I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 72

(The Art of Midnight)

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A few Hours Ago...

Anne's way to the maids' quarter…

"Sigh~ What am I supposed to say to that Psycho?" 

Anne pondered while walking in the hallway.

"Hey, you!"

Suddenly Anne heard someone's voice from behind.

'Aghh! I know this voice. So annoying.'

Anne smiled and looked behind.

'As expected, it's Clara.'

Anne thought to herself.

"Why didn't you go to report the Princess?"

Clara asked while frowning.

"I was going to report to her today. I was just on my way."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"I didn't know THAT is the way towards the Second Princess's room."

'Aghh! Sh*t!'

Anne cursed inside.

"Well, I can't just go to the Princess this way. I stink now."

'Although it hurts my pride. But my life is more important than my pride.'

Anne thought to herself.

"Ah. Now that I think about it, you do."

Clara said while frowning and covering her nose with one finger.

'Da*n this Gorilla. You are the one who stinks.'

Anne thought angrily.

"Anyways, hurry up and clean yourself. My Lady is waiting for you."

"Yes."

Then Clara turned to the other side of the hallway and started walking. 

'B*tch!'

Anne cursed while pointing her middle finger at Clara. Of course, Clara didn't notice anything from behind. 

After that, Anne returned to the maid's quarter then shortly after went to Rubena's room.

"Greetings, Her Highness Princess, Rubena Estelle Von Loire."

Anne bowed and greeted Rubena.

"Hmm. Ane."

Rubena said while tilting her head. She was sitting on a chair and as always Clara was standing behind her and was glaring at Anne.

'It's Anne, b*tch.'

"Yes, Princess."

"Why didn't you come yesterday?"

"Actually, after the earthquake, the first Princess started acting crazy."

"What? Really??"

Rubena asked excitedly. She almost got up from her chair with excitement.

"Yes. Yesterday morning, she was crying and begging me not to leave her side. And she also threw a tantrum saying she didn't want to stay on the top floor because she was scared."

"Pfft! Hahahaha~"

Rubena started laughing hysterically.

Rubena: "Did you hear that Clara? That wh*re has gone crazy?! Pfft! Hahaha~"

Clara: "That's such good news. She deserves it."

Rubena: "Aha. Anyways, tell me more."

Anne: "Because of her tantrum, the butler was forced to give her a room on the fifth floor."

"That doesn't really matter. She is not on the same floor as me. She can never me."

Rubena said with a wicked smile.

"Certainly, Princess. She even cried to buy new jewellery. But instead of the Royal Jeweller, she bought them from a Commoner."

Rubena: "Pfft! A Commoner! Hahaha! That will suit her perfectly!"

Anne: "Today she threw a tantrum like a kid. She wanted to go outside. The poor butler had to let her go as she was crying too loudly."

"Aha?"

"Yes, Princess. I went with her too. She brought a lot of dresses from a Commoner shop."

"Pfft! Oh my goodness. A Commoner's shop?"

"Yes."

"Pfft! Those must be ugly, right?"

"Some of them are."

"Some of them?"

"Y-Yes."

"Hmm~"

Anne gulped her breath at Rubena's gaze.

'Ahh. Actually, all the dresses were good. But I can't say that. I mean, his can a crazy person select all the best dresses?!'

"Alright. You can go now."

Rubena said with a smile.

"Yes. Thank you, Princess."

Anne sighed in relief inside. 

"Oh, and you don't have to come from tomorrow. I will be busy from tomorrow. I have so many things to do for my birthday. So I won't have any time for that vixen."

"Yes, Princess."

Anne then bowed and left the room.

"Clara."

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Make sure to rip all of her new dresses."

"Alright."

"Anyways when will the… … … …"

And they continued their chatter.

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At present…

Sigh~

At least I found some clue. For now, I have to think about those. I don't have time to waste.

I have to find the answer to the riddles that old tree has given me.

Sigh~

Thinking about this and that, I finally returned to the palace. Right now, I am walking in the hallway of the fifth floor in a daze. 

It's still dark.

Ah. I forgot the lamp.

Sigh~

Nevermind.

"Hey! Who is there?"

Suddenly two knights came running in the direction I was walking. They must be patrolling the area.

"Hey! Who a-"

The Knights stopped after seeing my face. They couldn't see my face until now as it was dark. But because of the golden light of the lamp on their hands, they are able to see me.

"..."

Are they going to stand like this? Aghh. I am already in a bad mood.

"Move aside."

The Knights flinched hearing my voice.

Knight 1: "Ah. Apologi- I mean who are you?"

Knight 2: "Wh-What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

The two knights asked, stuttering.

Aghh~ I wish I could slap them too. But I am too tired to speak now.

"My room is here."

Knight 2: "Ah. Oh my! That means you must be the First Princess. G-Greetings!"

Knight 1: "Greetings, Princess. And please pardon us for our rudeness."

