Francheska has been busier than ever despite having no more mentors or tasks given to her, but in the eyes of their servants, to the duke and duchess, it was normal behavior to be observed.
Paper after paper, everything was filled with no space unmarked and twelve inkwells had been emptied so they wondered how could a person keep on going with an aching wrist.
“Your Highness, it is time to break your tea and snacks here.” a servant reminded Francheska who only gestured a nod for them to bring it in.
Finally resting the quill back to its place, Francheska massaged her aching wrist which the servant noticed.
“Your Highness, please do not overwork yourself.” The servant was full of worry from just the tone.
“It is alright, I will take a rest after this just two more papers to be done.” Francheska smiled softly to the servant, who then smiled in relief and stepped back to their position after pouring the tea.
Honestly, Francheska has done about the decorations, themes, and the content of the letters were her appointed job. The catering, who to invite, musical band, resources, and the budget were for her the duke and duchess’s power and knowledge of expertise to be dealt with.
What she was writing was for her interest.
Francheska planned to have lord William help her invest in a business where she could win the civilians of the empire. Not in full details, of course, lord William is a noble and in her last moments in the execution, no one was there to defend her. Although Francheska has been making appearances to townsfolk, and to the civilians in disguise– for her it was still not enough for them to know more about her, winning the people was her only gamble, no matter what happens.
‘A gamble that is already rigged.’ Francheska bitterly smirks at the thought.
Looking at the view beyond her window, she misses her rendezvous in the bustling streets of the nearest town. She misses the dirt, loud merchants, dusty air, and her companion… she will never roam those alleyways again, only to take a glimpse and reminisce the fun moments inside her carriage from household to household.
Returning her attention to her room, she lives a great life. Servants, great food, nice clothes, decent parents, status, and money that she no longer has to worry about. It was everything the empire could ask for– everything her previous life wanted and yet there was something hollow in her heart that was still not filled to make her whole. Many years have already passed and she still does not know the answer to that.
Munching a cookie, Francheska decided to eat her feelings away.
After the quick break, Francheska resumed her papers and it did not take long enough for her to be done with it.
Her new problem was about the knight. When the sketch goes to her mind, her stomach just rumbles that bile forms for her to vomit, and she feels sick to the stomach– thinking about meeting the guy in actual would escalate things, she needs to control herself… if she can easily overcome it in just two days from now.
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‘This is it, today is the day.’
Today is the knight selection, Francheska’s preparation was to not eat anything, having an empty stomach so that she would not vomit when she finally meets the so-called knight.
Walking with her family to the ground where the selection was held, the duke made his speech of welcoming the knights present to them.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The men present today despite their backgrounds, nobles, commoners, former guards, or whatever they had done before, there was one fact that cannot be denied– once they are knights they would be capable of their duty and rite of a knight, these were trained men– much experience with weapons at hand.
From what Francheska had heard, these men had four weeks surpassing the trials, and right now was the final trial– to be selected and become her knight. Francheska could barely imagine the trials they had to go through but from descriptions alone, the duke told her it was enough to be intimidated by these men.
Sitting beside his grace, as one of their servants was reading each man of their noble deeds and highest achievements.
Francheska knows nothing about the power these men held, so the majority of it was from the duke's decision of who is reliable.
There were a few men who got the duke's attention, but he showed much enthusiasm when his name was not yet uttered, it was of course no one else but the man himself, Liam Salvia.
Francheska's eyes could only stare at the metal breastplate of his armor. She was too scared of ruining her reputation right there and then, not when the duke himself wanted to show a great impression to these men.
The duke and duchess bombarded him with a lot of questions– questions of his own opinion about protecting someone, who should be protected, etcetera, but Francheska's ears were not able to reach them and comprehend them. The moment the guy got closer she was on high alert the entire time, focusing on her stomach and throat sitting there unmoved much like a stone– numbing herself.
"...ness, your highness?" A maid called out her attention.
"Huh?" Francheska mindlessly asked, cold sweat starting to form on her temples.
"What are your thoughts?" The duke asks.
"He- I- I approve, your grace," Francheska said with a smile. Not even sparing a glance at the guy.
The duke and duchess could only be relieved from the response of Francheska. Making the day much easier to go by.
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With days and weeks getting busier, with another person by Francheska's side. She was surprised at the convenience of having a knight, things were getting smoother and faster but with a consequence of new tasks handed to her one after another.
It was not only Francheska who was occupied, the whole house too had gotten so busy that they did not realize there was only one month left.
It was unfair to barely have time for herself, but deep inside she was glad that there was no room in trying to mingle with her knight.
There was nothing to know about the knight Liam and Francheska had no intention of knowing more, the information that she knew was that he was a commoner when he picked up a sword three years before and was already skilled in the art of the sword. Had incredible mentors who taught him for free just because of his special skills.
It was baffling for Francheska, but truthfully she is already unfazed by such people now. As long as a talented guy like him is cooperating with her, she doesn't mind using this advantage on her own.
Every time or when days come when it would be just her and the knight standing at the corner of her room staring at her form, it makes Francheska's anxiety rises to another level. Her trusted maid Shelly would encourage them to converse with one another but they would respond with silence, usually, silence would mean approval in Francheska's language but it was the opposite– it was awkward that Shelly gave up on trying to lift their spirits.
Right now in the same room with him in his usual place on the corner watching her do her work.
She hates his stares at her, that Francheska is scared to look up from her desk and his disgusted look when they first meet would appear on his face.
She could still remember his loathsome reaction to her, his voice full of hatred for her, his anger, and wanting her to die. That sometimes his face and the 'person' on the train station would overlap their similarities.
Francheska was so caught up in her thoughts that when the sound of falling papers and materials hit the floor she stumbled accidentally by her hand made her jump from her seat.
Collecting her materials on the floor, Francheska felt the knight's presence before her, who bent down to help her. Their hands briefly touched and Francheska instinctively retracted her hand in a swift motion– as if she just got burned by fire.
Francheska wanted to apologize, but she was too scared to say anything. Instead, she went to collect the important papers and went to her desk to continue.
It was just a short interaction and their first ever since he was knighted on the temple– and her consequence was her turning pale and beads of cold sweat forming on her face, even handling the quill was shaking out of anxiety that her hands were starting to sweat.
She thought that she was already over everything, that it would be easy to face them one by one. She was wrong, facing one of them is tough– especially with the new guy who would be by her side till the end of her days.
A thought clicks to her, she grabs a blank paper and starts to write.
Write from the very beginning of her life– past life of her being an idol until today. Her whole biography of who she is, writing everything before she forgets.
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Two weeks have passed, and the busy atmosphere in the house has slowly died down. It was a relief for everyone, all that was left was to do dry runs and practice for the right queue where, when, and how to enter.
Francheska has no problem with that, she has it memorized and it is a piece of cake for her– no doubt it will be a perfect debut.
Seeing the sunset shining through her window, it was almost time.
Grabbing a bag and stuffing the papers she prepared, she put on her cloak without even caring for a disguise as she looked for an opportunity should sneak out of her chamber soon.