~ Kathryn's P.O.V ~
Inside the dark library, the peaceful hour where I could do my late-night reading. My mother and sister would already be in bed at this hour, giving me the opportunity to relax within my own home.
"Kathryn?" A tap on my shoulder startled me. My heart had skipped a beat before I realized in relief. It was simply my father. He was wrapped in his sleeping robe which I could easily guess he was on his way to hit the hay.
"Father" I nodded though my gaze quickly falls back to the book I was currently reading. I could hear him sigh as he takes a seat beside me. Burying my face into the pages, I tried to hide my irritation. I truly hope to spend the night unbothered—
"Kath, I know I'm disturbing your...time but it's getting really late. You should retire back to your bedroom" he tried to advise me but easily noticed wasn't paying attention. He could only sigh, "It had been a long day. You must be tired"
Feeling quite sympathetic for him and how he's trying to show he cared, I swallowed bits of my pride and glanced at him. "Just an hour more and I'll go to sleep..."
"Ten minutes"
"Two hours" I didn't back down.
"Twenty minutes" he sighed but alas, it was still much too little for me.
"Two hours and a half" a small smirk crept upon my face as I watched him grow more frustrated.
"Fine. My last offer, an hour and that's it" he finally crumbled and I even let a small cheer. "Pleasure making business with you, Father" I happily grinned without even realizing it.
Though I did notice the small smile he gave. Soon after, he stood up from his seat, probably going back to sleep.
"...Goodnight Father" I forced out since I rarely bid him a pleasant night. Feeling quite embarrassed, I buried my face deep into my book.
Soft gentle hands brush upon my green locks as he did also the unexpected and pat my head. "You too, Kath..." And with that, I was once again alone within the dark library. Only the gentle light from the reading lamp to keep me company.
Though I was alone like I wanted, I had completely lost interest in the current book I was reading. It had just lost its appeal. I only sighed and return it back to its shelf.
Now that I am without a book, I dive deeper into the library in search of another book. The small lit candle helps me guide through the darkness as I get deeper and deeper into the library.
The wooden board creak with each step I took, light shiver run through my body but I wasn't backing down. I already made it this far, it would be a waste to not find a nice book to read.
Cling~ Ch-Chling~
Suddenly a soft bell-like sound echoed and bounce from the shelves. And being the rational girl I am......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I simply turn around and went back. 'There's no way I'm sticking around with some creepy sound!'
My grip on my candle tightens as I quietly rushed back. Although, it seems like the anonymous sound won't be leaving me anytime soon.
Cling~ Ch-Chling~
I could hear it close behind like it's actually following me! And the last I checked, there was no spirits nor poltergeist haunting the Ivan Mansion. My steps soon turned to strides and before I knew it, I was running back in full speed.
Luckily, I managed to return to my reading spot. The one close to the entrance of the library. I slumped upon my seat and took a deep breath. My heart was still beating.
'I should just gone back to bed...' I groaned, burying my face into my palms.
Cling~ Ch-Chling~
My heart froze upon hearing the haunting sound. Peeking nervously from the creaks on my fingers, I tried to see what this thing that was causing the constant ringing.
And there was nothing....just me, myself and I, alone in this library. Trying to not test my luck, I quickly gather my things. And that's when I realized a book.
I scrunch my brows, "this wasn't here before..." I picked up the unfamiliar book. The cover was made from old black died leather with thin rope binding it all together. Though it was lacking a title, I though had spotted some small writing embedded upon the leather cover.
"Qui audet quaerere verum erit consumpta suis tenebris"
I immediately regret reciting those words as the book burn upon my touch. "Shit!" With pain, I dropped the book onto the wooden desk as it had a mind of its own.
It on its own flicked open with pages following in suit. My eyes widen in disbelief, stumbling back in surprised. Who knew I would encounter a magic book of some sort? Usually, my father would keep them hidden and locked away in the back. These magic books can be highly unpredictable and dangerous if one isn't skilled enough to handle them.
