Another World Story

Day Fifty-Seven:

Inside a dimly-lit room in one of the mansions in the Memphis palace lay a sleeping figure, sitting beside the great bed is a woman wearing maid's clothing. She look at the sleeping figure's face with warm eyes as if looking into something dear to her.

"...I shouldn't have said that to him..."

The woman muttered to herself. She recall the event that happened earlier.

-----

"Dawn, ready the carriage. I want to go somewhere"

Dawn, the personal maid of the princess heard this the moment her princess woke up. She didn't asked where the princess wanted to go, and just readied the white horse-drawn carriage with the symbol of the Memphis Royal Family engraved on its sides.

After Dawn ordered the coachman and the female knights to prepare the carriage, she immediately went to her princess's side. She assisted the princess on her bath and helped her to change from a blue pajama to a extravagant red dress that accentuate the lines of her body, her shoulders up to the base of her neck covered by a silken fabric connected to the dress, and she wore an inch high heels.

No matter what angle a person look, the beauty of the Second Princess was undeniable. Yet not a single person wishes to take her hand, her infamy have spread throughout the Kingdom that the nobles feared the destruction of their households when they try to hold her hand. Their desire to rise in rank by marrying or marrying off their sons to the Second Princess was immediately removed from their goals.

'My Lady is already of a marriageable age, yet she's the only one among her siblings, besides the Saint Candidate Lady Vanessa, that has yet to have a fiancée. I wonder if My Lady would ever find someone for her...'

Thinking such thoughts. Dawn, took a once over at her princess and smiled.

"You're as beautiful as ever, My Lady"

"I know. You have told me that every single day"

"It's because it is the truth. I wonder if there's a fitting man out there for you, My Lady"

Dawn teased. Even though she knew that the princess doesn't like the talk of marriage and love, she can't helped but teased her. Hoping that the princess would show more of her emotions. And as if the Gods heard her prays...

"I wonder..."

The princess whispered faintly. But even that caught Dawn's ears. Her eyes widened as she heard those words, her mouth became like a carp, opening and closing, not being able to find the words.

"M-My Lady?"

"Let's go"

"Can you repeat what you've just said?"

"Let's go"

"M-My Lady"

"I'll leave you behind"

Saying those, the princess left her chamber leaving Dawn inside, dumbfounded. She repeated what the princess said over and over in her head, trying to recall if she heard it right. But no matter how many times she do it, only the words of the princess lingered in her mind.

"'I wonder?', does that mean that the princess have taken a liking to someone?"

Her princess would always avoid the topic of love or marriage, even the topic earlier, she expected the princess to ignore her words. Yet, she heard a reply. Dawn couldn't be more happy knowing that her princess is starting to show such interest, but she became worried as well. She didn't know who the princess have taken a liking to, and if that person is someone not fitted for her. Dawn Resolved herself that she would do all she can to prevent her princess's suffering even if she come to hate her.

Determination filled her heart, and she followed the princess towards the carriage, they entered together and the carriage began to move.

"My Lady, is it Sir. Amon? or Sir Greg?"

Dawn asked, she looked straight at the princess her eyes filled with curiosity. If it were a different noble, such actions would receive extreme punishment, such disrespect is not allowed for the nobility and royalty. But her princess ignored her actions and asked back.

"What are you talking about?"

"Who have you taken a liking to, My Lady? Is it Sir. Amon of the Freagul County? Or is it Sir. Greg of the Urman Marquisate?"

Both names that she spoke about were notable names. Two prominent knights well-versed in magic and of great statuses. Almost all the people in the Capital know their names, that's how prodigious they are. They also have good looks that many noblewoman desired in for a man, including Dawn herself. They can only be said to be below the First Prince's in terms of it. Their strength were also recognized by the Guardian Knight himself, Count Vinceral. They were also the top candidates for the Second Princess's fiancée when she have yet to change to her current character.

So if there are men that one could be interested in, inside the capital. Those two names was natural to come up. Yet her princess's words made her confused.

"Who are they?"

She asked, tilting her head slightly. Her eyes shows no ripple what so ever and her tone indicates that she really doesn't recognized such names.

"My Lady?"

Dawn who didn't comprehend her princess's words asked. It was just that dumbfounding, Dawn knew that there are no nobles in the Kingdom who does not know their names.

"Don't you remember Sir. Amon and Sir. Greg? They were the top candidates for My Lady's hand and marriage"

"Oh? There were such people?"

"You've also met them a few times before My Lady. Surely you have not forgotten them?"

"..."

"My Lady..."

Dawn having received the silent treatment pursed her lips. She knew that when her princess decided to not speak, she would do so until she decided to speak again. Silence permeated inside the carriage, the two didn't speak any further and just listened to the outside noise.

''Middle Ring'? What are we doing in such place?'

Dawn realizing that they weren't going to the usual place that her princess visits, frowned upon realizing where they were. It isn't unusual for the member of the Memphis Royalty to visit the outer rings, but due to their conversation earlier, Dawn couldn't helped but overthink.

'Are we visiting the person My Lady is interested in? No, that can't be. My Lady have not interact with other nobles her age. Then why?'

Dawn could only try to guess their destination, but as a servant that only lived in the palace for almost all her life, she doesn't know the ins and outs of the Rings. After a few more minutes, they finally arrived infront of a great manor. Servants lined up from each side of the gate and a man with messy dark-blue hair and gentle purple eyes, his well chiseled body stood infront of all the servants. A man famed for his great deeds and achievements, the Guardian of the Memphis Royalty, the Sixth Legion Commander, Count Rudolf Von Vinceral.

