Twisted Fate of the Knight

Her answer

We arrive at Ian's house and I went straight to my room to change clothes and since Ian was not there Ash and I ate first. Ash sneaks into my room when we go back to our rooms awhile ago and he came from the window. I was even surprised when someone knocked on my windows and it was just him. I let him in as he went straight to my bed as if it is his bed since he was in his wolf form so it's okay.

"You should get up early tomorrow if we don't want to be discovered," I said to him before I lay down beside him.

'No problem, Master,' He said as he waving his tails.

"By the way, we need to go to the Crown Prince Residence tomorrow," I said to Ash.

'Why?' He asks as he lay down on the bed.

"Because of the reward that was not settled the other day," I said while I sighed because I will have to deal with him or I should say argue with him since he was a stubborn one to handle.

'I thought it was settled since you didn't mention,' He said.

"I didn't think about when I came back since he gave me to think for my decision but I forgot it and I just remembered today," I said while messing up my hair because I do not know what will be my answer tomorrow. I was imagining Renz that saying 'take it or be my physician?' with his scary expression.

'What was the reward that he wants to give you?' He asks me.

"Well, a bunch of things including money and magical stones when I said that I am just repaying him for helping Lady Miary but he said that the Emperor sent it," I said as I looked at the ceiling as if it will give me an answer.

'Then, why don't you just take it?' He said plainly.

"I don't need that bunch of things and I don't want to," I said since I really don't want to hold something expensive because I don't want to become greedy since money or treasure can change a person even though they saying that they will not change but over a time that they also change as they are not aware of and I do not want that to happen to me.

'Never mind,' He said as if he feels that I am not comfortable with it or it is obvious on my face so I was touched on my face whether I frowned or not.

'Just sleep already, you can just decide what you think is the best tomorrow,' He said that it seems he was saying it is okay whatever your decision will be as long as you are happy and you will not regret it later.

