Meliora was right to keep the strange girl because even when she got closer and looked deep into her eyes, there was nothing—almost as if she was staring at a crucifix.
The girl had dirty blonde hair, soulless blue eyes, and an expression that wasn't the least bit inviting.
"What is your name?" Meliora asked, leaning closer, her eyes squinting in deep curiosity, yet the girl still didn't flinch.
"My name is Lucie, My Esteemed Princess," the girl replied, her voice devoid of any tone, speaking blandly without even batting an eyelash. Meliora liked her.
[She looks suspicious.]
Crucifix was right; Lucie did look suspicious. But that was exactly what Meliora loved about her. She looked like a walking robot.
"Hmm, I like you, Lucie. Take care of me from now on," Meliora beamed, grabbing Lucie's hands and shaking them vigorously. Lucie's expression finally shifted as she gasped, surprised by Meliora's actions.
"My Esteemed Princess!" she stuttered, her voice barely a whisper. But Meliora wasn't having it. She pulled Lucie into a tight hug, squashing her cheeks against Lucie's.
"Don't call me that anymore. Call me 'Master,' okay?" Meliora pulled back to see Lucie's expression, a bright smile on her face. Lucie nodded slightly, her cheeks flushing pink as her eyes darted elsewhere.
She must be embarrassed. 'So cute,' Meliora thought. Then she remembered someone else was in the room. She turned to the other person. "And what are you still doing there?" she snarled.
"His Majesty has sent what you requested," the other woman said, bowing slightly, her head still hung low. Meliora brightened at the sound of that.
"Lucie, go ahead and bring the items in," she instructed, turning to Lucie, who was looking at her skeptically before turning her attention back to the woman. "And you, shoo away! I don't need you anymore!" she waved, dismissing her.
The woman hesitated, feeling an inexplicable urge to stay. If she returned to the Queen and was reinstated to serve Princess Abella, she would receive far more benefits.
But why exactly was she hesitating? After standing there for a few minutes, she made her decision. She turned around and left the room.
Lucie stepped out at the same time, and as she walked to the palace courtyard, the woman stopped her, a smug look on her face, thinking she could scare Lucie. But Lucie didn't even stop.
She didn't chase after Lucie, though. Her nose twitched in disgust. "Wait until the curse consumes you," she snarled.
Lucie reached the courtyard and was surprised by the heaps of gifts waiting there. A man clad in armor stood among them. Wasting no time, she guided them toward Meliora's room.
Once they were inside, Meliora rushed toward the gifts as if she wanted to kiss and hug each one of them. The men carrying the gifts dropped them and immediately noticed her excited state.
The only calm ones were the king's attendant and the knight assigned to serve Meliora.
Meliora shredded each box, removing every piece of jewelry and handing it over to Lucie, who caught everything without breaking a sweat.
Meliora then remembered she was supposed to dismiss the king's attendant, so she stopped.
She walked to the king's attendant, who met her gaze and greeted her with a nod. He had a dignified aura, which Meliora liked. "Thank you for coming all the way here to this undignified palace. Do tell the king, my father, that I love the gifts he sent."
She bowed slightly, and the king's attendant repeated the gesture before calling the others and leaving her quarters. Now, the only people left were the knight and Lucie.
Meliora approached the knight, who stood there like an object. He had long auburn hair with a star-shaped scar on his left cheek. His eyes held a cold light as he looked back at Meliora, but she wasn't shaken by it.
This shocked the knight. If any other lady saw him, they would slump to the floor and scream out of fear. Yet she just lazily gazed at him and turned back to resume whatever she was doing.
She didn't even ask his name. The knight shook his head and continued to stand there diligently while she sat on the bed and began unboxing everything the king had sent her.
Meliora never realized she would grow to like this knight so much later on, entrusting him with her life.
******
The next night, Meliora decided it was time to leave. The carriage was ready, so her departure wouldn't arouse suspicion. She let the knight drive the carriage.
The journey began. Once they were out of the castle grounds, Meliora breathed a sigh of relief, poking her head out of the window to look at the castle's huge gates.