"I, Count Rudolf Von Vinceral greets her Highness the Second Princess, Eleonora Shuvan Ascorte Memphis. I'm grateful that you accepted my invitation"

"I'm thankful for the invitation Count Vinceral"

The two as per etiquette, greeted each other.

"Well, why don't we go in first?"

With his signal the princess entered the huge manor followed by Dawn and the female knights. They might be inside the Guardian's abode, but they can't let their guard down. For Dawn and the other servants an knights, this is their first time to enter another noble's house aside from their master. Their tension increases further knowing that it's the most known household in the Kingdom.

Dawn seeing the fidgeting of the female knights upon seeing their Grand Commander up close, sigh. The maids were the same as they are fans of the Count, and his heroic deeds in the past wars. And the Count knowing or not knowing their tension, he spoke.

"Have you met him yet, your Highness?"

"Him?"

"...I see, you have not"

"Who are you referring to, Sir Rudolf?"

"Nobody. Your Highness, nobody"

"...Is it someone I do not need to know? or some one I could not know?"

"Hmm... You'll met him someday your Highness"

"..."

"Shall we talk as we eat?"

With those words, they finally reached the dining room. Chairs filled either sides of the long table, and dishes filled each plates.

"Why don't you join us?"

The count said, signaling for the princess's servants to sit down as well. The servants who couldn't refused immediately sat down, stiff was them that they did not even dared to move. The Count seeing their reactions burst out laughing.

"Pfft, PUHAHAHAHAH! Don't be so tense, it's not like this will be your last meals. Please join this old-man for a quick meal"

The servants and knights that accompanied their princess simultaneously looked towards Dawn and their master. Dawn was perplexed but seeing the head butler's nod, she nod her head and the princess did so as well.

"My apologies for the Count's attitude. He just wanted to eat with others today since he's alone once again"

The head butler - James whispered to Dawn. She nod her head and looked at the Count. She knew the tragic past that transpired through the Count's family, and understood why they were allowed to sit along with them. Then she remembered the Count's words earlier.

'Have you seen him yet?'

Dawn was sure, that she knew the person the Count was referring to. She wanted to confirm her doubts on the young man, but when she was about to raise her question a person suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Making the female knights draw their blades, the maids shock, Dawn and the Princess despite knowing their existence were also stunned but only for a moment.

"Put down your blades"

The count ordered the knights, his voice calm and gentle. The female knights did as they were told and lowered their blades, but didn't sheath it.

"What is it?"

"We've found the black-haired outside the capital. We suspected that he's leaving"

"Black... I see. Track him, and if he did leave the capital... Just let him be. But when he returned inform me immediately"

Upon the Count's words, the man disappeared once again without a word of confirmation.

"Let's eat"

The knights and maids, as well as the princess and Dawn were reluctant to return to their meals, but upon seeing the Count eating again, they resumed. They couldn't be disrespectful as to ignore the Count's generosity.

Though she was eating. Dawn's head was in chaos upon hearing the words 'Black-haired'

'Black-haired... I only know one person with that characteristic... But why is leaving the capital? He didn't even showed himself to the princess, and didn't answer our questions. Is he a spy? Has he gotten what he need and is now leaving the capital? But, why did the Count said to let him be...?"

"It seems a few of you know the person mentioned earlier"

The Count said as he sliced the meat on his plate.

"But, rest assured. He's not a spy or anything. I can vouched for that"

"... Who is that person. Sir Rudolf?"

"Well, Let's just say that he's someone that I wasn't able to shake"

"What do you mean?"

"I think Your Highness would be able to understand my words, when you meet him"

"I have no interest in meeting him"

"I see. Well I guess this is good as well"

With those words the Count continue his meal. The people around him looked confused, but Dawn who saw and interacted with the person himself, knew to some extent what the count meant. A person that does not show emotions in his face, but unlike her princess, his was greater, yet he cares for the other maids and knights every time he showed up.

Time passed and after their meals, the Count led them to the training ground deeper inside the manor.

"As Your Highness must've read in the letter. His Majesty have given me orders to train you in swordsmanship and other weapons"

The Count said, picking a wooden blade from the stack of blade on the field.

"So, from today on. I'll be going to Your Highness's mansion to train you and your Knights and maids as well"

"Then why have Sir Rudolf ask me to come to his abode instead?"

"Nothing much. I plan to beat Your Highness until your at death's door today you see... I can't risk others seeing that"

Sssk! Sssk!

Hearing the Count's words, the knights guarding the princess draw their blades.

"Sir Count. You're crossing the line"

"We can't allow such words to pass even if it came from you Sir"

The knights said, pointing their blades towards the Count. He then smiled and continue.

"I just plan to know Her Highness's limit. And I can't do that, if I didn't destroy her to that extent"

"...Who ordered you to do so?"

"Your Highness. Don't misunderstand, this is how I, Rudolf Von Vinceral, Grand Commander of the Knights and The Commander of Sixth Legion, train his students"

"I see. Back down"

Upon the princess words the knights withdraw their blades. Dawn was surprised as she saw the her princess's reaction.

'She's smiling...?'

"Sir Rudolf. Please teach me everything that you could teach"

"I plan to do so. But before that, Why don't you change your clothes? It wouldn't be good to destroy your dress right?"