"Did you come from the Holy Nation?"
The maid gave a timid smile.
Mona could perceive the answer to her own question. And she felt anxious at the idea of being followed or watched by the priests. Perhaps her worries and thoughts were visible on her face, and the maid immediately shook her head and spoke.
"Fret not, my lady. I did come from the holy land, but I've been here for three years already. His grace was aware of that, so he personally commanded me to be your maid."
Relief poured over her. Her anxiousness about being under surveillance was immense. After all, Mona hated it most. She wondered what her landlady would feel if she knew she was being watched by her.
'I should give thanks to his grace if I see him.'
Mona sighed and sat down again.
"But how did you leave the nation? Were you allowed and received permission?"
The maid furrowed her brows at the question.
"What do you mean, my lady? I simply decided to leave the land."
"And how were you able to leave? The barrier..." Her words were cut off when she realized the maid's confusion.
"The barrier only works from outside, my lady. Whoever wants to leave can leave." The maid finished her words, but different from what she intended.
"Now, let me clean the table, my lady. I will prepare your bath after, so please don't fall asleep again."
The maid was already gone and all, but Mona still remained frozen on her spot. She was lost in thoughts.
If what the maid had said was true, then why was she unable to leave? She tried to pass through the barrier where she parted with the Grand Duke plenty of times. It will only create an illusion that she actually did, but she'll always end up in the same spot. Whether she jumps into the water or runs on the boardwalk, she would still be inside the barrier. It was as if she was tied under a spell.
So, she believed that everyone was like that. And it works like that for whoever tries to escape. That's why she called the nation a mere cage. But it turns out the cage only works for her.
She was the only one held captive in that place.
But why?
Why would the nation lie and lock her up, just to free her after two years?
And who else knows about that fact? Does Eli know?
Was the first high priest the one responsible for this? After all, he was the father of the holy land.
So then, was the gentle smile and affection he showed her wasn't genuine at all?
Her thoughts were going astray. Was there a reason for all of those?
"The prophecy...." She murmured. Answering her own questions.
A prophecy where she was the subject, they say. But she was also the most oblivious to what it was. No matter how many books she had read in the great library of the temple, she did not find any book or article related to soul summoning. There had never been a case like her.
The knock on the door disturbed her train of thought and ended her unending speculations and unanswered questions. She looked at the door and wondered why the maid had to knock and wait for her response, instead of just coming in.
She walked and opened the door herself.
Behind was the Grand Duke, wearing a dark tunic tucked in his pants, the three buttons below the neckline were opened, revealing a bit of the Grand Duke's toned pectoral muscles.
She lifted her head and met his eyes. From his appearance, Mona could guess the Grand Duke just finished his bath because his hair was damp.
She was going to ask him what he needed but was shocked by his next movement instead.
His big hands cupped her small face, and with his thumbs, he caressed the part below her eyes.
"Did you cry?" He asked with a serious face.
Mona was so astounded at the sudden touch, that she could only shake her head repeatedly.
"Your eyes are puffy." His deep voice wasn't seducing at all, but Mona felt like she was being tempted.
"A-Ah, I... overslept." Her voice hesitated a bit.
"Was the maid I appointed on you did something wrong?"
So, to convince the Grand Duke, she firmly delivered her words.
"Your grace, I overslept."
"Were you being treated unfairly?"
Her shock was now washed away by her rising annoyance. The Grand Duke was clearly just messing with her.
"Do you have a habit of ignoring what people are saying, my lord?" She asked with her eyebrows raised.
Truthfully, she was still conscious of the Grand Duke's hands on her face, but she was trying not to be embarrassed. She was sure the man would tease her more.
The Grand Duke smirked and let her go.
"It was because your lie is obvious." He glanced at her eyes once again, before looking away. "If there's something wrong, tell me. I feel somewhat responsible since I'm the one who took you here."
Mona felt warmth at his words. For someone who came from an unknown world to these people, for her, the Grand Duke is her constant guide.
She sadly smiled and responded.
"It's been two years since I came here...., yet I'm still feeling lost."
