Twisted Fate of the Knight

Suspicion

"Yeah, you look like a zombie dude. What happened to you?" he tells Kerz that he looks like a zombie even though he doesn't look like a zombie so he is a handsome zombie but I am an ugly zombie-like.

"Thanks to your workloads dude. I look like this." He said as he brushes off the leaves from his head and clothes as he stands.

"..." Dravis didn't utter a word but he just smirks as if he was saying that 'good for him' look.

"Hey brush off that smirk of yours, I want to ruin that handsome face," he said to Dravis as he follows us behind since we first walked towards the well in the garden.

"Kerz, how are his Highness? Did he also not getting enough sleep?" He asks Kerz before he sits on the well and Kerz sits down as well.

"No, he stayed awake for the past days as well even though I told him to get enough sleep but he will just say yes but then ended up staying up until the sun rises." He said while yawning because he just woke up and was obviously still sleepy. So, Renz had not slept well yet but it was not obvious that he was not sleeping when I saw him. Well, it's not easy to be a Crown Prince, I guess. 

"What?! You should at least see him asleep." Dravis scolds Kerz but he just scratches the back of his head.

"I did but then he just sleeps 30 minutes to an hour and he let me go out if I started to scold him." He said and did not know how to explain.

"I guess I need to go back when her Grace's knight Avy comes for the hunting," he said

"No, you don't have to, his Highness will just scold you," Kerz said to Dravis as he stands up and does a light exercise.

"No, I will talk to him." Dravis insists but then Kerz looks at him seriously.

"You don't have to and stay with her Grace until then. Don't worry, I'll take care of his Highness." He said as he walks away from us and I guess he will go back to the Crown Prince's residence. Dravis didn't answer and stays silent. I can guess that there is something more than just not having enough sleep of the Crown Prince.

We stay a little more in the garden and we went back to where Lady Miary was and I noticed he was quiet when we got back. Well, I really don't mind but for some reason, I want to know it but I will find out something later on since I still have to do it first.

We arrived at Lady Miary's room but we were just outside. Dravis knocked first before entering and Sofie was in front of the door when we entered as if she was waiting for us. She let Dravis in as she carries me towards Lady Miary. 

"Thank you for bringing him back and I am sorry for the trouble, Sir Dravis." She said as she also took me from Sofie so I am on her thigh now while caressing me like a dog.

" Your flattering me, your Grace. I just did my job." He said with a small smile on his face.

"You're so humble. You can go now and rest," she said calmly but it sounds like order as she smiles. That's why Dravis just said yes before leaving. After Dravis goes out, I can feel that I will be the next one.

"Now, Avy. Could you tell me about your little adventure?" she said calmly while smiling and her smile is like a dagger behind those. I feel chills and I swallowed up in no time because she seemed to eat me alive.

"Ah~~ It's like this-" So I told her the missing pieces of the relayed information from Sofie but I did not say that Prince Hanz removed the spell on me and fortunately Sofie did not say that, and she was satisfied with the explanation that's why she let me go because earlier while I'm telling her the story she was holding my neck as if she was ready to strangle me at any time.

"Hmm. I am really curious about the spell that was cast on you and how did you extract it?" She said while thinking deeply. 

"Even I want to know but it looks like it has to do with the transformation magic that a high mage can do. As for that, I am lucky to encounter the spell with my little adventure for the past days." I said while laughing a little even though I was hesitant because the looks she was making is really making me nervous.

"Yeah, because only a few mages can handle that spell to the point that it will also affect the magic of the person," she said while looking outside seriously.

"I think someone who is affiliated with the Tower was the one behind it." I'm not sure which of them since the royal family is with the Tower but then let's exclude the Crown Prince but for Prince Hanz I am not sure even if he is being watched and even though I do not want to include him among the suspects. I think I need to investigate further about the second Prince since I am lacking trust in him even though he heals me but something is off about him. If I remembered, none of the royalties knows about healing magic so how did he remove the spell on me and I do not remember any magic item he used.

"Hey, Avy!" I turned around when she suddenly shook me because I was lying on the bed.

"Y-yes~," I said as I got up and sat down in front of her.

" I think the Empress is the most suspicious one among them," she said in a very confident smile.

" I agree, but it can be the Emperor or Prince Hanz or even the related blood of the royal family that includes Marquess Ronan," I said in an unsatisfying tone

"No way that Hanz will be one of them." She shouted at me with mixed annoyance or unbelievable look at what I've said.

"I also don't want to think that Hanz but then we are not sure about that so let's just watch it first, Lady Miary." I said with an assuring smile so she calmed down a bit.

