Once back on their table Claudina let out the biggest sign possible.
"Must have been exhausting." Blakeley looked at her in pity.
She tried to smile. "Very much, yes."
He thought for a while and said, "Then Miss Claudina whenever those two bother you please inform me. I will do something about it since the saints rarely leave their rooms."
She beamed making him blush. "Really? You would do that for me? How sweet of you!"
He coughed in his hand to hide the redness on his face. "Ahem! You, you look a bit pale since earlier. I think you should rest up."
"Yes I will do that now."
He got up and went around her chair pushing it for her. "Go upstairs and rest. I will come along with you too. That way you won't have to see them again. I will also tell the saints not to disturb you."
"Thank you," she said as she linked her arm on his elbow. As they left they passed Lucas who called out to Claudina but she ignored him.
Blakeley squeezed her hand in response.
Thanking Blakeley once more she closed her bedroom door and slid down to sit. "Phew! Well now that the first assassination is done, the loose ends are taken care of and breaking off contact with the pawns I think we can leave Halieas."
She looked up. Baron was snoring on her bed the covers halfway off the bed. She smiled. "And I gained an unlikely yet charming ally. Fufufu~ I wonder what Chronos and Father will say? They will be quite shocked no doubt but I am sure they will be soothed by his cuteness and naïve nature."
Someone knocked on her door. She froze.
Who could it be?
It can't be Blakeley or the other saints. Neither did she call for room service. So who could it be? She looked over to the sleeping Baron.
No first she had to hide Baron.
The person behind the door knocked again. She stood up. "Coming, coming~"
She hurried to her bed and placed Baron in her Ancient Power again.
'I will apologize to him with some cherry crepes and a homemade meal.'
"Yes who is it?" She opened the door with a smile but it instantly faltered seeing who it was.
Lucas was standing in front of her holding a bouquet of red roses. He pretended to be surprised. "Oh this was your room! Gosh I am so sorry." While he apologized it was half hearted. He was dressed in normal clothing for once. "I didn't realize it was your room, Miss Spade. You see I was looking for Miss Mauve's room. I want to apologize to her for being a terrible escort."
'So he's suffering through Baron's magic too? Good. He should suffer more than Arche.'
She face remained emotionless, something clearly that put Lucas nervously chew his lips before he added in a winning tone, "Unlike a certain someone I know who was forced to apologize, I on the other hand I am going with my own free will."
"That so..."
"Yes!" He thrust the roses in her face. "I hope Miss Mauve forgives me. I want to get to know her well so I am inviting her out. Don't you think these flowers will look good with her white hair and black eyes?"
'Isn't Oriane allergic to pollen? I don't care either way. It's her problem now, not mine.'
She pushed the flowers away. "Understandable. But you missed her floor. Oriane is one floor below me and the third door adjacent to the staircase." His grin fell. "Now if you would excuse me, I am not feeling well..."
She started to close the door but he grabbed the door stopping her from closing it. She scowled. "What. Do. You. Want." She said each word through gritted teeth.
He grinned. "Finally got a reaction. Just as I thought you are jealous."
A tick appeared on her head. She snapped and released her strength from the magic binding which limited and contained it. She gripped the door handle and pulled it towards her.
The door slammed shut nearly crushing his fingers in the process. Quickly she locked the door double bolting the latches.
Outside she could hear Lucas panting glad to get his fingers out. Then he started to loudly curse. He knocked again but she didn't answer. He continued to knock at the door every ten minutes until he finally gave up.
Claudina waited until she could no longer hear the stomping.
She slumped on the door, signing. "We seriously need to leave…"
Claudina's wish was granted after another week passed.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Oriane had sent a letter to Lord Uranus to contact the king to help. Within a day a response arrived with people form Lord Uranus' side. They immediately started to stabilize the kingdom with Stephen and the ministers.
When the news reached her the first thing she asked was, "When are we leaving?"
"Soon enough. If you want you can start packing too," Anatole said.
"Aww~ But I don't wanna leave though~"
"Why not?" Sylvester asked. "Just the other day you said you were sick of the snow."
"Because this will be last time we'll see Miss Fairy!" Sullivan pouted.