My worry grew as the book stopped flickering to a certain page. I bit my lips as I felt my curiosity getting the best of me. And it won, I slowly loomed over the page it had laid open. My eyes grew larger as I read each word.
"Fuck, this isn't good...." was all I could say.
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~ Next Evening ~
"And then we talked about the Fern Flower!" Avelyn smiled with a happy sigh. The very next day, the brunette immediately rushed to the Claremore mansion. She couldn't wait to tell her dear blonde friend all about her new fiancee!
"That's great, Ave" Cynthia grinned at the happy girl. Though she did knew the two would get engaged. The two would make an adorable couple...if Edgar hasn't fallen for the Heroine.
Her smile slipped at the thought. While Avelyn was a Love Rival, she was still very dear to the prince. It was a shame such a beautiful thing couldn't last.
"Cynthia-sama?" The brunette blinked at the gloomy face her friend had. "Is something wrong?"
"Ah, it's nothing!" Cynthia forced a smile but being the terrible liar she is, Avelyn saw right through it.
"Cynthia-sama...."
"You were saying about what they're called...um Fern Flower, right?" The blonde heiress tries to avert the topic. "What makes them so special?"
Lucky for her, Avelyn's great interest easily distracted her. "Cynthia-sama! It's really interesting. These flowers actually granted great luck and fortune to those who owned them!"
"Luck? Really?" Okay, that really caught her attention.
"Yes! Anyone who finds it and picks it will be granted extraordinary good luck" Avelyn leaned closer. "There are also stories about the fern flower tell of people who acquired fame, wealth, and the ability to understand animal speech"
"That's incredible," Cynthia said as she takes a bite of a cookie.
"Shame they're had to find..." The brunette sighed.
"Yeah" Cynthia nodded.
"...and also very curse" Avelyn added nonchalantly.
"Eh?! Curse?! But you just said it grants great luck! What do you mean?" Cynthia choked on her cookie. She sure didn't expect that and now she's even more confused. Which was it? Is it a good or bad thing?
Avelyn cheekily grinned, "while the flowers may be lucky but they are guarded by an evil spirit. So, anyone whoever received fortune and fame due to the luck of the flower, there'll be a payment of some sort"
"So it's a double-edged sword" Cynthia whistled.
Avelyn was the one confused, "what's a double-edged sword? Is it a double blade sword?" She titled her head.
Cynthia smiled at her cuteness and she patted the girl's head. "No. It's just a saying. It means that it is something that could either help you or hurt you"
"Oh, I see" the brunette nodded her head. The reincarnator had almost forgotten how young these noble children really are. At a young age, they're already taught to act proper and mature. None really had experienced a good childhood freed from regulations and conduct. How different her previous life compare to her current one.
"Lady Cynthia, Lady Avelyn" Erina entered the room. In her hand, she carried a tray of freshly baked slices apple pie. Cynthia was actually drooling upon the heavenly smell. "The cook, Cookie just finished backing these"
"Hell yeah!" Cynthia cheered ignoring the warning look from Erina. She straight away took a big bite of her pie. "So good~" she moaned in delight.
Avelyn giggled at her while Erina looked actually embarrassed. Suddenly, the brunette recalled something. "Um Cynthia-sama, Erina, are you two free this upcoming month?" She fiddled with her fingers.
Cynthia blinked at the sudden question but simply shook her head.
"No. We're both are free from any events and Lady Cynthia's free from her classes," Erina thought back to Cynthia's schedule.
"Then would you like to accompany me to the kingdom of Anatasial?"
"Eh?"
"M-My fiancee" the brunette blushed upon saying it. "...he had invited me to visit"
"Huh? Really? You two just met yesterday!" Cynthia exclaimed a bit too loudly.
"A-Ah...he actually sent me a letter" Avelyn happily smiled as she thought back to the surprise letter she received the very next day. Of course, she instantly wrote back a reply.