"Okay, Thank you," I said as I close my eyes since I will decide on the spot tomorrow.

~~~

"Now, what will be your decision?" Prince Renz asks me immediately when I am in front of him since he was seated in his chair while looking at me with amusement as if he can't wait for my answer.

"I will... not take the reward," I said since I've decided when we are on our way that I will not take the luxury reward.

"I thought, you decided to take the reward but you really surpass my expectations, Avy." He said while smiling at me while he looked at me so intently.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Your Highness," I said.

"Then, you choose to be my physician," He said as he smirks as if somethings going on in his mind while looking at me so interested.

"Yes, but I have conditions," I said as I looked at him seriously since I can't be exposed that I am the one who treats him.

"Hmm, what it is,?" He said as he looks at me wondering what will be the condition I will demanding

"First, I should not be exposed that I treated you. Second, I will only treat you if you needed but don't expect too much from me since I'm no a physician. Lastly, I am not your people so don't command me as if I am one of your people," I said since he might think of me as one of his people like the last time in the hunting when I become his instant maid or attendant. I don't want to be a push-over anymore because I was kind and I followed what I was told.

"Sure, since I told Kerz to erase the memories of the maids that day when to came with Miary but the physician went missing after I woke up," He said, Ugh. I hope that physician didn't say anything to the Empress since it is obvious that he was one of her pawns that was monitoring Renz's condition.

"Did you try to investigate about the physician? It will be not good if the Empress knows that I treated you," I said with an anxious expression since she might be targeted me for interfering with her.

"Yes, we did but he vanishes like he was not here in the first place. Of course, it will not be good if the Empress knows it but I think she doesn't know since she didn't move for now," He said with his serious expression as he looks at me. I don't know why I feel so relieved because my nervousness and fear are lessened since she might plot something on me.

"I would be relieved if he didn't say anything to the Empress before he vanishes but we should still be careful so I will only attend you at night or just invite Lady Miary for safety purposes," I said since it will be suspicious if they learned that I am going to meet him in private since I am not his people so it is better to be careful.

"I didn't know that you are a bit demanding, Avy," He said as he smiles with delight as if he finds it cute or something so I roll my eyes. since he looks like he wasn't bothered by the possibility of anyone finds out.

"I know," I said with a bored tone as I looked at him uninterested but he just smiled at me as if he was enjoying watching my reactions.

"*laugh* You really are interesting, though I didn't expect you to be a real physician," He said to me. 'So, why make me your physician, then?' I said in my mind since I can't read what's on his mind so I raised an eyebrow at him because of what he said.

"I know you are saying 'so, why make me your physician, then?' in your mind. *chuckled* The answer is I find something in you but I don't know what it is but my instinct I should have you in my side," He said. Did he know something about me? I doubt since I'm not here for years now so I don't think he knows anything about my magic. I remain my usual reaction so that he does not intrigue me when he sees me panicking or reacting.

"Then, I doubt I can be with your side since I am a knight of Collins and not yours," I said to him.

"Of course, I am aware of that. That's why I give you choices since my instinct tells me that you will refuse to take the reward when you said to me when you treated me that day," He said as he laughs after saying that to me.

"You plan this, right?" I ask him since it seems it was according to his plan as he looks at me with a delighted expression.

"No, since I don't really plan on giving you a reward but when the emperor knows that I'm treated he said that I should give a reward and he sends those *looking on the gold and magic stones* so I didn't have a choice to give it to you but then, I should have a reward for talking to the Emperor," He said. I know what he was trying to say but why else do we need compensation? Am I lacking with the treatment for him? or he knows something about me? I don't know what to do since he seems telling the truth when he said he finds something on me but I hope that he just finds me interesting that it will fade away over time.

"Fine, just remember my condition, your Highness," I said since it seems he didn't tell the Emperor that I treated him since the Emperor will give it to me directly if he does so I will tolerate this Prince's wants.

"That's great, Avy. I'll be looking forward to working on you," He said as if I am going to work for him or we are seeing each other, and I said goodbye to him.

~~

"Please tell me that I am dreaming?" I said to Lady Miary since the day after I talked to him. I didn't expect that I am meeting him almost every day where we happened to bump into him in the palace when we delivered some documents or we saw him on the way back from the palace or he happened to attend a banquet and now we have a secret meeting in Collins State about the Empress movement since she started to move according to Sir Alfinus. 

"*pinch* You are not dreaming," She said after pinching my cheeks so I said 'ouch' as I move away from her.

"It hurts, why do you have to pinch so hard?" I said since it is really hurt.

"Be thankful that I didn't punch you since you have been sighing and it was really annoying that it makes me also problematic," She said as she glared at me because it's been a few days but I don't know if I'll be thankful because she didn't punch me? I just looked outside since we were in the carriage going back to Collins State and we are going to wait for them since they will secretly come here. 

"*sigh* then, thank you," I said with no energy because I don't want to see Prince Renz since he will be smiling at me the whole time as if he was intentionally teasing me even though he didn't directly talk to me. 

"You are sighing again. What is your problem?" She said while she was annoyed as she looks at me.

"Nothing," I said. I was bothered by Renz since he doesn't even hide that he looks at me because I'm already conscious of his stares.

"Really? then, stop sighing," She said as she glared at me because she had earlier suppressed her annoyance.

"*sigh--"

"I said stop sighing!" She said as she covered my mouth using her hands to stop me from sighing. I held her hand away from my mouth because I could not breathe since she also covered my nose so I hardly breathe.

"I'll stop. I'll stop," I said while holding her hands to preventing her to cover my mouth.

"I'll kick you if you sigh again, Avy," She said as she withdraws and seated properly.

"Okay, I'll stop," I said as I covered my face since we are close to the state.

"Really? What is your problem?" She asks so I look in front but she was not there but she was already outside the carriage as she looks at me wondering. I got out of the carriage as I prevented from sighing.

"It's nothing, don't worry," I said after I stopped to sigh since she is in front of me and she will definitely punch me she heard me sigh.

"Fine, let's go take a rest while waiting for them," She said as she walks inside the house and Sofie was waiting for us. She greeted us when we got close to her and she said the room we were going to use was ready which is the room we will be using and she also told the other maids and knights to retire or to rest early. 

"Sofie, prepare us a light snack," She said when we enter the tea room as she seated and I thank Sofie when she passes through me as she smiles at me as she said 'no, problem,'.

We waited after 30 minutes and we already ate light snacks since it is nearly dinner when they arrive. Prince Renz and Ian came first then Marquess Alfinus, we went to the room that Sofie prepared. Lady Miary told Sofie to prepare the dinner as I said that I would help Sofie since I don't want to be stared at by Renz. They entered the room first but Renz managed to glance at me before he went inside.

'What the hell is his problem? Geez,' I said in my mind as I followed Sofie in the kitchen.

"You don't have to help me, Avy since it was already prepared," She said to me while smiling.

"No, it's okay since we haven't talk alone so I want to help you," I said to her even though it is a half-truth half-lie since I really don't want to be stared at by Renz as if he was looking forward to that I make mistakes for him to reprimand someone or something.

"Yes, since you lived with Sir Ian and I really can't believe that the two of you grow together when he didn't really talk about his family," She said as she placed the food in the trolley.

" Hehe, I am sorry for that also since I lied," I said as I look at her sincerely.

"It's alright, Avy. You didn't do anything wrong," She said while smiling at me. She's really kind.

"Sofie, if ever that I am a man. I will marry you," I jokingly said to her as she blushed when she looks at me so I laughed because I couldn't tell if her face was thrilled or not.

"Stop it, Avy," She said as she forcefully gives me the silver tray with food. She pushed the trolley as she went out of the kitchen so I just followed her.

We were close to the room and I went ahead to open the door since I have one free hand to open the door. I knock before I opened the door and they all looked at me when I went in and their expression is very serious as I can feel the atmosphere is a little bit awkward.

"Just in--"