The next day, Estelle did not left the guest room because of the incident. She just covered herself with the blanket and refused to eat. This was relayed to Nicolaus although he knew it. After his endless meetings, he personally came to her room to bring her dinner.
"Estelle, wake up"
He gently said as he tapped the coccoon-like blanket that is covering Estelle's whole body.
"I am not hungry"
She weakly replied.
"Tell me. Why are you doing this?", he asked but she did not reply.
"If you continue to be like this, I believe you do not trust me. Hence, I should sent you back to your Uncle"
He said and Estelle immediately came out of her blanket although she cutely struggled for awhile.
"No!"
She exclaimed and grabbed the hem of Nicolaus' sleeves.
"Then, tell me what should I do to make you feel better"
He said as he slighltly smiled and fixed Estelle's hair strands that are tangled. This act of service from him made her heart warmed up a little and gave her courage.
"Your Majesty, are you good at combat?"
She asked and he was quite taken aback by her sudden question and change of mood.
"Well... as good as your uncle, maybe"
He humbly replied. Estelle's jaw dropped at his reply.
"Are you kidding me?"
She asked with an entranced look on her face because in the novel, Estelle's uncle is the only person who can do all types of combat skillfully. After the execution of Estelle in the original story, Emperor Henry also died because he was involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Princess Camilla and Emperor Victor. Despite his skills, Duke Jerome was able to surpassed him and met his painful death.
Estelle got chills on her back when she pictured the bloody and sad death of the original Estelle and Emperor Henry. She looked at Nicolaus, determined.
"You must surpass my Uncle no matter what, Your Majesty!"
She exclaimed that made Nicolaus so dumbfounded at her sudden determination.
"No matter what, okay?"
She repeated with diction in each word and this found Nicolaus so adorable that he tried to hold his laughter.
"Y-Yeah... sure"
He casually replied but Estelle felt like he is not serious so she unconsciously grabbed his collar out of her burning determination to make sure that she will not end up like the original Estelle.
"This is a serious matter, so you must surpass him!"
She exclaimed and when Nicolaus gave her a serious look she realized the disrespectful act that she have done.
"Oh! I am sorry, Your Majesty"
She said as she let go of him. She looked down as she was embarassed of what she did.
Nicolaus got serious all of a sudden, not because Estelle grabbed his collar rather he felt that she trembled again in fear. Seeing her hurt or be in fear concerns him alot but he does not know the reason why he cares for her so much.
"Why?", Nicolaus asked.
"Hm? Ah! No... just forget what I've--"
"Why do I need to surpass my mentor to the point that you trembled in fear? Is death chasing after you?", he seriously asked.
Estelle was shocked that she even raised her head and looked at Nicolaus without saying a word. The sparkling ruby eyes of Nicolaus looked at her stunning emerald eye and gently covered it with his cold hand.
"If you want live, we must be one", he said.
"W-What do you mean?", she asked.
"Train combat under my care and be as skillful as I am. In this way, we are much stronger than the people and death that you fear"
He replied and when he saw her ruby eye sparkle, he removed his hand backed off a little since their faces are just an inch from each other.
"Will every five days in a month enough?", she asked.
"Do whatever seems convenient to you"
He replied and got up from her bed to get her dinner.
"Now, eat your dinner and never skip a meal. Unless... you want me to feed you too?"
He teased her and she immediately reacted.
"I am not a kid!"
She said and grabbed from him the tray which contains her delicious dinner.
"Yes, yes"
He teasingly said as he watched her enjoying her dinner. She stuffed her mouth with food and cutely chewed it.
"You should not have starved yourself the whole day", he said and ruffled her hair.
For the first time, Estelle appreciated the handsome god-like face of Nicolaus when he is smiling. It is like a piece of art that no one should have ever touched because of how delicate it is.
"So handsome..."
She unconsciously mumbled and when she realized what she have confessed, she immediately swallowed her food and it came down from the wrong pipe. She coughed and Nicolaus immediately gave her something to drink.
"I thought my life will end so lame..."
She said after she gobbled the drink that Nicolaus gave.
A knock was heard from the outside and the butler reminded Nicolaus about his next scheduled meeting with Duchess Pasquire. He was about to left but he stopped his track and turned around to look at Estelle's beautiful face once again.
"Next time be careful" he said.
"Yeah...", she mumbled.
"To not fall by my handsome face that you almost choked to death"
He teasingly added that made Estelle blushed so hard.
"T-That won't happen again!"
She exclaimed and Nicolaus just gave him a smirk before he left.
"That guy is unpredictable..."
She said and felt the embarassment again when she realized what she have done.
The next day, Estelle woke up because of the noise outside. She went out with her pajamas and her messed up hair. As soon as she step outside, she saw a furious yet beautiful noble lady coming at her. Before the lady could slap Estelle, she felt her right eye warmed up. In split seconds, the lady was slightly electrified with a red lightning and her golden straight and soft hair get frizzy.
"H-How could you this to me?! Don't you know who you are dealing with?!"
The beautiful lady hysterically shouted to intimidate Estelle.
"Then, who are you?"
She casually asked knowing that she will not be harmed because Nicolaus is watching and hearing this situation just like how he just protected her from being slapped just awhile ago.
"You dirty and low-ranking woman!"
She angrily said as she was about to slap her again but she stopped when Estelle smiled and grabbed her hand.
"Would you like to work for me?"
She said while her two-colored eyes sparkles. She asked this because she saw that the lady's beauty and charisma can make millions of gold coins.
"Huh?!"
"Do you know how to sing? How about dancing? Acting? This beauty of yours must not be hidden from the world! I will definitely make you a superstar!"
Estelle excitedly said and even handed out a business card to her.
"You will be the original face of the biggest troupe that I will ever create!"
"Wait, wait!"
The lady exclaimed as she was suddenly overwhelmed at the attitude and proposal of Estelle.
Estelle invited the lady and excitedly explained her plans about the troupe. It turns out that the lady is the daughter of a powerful duchal family in the Eastern Empire. Her name is Karina Llanna Pasquire.
"I am betrothed to the Emperor of this Empire, so I must reject your offer, Lady Estelle", Karina said.
"Oh... but! If you ever change your mind, you can always use that magical gem to call me. I will immediately answer back"
Estelle still insisted hoping that Karina will change her mind.
"I believe I will never use this as I am determined to have Nicolaus to be my husband. Besides, I do not enjoy much the operas"
Karina replied as she returned the business card that Estelle gave to her.
"Then, I will surpass that determination of yours and I will show you the beauty of music, entertainment, and art!"
Estelle said with a confident smile.
"July, if you can hear me. Please help me out! I need this lady to achieve my goals!"
She added while maintaning her confident smile.