He tilted his head not quite understanding. "I am sure it won't be the last. You will meet her again…I think…"
"Easy for you to say! You are accompanying her all the way while we are parting ways at the harbor of an island on the way to the eastern empire," Sullivan whined. He pouted again and turned to her.
"Miss Fairy won't you be sad? You will never see us when you return."
Claudina tilted her head. "I am not positive whether I will be sad or not but I can say with confidence we will meet again. After all, all of you are alive in my timeline."
Sullivan bounced on his seat as he beamed at her brightly. "Then! Then! Come visit me in Nyxrif!"
She chuckled behind her hand. "Sure but will I be able to find you in the dark mist of the Nyxrif countryside?"
"Don't worry 'bout that! You just need to come!"
"Yeah Claudina you should."
She looked up. All of them were gazing in expectant at her. Even Anatole had leaned forward. She wasn't what to make of it. So she tried to avert their shining gazes but to no avail.
'Wow! Well uh…this is new…' She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"When you return please come to all the nations at least once to visit us." Oriane smiled her cheeks flushing. "We will be more than glad to host you."
She blinked. '…Am I deserving of this? …It doesn't matter I guess with how they accept everything. Regardless I should agree for the sake of formality. We will never meet anyways.' She smiled.
"Then I shall be troubling you in the future." 'That is if we will ever meet again…'
Claudina was strolling in the gardens in the early morning.
A chilly breeze blew her bangs from her face. She shivered in her warm shawl as she giggled. "The winter air sure feels nice…I hoped Baron can enjoy it too…"
She fondly remembered when she first released Baron in her room the balcony door had been open. Snow was drifting inside. Baron was fascinated by the snow. At first he thought it was the curtain but when she explained what it was he got excited. He spent the entire night and next morning watching and grabbing the snowflakes.
He got sad when he realized the snow melts off his fur so Claudina eternally froze the snowflakes and kept them in a clear glass bottle for him.
He hugged Claudina when she gave it to him all tied up with a ribbon. Baron became so fond of the snowflakes in the bottle he named each and every one of them.
She smiled fondly. "He's very much like a child. It sort of reminds me of my dear friend. Though corrupted, they retained their naivety…" She signed contently before wrapping the shawl tighter. "Their wrapped mind filled with sin yet making the most of it by going forward despite all odds… makes me want to protect it forever."
"What does?"
She twitched recognizing the voice. She looked over her shoulder.
"Good morning, Mr. Anis."
Arche was leaning against a stone pillar. His grey eyes searched her face. "Morning to you as well. Though I am surprised to see you here."
"Are you implying I can't take a morning walk?" Though she smiled it was quite forced.
He signed as he stood up. "I am not saying that. I am just saying if you are jealous of Lucas courting your friend no need to walk right under his window."
She frowned. "What?"
He looked at her passively. "Lucas went to apologize to you as well as Miss Mauve that day. But when he returned he said you yelled at him to leave your room and tore up the bouquet meant for Miss Mauve."
"HUH?" 'That explains why there were crushed petals in front of my door when he left.' "I think there is misunderstanding here…"
"Please save it."
She looked with a brow ached. He glared at her. "No need to make excuses." She rolled her eyes no longer willing to deal with it.
'Besides they hardly matter to me. I am leaving Halieas soon. I just need to deal with their narrow mindedness for two more days.'
She walked away not caring how Arche shouted for her to stop. Out of the corner she noticed a pair of purple eyes staring right at her but they quickly went behind the curtain. She signed in annoyance. 'All this just because he wasn't able to bed one woman…I can't wait to get off this kingdom.'
Someone pulled her back and Claudina was face to face with Arche's scowling face. "Listen when someone is talking to you."
She glowered and yanked her hand. "Something more you wish to say. Just so you know I have yet to forgive you for how you treated me at the party."
He sneered. "Hmph! And why should I care for the opinion of the working class? Whether you forgive me or not, I don't care."
"Then you shouldn't care what I do in my free time. What I do in my walks or in my room; none of those things."
He frowned as she continued, "Yet you are starting a fight with me with the after mentioned topics. Now you are trying to hold my hand in broad daylight. Should I go and report that a distinguished envoy member is harassing me?"
