"I'm glad that you're eating now, Mistress. The goddess knows how much we were worried about you." Olivia sighed in content, seeing how Felicia began to eat, unlike yesterday after the incident.
The redness of her cheek had now disappeared. She healed it after she was being detained in her own room, performing miracle on her cheek. Despite how physically strong her Mistress is, there was something wrong with her ability.
It was still... Weak. Although not that weak compared to when Felicia discovered it first, but it wouldn't be able to delete the existence of Helena's charm over the whole mansion. Much less the whole kingdom.
"How was the situation outside?" She asked, minding her food while asking Olivia what is currently happening outside of her room. She has been secluded for a month and no exposure of her would be revealed.
"Well..." Olivia pauses. Does she really have to tell her what's happening outside of this room? Everyone is now harbouring ill-intent towards her after she allegedly pushed Helena to which Olivia won't believe.
"What's with the pause? I won't feel hurt with their babbling mouth so tell me what's the issue outside." Felicia asked once again, throwing a side-eye towards Olivia who was biting her bottom lip.
"Well... People were... Mad at you." She said shortly, didn't want to expand it further. Felicia may say that their opinion about her won't cause her pain, but for Olivia, hearing bad things about her Mistress makes her heart crumble in pieces.
"I see. Well then, seems like everyone is under her mercy now, huh? That's funny." Felicia chuckled, filled with satire in her tone, laughing at the fact that people began to change their lines.
Since Helena is in power now due to the Duke's affection, the dynamic will shift and will change, or turn back to what it was before she had even meddled with that brat's life. But is she angry about it?
Somehow she is but more like she needed to have her revenge but couldn't do anything about it. "Is she happy that I'm being banned from going out of my room? Is she happy that she finally has the mansion for her? That fucking bitch." She couldn't help but to cuss Helena.
"Apparently, there are guards stationed below your balcony." Noctua decided to talk, flapping its wings back to the bed while looking at Felicia with an annoyed expression.
"And two outside the door. The Duke sent them to look out for you if you'll break what he ordered." Helena also pointed out the closed door, signalling that there are knights stationed out of her room.
"Seems like he really is serious about this." Felicia mumbled to herself, sighing as she pushed off her plates, not wanting to continue eating. She ate a lot anyway, she's full now.
"How about Alexander? Where is he?" She asked, hope lit in her eyes despite hearing clearly how he was banned to visit her as well, or even be with her to which Felicia finds ridiculous.
It's clear that he wanted to separate the two of them, under Helena's supervision. He clearly wasn't himself and has been under her spell even more, forgetting his identity and acting like a marionette.
"The Young Lord has... Not visited you. He was adhering strictly to what the Duke reprimanded him." Helena answered with a low tone, looking down at the floor, avoiding Felicia's eyes.
It's not that she's scared or she's avoiding her because of something else. She doesn't want to look at Felicia's eyes, filled with disappointment and affliction. She didn't want to stare at her eyes filled with being let down.
"B-but I assure you that the Young Lord will visit you secretly—"
"You don't need to say that, Olivia. I am fine." Felicia cut her off, looking at the balcony, as if she was avoiding Olivia's eyes. "A month will pass by eventually. Till then, I'll be stuck here and continue reading." She added, slowly turning back and smiled at Olivia.
"But Mistress... You're crying."
"I am?" She asked Olivia, blinking light as her hand unconsciously reached for her wet cheek, confirming her words that she really was crying.
"Dusts must have flown in my eyes. I didn't notice it." Felicia shook it off, wiping her eyes as she then cleared her throat, trying to sound normal.
"I wish to rest early, please seek out. I'm tired." Felicia said, pushing Olivia away as she laid down the bed, wrapping herself with the blanket. The sun was still up yet her Mistress had already sunk in her bed.
"Yes, Mistress. I hope you rest well." Olivia answered, a hint of sadness on her voice as she bowed her head, leaving meekly out of the room.
"So you just let that woman have her way?" Noctua asked, walking towards the side where he's facing Felicia who curled in the bed, seeking comfort with the blanket. He plump his body on the soft mattress, looking directly into her sad eyes.
"What can I do with her then? I can't even manifest such a large amount of my ability, much less being able to fight her directly." Felicia groaned, getting emotional with Noctua at her side.
"Your ability... It's not weak, rather it's locked. Some of it is stored within your heart that you need more for it to break free." Noctua answered, shaking his head to reject the idea that she was weak.
"And not only that, you're physically stronger than her. That woman may be stronger because of her demonic prowess but compared to your physical ability, I doubt you'll fail to defeat her." Noctua even added, consoling Felicia.
"And you have the sword as well."
"You seem to forget that if I attack Helena, not only will I be suffering from the wrath of the Duke and the Church, I'd also be either hanged, crucified, burned, or lost my head over the guillotine." Felicia responded, shaking her head at Noctua.
"Forget it. We will eventually find a way to deal with it. For now, tomorrow, I'll try meditation. Whatever you see that's been locked inside me, I'll force it out to come out." She responded, sighing at him.
"But... She wasn't really injured, Felicia. Her arm had a band around it and it was unbelievable. That's not the injury you're supposed to get when falling down the stairs. It's bullshit." Noctua suddenly changed the topic, talking about how fucked up it was.
"I know... Remember what i told you? The mist that comes from her necklace?" She asked Noctua, finally having the moment to reveal what she had seen the moment Helena planned to fall.
Noctua nodded his head, curious with what she was going to confess. "That same mist appeared and protected her before she could even bump and fell unconscious. It's as if, it was being controlled that's why she only has minimal injuries." She told him, earning a frown from the bird.
"What?"
"The same mist, it protected her. That dark and malicious green mist appeared in my eyes. Yet no one was able to see it, only I. Is it because I am the Saintess that I am able to recognise the power?" She asked.
"Maybe? but the person who helped you back then, seems like he knows what it was." He answered, uncertain with his answer. "I think you need to seek him further. I can help you with delivering the letters." He added to which Felicia shook her head.
It's dangerous for him to travel in and out, especially that there are guards surrounding the place. He might hurt himself if they found him suspicious.
"Don't worry about it. Let's just think of it some other time."
—
Meanwhile, Olivia was busy dealing with her respective chores. Since Felicia was locked up, she went back from having her chores, only serving Felicia either during her bath and meals.
"Olivia." Someone called Olivia, to which she turned around, only to find another servant calling out her name. Olivia brushed off her hands on her apron, looking at the servant who called out her name.
"What's up, Claire?" She asked the servant. "Did my young Miss ask for my presence? Does she need anything?" She asked once again, hoping that Felicia called her. Oh darn, she missed gossiping with her lady.
"Uhm... Actually... Yes... Her Ladyship is looking for you. She said that you need to serve her this evening." The servant whose name is Claire answered Olivia, bearing such a timid attitude towards her.
Yet Olivia couldn't help but to feel doubt at Claire who was looking... Awkward. She couldn't look in her eyes but considering her personality, then it was alright anyway.
"I know that. That's my job as her servant, what's the point of telling me that?" Olivia said, couldn't help but to frown as she turned her back and continued to do her task. That was weird but understandable anyway.
"I just thought... That you might forget it. Evening is approaching after all." Claire shrugged it off, laughing at her own words. "She said that she needed your services this evening." Claire once again reminded her and left the room, leaving Olivia.
"Duh, I know that." She whispered to herself but couldn't help but to smile. She thinks that her mistress is resting and doesn't want anyone to disturb her but shux! She's getting called!
It was making her excited that she was smiling while doing her task. It's not like she has not seen her for years but it's just so different when it's Felicia.
Yet... Was it really Felicia?