"My Lady, have you not gotten your rest? There is a black circle under your eyes." Olivia asked, looking through Rachelle's reflection in front of the mirror. She's oddly quiet too, which is why it is quite worrisome for Olivia.
"Huh? Oh... It's nothing actually." Rachelle replied shortly, her tone consisted of an ice-cold hint, making Olivia zip her mouth silently. She's also absent-minded, which is also odd considering that every day she wakes up determined to survive.
But now? She looks like a doll. That's it.
Olivia looked at Rachelle's bed, looking at Noctua who was also worried about Rachelle's sudden change. She must have been troubled about this event even though he did tell her that she shouldn't worry over small things.
Olivia sighed, whatever was troubling her, she hoped that she would at least tell her so that she could help her. "Alright Mistress, you're good now. Remember to always smile, okay? Whatever happens, it will just be a temporary bump on your road." She said, cheering up Rachelle who remained quite downhearted.
"Y-Yes, what she said is true. You should ease up kid, nothing will happen." Noctua also cheered her up after Olivia glared at him. But at some part of him, he also wanted to cheer for the lady.
"Thank you everyone but I'm fine. Don't worry." She chuckled, breathing in and out as she stood up, watching herself in the mirror. Today is the Sabbath day, as well as the day to figure out what could be the possibilities of the Paladin affecting her plan.
She was wearing a black dress, embedded with an inner white skirt. The lower hem of the dress had stars and diamonds attached in a gold pattern, resembling the constellations in the night sky.
Her torso was designed in a halter neck kind of dress, connected to the butterfly sleeves sewed with the dress. Gold linings were also designed onto her arms up to her chest part, adorned with gold bits to flare up the dark outfit.
Her hair was tied into a crown braid, lifting her sophistication and elegant aura from her. It's creating a clean look for her. But that didn't stop her from adding pieces of jewellery to her look.
It was far from the definition of simple but it's not exaggerated and an out-of-place option. It still looks decent compared to others.
"How do I look?" She asked as she twirled around, checking if anything was missing. But damn, the more she gained weight, the more Felicia's reflection is starting to prosper in terms of beauty.
If Helena is the standard then Helena must be someone placed in the tier of being not the standard. Right now, Rachelle is fazed by the fact that Felicia has this kind of beauty hiding.
If it's not for the Duke calling her then she would've just died there, pale and malnourished.
"You look absolutely beautiful, my Lady. I really do have a thing with fashion." Olivia proudly empowered Rachelle and herself, feeling arrogant at the fact that she believed her fashion senses.
"But why am I wearing black though? Isn't it quite bad?" Rachelle asked, looking through Olivia in her reflection. Isn't that a bad omen?
"Black is not an omen. It's one of the best silks that is quite rare to obtain but anyway Mistress, you do need to leave. It's getting late." Olivia reminded me of looking at the time above them.
"Right... Thank you, Olivia, and Noctua. I really need those words from the two of you."
"We'll be here, waiting for your return Mistress. Safe travels." Olivia smiled as she bowed her head, showing her complete devotion to Rachelle. Over the years, she had learned to open her heart towards Rachelle, and their closeness grew even more despite her overthinking that she would never grow to love Rachelle as her master.
"Well then, I'm off." Rachelle bid her goodbye as she went out of her emerald room, only to find Alexander waiting at her. After seeing her go out of her room, he immediately took a stride, approaching her with a smile across his face.
"Good morning, Felicia. How's your—did you get any sleep?" He suddenly asked, frowning as he caressed her cheek, looking at her face. She had grown eyebags that were quite dark.
"I'm fine. I just didn't sleep a wink last night from reading too much." She lied. Although she really didn't get to sleep a wink last night, she kept on thinking about what the hell was with her premonition.
The first one was the dream that she stabbed her heart then the red jewel came out, and then now. It's becoming even more weirder and very terrifying. The fire was vibrant in her eyes, it was as if everything in that dream was true.
"You know that it's inappropriate to read during the nighttime. Who on earth would read during the day passes out? It certainly is foolish." He sighed, letting out his frustrations even though it was not his problem.
"The calm night's serenity is quite the melody in my ears so it definitely pushes me to read more. It's like a song, Alexander. You wouldn't understand." She replied, walking out on him.
"What's with you? You're acting sass." He chuckled, running to her side and then proceeded to grab her arm and wrap it around him so that she'd be close to him. Enough to avoid those bastards eyeing her.
"I'm just tired. I wish to sleep during the ride towards the Holy Church." She expressed her desire to sleep while in the carriage. There's not much of things to look at anyway if she were to just blankly stare out in the window.
"That would be possible. Just lean into me and then you can sleep on my shoulders." He told her, allowing her to sleep on him while the carriage ride continued to set away.
As soon as they reached the doorstep, the Duke was already inside the carriage, waiting for the two of them. Roelle, upon looking at the two approaching, couldn't help but cock his eyebrow, frowning.
Are they closed now? It's not like he's trying to ostracise them but it's so weird seeing them both this close maybe it's for the better, to keep this family afloat and tight.
"Your Grace, I apologize if it took so long for me to arrive." Rachelle apologized as soon as she entered the carriage with the help of Alexander, who assisted her with every step and made sure that she wouldn't hurt herself.
"It's fine, Felicia. You do not need to fret over simple matters." The Duke replied with his usual cold tone. "You look wonderful." He suddenly said, making Felicia frown and look at him in surprise.
Did he just complimented her? That made her almost choke.
"Father, did you just realise it now? Felicia has always looked so beautiful." Alexander argued playfully, smirking at Felicia who then glared at her with her cheeks flushing, tainted with the colour red.
"Yes... She always has been." The Duke added another reply, looking away. His eyes gaze outside of the window, seemingly avoiding and trying to hide the faint blush on his cheeks.
But for Rachelle, hearing all of this is just pure bullshit. It's like hearing them spitting out snakes out of their mouth. Always has been? What the hell is he talking about when she spent her days back then away from them? How can he say that lie?
What a shame!
"Thank you, your Grace." She just muttered and looked out of the window. In fact, she doesn't sound thankful at all. It irked her, it made her feel annoyed at them. The hypocrisy to talk about it when they dealt damage to her first.
The ride towards the Holy Church became silent and awkward. With everyone seemingly trying to engage in conversation but decided to shut their mouth.
"Father... About the situation..." Alexander broke the silence, discussing something about their territory that really didn't make Rachelle feel very interested in listening to their conversation.
It's not that she doesn't like it but that would just only be making it feel more awkward. So instead of trying to curse herself with boredom, she closed her eyes and just waited for the moment that they would arrive at the Church.
She had been feeling sleepy since earlier.
Meanwhile, Alexander and Ruelle continued to talk about the solutions to their problems when all of a sudden, Ruelle suddenly stopped giving him pieces of advice and just looked at Rachelle.
Curious, Alexander also turned his head to look at his little sister drifting to sleep. Her head was on the window, sleeping uncomfortably. He chuckled, trying to place her head on his shoulder instead when all of a sudden, Ruelle slowly lifted her, enough not to hit her head on the ceiling of the carriage and just placed her right next to him.
He then proceeded to lay her head on his lap, looking away from Alexander's frowning face while securing Felicia's body sleeping next to him. His body just moved upon seeing her and he let his body control him.
Which left Alexander frowning over what he did and silently glaring at his father. He was supposedly the one who would do it but Ruelle just robbed that position away from him!