She saw Blakeley was walking inside the gardens. 'Perfect timing!' She pushed by him. "Please excuse me." She hurried her pace and slid up to Blakeley who looked at her in mild surprise.
"Miss Claudina! Good morning! I don't see you often so early in the morning."
"Good morning Blakeley. I thought of going for a final walk before I leave. But now I am going back inside."
His eyes drifted off her face and saw who was behind her. Arche stood cross armed looking angry. He got a hold of what the situation was.
"…Understood. Please rest assured. I will make sure no one comes after you."
She smiled making him blush. "Thank you. For some reason I can always count on you for these things." She bowed her head at him before leaving.
Blakeley watched her until she was out of sight. 'She resembles the cat I kept back home. It acted cute whenever it wanted milk…'
"Hey!" He turned to see Arche stomping at him. He grabbed him by the collar. "Why did you interrupt us?"
Blakeley stared at him lazily before answering. "Maybe you were trying to do something to her? In plain sight I had to step in."
He released his collar by shoving him. "What is the relationship between you and Miss Spade?"
"We are childhood friends."
"Cut the crap! What is the truth?"
Blakely thought about this. '…Will it be fine? At the very most Miss Claudina would scold me.'
"Miss Claudina is my benefactor."
"Just what benefits can a merchant's daughter give?" Arche sneered. "Ah but if it's 'that' then she can be anyone's benefactor. She certainly gives off those vib-"
Before he finish Blakely punched him square in the face. He landed on the ground with his nose bloody. Seeing a random stranger insulting his benefactor like that made him see red.
Arche groaned and twisted in pain. Blakeley wiped the blood from his knuckles. He coldly looked at his withering body. "I would appreciate it if you stay away from Miss Claudina from now on."
With that he continued on ahead leaving Arche to fend for himself.
At the entrance of the garden well hidden by the bush gates, Claudina smiled to herself. She moved causing the leaves to rustle.
"Such a good dog…"
At dinner Claudina was interrupted by Lucas who pranced and sat down right in front of her. She looked up in scorn. 'Should have taken Blake's offer for dinner…'
"What?"
Lucas pouted. "Please don't lie to my friend. Also your friend was quite mean. Arche came back with his nose all bloody"
She lowered her fork. "And what do you want me to do about it? I left so I didn't know until later. But if you want me to apologize I won't. Mr. Anis was the one who started it."
"Regardless you should have thought it through."
"Why are you saying it to me?" She put her hand on her forehead. "It's fine. I just need to endure one more day before I leave Halieas."
CLATTER!
She looked up. Lucas had stood up wearing a shocked expression. "You…are leaving?"
"Yes and I am never coming back."
"B-but why? Why are you leaving so soon?"
"Soon?" she repeated with a scoff. "I have been here for a month or so. If anything my visit is overdue."
"When are you leaving then?"
"You will know when you see me boarding the ship."
"Please give a straight answer!"
She wiped her mouth with the napkin. "How does my departure even concerns you of all people?"
"Because I am your friend! Not that Blakeley!"
Claudina signed. "Don't say his name with that tone of yours. Also keep it down. People are looking here."
He sneered. "That Blakeley is the furthest thing from a companion. So quit your acting of childhood friends! In the first place I am not even sure why are you pretending something you are not."
With every sentence he said he started to look more deranged.
"Do you want to marry into a noble family? Is that why you act so close to him? If you want to marry a noble you should have asked me or Arche!"
THUD! Her suddenly standing up caused her to upset the chair down.
SLAP!
The dining hall went dead silent. Lucas' head was turned to the side with the force form the slap. A cut appeared and blood flowed out in a thin line.
"Listen here. I have no idea what goes in that minuscule mind of yours but I have never ever wanted to marry neither you nor Arche Anis and I never will."
"Never come to find me; because if you do I will flay you alive right then and there. You talk to any of the saints, I will kill you. You talk with Blakeley Anderson I will kill you. You stalk me again, I will kill you. If I so much as see you breathing in my direction I will kill you. And that is no figure of speech."
Claudina removed the glove she used to slap him and slammed it on the table.
She left the table with her food untouched and Lucas breathing shallowly.