She bowed and smiled bitterly. "I wonder what should I do, or where should I go. I felt anxious since there's nothing I belong here."
The Grand Duke was just silently listening to her. But even so, she felt at ease. He doesn't need to answer, to her, his presence is enough.
She inhaled deeply and breathed it out. As if exhaling her worries out of her system.
"Adriana."
Her heart skipped a beat at the voice. She lifted her head and found the Grand Duke staring at her with unreadable emotions in his eyes.
"Something that makes you belong here. The name you acquired in this world."
He patted her head and rested his hands on her eyes, completely covering them, before continuing on his speech.
"If you ever felt lost again, tell me. I will always call you by that name. Adriana."
Without knowing, the tears she kept to herself fell freely on the Grand Duke's palm.
She was crying once again, but this time, it wasn't for Luna, but for herself.
Kyden was gazing at the woman who cried herself to sleep. He covered her eyes because he felt unpleasant whenever he would see her cry, but the woman covered them in sweat and tears instead. Luckily, he only covered her eyes, or else his hand would have caught her snots as well.
His gaze fell on the bandage on her hand. During their travel, he never once saw her tend to her wounds. Especially after riding a horse, he was worried that it would have bled again.
Kyden remembered his actions that day and inwardly scolded himself for letting a wounded lady ride a horse on her own.
Now that she was in the duchy, the wound should be cleaned again.
He called the maid to attend to her.
"Get me clean water, bandages, and medicine for open wounds."
"Yes, my lord."
After the maid left, he started unveiling the bandage. He was expecting a wounded arm, or at least a scarred one, but what he saw was just smooth and fair skin.
"Divine mana users can self-heal."
Kyden was startled at the voice. He was so focused on his thoughts that he failed to notice another presence.
"You're fast." He replied afterward.
"The bathroom is just next door, my lord." The maid answered.
"Tell me more about self-healing."
"The stronger your divine mana, the broader your abilities can be." She placed the clothes and clean water on the bedside table. "On the whole priesthood, only the first to the third highest priest and the Saintess can self-heal. The fact that she can too, means her divinity is really on par with the Saintess."
Kyden fell quiet. In Mona's own words, she never denied that she used dark magic. But she hid her divine abilities.
Was the priesthood ignorant of her dark magic?
Or was Mona only using divine mana at the holy nation?
"It seems that she was hiding this." Her maid spoke again.
"Do you have an idea why?"
"I don't know, your grace. But during my stay on the holy land, women possessing immense mana like her are being brought to the temple to go through the process of being the future Saintess."
"That's odd. The nation already has one."
"The nation itself is odd, your grace."
The words of the maid sounded mysterious. He observed her and remembered how they met. She was being beaten by some adults on the streets of the capital, saying she was spouting nonsensical things and whatnot. So out of pity, he took her to the duchy and let her work as a maid.
Surprisingly, she was more reliable and diligent than he expected. On top of that, she started to speak more with depth and insight. That's when he learned that the woman came from the holy land. She possesses a bit of divine mana and sometimes would help him heal the injured horses on his stable.
Also, the reason why he appoints her to assist Mona. So, she could at least have someone she can be comfortable with. But he guessed it would take time for her, seeing how detached her maid was.
"Did she cry?"
"Yes, your grace."
"Why?"
"Nightmare, your grace."
"I knew she was lying." He held Mona's arm and completely took off the bandage. "Never speak of this to anyone." He said in a stern voice.
"Of course, my lord. I heard the process of the path to sainthood is difficult. I also do not want her to go through that. Now please leave, my lord. I still have to wipe her."
Kyden only nodded. He had never seen a servant so blatantly order their master. This is why he knew the two would get along well.
After taking a last glance at her, he finally stood and left the room.
He walked the path to his own room, just a few rooms away from hers. He remembered the maid's words. About how difficult the process of sainthood is. But in fact, he doesn't give a damn about that process.
What he minded was her, leaving again.
What could he give to her, for her to feel belonged in his world?
Kyden fell into deep thoughts.