Maria felt weird. She wasn't guilty. She believed she had done nothing wrong, but that wasn't what she was feeling or at least that wasn't what Alaia was making her feel. Alaia's actions are telling her that she did or said something wrong and she doesn't have any idea what it is. After their argument the next day, after her escape plan failed, two days ago, Alaia had never said any word to her. Alaia had never stared at her again for two long seconds. When Alaia would unintentionally look in her direction, she would immediately snap her head in the opposite direction and act like she didn't see Maria at all. Maria, as well, had never said anything to her and ignored the beast's presence either. Of course, it was a good thing because no one was bossing her around or insulting her, but at some point, she felt uneasy. She hates this feeling. She hates being treated like that even though she doesn't like that person. She believes that if you have a problem with anyone, then say it directly to his face instead of avoiding and treating each other like shit.
Despite feeling weird and uncomfortable towards Alaia, there was no way she would take the initiative to talk to her. Just this time, she would rather endure it than confront the beast. After all, she was confident that she had done nothing wrong.
Maria heaved a long sigh and reached out for the basket and started taking out the turnips inside it.
"That was such a long sigh. Is there any problem?" Alicia commented when she stepped her feet inside the kitchen.
Maria lifted her chin in surprise and met Alicia's green orbs for a brief second. She scratched her cheeks, embarrassed to be caught, looking so dejected.
"A-Ah it was nothing. Just tired." Maria answered, staring at the turnip and rubbing it with her thumb.
Alicia approached Maria and stood beside her. She bumped Maria's hip with hers, hoping to get the attention of the teenage girl, which she successfully earned as Maria looked up at her.
"Are you sure? The last time you said you were just tired; you ran away from here on the same day." Alicia asked, her voice full of concern and not resentment.
Maria blushed and shyly smiled at the pretty girl next to her. Even after knowing that she had tried to escape, the treatment of the people here towards her didn't change. They were even teasing her, not in an annoying way but in a friendly way. They never made her feel uncomfortable or left out.
Maria shyly chuckled before she assured the greenhead Dryad "I'm really just tired."
Alicia stole the turnip from her hand and put it down on the left side of the table.
"Or is it because you and Your Highness aren't on good terms?" Alicia asked again without looking back at Maria, busy taking out the remaining turnips from the basket.
Maria blushed at the question. Are we too obvious?
"I-It's not like that. I-I mean, yeah- we're not on good terms but I'm not affected by that at all. I don't really care about her."
Alicia giggled and touched the tip of her nose, "If you say so."
Maria took that as an opportunity to change the topic. She helped Alicia take the turnips out of the basket and casually asked, "Who bought these turnips?"
"Oh- Ivan really didn't buy these. These were crops that he was supposed to sell but he's having a hard time selling them because he isn't used to it." Alicia replied and put down the basket.
"Ivan? Are you referring to the only real person here?"
Alicia eagerly nodded and picked up a slice of bread on the table to take a bite. "Yes. He's the one in charge of dealing with humans. He's in the Kingdom where you came from, the Kingdom of Floria, to sell the wine we are making."
Maria looked back at her, amused at what she heard, "Really? You're making wine?"
Alicia nodded and took a bite of the tough bread. She put down the bread on a plate and reached out for a knife to peel the turnip. She chewed down the bread first before she opened her mouth to speak again.
"Yes, we're doing it for the same old reason, for money." Alicia lied, since the sole reason why they are cooperating with the Kingdom of Floria and selling wines is to freely scout the Kingdom. So, they will be updated on the country's events and news.
"Remember my twin sister, Alice?" Alicia continued and Maria just nodded her head as a response.
"She used to help me here, but ever since you came, she has spent more time making wine as well as the three pixies: Hazel, Hany, and Hannah. We have different jobs here. Daniel, the minotaur that you met, and Ryan, the phoenix, are the ones in charge of guarding the place. While Jace, the white-winged horse, and Leo, the werewolf, are the ones accompanying Your Highness if she goes somewhere. They are also guarding the whole place with Daniel and Ryan when they are around."
"Then what about that girl that was always wearing a white mask?" Maria asked, recalling the culprit that stole her first kiss. Maria gulped down, insensible to the reason why her heart was beating fast. Maria was worried that Alicia would see how nervous she was, so she averted her eyes from Alicia and just stared at the turnip in her hand.