Cynthia narrowed her eyes at the smile upon Avery's face. Anyone could see how hard the girl had fallen and in such a bloody short time! Okay, that is it. She never did bloody care about the fucking plot even once. So like hell, she going to idly stand by and do nothing while Avelyn gets her heart broken! She doesn't care who they are, no one's hurting this precious bean.
Erina only sighed as she noticed the silent angry look on Cynthia's face. The blonde maid gently tapped on her head, gaining her attention and simply shook her head. This girl can charge full steam ahead only realising the danger afterwards.
Know the saying 'look before you leap', well Cynthia's more like 'charge half-blind then noticed the pit'
Cynthia bit her lips hard, even making it bleed a little. The girl knew her friend was right though knowing the truth didn't ease her anger. She grumpily eats her pie, munching on it aggressively.
"I think a nice trip to Anatasial would be wonderful~" Erina smiled, clasping her hands together. And that was exactly what the brunette wanted to hear.
"Oh thank you! It is awfully frightening to visit a foreign land alone" Avelyn hummed. "-now I must inform the other! It could be a fun outing for us!"
"Yeah...like a school trip" Cynthia rolled her eyes, still munching on her pie.
"Pardon?" Avelyn blinked.
"Ah, Lady Cynthia seems to be quite tired! Eating snacks tend to make anyone sleepy" Erina covered for her which Avelyn easily accepted the excuse.
"Oh of course! My apologies, I did come here unannounced" Avelyn bowed down in shame. She couldn't control her excitement and couldn't wait.
"It's fine, Lady Avelyn. Your visit is always welcome here" Erina smiled on the grumpy heiress's behalf. She was currently muttering death threats under her breath but luckily Avelyn was too excited to notice.
"Then I must be off. Cynthia-sama needs all the rest she could get!" Avelyn frowns a little before quickly using her Lacrima to inform her coachman.
"Lady Evelyn, please take this to go. You could still enjoy during your carriage ride home" the blonde maid had already packed the slice of apple pie in a neat carton.
"Ah! Thank you, Erina" she smiled in gratitude, not before curtsy farewell.
Erina smiled as the brunette happily skipped out of the room. The girl looked so happy ever since she was engaged. She sighed romantically, it was so adorable.
Though, Erina couldn't help but also worry. From what they knew, Avelyn's engagement would also be fated for ruins. Yeah, she understands why Cynthia's upset but being fussing about it won't do you any good.
"Hmm..." Cynthia finally finished her pie. She propped her chin into her palms with a heavy sigh.
"You okay now, Thia?"
"Hmm..."
Erina only sighed at the girl's response. "You can't get so worked up. Despite how much you wanna murder...um what's his name?"
"Edgar..motherfucking...Drexel"
Erina narrowed her eyes but dismissed it when the girl wasn't even responding properly and probably in her mood. "Well, Prince Edgar is yet still a prince of the neighbouring kingdom. I doubt you wanna worry about getting diplomatic offence and possibly straining the relationship between Edolis and Anatasial, right?"
"Wait what?" Cynthia finally paid attention.
Erina merely took a deep breath and looked at the girl like she was a clueless child....which she was technically. "Did you forget? Heiress of the Claremore Household and Fiancee of the Crown Prince? Hmm? Our future Queen?" She leaned closer with each word with a thin smile.
"A-Ah right" Cynthia paled. She forgot about that. The Original Cynthia wasn't even close with Avelyn and never really met Edgar officially so she wasn't too sure how this would turn out. But then again, I already met all the other target characters excluding Raider and luckily not one is tempted to destroy her. So that's a good sign. Though she's not too trusting Anthony of course. That conniving brat.
" —Cynthia!" Erina snapped her fingers.
"Eh?"
"You didn't even listen to what I'm saying" she crossed her arms and looked at her scoldingly. Cynthia smiled sheepishly. "—seriously. Pay attention. You may be experient in this world but you must understand how much of a diplomatic impact you actually have"
"Right. Okay I understand" Cynthia nodded but Erina wasn't convinced. She narrowed her lime green eyes, "do you really? Cause we wouldn't want you to do anything reckless upon this trip"
Completely sensing the threat in the usually gentle girl's tone, the blonde heiress nodded ferociously.
