They look like the perfect couple. The main characters in Mischievous Nobles that got their picture perfect ending while Veronica is banished to suffer in the dark.
Veronica could never compare to the delicate and sweet Charlotte. Veronica had power, money and fame. But no matter how hard she competed and fought for Damien's love. Charlotte was simply a more lovable character that plucked everyone's heartstrings.
Charlotte Sliverline is the first daughter of a fallen Marquis. In terms of status even the most lowly of the maids are above her. Charlotte was a weak character who fell victim to Veronica's merciless bullying. She often had to rely on the male leads for protection.
That was until The Hunting games arc where she awakened her mana and became able to summon spirits. After becoming a spirit type mage she was able to gain some ground in noble society and Veronica wasn't able to bully her anymore at least not without her reputation dropping.
Seeing her here and now feels like a distance dream. My chest is filled with different emotions each of them running wild. All eyes on were on them, Charlotte always did have a knack for taking the spotlight. My chest is pounding, what is this feeling in my heart. My head is throbbing, I can't hear anything else.
'Die' That single word echoes through my mind threatening to split my skull in half.
My body is moving on its own, I can't control it. I walk over to Damien and Charlotte and glare at them both. Damien sees me but ignores me. I turn my attention to Charlotte and glare at her. She senses my gaze and clings tighter onto Damien.
"Disgusting"
The Crown prince steps between me and Charlotte and stares me down. I can hear the nobles around me whisper and shriek. I don't know what's going on but I'm too fixated on what's infront of me to care. My throat feels heavy and I can't get any words out. Charlotte begins to sway from side to side. The staring contest between the Crown prince and I is temporarily broken as we both focus on Charlotte.
"What a drama queen I'm sure she's just doing it for attention" I don't know how or why but those are the words that left my mouth.
She falls to her knees and Damien rushes to her side. I can't make out what he's saying but he's clearly worried about her. Charlotte starts coughing. Some servants run around trying to get her water.
As she's drinking the water Damien keeps glaring at me, A strange gurgling choking sound comes from Charlotte as she throws up a large amount of blood. The crown prince carries Charlotte in his arms. The pounding in my heart and chest worsen. I can't hear anything around me. My vision is fading. Black spots cloud my vision. My heart is pounding. It feels like it's about to jump out of my chest.
I feel like my entire body is on fire. My skin feels like it's being engulfed by flames.
Damien looking at me with complete disgust and hatred is the last thing I see before everything turns black.
My eyelids feel heavy. I'm lying down but I don't know where.
The last thing I remember is being at the ball when Charlotte and Damien showed up. Is the ball over? But I can't recall it ending. I don't remember past when the both of them entering the room I'm trying to open my eyes but I can't. I'm so tired and exhausted. Can I call for help? Will anyone hear me?
My throat feels dry and raspy. I can't produce any sound. I can't just lie about forever. I want to move but my body just won't obey me. I try once again to open my eyes.
The room I'm in is dark except for the pale moonlight light flooding in from the window. It's already night, just what exactly happened.
It was around midday when I went to the ball. I try to get up but fail. I push myself up one final time mustering every last bit of strength I have left. My muscles ache and burn signalling me to stop but I continue until I've sat upright on the bed. I'm in the room I woke up in.
How did I get here?
What happened at the ball?
Why can't I recall anything?
My hands fly to my neck. It's wrapped up in cloth.
Did I get injured? But how? I take a good look at my self in the dim light. My left arm and right hand are also bandaged. How did I end up like this?
I lay back down on the bed trying to remember how I got here. My memories are all hazy and nothing particular is coming to mind.
My thoughts are briefly interrupted by the door opening. A maid with short auburn holding a small lantern peeks her head through the door. She looks at me as if debating if she should or should not to talk to me.
Veronica wasn't exactly a favorite amongst her maids or any of the Henderson butlers. She didn't necessarily bully them nor was she exactly pleasant to be around. She paid no mind to the help and they in turn didn't acknowledge her.
The only loyalty or sense of duty they had was to see to her needs and nothing else.
A sharp contrast to this game's heroine.
Charlotte was different from her in that sense. All the palace maids loved her and they all admired her.
They adored her and always looked out for her. Making it difficult for Veronica to attack her when she was in the Palace.
Another mindless ploy to show that Charlotte was kinder and better than Veronica. A stereotypical Mary Sue with no flaws whatsoever.
"My lady you are awake, do you need anything" she asked me.
I try to respond but my throat hurts. I point at my throat hoping she'll understand me. She nods her head and leaves the room. She comes back with a cup in her hands. She hands me the cup and I've never had such a refreshing drink before. Although it's just cold water. My throat has never felt better.
"What is the time?" I inquire of her
"My lady it is half past 11"
"Huh it's already this late?! I'm guessing everyone else has retired"
"Yes my lady if you need anything simply call on me I'll do my best to fulfill your requests so please ask away"
"My throat is a little sore. Do we perhaps have a drink that could soothe it'' I manage to croak out.
"We don't have any medicine in the manor at the moment but we do have Nightingale Tea. It does temporarily relive pain. I shall have the chef prepare it at once" She replies curtly
"There's no need for that"
I push myself off the bed. My back longing for the softness the bed provided. I stand up and make my way to the door.
"You all have retired for the night It'd be inconsiderate of me to wake someone up just because I wanted a drink. I'll make it myself"
"My lady there is no need for that I shall make the tea so please return to your bed" She says timidly keeping her head down.
"Don't be silly it's because of me you're still awake and not sleeping I can't continue to cause you trouble"
"If I allow you to carry out this task I've failed as a Henderson maid, my lady I ask that you please allow me to make it"
"Don't be so stubborn about this" I say slightly irritated.
