Remaking Of Lady Cruel

Chapter Thirty: Please Return Me Home!

“No one will tell what happened to father and brother, got it?” She said to both Merriam and Sir Rowellius. The two glance at each other with confusion written all over their faces. Viviene sighed and explain to them.

“Those two were worrywarts.” She hop inside the carriage and Merriam followed her while Sir Rowellius went next to the coachmen.

“Miss, that man. Who is he?” Merriam asked.

“He’s a crazy bastard so please forget him Merriam.”

“If that’s what you want Miss.”

She sighed and look away from Merriam. Everything makes her feel dizzy. She wants to go home immediately and go to sleep but she knew she cant due to her insomnia. She’s having trouble sleeping due to the anxiety she felt around her. She close her eyes for a while and let herself fell asleep during the ride.

They have arrived in the mansion. She walk inside and saw including the other servants that greeted her as she went inside.

“Finnian, how’s father and brother?” She asked.

“The duke was summoned in the imperial palace while the young master is in his office working.” He answered.

“I see. Will he be able to eat dinner with me?”

“I apologize Milady but I don’t think so. The deadlines for those works are tomorrow before luncheon and he needs to meet the other aristocrats for a meeting early in the morning so I’m afraid he’ll not join breakfast with you too.” He explained.

‘He’s so busy.’ She thought. She glance at Finnian and smiled at him.

“Alright. Thank you for telling me.”

“Not at all, Young Miss. This is my duty.” He said with a smile.

Viviene continue her walk upstairs and walk in the silent hallway.

“Merriam, don’t enter my room until dinner.”

“Yes Miss.”

She entered her room and Merriam help her change her clothes before leaving her alone. She lay down on the bed with the book in her hand. She started reading the book silently when she felt a sudden presence of someone. She raise her head and saw the crown prince. She was so surprise of his sudden appearance that she threw the book towards him. Gladly, he caught it before it could hit his face.

“Y-Your Majesty! Why are you here? And in my room!?” She asked while trying her best not to raise her voice to a royalty.

“You seemed space out earlier.” He said as he took a sit on a chair beside her bed.

“Its nothing serious, Your Highness. How about Lady Walmeir?” she asked as she lean on the headboard of the bed.

“She went home.”

“Huh? She’s not sleeping in the palace?”

“Why would she?”

“Well that’s..”

She thought she’ll be sleeping in there too. She’s Eliza and she’s the white goddess of the empire and the crown prince like her so she thought that he invited her as well but it turns out she’s wrong.

‘Perhaps he just want me to suffer from malicious rumors after that.’

“What does His Majesty wants from me?” She asked directly to him.

“Your strange behavior, was it because of the lake? If so, I’ll ruin that for you.”

“Pardon?”

‘Did he just said he’ll destroy that lake?’ She’s bewildered by his words.

“If its too much for you to see that like still existing I’ll gladly erase it in the empire.” He muttered in a very serious tone.

“Wait Your Highness I cant understand you. Why would you do such thing to a century old lake?” She asked with her nervous voice but the prince didn’t reply. She sighed and glance at him.

“That lake supplies water to five villages, Your Highness, also, the emperor loves that lake. Whatever Your Majesty’s reason is, please don’t do that.” She spoke calmly.

“Then what can I do to make you stop acting bullshit?”

“What?”

“You act like you’re carrying something heavy behind you. You smiled but your eyes are lifeless like a corpse so tell me how can I stop it? If you hate me, go hate me all you want. Just stop acting like a living corpse in front of me.” He said desperately. “Stop it already.” He added.

She look at him with extreme indifference in her eyes. She smiled at him and that made his eyes shake.

“There’s nothing that must be done, Your Majesty. Whatever I’m struggling at has nothing to do with you. So please, don’t stick your nose to my own business.” Her eyes showed hatred and anger that made him breathless.

A tyrant like him is shaking in front of her who’s not even as big as him and as strong as any other knights in the empire.

“Its good to drink tea if you’re having anxiety, Your Highness. It calms the nerves. Do you have a tea that you like? I can send you some.” She muttered cheerfully to erase the heavy mood.

‘She’s doing this again. Acting like nothing happened.’ He thought as he look at her.

“How about Chamomile Tea? It relieves anxiety. Your Majesty?” she called him.

He glance at her and sigh.

“I’ll be going now. Lets meet again tomorrow.”

“Of course… What!?”

But the prince already vanish in front of her.

‘Again!?’ She thought.

“That jerk..” She whispered and grit her teeth. “I have a lot of work to do!” She blurted as she throw the pillow on the air. She breathe deeply and lay back on the soft mattress. She stared at the ceiling.