"Good!" A bright cheerful smile returns back to Erina's face like where it belongs. "Plus, we can take advantage of this trip!"
"Advantage? I doubt meeting that stuck-up prince would do us any good" Cynthia rolled her eyes.
"No silly~ we'll have the chance to see if Keon resigns within that kingdom!"
Cynthia's eyes widen in realization. "Right! This could be our best bet!"
"But to do so, you must not...say it with me..."
"Must not harm or do anything stupidly reckless during our trip" Cynthia pouted.
"Correct and that meaning no swords"
"Eh?! But how would I protect myself?!"
"You're seven years old. Don't expect of such from plus we'll be with guards"
"B-But— "
"Also no going off on your own"
"But why?! Don't we need to find Keon?!" The blonde heiress slammed her hand upon the table.
"Yes but this is a foreign place we're going. It wouldn't be wise to split up or run around blind with a plan"
"Fiiiine!" She groaned. "You're no fun, Erina"
Erina merely smiles taking no offence to her comment, "not fun. Just practical, sweetie~" the maid cleaned up, taking the dirty plates and cups. Cynthia snorted at her words as she sipped on her tea. Like anything ever went like a plan...
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Sarah raised a brow at her Young Mistress. The blonde heiress seems to be burning a piece of paper with her own stare. Her unnerving stare not once left her desk.
"Milady?" The older girl peeked from the girl's shoulders. "Is something of the matter? You've been staring at your paper for the last 10 minutes"
Cynthia finally snapped out her daze and sheepishly grinned at the concern maid. "Sorry...I was trying to think of what to write but I got nothing" she slumped upon the wooden like a defeated slug. "It's hard to write a letter..."
Sarah perked up at the mention of the letter. "Oh? Who are you sending it to? Lady Avelyn?" The maid shook her head. "No, of course not. She just left a while ago. Maybe, Lady Kathryn or Lady Yumi? Oh better yet your fiancee, the Prince?!" She was getting really excited, leaning even closer. Yeah, boundary spaces.
Cynthia sweated at the overly excited maid, "um no...you were right with your second and third guess. I'm writing letters to Kath and Yumi"
"Oh..."
"Why the hell do you sounded so disappointed?!" The blonde twitched as the maid mood quickly switched.
Sarah only signed, holding a palm to her cheek. "Such a shame. Prince Anthony must've missed his dear fiancee but is much too busy with his royal schedule" the maid frowned at her Mistress. "—and now, his own fiancee doesn't seem to even think of him. So sad..."
'Oi oi oi, what black magic did that gremlin feed you all?' The blonde heiress couldn't help but twitches. The Crown Prince couldn't be that charismatic or is it because she already knew the truth?
"But Milady should send a letter-" Sarah was interrupted by the knocking of the door. A shy looking maid meekly peeks her head inside—Opal.
"My apologies you, Young Mistress but you have a call..."
"A call?" Cynthia blinked, tilting her head aside. "From whom?"
"Lady Kathryn and she said it's urgent" the maid approached the two with a lacrima sphere in her hands.
"Hmm, what luck. I was about to send her a letter" Cynthia hummed before frowning at the crystal magical item. "I never get how to use this thing..." She carries quite the dislike towards them after accidentally shattering one when she tried them.
"Well, lacrimas are much more convenience then sending a letter" Sarah chirped in, hoping to change her young mistress's mind on the useful equipment.
"Fine" the blonde girl gave in and placed the lacrima sphere upon her desk, supported by its metal stand. "Could you two please leave me in privacy?" She smiled at the two maids, which they respond with quick nods of the head before leaving.
"Oh yeah! Please call Erina for me? I bet Kathy would want to speak with her too!" She called out.
"Of course, Young Mistress!" Sarah smiled as Opal followed her quietly from behind.
