold on to her emotions for a long period of time. It's been an hour, so I'm sure they've already concluded their chat." She nods, holding her hat against the wind.
Now you owe me a request, General Vien.