“I don’t want to go there again.” She mumble as she cover her eyes. She stood up and grab some pen and paper. She sit in front of her desk and started writing a formal refusal of the prince’s invitation then hand it to Merriam.

“Send it immediately, Merriam.”

“Y-Yes Miss.”

Merriam left her alone in her room again. She sigh and sit on the couch near the big window. The red roses on the table were slowly withering. She pick a withered rose from the vase and sniff it.

‘Its still smells nice.’ She thought and glance at the window. She stood up holding the rose and went to the window to look at the view outside. She saw some knights walking and talking to each other, and the sun setting. The sky’s red-orange hue was so mesmerizing. Someone suddenly knock the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened and the duke entered. Viviene glance at him while the red-orange light was behind her. Her image with the sun setting was marvelous.

“Hi father. What brings you here?” She asked him.

“I was just checking you here.”

“I’m fine. Please take a sit father. Do you like some refreshment?” She asked.

“No, its alright.”

The duke sit on the sofa while she’s on the couch watching him.

“Father, how are you? I heard that you were summoned in the imperial palace. Is everything alright?” She asked recalling what Finnian told her.

“I was asked by His Majesty, the emperor to go back to Northelle. I wanted to stay here but it’s an absolute order from the emperor himself.” He explained.

“I see. When will you leave, father?” She asked him.

“The day after tomorrow.”

“That’s too soon.”

“I know. I’m worried about leaving you here.” He muttered as he held her hand.

“Father, I told you remember? Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. Please don’t refrain yourself from doing what you need to do.”

“I know you would say that. Before I go, is there anything you want?”

“Anything I want?”

“Yes.”

She thought for a while before glancing back at him with a smile.

“Then please let me go to the capital again.”

“Going out again? But you need to rest. I heard from Finnian that the greenhouse project was a tough.”

“Yes but I told you that I’m fine.”

She stare at his blue eyes pleading him to let her go to the capital. He sighed in defeat and nodded.

“Alright.”

“Really? Thank you dad!”

She hug him tightly. She’s like a child that received a toy and that made the duke’s heart throb in both regret and happiness. She later release the duke still smiling brightly.

“Dad, are you having trouble sleeping too?” She asked as she notice his dark bags under his eyes.

“I’m alright.” He answered. Viviene chuckle and speak again.

“You and brother have the same answers to me. Yet I can see through your white lies.”

The duke flinch and felt cold sweat in his nape.

“Health is very important, father. Relax and take a nap sometimes.”

“Thank you but I cant do that.”

“Father.” She called in a serious tone. The duke stare at her with his eyes slightly widen. “Please value yourself. I don’t want to see you hurt, even brother.” She said.

‘Yeah, even though he is a jerk I cant let him get hurt for Viviene! She loves her brother so much! Even her father who showed nothing but coldness to her.’ She thought firmly.

“…Alright.” The duke answered.

“Are you still busy? You can’t come and eat dinner with me?”

“Unfortunately, Yes I’m busy but I can eat breakfast with you tomorrow.” The duke said.

“Don’t worry, I understand you Father. I’ll eat and sleep well tonight but you need to take care of yourself too. Even brother should, he looked like ten times older than his exact age.” She muttered to him, more on like nagging. “Oh, I talk too much! Well then, aren’t you busy father?” She asked.

“Yes. I’ll be going now.”

“Okay. Take care, father.”

She wave her hand and smiled brightly at him before he shut the door. After that, blood slide down from her mouth and dropped on the floor. She’s been enduring the pain for fifteen minutes but its worth it. She wipe the blood from her mouth and on the floor.

“No one should know.” She whisper and lay on the bed.

Its dark but she can still see herself well. She’s actually glowing and it seems that she’s the only one inside the infinite emptiness. She’s not scared at all, not even a bit. She started walking to an unknown destination.

“Faye Anne.” Someone called her so she turn around and saw the familiar image of a bird in front of her.

“… Axxiale?”

“Right, its me.”

“You! How could you give me a disease with no cure? I don’t deserve it.” She whine at him like a baby.

“I told you, that will only disappear if you accept your circumstances fully.” He explained.

“What? You know I cant do that!” She blurted with teary eyes.

“Why?”

“Why!? Aren’t you a spirit who knows a lot from me? You even know my background!”

“Do you want another punishment from me? I think spitting blood is not enough..”

“No! I’m just kidding!”

Silence covered them for a while before she started to talk.

“Everything in that world, is not mine.”

“Not yours? But you’re Viviene now.”

“I am not Viviene! My name is Faye Anne Wind! And no matter what I am still Faye Anne in that body!”

Tears fell from her eyes and sobs came out from her mouth. She fell on her knees and covered her face. Someone suddenly embrace her with warmth and comfort.