Cynthia's smile completely vanished as she turned to the lacrima. She narrowed her eyes at the innocent-looking sphere.
"Okay...how do I start these things again?" She furrowed her brows in distress, carefully poking it to see what happens.
"Cynthia?"
"Shit!" Cynthia jumped at the sudden call, completely taken off guard. She snapped her head towards the sudden arrival. There Erina looking at her curiously, "so you called for me?"
"Seriously, Erina! Give me a warning next time!" Cynthia warned then she turned back to the lacrima. "Kathryn wanted to contact me...using this thing"
"You still couldn't get a hand of it?"
"No...help me please" the blonde heiress looked pleasingly toward her friend. Erina signed and demonstrate how to use it. "First, touch the centre of it and swap downward but not too hard. We wouldn't want to break it again"
"Ok, Doki!" Cynthia watched her carefully as the blonde maid spoke at the sphere, "Kathryn Ivan" and like magic, their green-haired friend shows up within the said sphere.
"About time, you guys responded back" the girl wasn't impressed.
"Cynthia was having trouble dealing with the lacrima" Erina explained.
"Of course she would"
Cynthia twitches at their friend's words, "oi, what's that suppose to mean?! Huh?!"
"You were never good with technical issues plus you have a black touch with technology" Kathryn rolled her eyes. The blonde girl simply pouted but she can't deny it cause it was true. But she didn't mean to ruin or break computers or phones....she just has bad luck with them.
"Anyway, are you guys free today?" The green-haired girl asked them, getting straight to the point.
"Eh? Really? Is that what you wanted to ask?! Opal said it was urgent" Cynthia's veins popped out.
"It is. I already call Yumi. You two should come to my place...quick"
"Huh?! This is too short notice!" Cynthia clicked her tongue which earned a warning look from Erina.
"It's alright. We're free for the rest of the day. We'll be there in at least half of an hour," the blonde maid informed her.
"Good caused I'm not even letting you choose otherwise" Kathryn nodded in satisfaction.
"Then why the hell did you ask?!" Cynthia twitches even more, shouted.
"Trying to be polite" she just shrugged.
"Like shit, you're being polite!"
"Cynthia Claremore! Mind your language!" Erina scolded.
"Blame this bitc— " the blonde maid instantly slammed Cynthia's mouth shut. A loud smack-like sound quite is heard through the room. Damn that gotta hurt.
"We'll be there. Don't worry" Erina smiled kindly at Kathryn before bidding farewell. Her face vanished from the sphere with a final nod.
"We should be getting ready" Erina removed her hand.
"Okay, first of all, ow! That bloody hurt!" The blonde heiress rubbed her sore mouth.
"Then you should've mind your language better" Erina crossed her arms with a disappointing look. Cynthia lowered her head in shame. "Plus, Kathryn would call us in such a short notice without a good reason"
"Finnneeee!" Cynthia dragged her body to get ready. What could possibly be so urgent?
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Author Note:
Hell yeah!!!!!! Cliffhanger baby!!! What does Kathryn want? And when should we prepare the funeral for Ethan? Which is better Oak? Or Redwood? For his coffin btw~
Also, I bloody wrote this just after an exam despite having another one tomorrow! Yeah, I know you all are judging at me right but writing helps me lose stress!....despite having to constantly update is also stressing but I enjoy it so hell to that! ╮(─▽─)╭
°°°Lacrima...
A magic induced crystal technology that is used for communication and recording. Inspired by the anime, Fairy Tail.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter cause the next one would probably take a longer time to finish cause...(҂⌣̀_⌣́) I gotta move campus and also have to finish more assignments that due next week. Yeah, can't give us a break? This is supposed to be our Mid Sem Break!!!!
But that's University life for ya....especially during a hectic time. Always expect changes! Hope the best for me, my dearies!
P.S: Don't ya forget to vote and comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, stay bloody safe, would ya? Things will get better *I'm lying to myself* (┳Д┳)
Ciao~