"What the... is she really okay with this setting?"
"Of course, she is not.. but well we can't do anything. Anyway you know the situation now so be careful, and if you want to see the prince so much you can see him when he sneaks a peek into the lady's room now and then. But it's a secret, that only the lady and I know about. So…"
"Don't worry I won't open my mouth unnecessarily.."
"Hmm…good let's go back, or we will be late."
After that depressing flashback, they both went back to their position, while roaming around the corridor they bumped into the head maid.
"Emily, seeing you roaming around carefree, I assume you got through July's thick head."
"Yes, head maid, I apologize on behalf of her."
Both July and Emily bowed to apologize properly and felt a very sharp and cold gaze piercing through them,
"Get back to work, go prepare the garden properly."
And soon after the preparations for welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Sendras began,
Mr. and Mrs. Sendras is a figure known around the country for her beautiful business of clothing.
Her designs are so out of the world that makes every individual its fan.
It is said that every material that belongs to south Ascaba strangely feels warm and pleasant to the eyes. Which helps traders to make a huge fortune out of it.
To open a store in the south also followed the rumors and traveled to the south.
Therefore, The empress asked the princess to deal with Mr. and Mrs. Sendras in a way that led her on a path that would be controlled by the empress herself.
The princess unwillingly agreed to do that disrespectful thing against the Sendras.
"Welcome to the south, Mr. and Mrs. Sendras."
And so Leonard welcomed her very politely,
"The South is really beautiful and warm just as the rumors."
"Thanks for your insight. This is my wife, Julian Teras."
"Welcome to the south, my lady, I hope you have a nice stay."
Smiling without interfering with her stiff facial expression, the princess greeted her.
"It's my honor to meet the royal blood here. Thank you for your hospitality, your highness."
Standing there Mrs. Sendras was staring at the princess with a smile of satisfaction on her face,
"…"
"…"
"Uh…so, you must be tired, Baz shows them their way to the room."
Avoiding the awkwardness the duke Interrupted her staring and asked,
"Right, Thank you."
Continuing his conversation Mr. Sendras tried to drag her,
"You would be more pretty without that dead eyes on and more natural, hehe."
Gloomy became the environment with Julian being silent in response to Mrs. Sendra's comment.
"D-D-Darling, let's go to our room, okay?"
"But I am right, aren't I? She is so unwilling, isn't she?"
"Mrs. Sendras, Please be mindful of your situation and position."
Baz, The butler asked Mrs. Sendras to read the room before speaking,
"I-I apologize on her behalf…please forgive her."
Julian couldn't understand the situation properly and wasn't able to react, when was helped by the duke,
"It's okay, but please refrain from doing it again, now follow Baz to your room."
"AH…Yes sure, let's go, Linda."
"But-"
And was dragged by her husband to follow the butler and was companied by the duke chattering all the way…
Julian followed them quietly with a bunch of thoughts ringing in her head when a voice talked to her,
' Dead eyes? Me? I don't have dead eyes is she seeing things, and natural? isn't this how am I suppose to be? Am I doing something wrong but didn't Heidi say that she likes red color and roses then why she thinks am unwilling?'
'Maybe because it shows on your face?'
'Huh? Who is it?' swirling her head here and there she asked.
'That hurts, don't you recognize me?'
'WH-'
'She is quite straightforward, isn't she? But she indeed was right about your unwillingness, it shows right on your face.'
Making a scowling face she kept silent,
'You don't believe me, there's a pond in front of you, go and check yourself.'
Even without recognizing the voice, Julian followed the instruction and when everyone was busy with some work in their hand, she sneaked a peak at the pond surface and found a familiarly unknown face reflecting,
'Who is this?' She asked in curiosity.
'You, don't know? It's you NITRA.'
As soon as she heard that name she panicked in anxiety and tried to run back when the small girl of her dream was there floating right in front of her face. She got froze out of fear and anxiety.
The girl slowly reached her hand towards her head and pushed her into the pond while chanting a specific word, that was,
'PUNISHMENT'.