Alicia frowned, thinking about the person that Maria mentioned. Her hands halted their movements as she tried to think it through. "A girl that was always wearing a white mask? I don't know who you are referring to. The only girls in here are me, my twin, and the three pixies. And neither of us is wearing a mask."
Alicia answered, staring at Maria, then she added, "Are you sure it was a girl?"
Maria eagerly nodded her head, pursing her lips in confusion. "Yes. I'm sure it was a girl. I never saw her here but I'm sure that she's also a servant of that beast. She's even the one who brought me back here when I escaped."
Alicia's frown only deepened at what she heard. No matter how she tried to think it through, she really couldn't figure out who Maria was referring to. Then suddenly something clicked on her mind, and she finally realized who it could be.
"You must be referring to Your Highness!" Alicia exclaimed in a louder and bubbly voice, sounding so happy and confident that she guessed right.
While Maria felt like someone had just thrown a bucket of cold water on her face.
"Who did you say it might be?" Maria asked in a serious tone, praying earnestly that her mind was just playing with her, or had she become deaf for a second. Her hands, which were holding a turnip and a knife, lost their strength as they fell on the table.
"I said it might be Your Highness." Alicia casually replied, confused as to how Maria was reacting.
Maria felt like crying but at the same time, she wanted to laugh to get rid of her annoyance and disappointment. She failed to utter any word and just stared at Alicia, waiting and begging for Alicia to take back what she said.
Alicia thought that Maria was waiting for her to elaborate it, so she uttered in an innocent voice, "Your Highness has two masks: a beast mask and a white mask. She uses her beast mask if she wants to intimidate someone, while her white mask is used when she goes somewhere. In that way, she won't get too much attention."
Maria's head throbbed in pain at the revelation. She took a deep breath before she finally said something while shaking her head, refusing to believe it, "No- That can't-"
Maria cut her own statement as her brain cells finally started working. She remembered what happened on the wedding day. That she lost consciousness when the beast lifted her mask a little bit and blew some air on her face. That's the exact thing that the mysterious girl did to her when she caught her escaping. She also recalled that during her first day in this place, Leo said that he would take her to the beast and the mysterious girl.
No wonder I didn't see the mysterious girl back then because she and that beast are one person.
Maria's brain shut down at the news she heard. She put down the knife and the turnip that she was holding and then took a deep breath. Her right hand reached out for the bridge of her nose and pinched it while her left hand pressed against the table for support as her head hung low in disbelief.
She heard Alicia asking her what was wrong, but Maria refused to speak and just closed her eyes to calm herself. How would she even answer Alicia's question? What would she even say? That she's acting like this because her very first kiss was stolen by the person she hates the most? But why did that beast kiss her in the first place? What came to her mind to do that?
There's no way she likes me. I'm so sure that she doesn't like me, judging from how she treats me. Then why? Is she just messing with me? Is she too bored to do that?
Maria only lifted her head when someone put down something heavy on the table in a careless way. She lifted her head and saw Ivan, who looked so exhausted. Ivan grabbed a chair and let his butt fall as he ran his fingers on his messy hair.
"Ivan? Are you okay?" Alicia inquired and handed Ivan a glass of water.
"That was so tiring. I don't think I can still do this. I'm barely making any sales of these crops and carrying these back here is too much." Ivan answered after downing the glass of water.
Maria looked down at another basket of turnips placed before her. Seeing the turnip reminded her of her family. During winter, they sell these instead. She can't help but be sad at the thought. She wondered how her family was doing and when she would ever see them again. If only I succeeded in escaping.
"I didn't know that you were also growing crops here since Leo used to buy crops from me," Maria commented and started taking out the turnips in the basket, just like what she had done earlier.
"Oh, we're not growing any crops here except for grapes. I only bought them from your father to sell on the market." Ivan nonchalantly answered, forgetting for a moment that that was supposed to be a secret.
"What did you say? From whom did you buy these?" Maria asked, straightened her posture, and stared at Ivan seriously.
Ivan's body started trembling when he realized what he had just said. He slowly looked back at Maria and gulped down in nervousness. It was at this moment that he knew he had fucked up.