I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 62

(Destructive Power)

*

*

*

Huff* Huff*

"D*mn it! D*mn it! D*mn it~"

Anne cursed while running in the hallway.

'Why? Why did that stupid Isabella change?!'

"Ouch* My cheek hurts."

'D*mn you, Isabella. I will teach you a lesson. You wanted hot water? I will give you the HOT water you wanted.'

Anne thought with a smirk.

'I can't wait to see you screaming and begging to me.'

"Anne! My face. It burns! Please! Help me! I was wrong! Pfft! Hahahah~"

Anne said while acting pitiful then burst into tears.

Although the outcome was the opposite of what she thought.

"I don't need a maid who doesn't even know can't even do such a simple job. You are fired. And I will make sure you don't get another job."

'What? Fired?! No! No! No!'

Anne thought with a devastating look then begged Isabella,

"I- I am sorry, My Lady. Please forgive me. I won't do it again."

"Why should I? I don't need a worthless maid."

"Please! Please! I will starve to death! You can't do that to me, My Lad-"

"I can. And I don't care if you die."

Anne flinched at Isabella's cold voice.

'D*mn it! How can she change so suddenly?!'

"Pl-Please! I will work nicely from now on!"

"I will just hire another maid who will work better than you."

"..."

Anne didn't say anything. Because she knew Isabella was right. Even though Isabella was neglected as a Princess, her Extravagant dresses and her Jewellery were enough to buy an entire estate. It would be easy for her to have a maid from the town. 

And if she is fired, Rubena won't give a d*mn about her. She will just make the new maid work for her. More than that, she can't steal any more jewellery from Isabella. 

"Give me another chance. Just one. I will prove my worth to you."

Anne said with eyes filled with resolve.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"And how is that?"

"I will inform you of everything the Second Princess does."

'I can have more money from her jewellery than the Psycho Princess. And that Psycho won't even notice that I am lying to her. I mean, who will believe that someone like Isabella can change?!'

"Oh my? How? How can a maid like you?"

"I am… Actually, the second Princess tortured me to work for her! She asked me to inform everything you do to her. It was also her who ordered me to give you cold water every day."

"And you agreed so easily?"

"N-No! At first, I refused. How can I betray, My Lady?!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes. But then she started beating me up. Then even threatened to harm my family. So I had to agree with her. Please forgive me, My Lady."

'Although she has changed, I don't think she is smart enough to catch my lie.'

"Hmm… Poor you. I am sorry that I wronged you. Get up, Anne."

'Phew! She finally agreed. Yes. That's right! She is a fool after all.'

Anne sighed with relief then said with a cheerful voice,

"M-My Lady!"

"So I hope you will behave knowing your place from now on. Okay?"

Isabella said with a bloody tone. But soon changed her voice and said with a smile,

"I mean, you have to act like you still work for Rubena. You know if you don't she will beat you again, right? I don't want Anne to be hurt because of me."

"Y-Yes. My Lady."

"Now Go. And BRING ME THE PERFECT WATER TO WASH MY FACE."

"Yes."

After that, Anne bowed and left the room.

She was smart enough to know how she should behave in front of Isabella. 

'I shouldn't mess with her anymore. I have a feeling… That next time it won't just end with firing me.'

Anne gulped and continued walking.

*

*

*

I can't believe she did that even after being slapped. 

"I guess habit doesn't change easily."

Anyways, I didn't have any intention to fire her though. She will be a good spy for me until I go to Fellmirr.

Fellmirr… I really want to see you… Leonus.

I wonder what day is today? 

Suddenly-

Knock* Knock*

"My Lady, May I come in?"

"You can."

Soon Anne entered the room with a bowl of water. Then I washed my face. The temperature of the water was also perfect.

"What day is today?"

"Pardon?"

"I asked what day is today?"

"Early Autumn of XX20 Imperial Year."

It seems like I have returned a year before all that happened.

"Any upcoming events?"

"Yes. Just a week left until the Second Princess's Birthday Banquet." 

Anne said while bowing her head.

"I see. Anyways, go bring breakfast. I am hungry."

"Yes, My Lady."

"And don't even think about doing something funny again."

"Y-Yes, My Lady."

After that, Anne left and brought a healthy breakfast. I also ate my fill. 