“Hush now. I know you are Faye Anne. I knew it that’s why we’ve chosen you.”

She uncover her face and embrace the man with flaming long red hair. Strangely, she’s not burning due to his hair which was literally fire!

“Everyone’s calling me Viviene but what about Faye Anne? What will happen to me?” She muttered between her sobs as she hug him even tighter. The man did not say anything and just listened to him.

“Even if I’m poor back there, I can still eat my favorite pizza and drink my favorite soda. I can still watch my favorite movie, and my friends will always call me by my real name. Even if its annoying sometimes, I, I still want them to call me Faye Anne because that’s me!” She face him and a pair of bright red eyes held her. “What will happen to me? Axxiale?” She asked with a pleading tone. He wipe the tears rolling on her cheeks and sigh.

“To be honest, I don’t know.”

“What!? Why!?”

“You’re talking out loud now. Look, you need to stop crying over these things. I, I cant help you but I can talk with you if I have time.” He said.

“Huh!? You should send me home now!”

“No can do. Goodbye.”

“Hey wait!”

Darkness soon spread after the disappearance of Axxiale in front of her. A faint voice echoed in her mind.

“Milady? Milady.”

She slowly woke up and saw Merriam looking at her with her usual worried eyes.

‘What the heck? My head hurts like hell!’ She spoke inwardly in annoyance due to the pain that covered her head.

“Are you alright Miss? You’re so pale and your sweating.” Merriam said to her. She force a smile at her.

“No. I’m fine. Is it dinner now?” She asked.

“Yes, Miss. The Young Master said that he’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Yeah? I thought he’s busy.”

Merriam did not answer because she doesn’t know his sudden change of schedule.

“Help me change clothes, Merriam.”

“Yes Miss.”

She went downstairs and met her brother who’s already in the dining hall. She greeted him with her usual tone and took a sit opposite to him.

“Is everything alright? Viviene?”

The odd feeling of calling her with a stranger’s name is getting stronger. She just dreamed of Axxiale who cant even do anything at her situation. Still, she cant accept everything.

“Of course. Everything is fine.” She lied smoothly as she slice the steak on the plate. Her brother just nodded and started eating as well.

“I heard from father that you requested to go in the capital again. Have you forgotten your deteriorating health?” He asked coldly at her.

“Not at all. I still remember everything from the smallest to the biggest, brother.” She said in sarcasm.

“Then why don’t you rest if you do?” He stopped eating and look at her grimly.

‘He’s angry. I wonder why?’ She asked confused of his unexpected emotion towards her.

“I’m resting and eating well, brother. How about you?”

“Cant you value yourself more?”

“Can you stop acting like a worrywart?”

“Viviene.”

“Yes brother?” She asked trying her best to calm. He sighed at her and lick his lower lip before speaking.

“I know you don’t want us to act like this but we cant help it. Father is worried sick for you. You’re getting thinner and paler like a piece of blank paper. Just, please take a rest tomorrow.” He said trying to be gentle towards her.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to be this worried.” She insisted and smiled at him.

“Viviene.”

Her face darkened as she glare at him.

“Stop it brother.” She warned dreadfully. He shut his mouth and stared at her blankly. “Please stop reminding me that I’m dying. Its old news for me. How about we talk something new? Like, your relationship with Lady Walmeir?” She asked and smiled sweetly at him.

“Its not like that.”

“How about you meet her tomorrow? She like romantic books and teas, are you aware of that?”

“Well.”

“Oh! How about you send her a gift? Maybe you should invite her tomorrow and have a nice talk with her in the garden?”

“Why are you telling me these things?” He asked in annoyance.

“Why? You don’t like her anymore?”

“Viviene!” He hit the table with his fist while his eyes glared angrily at her.

“I just don’t understand everyone.” She said as she put her knife and fork on the table. “They act like they care when the truth says the opposite. Why are you doing this now when I’m dying?”

“Viviene.”

“What brother? Are you going to scold me again for being weak?” She asked heavily as she stare at his eyes. He remain silent. “You don’t need to concern yourself any further. All you need to do is to not mind my businesses.” She muttered with a fierce look her face.

They stared at each other for a while before Viviene took the privilege of taking his own life in his hands. She bowed down before speaking again.

“… Excuse me for leaving.” She stood up and walk away from her seat when he spoke again.

“Come back. We are not finish yet.”

“Goodbye brother.”

He called her name but she didn’t look back and left him behind in the dining hall. She didn’t care of what consequences she’ll receive for disrespecting him but she cant face him right now. She needs to calm herself.

‘After all, respect begets respect.’ She thought and face the empty stairs. She sighed and headed back to her room disappointed.