Her cold facade became molten lava as soon as she stepped into the Hayes' garden. The beauty and serenity nature brought was like a way to escape reality. Olivia inhaled the fresh smell of flower nectars, and vegetables that hung in the air.
The birds tweets were like a song to honor the beauty of the garden. It made a smile appear on her face. Something she never thought would happen because she was never genuinely happy.
Olivia took careful steps into the garden. By her sides, a small wall of already bloomed roses added to her unearthly beauty. Her gray eyes shimmered in delight, while she outstretched her arms in happiness.
Olivia was in a state of oblivion. All she wanted was to enjoy her quiet time. Birds of different beautiful colors started to fly around her, all tweeting and flapping their wings.
At the same time, different species of butterflies started to appear from nowhere. They added more life to the greens that surrounded her. Olivia's eyes were close, while she allowed her petite body to move fluidly to the song of nature.
Some of the servants working in the mansion had walked into the garden. All expectant to pluck some roses, and do some other gardening work. But they paused in shock.
"Isn't that...?" One of them whispered in fear. This was the first time she was seeing the Princess up close. Her eyes were on the petite figure that started to swirl in the garden with her eyes closed.
The scene made them smile unconsciously, because they had never seen such before. Especially with the butterflies fluttering around her calm being, following her movements like a bridal train.
"She's nothing like she was described. How can someone this beautiful and harmless be cruel?" Another maid asked, sending a side glance to her fellow.
The person she addressed never said a word. Her keen eyes were on Olivia who kept swaying while a low hum escaped her lips.
"Can't you sense that?" Her dark eyes squinted as she watched Olivia kept dancing as though no one was watching.
"Sense what? What's wrong with you?" Her fellow stated with a smile. She didn't take her eyes off Olivia, so did the others.
It was no use trying to convince them. She turned around instead, not bothering to bask in the scene like the others were doing. She was not ready to get punished for watching the Princess in secret.
Olivia heard murmurs and her shut eyes barged open. She turned around in a whim, her express full of shock. Her eyes grew wide as she caught the little crowd watching her.
The servants were also astounded because of her sudden movement. They jolted and wanted to grab any tool they saw. They wanted to act like they never saw her enjoying herself, so they dared not raise their heads to stare at her.
"Didn't Master Hayes ask for some weeding in the garden?" One of them asked while the others murmured as though nothing happened.
"Where are my tools!"
"Damn it! I can't seem to find the shears!"
Olivia furrowed her brows as the murmurings grew louder. Because of her obvious dislike of noise, she puffed her cheeks and stormed out of the garden. She didn't bother to look at their direction.
It made them thought she was going to report them for ruining her time. They all started to panic.
"Oh no! Didn't I warn you all to keep it down? Now she's going to punish us!" One of the older maids cried out, while the others started to call out to their creators to save them from perilous events.
They never knew Olivia headed back to her chambers simply because there was nothing else to do that day.
___
"And you think coming to tell me directly will solve the problem?" He raised an elegant brow, sending a look at the maid whose head was bowed.
The woman shook her head in urgency before she spat out. "N-no. I'm only here on the behalf of the others. Please make our punishment light if it offended her too much."
Reginald wanted to chuckle because he was finding Olivia amusing. She never came to meet him. And he didn't think that of all persons to be caught enjoying herself in the garden, it would be the 'wicked' Princess.
He missed a show. He wanted to chuckle but then he realized it. Reginald gathered himself together making sure to remind himself that Olivia never had a good thought toward him.
He cocked his head to the side, before leaning on his hand.
"Tell me... Do you think I'd forgive you for disrupting my wife's quality time?"
Wait... What!?!?
His words made the man before him choke on his tea, before sending an astonished look to him. Reginald's expression changed after those words escaped his lips.
It was quick to return to a cool expression in the span of milliseconds. He wanted to clear his throat but he figured that it would give him out. Instead, he acted as though he never spat out those words.
"Count today as your lucky day. She never even made mention of it. You're free to leave." With that he leaned back on his chair, ignoring the shocked look Zain kept sending him.
The maid bowed her head and rushed out of the room in joy. She never thought the Princess would even forgive them. Turns out she didn't even say a word about it.
She was going to relay this good news to her fellow servants. Perhaps, this was going to prove to everyone that Olivia wasn't the one to look down at servants after all.
"What just happened?" Zain inquired, slowly recovering from the shock he experienced minutes ago.
He didn't know why he started to cringe. There was something going on with Reginald. The young man was just too arrogant to ask or tell him a thing.
"I have no idea. I'm supposed to be angry instead." Reginald's face wasn't giving off anything. He looked like he was contemplating on something. But he reeled himself back to the present and focused on whatever task assigned to him and his friend.
"I heard from Sylvester last night. He apologized for not making it to yesterday's event on time." Zain stated, while his eyes were on some of the scrolls given to him to read.
"Mm." Reginald didn't bother to give a reaction. Instead, he seemed unbothered at Sylvester's reasons.
Of course, that friend of his wouldn't even state a reason why he missed the wedding. It wasn't like it was an happy occasion, so he didn't care.
"I wonder why he of all people would miss a day like that." Zain mused to himself. There was a flicker in his eyes as he kept skimming the scroll.
The rays of sun that fell on his hair gave him a sweet flower-boy-like look.
Reginald knew his friend was looking for a way to gossip, but he kept quiet. He wanted to get done with this work and leave the study.
All of a sudden the door banged open, and it revealed General Hayes. His expression was neutral but one could tell from the air around him that something grave happened.
"We need to talk."