Then I took a bath and changed my dress into a good one with Anne's help.

Now I am sitting on a stool in front of the mirror. Anne is brushing my hair gently.

"Wait a minute… Where is the pendant that Grandfather gave me?"

No way. It's not tied to my neck nor is it on my hand or fingers.

"I-I don't know, My Lady!"

Anne said with a helpless voice.

"You don't know?"

"No. I promise I don't, My Lady!"

"Or did you steal it?"

Anne flinched.

"N-No way! How can I steal something from My Lady?!"

"Hah! I know better than anyone else about how many things you have stolen from me."

"M-My L-"

"I didn't care about other stuff but you dare to steal the Gift my grandfather gave me?"

"N-No!"

"How dare you lie again?!"

"I-I swear, My Lady! Even though I did steal before but not anymore. I swear on my life that I didn't steal your pendant!"

Anne sobbed while kneeling.

It doesn't look like she is lying… But then where did it go?!

"Get out now. I don't want to see your face."

"T-Thank you, My Lady. Thank you."

Saying that Anne bowed and rushed to leave the room.

"And don't you dare go to Rubena now."

"Of-Of course. I go to her only in the evening."

Anne assured.

"Now, get out."

"Y-Yes."

Saying that Anne again bowed and left the room.

Sigh~ 

The pendant… 

Now that I remember, that time too…

It was just for a moment, but I remember that night.

I started glowing brightly and the pendant… It turned red… What was that? And why did I glow…

I looked at the mirror…

N-No way…

M-My eyes! What is this?!

It's white! No… not white. It's bright yellow… so much that it looks like white…

Am I dreaming? I touched my eyes…

It seems real… But why did it suddenly turn white…

Is it magic? Can I use light magic?!

I looked at my hand. It's still bruised. 

It's not… Light magic has healing power but my hand isn't healed. Now that, I think about it, even at the time of using magic, Daniel's eyes stayed golden.

Daniel… He was there at that time. I wonder why he looked so desperate.

Hah! 

Whatever he looked desperate or anything else, that has nothing to-

Suddenly-

[

"I am sorry! Please forgive this useless sinner! Sorry! Sob* Sorry!"

Who is that? An elder? I can't see clearly. Why is he crying? And why does his voice...

]

"Ughh! My head!"

It hurts! It hurts so much! 

Stagger*

I can't stand properly. 

Huff* Huff*

[

"Isabella! Run! Runaway!" A little boy with red hair screamed desperately.

]

"Ughh~"

What is happening?! My head!

[

"Yes. It's said that the Crown Prince loved his previous fiance."

A maid said while snickering.

Previous fiance? Crown Prince?

"You came between them just like you did to Grand Duke Roberto and Princess Rubena."

"They say you are a wh*re who slept with different men every night."

No! No! Shut up! I don't want to listen!

"What are you doing? You have to listen."

The maid said while grabbing my hand.

]

No! Stop it! Stop it! My head! It's going to explode

[

"Thou unsightly muggle! How dare thee! Thou dare say I am Cursed? I am a Sinner? Then what does that make thee? I harassed thee? Then is thy blood upon my hand? Outrageous!"

That… Those eyes… Is that me?

]

"Aghh! Stop all this~!"

I screamed then fell to the ground. 

And Whoosh~

Strong wind blew around me. Suddenly the floor started shaking.

Thud*

The bookshelf fell on the ground with a loud noise.

Crash~

The mirror in front of me and the window glasses broke into pieces.

Everything became messed up just in a moment.

"M-My Lady! Are you al-"

Anne barged in my room and asked with a worried face.

Gasp*

"What is this? Why are you sitting on the floor like that? There was an earthquake, so I came to che-"

"Get out!"

"Yes?"

"Get the heck out of my sight!"

I screamed.

Anne flinched hearing Isabella's bloody voice.

"Y-Yes."

She then hurriedly bowed and left the room.

Huff* Huff*

My hands are trembling… 

The pieces of the broken mirror that fell in front of me reflected my face...

My eyes… It's purple again…

Huff* Huff*

My headache is a lot better now too…

I looked around my room. Everything looks messed up…

I did this…? This destruction...

I looked at my hand with trembling eyes.

Also those visions I just saw… My headache… 

What is wrong with me?