"Goodbye, suckers! I hope we never meet again!" she shouted, punching both her middle fingers in the air while laughing violently. Her voice echoed in the air, making the wind rustle against the trees.
Though she was far from the gates, the guards who patrolled still heard her. They were just as confused as the knight who drove the carriage and Lucie, who sat quietly inside.
Once she ducked her head back in, she caught Lucie staring at her oddly, a questioning look on her face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Meliora blinked with curiosity, and Lucie shook her head.
"What is the meaning of 'sucker,' Master?" she asked. Meliora brightened up, loving the sound of being called 'Master.'
[Remember, I always call you 'Master.'] Crucifix said jealously. Meliora was glad no one else could see or hear him apart from her.
"That's different, Crucifix. Lucie here is cute and lovable. She's like a second you, but with emotions," Meliora rebuked Crucifix's words, and he could only shut up.
Lucie, on the other hand, didn't know what to make of the situation. She furrowed her brows, watching her master intently, unable to see who Meliora was talking to.
"Master... who are you talking to?" she asked, fiddling with her clothes. Meliora parted her lips to say something when the carriage rattled, and they shook in their seats.
They nearly head-butted each other when Meliora grabbed Lucie, pulling her close. Lucie gasped, struggling to pull away, but Meliora held her tightly, sensing danger.
The silk that covered the window fluttered, and once the carriage stopped shaking, Meliora knew something was wrong.
"Princess, we have incoming trouble," the knight announced, jumping down from the carriage and unsheathing the sword strapped to his left hip. "Stay inside and don't come out."
"Take care of this quickly," Meliora replied curtly, her chest rising and falling with fear. She had never experienced an assassination attempt before, and they were in the woods, far from the palace gates.
Five to six people appeared out of thin air, surrounding the carriage, their killing intent so thick that even Meliora sensed it. She covered Lucie, kneeling on the wooden floor of the carriage to avoid an arrow attack.
Meliora's eyes widened as she realized something. During the times she played this game, every time she died and restarted, there was never an assassination attempt when Meliora was going for the concubine selection.
What the hell was happening?
Before Meliora could comprehend the situation, someone swung the door open, a wicked glint glowing in their eyes as they grabbed her by the arm and pulled.
"Let go of me!" Meliora snapped, thrashing and struggling as she kicked her feet.
Lucie held onto Meliora's hips as another person grabbed Meliora's other hand, refusing to let go. Meliora gnashed her teeth in anger, knowing the situation wasn't in her favor. "Crucifix, fix this!" she shouted.
[Master, you don't have the mana to let me fix this! You'll have to hold on!]
"Hold on for what? For my death?!" she roared in response. As she bit down on the person's wrist on her left, they shouted and let go. Using the opportunity, she pinched the other person until he let go.
"Princess!" the knight shouted, landing a violent kick on the masked man he was dealing with. He wanted to go to Meliora, but then another masked man, along with several others, swarmed in.
Just when Meliora thought they wouldn't advance on her anymore, someone tore the door down and raised his sword in an attempt to slash down. Meliora closed her eyes, waiting for the strike.
'If I die here, does it mean it's over for me?' That was the only thought Meliora had as she gritted her teeth.
But suddenly, someone landed on the carriage roof. Unsheathing his sword, he grabbed the man who was about to kill Meliora by the head. With a clean cut, he sliced the man's head off, letting blood spray onto his body and face.
When the other assassins saw the head roll onto the floor, they quickly disappeared into the wind, consumed by fear.
The strange person clad in black knight attire jumped down from the carriage and turned to look at the quivering Meliora. He extended his hand toward her just as her knight arrived.
"Step away from the princess!" her knight growled, standing in a striking pose to intimidate the stranger. But the blue-eyed man didn't even budge, and something told Meliora's knight to stand still—or it would be his head next.
Meliora opened her eyes, realizing she was safe, and when she turned to the person whose hand was extended toward her, she froze.
Holy mother of God.