Another World Story

Day Fifty-Two:

A few minutes ago...

From the shadows of the magic academy building, a man emerged.

He watch as the carriage that carry the Second and Third Princesses disappear behind the wall of the 'Inner-Ring'.

"...Princess Eleonora. I finally found you...!"

The man muttered as a smile appeared on his face.

"Ump... No good...No good. I'm smiling like this again..."

He covered his mouth, yet the smile on his face remained. It was a smile filled with genuine interest, it was the smile that a child give when looking at his new toy.

"She's still perfect...Kukuku!"

The man said as he merged with the shadow once again, his maniacal laughter fades along with him.

A minute passed.

Five minutes passd.

Ten minutes passed.

The man didn't return, but a new silhouette appeared in the shadow.

"Crazy bastard..."

The silhouette was then illuminated by the dusk light, a young man with black hair and eyes appeared where the first man was. He look down on where the man disappeared, then shifted his gaze to where the carriage of the two princesses disappeared.

"...I don't like dealing with crazy people... Haa..."

The young man - Kaiser, sighed.

"It was a good decision to inform Ms. Dawn, though I think she would make a fuss if she misinterpreted my words. I first need to know the princess's past to serve her well, and I'm sure that crazy dude earlier knows something"

Kaiser with that thought, began walking, his destination the Civil Academy's dormitory.

"Still though, she didn't detect any of us, the same for that crazy dude, he didn't noticed my presence either...Is my skill higher than his? That's good news, but I don't know about combat skills...I need to practice using -Fate-, I don't know when trouble would appear so it's better to be prepared..."

Recalling earlier's event. Kaiser hastened his phase.

.....

Earlier inside the parlour...

As Kaiser saw the two princesses entered along with their knights, he immediately disappeared and assimilate with Dawn's shadow. He moved from shadow to shadow as they overlapped each other. Then after finding the perfect spot; the second princess's shadow, he remained there and listened to the two princesses as they converse.

"Sister"

A serene and gentle voice, it came from the cantaloupe-colored hair Vanessa, the Third Princess of the Memphis Kingdom, the Fourth born.

"Will you attend the baptism?"

She said as she look at the young lady sitting from the other side of the table infront of her. She with her platinum-blue hair and amethyst-colored eyes gave a quick glance at her sister before returning to her meal, she did so without saying anything.

"It would be held six months from now. Our father and mothers as well as elder sister Minerva and elder brother Luke would attend the baptism. I wish elder sister Eleonora to be there as well..."

Vanessa seemingly used to her sister's cold-hearted actions continued her words. Though faint, sadness could be seen from her eyes.

"I have not the time to spare for such meaningless things"

The platinum-haired princess spoke. Her voice was cold enough to make the people not related to the topic flinched. Vanessa on the receiving end of her sister's painful words, could only make a bitter smile. It was obvious for everyone inside the room that she was greatly hurt.

In Ashura, a baptism from the church signifies that one is worthy enough to be a saint candidate and families of such important figures are required to attend. If they were not able to attend such event, the related person would not be recognized by the church and the Gods as part of the saint candidates family.

And the word of Eleonora could be interpreted as not recognizing Vanessa, No, the entire Memphis Household as part of her family.

"...I see"

Was all the heart-broken Vanessa could say, she remained quite throughout their meal. The only thing that could be heard was the sounds of utensils and plates slightly clashing against each other as the two princesses eat.

Time flowed in such way. And after their meals, the two silently drink tea. They were served the same 'rejuvenation tea' that Kaiser made for the knights and maids earlier.

"This is delicious...can I have more?"

Vanessa who was disheartened was slightly rejuvenated by the tea. She looked at the tea in her cup then glanced at her sister who was calmly drinking her tea.

It was faint but Kaiser who was lurking in Eleonora's shadow noticed the slight changed in her facial expression.

'...That reaction'

No matter how emotionless a person appears to be, they would always show reaction to the most unexpected things. Kaiser taking note of this small reaction from Eleonora, looked at the other person lurking in the shadows. Though not that vivid, he could see the man smiling from where he was, his smile was so creepy that it gave goosebumps to the body.

"I'll be heading for my next class"

Saying this, Eleonora put down the tea cup and left the parlour room, not a single knight accompanied her. Yet she didn't stopped and continue to walk down the wide hallway.

"Useless" Eleonora muttered.

Kaiser frowned upon hearing her words, but decided to ignore it. He then focused his attention to the shifting shadows that follow behind the princess. Although he was staying inside her shadow, none of the people that she passed by noticed, even the person herself.

As Eleonora walked down the hallway, the students she passes by would part like the red sea to moses. Fear, anger, envy and such emotions could be seen from their eyes, it was a sin that they culd be punished from, yet they didn't stopped, the princess ignored them as well.

Kaiser who was monitoring both the princess and her surrounding, noticed that the shifting shadow - the man, was no longer following her.

