Not a day after the attack did I follow through with my promise. To find answers, I began asking around my inner circle first.
“Where to find more information about Tarik monsters?” Anne repeated out loud, removing the brush from my hair and bringing up her hand to her chin, tapping it for a moment.
“I suppose the young lord might be very knowledgeable. He has fought in Tarik for years. He has probably encountered more monsters than anyone else, my lady,” she replied, bringing the brush to my hair once again.
That was an obvious answer which I completely forgot about. Nicholas was a decorated war hero, who was known for making incredible efforts in the war with Tarik. It’s honestly quite weird I didn’t think of asking him sooner.
“Where is Nicholas now?” I asked Anne, glancing at her expression through the mirror of my vanity.
“Most likely in his study,” she replied simply.
Right. Yet another obvious answer. I stood up, the brush in my hair dropping to the ground with a thud.
“I will go there now,” I explained, as Anne reached out to me.
“But my lady, I’m not done with-”
I ignored her, stepping out of the room and into the hallway. Nichola’s study, where could it be? I’ve barely wandered around the Montfort manor even after being here for a while. I walked down the hall, peering into each of the doors of the second floor. I heard some talking coming from one of the rooms, and I twisted the knob to find Maddy and some other maids collecting the laundry. Upon realizing my presence, the maids quieted down, all eyes on me.
“My lady, what can I help you with?” Maddy asked, turning away from the other maids as she folded a pair of pants.
“I was wondering where Nicholas’s study might be,” I asked. The maids interchanged bewildered looks, and Maddy cocked her head.
“I thought you were already aware of where it is,” Maddy replied dubiously.
“I- uh. I am,” I paused, face turning slightly red in embarrassment. “I just wanted to uh,” I cleared my throat. “I wanted to be escorted there,” I paused. “Please,” I added.
“Sure, my lady,” she replied, raising an eyebrow. She turned to her other maid friends, handing them the clothes she had folded. “Please excuse me,” she said to them, before walking over to my side.
She lead me down the hall in a bit of awkward silence, leading me downstairs and into the lower west wing of the manor. We passed by the duke’s office, the memories of the night I spent there still fresh in my mind as we walked past. We stopped in front of a door, Maddy bowing down to me.
“I must go back now, my lady. Don’t hesitate to call for me if you need me,” she said, walking back the way she came.
I sighed, staring at the doorknob for a minute, slowly reaching towards it. My hands wrapped around the brass, twisting softly. It was only when I had opened the door that I winced as Nicholas’s red eyes landed on me. I forgot to knock.
“What is it, Alexandra?” He asked, his eyebrow raised as he gave me an antagonizing gaze.
“I wanted to ask you about something,” I spoke up, voice slightly shaky. Why was I like this? I had talked perfectly fine with him before! Man up, Emily! You can do this.
“Pray tell,” he scoffed, placing down a book on his desk. I glanced at the cover, noticing the word saintess on it. He noticed my eyes on the book and slid it closer to himself. I snapped out of my staring, clearing my throat and raising my head.
“If It’s not too much to ask, I want you to tell me more about the monsters of Tarik,” I paused, placing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“You fought in Tarik, so I thought you’d be the-”
He paused, his red eyes wide, his face turning pale. He clenched his fist, lowering his gaze.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I don’t wish to talk about that. Leave,” he spoke, his words bitter.
“I’m-” I started, but he turned to face me once again.
“Go,” he barked, and I couldn’t do anything else but follow his command. I trudged out his room, closing the door softly behind him. So much for learning more about the monsters. How stupid of me to ask him to talk about horrors that were probably still fresh in his mind.
I returned to my room, lying down on my bed and staring at the wall. Anne knocked on my door, calling for me.
“My lady, may I come in?”
I turned on my bed, sighing in reply.
“I heard your conversation with the young lord. It was my fault to tell you to go ask him. I didn’t think he’d react that way,” Anne apologized. Through the wall, I could hear her sincerity. She probably had her head down in disappointment, feeling how I did.
“It’s fine. I’m just worried for Nicholas now. My words made him really angry,” I mumbled, face in my pillow.
“Give him some time. I’m sure he knows you didn’t have any ill intent,” Anne said, her voice soft. It was silent for a second. It was a brief moment, followed by the clacking of her footsteps, slowly growing distant as she got further away.
My maids left me alone for some time, which I used to sulk and reflect. I would apologize to Nicholas as soon as I saw him again, if he’d let me see him. If it wasn’t resolved by today, I will write him a letter come dawn tomorrow.
By night time, my maids returned. They served me quietly, preparing me for supper. Once I stepped out my bath, Maddy turned to me as Anne left the room.
“I heard about what happened, my lady,” she started, glancing as the door shut.
“She didn’t mean any ill intent with her words-”
“I know.” I interrupted. I didn’t really want to talk about that. It seems all I do here is cause disappointment.
“I know this might not be something you want to hear, especially in wake of recent events,” she started, biting her lip.
I cocked my head, curious to hear what she has to say.
“The Imperial library has books on every topic in Lumina, and even some about neighboring nations. If there were a place to find more about the monsters of Tarik, I’m sure you could find it there.”
“How can I get there?” I spoke up, eyes ignited with a glimpse of hope.
“You’d have to get permission from the crown to go. Since it has so much information, it naturally includes sensitive topics, so a special card has to be given by a member of the royal family for access,” Maddy explained.
I sighed. Great. Not only did I have to go to the castle for the information, but I also needed special permission. Who would dare grant a villainess such privilege? Alexandra barely has any friends do to her standoffish nature, and no connections to the-
Arthur. He’s supposed to be my fiance or whatever. I could ask Arthur. But to ask him, I’d obviously have to speak with him. Ugh. How troublesome.
“Thank you, Maddy,” I replied. She nodded, turning to leave.
“I’m glad I could be of service, my lady.”
They continued to pamper me, helping me into my undergarments and dressing me into a silky gown. Tonight's gown was a deep blue, with black accents. They had done my hair nicely, in an updo with some pearl hair clips.
“You look as beautiful as always, my lady,” Maddy exclaimed, applying some last minute powder to my cheeks.
“I have to agree, you are so stunning my lady,” Anne spoke up, still avoiding my gaze.
“Thank you,” I replied with a smile, raising myself from my vanity once they had finished dolling me up. I stared at myself in the mirror before I left, my red eyes staring back at me. I held my head high, leaving my bedroom. After dinner, I will apologize with Nicholas and make things right.
I descended the steps, my heels clacking with anticipation. For the first time, I looked forward to dinner with the Montforts, because it would let me see Nicholas and see if he has calmed down.
I opened the door gently, stepping into the dining hall, my eyes staring at the table. Nicholas was there, and so was the duke and the duchess. But some familiar pink locks sat next to Nicholas.
“Alexandra, what are you doing? Greet our guest” The duke called, glancing at me with a narrowed expression. He turned to her, “I apologize for my daughter’s lack of manners,” he sighed.
“Greetings, Lady of Scarlet,” she greeted, standing up from her seat and bowing to me.
“Greetings, Lady Catalina,” I croaked.
What is she doing here?