It took some days for Miranda to realize that she can't go back to her real world, at least not by dying. Moreover, she has to understand why she was here. What purpose does she hold inside her novel? As clear as she can remember, the character Miranda was never present in her novel, Forgotten Melody. So it meant she had a quest.
Her novel, Forgotten Melody, took about three years to complete; could it mean she will be living in this world for three complete years until the story ends?. Three years isn't a child's play; if she has to survive for three years on this world, she has to plan for a future.
As a maid, she has no value; what can she do as a maid in Prince Kael's mansion? At least Prince Kael's mansion was better than Erian; how could she have survived in Terre Verde?
As a lower-grade maid, Miranda's assigned chores were washing pile clothes, cleaning rooms and chambers, and helping seniors with their world. Too much work than she anticipated for the last five days since she was broght into Maison Mirage mansion and was constantly watched by Abel.
Miranda knew Abel was sent by Kael to watch her anytime he gets a chance; couldn't she comprehend Prince Kael's action? What was it that he was anxious about her that he was using Abel to watch her carefully? As far as she knows herself, she wasn't posing any threat to anyone; knowing few things about the future didn't pose a threat to her.
Around dusk, Miranda was done with her work and strolled in the garden of Maison Mirage Manor. Just as she had written in her novel and her imaginations staring right at her, the beautiful kaleidoscope of colors and scent. The majestic willow tree that stands sentinel at the garden edge, and it's dropping branches dropping into the lake's water like delicate brushstrokes.
She smiled, to herself feeling refreshing as she stood at the edge of the lake, feeling its cold breeze. She had never seen a garden as beautiful as this; she wished Bianca had seen this as architecture; she would be startled.
Her eyes darted her surroundings. A young man stood at a picturesque wooden bridge arcing over a tranquil stream, hands behind his back standing with elegance. She couldn't tell who it was, but she knew he was noble. There was no one noble enough inside Maison Mirage if not Kael, so a man might be Kael.
After the last encounter with him five days ago, she felt so shamed that she didn't want to face him again. Enough of sight-viewing; it was time to go back to her room. As she turned to leave, a voice echoed in an empty garden, the voice was strong and so clear that she couldn't make up an excuse she didn't hear it despite the distance between where she was and the bridge.
She turned to face the bridge, her head down in shame, as she walked up the bridge and reached the top. The young man wasn't Kael, but Prince Thane ,Kael's younger brother.
Miranda bowed her head in respect before saying. "Your highness, why would you call me here?" She asked, and when eyes raised up to see Thane's expression, he was smirking.
"I'm impressed; not many know who I am, but you guessed the minutes you saw me," he said.
Miranda almost laughed when she heard that from Prince Thane. How could anyone not know Thane? The last Prince of Valtoria, the cheerful and reckless prince who doesn't value his royalty like his brother does. By saying Miranda immediately recognized her, could that be that she had seen him on the day of the birthday when he entered the hall with his brother Erian?
"Your highness, how could anyone not recognize you? You have delicate features of the prince; I am honored to meet you," she voiced.
After mentioning the honor she has to have met him, she knew immediately he would fall for it, as he likes to be praised. By doing that, Miranda automatically changed Thanes's point of view about her. She might have felt intimidated before, but now her heart was at ease as Thane looked at her in a different way than he had before.
"What you said is quite true," said Thane, clearing his throat as if he were about to mutter something important.
Miranda smiled to that action.
"I see you are maid, yet with a keen eye to see beyond," he muttered. "What prise do you want, for you just lighted up my mood of the day?"
Lighting up his mood by just saying a few words?
"I don't think that is necessary, your highness," she replied.
"What is not necessary? I just wanted to gift you for lighting up my mood. Is that wrong?" He questioned; his tone had changed; he sounded adamantly.
Miranda didn't afford to have a bad history with any other Prince Valtorian; her mission wasn't to have disputes with every other prince in this kingdom. But Thane was spoiled, Prince; he did whatever he wanted; he was a good person, and his actions are always indicative of his good intentions.
But if she were to accept anything from him now, it could bring more problems for her in the future. What if Prince Kael heard about her receiving a prize from Prince Thane? As it is, she was hanging on a rope. There's no reason stopping Kael from killing her.
"That's not what I meant, your highness; I haven't done anything special to actually deserve this kindness. I only said what anyone could have said if they were to see you," she uttered.
Thane sighed, clearly understanding her and those who spoke. "You speak really eloquently; I am surprised for you, maid," he stated.
Was that an insult or a compliment? Miranda, though, the smile did leave her face as she stood in front of him. Since she was called, he hadn't said anything important about it or what he had to do.
But when she opened her mouth to ask, a voice came behind her that made her nerves shiver from fear. She turned a man with black attire stoop before him, and behind was his bodyguard.
"Brother" Thane echoed with excitement.