"I insist my lady"
"Do as you wish" I can't argue with her any further.
She bows her head and makes to leave the room. I follow her past the endless halls and dark corridors. This place looks like a haunted mansion now.
We walk down some stairs till we finally reach an isolated room which I'm guessing is the kitchen. She looks back and jumps back in shock at seeing me.
"My lady what are doing walking about you should be in your room resting" She shouts out loud almost making me deaf.
"Lower your voice, your being too loud you'll wake up the others"
"My lady you should rest and not concern yourself with a lowly maid such as myself"
"It's not a problem besides I didn't want to be alone"
She hesitates for a brief moment before opening the door and letting me in. She fetches a stool from a dark corner. And dusts it off with her hand. I sit down and watch her work. I hadn't noticed it before but I'm not wearing the gown I wore to the ball. I'm wearing a nightgown. I play with the loose threads as I wait for her to finish. Hopefully she can tell me what happened to me during the ball or at least how I got back here. I watch him from the corner of my eye. She's struggling with lightning the fire.
"Do you need help"
"No my lady the fire will light soon so please don't trouble yourself"
I sigh and continue to play with the loose threads on my gown. The fire eventually sparks and grows and the water is now set over it. I playfully run my fingers through my hair.
"May I ask what your name is?"
"Hermione Wichar my lady" She replies her gaze falling on the flames that cast a soft glow on her face.
"Well Hermione it seems like my memory is failing me as I can't seem to recall how I managed to get back. Care to indulge me?"
"My lady I don't know much about what happened at the ball but the much I do know know is that you were unconscious when you arrived and that you were injured. We were told that there was an argument and that you were involved. That is as far as my knowledge goes. I know nothing of what took place at the ball apart from what I've just told you"
The kettle letss a low shrill whistle that signals that the water inside is done boiling. She turns her back to me and continues making the tea.
An argument?!
I don't recall such happening or doing anything that'd lead to one. And even if it was an argument how did I end up so bruised and battered. If the maids here don't know anything I guess I'll just have to ask the coachman who took me to the palace maybe then I'll get some answers.
Hermione walks over to me and offers me the cup of tea. I take it from her, blow on it gently then take a sip. It doesn't have a particular taste but it does leave a weird after sensation on my tongue. I continue drinking it nevertheless.
"When I was a child there was an odd story circulating about the origins of that tea" Hermione says as she moves to put the kettle away.
"Hmmmm"
"A man and his wife who lived out in the countryside discovered its leaves and it's healing abilities"
"Is that so what kind of story did you hear about it?" I'm a bit curious as to what she's trying to get at.
"Although they were a married couple they bickered non stop about how poor they were. The man would do nothing but stay at home and laze around all day then go out drinking himself silly late at night. He'd often journey into the towns and idle away at bars. While his wife worked herself to death trying to make sure the both of them had enough to eat"
"What a selfish man. He's so cruel leaving the entire job of looking after the household to her" Ugh! I hate men like this. Complete scum to the bitter end.
"True he was a selfish man but as much as I've been told he's never maltreated or hit her before"
"Still doesn't make up for the way he's acting" I hiss through my teeth
"So one day on a particularly beautiful night. He was out drinking and on his way home. He heard beautiful singing coming from a forest. Being senselessly drunk he followed the lovely sound till he reached he found it. A beautiful pure white nightingale basking in the moon's light singing melodiously. The man was so enchanted by the sight he decided he simply must have it. He staggered forward in hopes of catching the bird. He fell into a large bush and was trapped by the branches. The bird took off and was never seen again. The drunk man tired from his struggles with the bush eventually fell asleep in it. When morning came and he was no longer drunk he managed to free himself from the bush.
He walked out of the forest and back onto the road that lead to his home. His poor wife got quite a fright when she saw him. Leaves and twigs poking out of him, he was bleeding from scratches all over his face. They had their biggest fight that morning. She had to call for a doctor to address his wounds. No one knows what came over her or what gave her the idea but she collected the leaves that were stuck to her husband and boiled them and gave him the water to drink. Maybe it was a sort of punishment for him or maybe she was just too tired to do anything. Either way her husband ended up recovering after two days.
She had her husband lead her to where he had gotten the leaves from. He told her the story and all she did was laugh, though she didn't doubt her husband's word. The townsfolk who heard this story had such a great laugh it became the talk of the town. Though it wasn't officially recognized for it's healing abilities. It became a popular drink around that area. When visitors would ask why they served such a drink they would be told the story. It later was noted that the tea had medicinal benefits. It isn't a popular drink here in the south due to its similar cousin the Red Ivy leaves"
"What are those" I ask her
"A special type of plant is found within the region of the Henderson duchy. And unlike the Nightingale Tea. It's sometimes serves as a lethal poison for assassinations. The Nightingale Tea leaves and the Red Ivy leaves look exactly the same. It's almost impossible to tell both plants apart"
"Wow I'm impressed you know so much" Way too much knowledge for a common maid to possess. Just who is she?
"I am nothing impressive my lady. It was just a simple story and nothing more"
"Still I wonder why she didn't just leave him"
"Maybe she loved him so much she couldn't bear to leave him. At least that's what I think. What else could it be besides love that'd make a woman stay beside a man like that"
"I guess you could be right"
Red Ivy is the exact poison Veronica used on Charlotte multiple times before she became a mage. But Charlotte kept surviving because Erick did his best to ensure that she lived. If I don't poison Charlotte then maybe I can somehow avoid a harsher punishment.
"Hermione what time do you and the others wake up?"
"The earliest of us get up at around four in the morning my Lady"
"Would you please wake me up by that time there's something I need to do"
It's not much but there is something I can do in the meantime.