The Knights bowed and greeted me.

"Sigh~ It's alright. Raise your head."

Just get out of my way.

"Thank you, Princess."

"Thank you, Princess. But What are you doing in the hallway in the middle of the night?"

"I was taking a walk as I couldn't sleep. Now move aside."

"Y-Yes. Apologies."

The Knights flinched at Isabella's cold voice then apologized while stepping aside.

Bam*

I then hurriedly walked inside my room and closed my door.

Poof*

Then I threw myself on the bed. 

"Hah~"

[

"You have to learn the name of your power to be able to use it."

.

.

.

"It's something that is far beyond light, darkness, time or space."

.

.

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"If you want to know about yourself, find the silver shapeshifter with blue eyes."

.

.

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"At the time you overcome your fear, the fire spirit will reveal it for you."

]

I wonder how am I supposed to find all these answers…

Well, one way or the other… I have to find a way. I have to. 

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Skrr~

Anne removed the curtains from the window.

Ahh~

So bright~

I woke up because of the bright sunshine that touched my eyes. 

"Greetings, My Lady. I hope you had a great night."

No. I didn't.

Anyways after waking up, I washed my face then had breakfast. After that, I took a bath. 

Now she is brushing my hair.

"Anne."

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Did you go to Rubena's place, yesterday?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. So what happened?"

"Ah. That…"

"That?"

"I-I said that you were shocked by the sudden earthquake and started behaving strangely."

"So in other words, you said I went crazy?"

"What? Tha-That-"

Anne looked down in cold sweat.

"A crazy person… Hah!"

Well, I might as well be a crazy person in her eyes. It will be good if Rubena forgets about me until her birthday. 

I have to prepare a surprise for her after all.

'Wh-Why is she smiling like that? Aghh! She definitely wants to punish me!'

Anne thought in a cold sweat.

"Anyways, You can leave now."

"Huh?"

"What? Do you want to be punished?"

"What? N-No."

"Is that so?"

I asked with a smirk.

Isabella: "It looks like you want to though."

"No way, Princess."

Don't worry. I am preparing a grand one for you too.

"Sure~ Go now."

"Yes."

After that, Anne bowed and left the room.

Hmm~

I should go to the Royal library now. 

After that, I got up from my chair and started heading towards the Royal Library.

I should take some books to my room. It's bothersome to walk all the way there.

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After a while…

"Greetings, Princess."

The Knights guarding the door bowed and opened the door for me.

I didn't say anything and went inside.

Hmm~

The Magic section was there. 

I walked towards the magic section and started seeing some books.

I have to learn the name of my power to be able to use it…

Learn the name of my power?

That means it's something I don't know. Is it part of Dark magic? I don't know much about dark magic, after all.

Let's see if there are any books related to dark magic.

I looked for a while but didn't find anything related to Dark Magic. Let's just take some books that are related to magic.

I started taking some books based on their names. And suddenly a name caught my eye.

< The Art Of Midnight >

The name seems interesting. And this book was also on the corner. I don't think any person goes to the corner. 

Hmm… Someone definitely didn't want other people to see this. 

I opened the book. 

Let's see. 

Huh? My eyes widened seeing the contents…

What? What are these?!

My face feels hot.

"Isabella?"

Suddenly William asked, popping out of nowhere.

Thud*

The books that were on my hand fell.

Kyaaa~ 

Did he see that? 

I hurriedly started taking all the books from the ground. 

"Are you okay? Let me help you."

William said while getting down.

Nooo~ If he sees the book, I will die out of embarrassment.

"No. I-I am fine."

Saying that I hurriedly took all the books in my hand.

"I-I will be going."

I slightly bowed and ran outside the library.

Aghh~ What kind of book is that?!

Those drawings… 

Man and woman lying on the bed… Naked?! And their bodies...

Aghh! 

It wasn't just that. 

Oh my gosh! Stop thinking about all that, Isabella.

Aghh~ 

But how can I forget about that? 

Ju-Just think about something else.

Yes. That's right.

Beautiful flowers… Birds… Flower… Bird… flowe...

< 

"Princess…"

A sweaty Leonus bit Isabella's ears and whispered with a rough voice. He was lying above her. Breathing roughly. He was gazing deeply at Isabella's eyes with his blood-red eyes.

>

Kyaa~

Why did I suddenly think of that?! 

Oh my goodness! I am ruined! 

I ran inside my room from the library holding different books in my hand.

Burst*

"M-My Lady? Are you alright?"

"Yes."

I replied instantly.

Why is she here?!

"But your face is red."

Aghh! Now my face will be even redder.

"G-Get out of my room now, Anne."

"Huh? But-"

"Hurry up."

"Al-Alright."

Anne bowed then left the room.

I then hurriedly put down all the books on my table. 

Huff* Huff*

Aghh~ 

What did I just see~!