'Should I leave her shadow now? ... No, I should stay for now, that guy might appear later'

Resolving himself, Kaiser remained inside the princess's shadow. He stuck to her like a leech hungry for blood, but remove himself from her shadow when inside the comfort room.

'I'm a gentleman'

Just like this, time passed and Eleonora along with Vanessa and Dawn, rode the luxurious carriage. The knights and other maids guarding beside the carriage.

During this time, the man only showed up when their carriage left. Kaiser was worried that he might attack them during their way to the palace, but eventually the man left using the shadows.

"Haa..." he sighed, laying himself on a bed inside the room of the servant course's dormitory.

"...Eleonora Shuvan Ascorte Memphis"

He muttered as he look outside the window. The sky is already dyed in dark-blue, and the stars covered by clouds. There was not much light aside from the moonlight that peeked from the corners of the clouds.

"Are you trying to make everyone hateful of you? Or is that really how you are?"

Kaiser remembering Eleonora's behavior earlier asked to no one. He felt doubtful about the princess's words and actions.

"...I really need to know her past"

'And if by using those to help them be family again, I may gain their trust to some extent'

Deciding on the route that he would take, Kaiser closed his eyes.

-----

Inside the Second Princess's palace.

Dawn was walking the long hallway towards her princess's room. The palace was empty, yet the furnitures, windows and the long carpet was clean. The servants of the Second Princess's palace only appear during morning and leave the palace during night.

Dawn as the sole personal maid of Eleonora was the only one to accompany her in the huge palace-like mansion.

She looked around the hall as she walk. There were no knights or soldiers either, as if the person residing in the mansion does not exist in the first place.

No barriers nor any protective devices installed, and only the light of the moon that passed through the window lit the long hallway.

"...Why won't she open the lights?"

Dawn asked to no one. It was always like this since the day the Third Consort passed away. As if she's reliving the night that her mother died.

"No, there might have some sort of reason why Her Highness does not like the light during the night"

Dawn convincing herself of this thought. Hastened her phased, the last sentence of the message bothered her too much. She didn't even thought of confirming the letter sender's identity.

A few minutes later, she arrived infront of her Lady's sleeping chamber.

Knock! Knock!

"My Lady, Dawn Valen have come to accompany you today as well"

She said. She waited for the princess's words.

"Come in"

Came the reply. Dawn carefully opened the door and entered the room illuminated by the moonlight. She then saw the princess sitting infront of her desk, writing.

"...Are you not going to open the lights My Lady?"

Dawn said as she prepared tea. Eleonora didn't respond and just continue to write on her notebook. Dawn expecting the outcome of her question, peered to what the princess is writing.

"Dawn, it's disrespectful to peeked at someone's diary"

Eleonora said as she closed the notebook.

"I was just curious to how My Lady's day went"

"..."

"Would you like some tea?"

Dawn finishing the tea, poured them on two cups. She then gave the princess her share after asking her. It was rare for servants to share drinks with their masters especially if they are of royal blood. The two sharing drinks shows the great bond that they have.

Time slowly flowed as the two drank their teas, their gaze focused outside the window; to the two moons illuminating the starless night as they peeked from the clouds.

"...Did something happen today? My Lady?"

Dawn asked as she looked at her master. Eleonora was still looking at the two moons as she held her cups in her hands.

"Does joining your family for dinner not to your liking?"

"..."

"Her Highness Vanessa, wanted you to be there for her baptism, My Lady. It's not too late to mend your relationship with them you know?"

"Quiet"

Dawn didn't talk further as Eleonora's gaze was too much for her. The killing intent that she gives was not a laughing matter as it turned the area around them to be cold and heavy.

"...I'm just worried about you, My Lady"

Dawn said to appease her princess's mind. No matter how used she was to the cold-heart of her princess, the killing intent that she sometimes shows was something she couldn't get used to.

Eleonora hearing Dawn's words controlled herself. She didn't apologized, instead she turned her gaze away from Dawn. The two remained quiet for sometime, but eventually Eleonora spoke in a faint voice, yet enough for Dawn to hear.

"...When will you leave my side?"

"After finding the right person to serve you, My Lady"

"There's no need for that..."

"There is, and I'll find them no matter what, My Lady"

"Why... why do you have to leave me as well?"

Dawn upon hearing her question, pursed her lips. She doesn't want to tell the princess the reason for her retirement, she wanted to see her princess smile before she leave, that's why she wanted to find the perfect servant for her, so that she wouldn't be worried.

"People are meant to part, My Lady. I know you're just trying to be strong and distance yourself from others so that you wouldn't be hurt again. But, I think it's more painful if you left them with no happy memories with you"

"..."

"Oh! It's already late. Go to sleep now My Lady, I'll stay here by your side as always"

Eleonora followed as she was told and lay on the bed. Dawn covered her with the thick blanket. She then stood up and closed the windows and adjusted the curtains.

"Good night"

"..."

"I'll definitely find the perfect servant for you"

She said as she caressed the princess's hair.