"But still, I can't really imagine that Hanz is one you suspect. I just can't help it since he was too kind to be like that," she said with a sad face. Although I want to say the reason but not for now, until I'm sure if we ally him or not.

"So I said, it can be so there is 50/50 about him but then well just trust from your instinct that he is not."I just told her not to think too much about it so she nodded even though she was trying to be okay with it.

"Well, I am very confident that he is not, Avy." She said with a genuine smile as she said it to me. I just nodded as an answer and a smile. 

Since it was nearly dinner, so dinner is ready. Thanks to Sofie because we didn't realize that it was already evening when we finished talking and the food was ready so we ate.

~~

*a knock on the door*

"Come in," The Crown Prince said while signing the documents

"Greetings, your Highness the Crown Prince," he said as soon as he comes into the room.

"D-dravis? What are you doing here? Is there a problem?" he said for a moment looking at who entered and then continued reading and signing the documents.

"I am here to request. If possible can you withdraw your order?" He said while he was kneeling in front of the Crown Prince so he stopped and looked at Dravis.

"Why? Did something happen?" he said as he signed Dravis to get up but then he didn't move at all. He is giving the Crown Prince a hard time as he refuses to stand up not until he will be given what he wishes for. They were silent for a few minutes since the Crown Prince knows why Dravis is here because he met Kerz who was also worn out.

"Alright. You can go back here tomorrow but before that, you should escort them tomorrow." He said to his aide so Dravis immediately stood up when he heard what he wanted to hear.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I will assure you that I will escort them but where?" He said to the Crown Prince smiling as if the sadness on his face had disappeared.

"To the Collins state since she decided to participate in the hunting as the representation of Duke Collins so they need to prepare." 

"So, Sir Avy will be participating?" 

"Yes, but he will be under me this time so if possible I would like you to look for Lady Miary since I will be borrowing her knight," he said

"With pleasure, your Highness." 

"By the way, can you give this to Sir Avy." he gave the envelope to Dravis and a necklace. Dravis just nodded as an answer.

~~

After dinner, I felt again the painful feelings when transforming, so I said I would go back to our room first as I cue Sofie and she nodded. I quickly ran back as I struggled with the pain in my arm, and because I went through the window I almost fell. Fortunately, I was able to hold on and enter easily. Right after I entered, the pain got worse so I lay in bed while enduring the pain that can make you faint but I need to be awake as much as possible. Especially since I felt like someone was watching outside earlier and even though it was difficult, I tried to close the curtain.

I returned to my self, after 20 minutes of enduring the pain while trying not to faint. I was thankful that I manage to be awake during the process. I immediately change my maid outfit even though the pain is still lingering on every part of my body but I need to pretend that I was here for the entire time.

A knock on the door when I was about to go back to bed but then I stood up and open the door. It was the Crown Princess standing in front of me, I don't know why she is here but I feel like I was stoned in my position because she was giving me chills. 

"G-greetings your Highness, the Crown Princess. What can I do for you?" I said even though I was scared since the feelings from the other day are still there so I was sweating in no time. She didn't reply but then she was staring at me that's why I bowed more.

"Are you the sick maid of her Grace?" She said in a very cold tone that you thought it was a different person because she had a different tone when facing the Crown Prince.

"Yes, Your Highness," I answered as I prayed that they would come to since I told Sofie to come after 30 minutes.

"Oh, I see............ The rabbit," she said so I could breathe easily but I was immediately nervous when she mentioned the rabbit as if she was saying double meaning.

"Y-yes?" I said even though I tried not to stutter but I couldn't avoid it because I still couldn't face her.

"Rabbit, take care of the rabbit." She said as if she was controlled but then in seconds, she smiled like someone else again before leaving in front of me.

I immediately sat down and hugged myself when they left. My whole body almost trembled because of that.

Avy was stunned as she held herself and did not notice that Sofie and Lady Miary was calling her since the door was opened and she was there sitting as if she was not herself. So Sofie shakes her off while calling her and Miary also calling her who is also worried.

"Avy! Avy! Avy! Av-" Lady Miary called her knight as she slaps her face. Then Avy snaps off and goes back to her senses.

"L-lady Miary? Sofie?" She said as she notices that they were hugging her.

"You were shivering and you didn't respond for about 15 minutes when we enter," Sofie said

" What happened Avy? Did something happen? The door was opened and we found you trembling. " She said in a serious tone as she stands up while offering her hands to Avy to stand up.

" It's nothing," she said while now she just felt the pain on her cheek's ache.

"Nothing my a*s, Avy!" she shouted at her as she sits down.