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I hope everyone's doing fine! Enjoy this chapter as much as you enjoyed the others...!
CHP 4: A Threat
Silver tied the ribbon around her neck as Gaul had explained. She stared at herself in the mirror. The door of her room flung opened abruptly and Rouge entered. She smiled to the young maid.
"It's almost time to serve Gaul-sama's tea. He said he wanted to have it in the library today," Rouge explained.
"O-Okay…" Silver replied.
The girl walked to the kitchen with a smile on her face. It has been two days since Gaul had given her the ribbon. Although he showed no sign that he was happy when she started wearing it, Silver knew he was. He never complained when the Genoise asked the girl to join in their training anymore.
Sighing, she said, "At least, that's a start…he still ignores me at times though."
She got to the kitchen. She took the usual tray she used. Then, she took a piece of cake that was put on a plate, ready for Gaul. Then, she took a cup and a saucer. Annette put a teapot full of warm tea unto the tray too.
"Be careful," she said to the young maid.
Nodding, she replied, "I will, Annette-san."
Annette was a chubby maid who wore a hair net and seemed to be the oldest. She was the second-in-command in the kitchen. Rouge is her granddaughter.
Silver made her way carefully and slowly to the library which was on the second floor. She met the Genoise on her way and they joined her.
"E-Excuse me…" she said, opening the door of the library.
Gaul grinned to her. However, when he saw the three, his lips immediately curved into an annoyed frown. Silver served his tea while the three sat in front of him, observing what he was doing.
"Y-Your tea…G-Gaul-sama…" Silver said nervously, holding out the saucer with the cup full of tea on it.
"Just put it on the table," Gaul replied.
Silver did as told. Jaune and the other two watched them simultaneously.
"So, so, Silver-chan! How was your date with Gaul-sama that day we left you?" Vert suddenly asked.
The two blushed furiously in an instant. Silver held the tray in her hand tighter, at the same time as Gaul gripped the book in his hands tighter as well. The maid rolled her eyes.
"I-It's not a date…you d-deliberately left me there…" she stammered.
"Yeah! You three lied to me about having lunch together there!" Gaul exclaimed angrily.
"But you two enjoyed it..." Noir teased with a smile.
"Yeah. He even bought you a ribbon~!" Jaune hummed.
The two couldn't stop blushing. Silver abruptly excused herself to escape more upcoming questions. The three rushed to follow her. Gaul heaved a sigh of relief. He picked up the cup of tea. He stared at his reflection inside the tea.
"Why am I thinking if her?!" he exclaimed before taking a sip of the tea.
"Am I interrupting you?" a familiar voice startled him.
Gaul turned to his sister. Leo sat opposite of him, observing his expression.
"Where did take her a few days ago?" she asked.
"W-What do you mean?!" Gaul asked.
Leo smirked and hummed, "She is wearing something that is not a part of uniform. I thought you might have an idea about it..."
Gaul pouted at his sister's reaction. He started to tell his story.
"Ah, Silver-chan... What are you doing out here?" Annette asked the girl.
The girl was sitting on a bench in the garden, as if waiting for someone. Silver stood up and bowed to her superior. She explained that she was a taking a bit rest after sweeping the dried leaves.
"I see...is there anything troubling you?" the old woman as if she could read Silver's mind.
Silver stared at the sky. "I was just thinking about someone..." she muttered.
Annette smiled at the girl. Silver kept on looking at the sky. The old woman excused herself after a few minutes. Silver walked to another side of the garden where there were still some dried leaves. She took the rake and started raking the leaves. She gathered them in one big pile. Once she was done, it was almost dinner time.
"I have to hurry!" she said, rushing back to the kitchen.
"Silver, you're almost late," Rogue said to the girl.
She apologized as she washed her hands. After drying them off, she quickly gathered all the ingredients for Gaul's dinner. The menu that night was stir fry and roasted chicken.
"For a young prince, Gaul-sama sure eats a lot..." she sighed.
Once they were done, she rushed to the dining room but there was no one there. She set the food on the table and then, looked around. Gaul and Leo were nowhere to be found. She wondered where they were. Then, she heard familiar voices and they got louder and louder.
"Silver-chan!" Vert was the first to burst into the dining room.
"Y-Yes?" the girl stuttered.
"We can't find Gaul-sama anywhere!" Jaune was to burst.
"Eh?!" Silver exclaimed.
The search for Gaul began. Leo was helping out too. It was weird for her brother to get lost in his own home. Silver looked for him in the garden. She couldn't find anyone at all.
"Hello there...a girl like you should not be out at such an hour..." a voice was heard behind a few tall trees.
"W-Who's there?" Silver stammered.
"Oh...I'm just passing by..." a man came out from his hiding spot.
The man had the same silver hair as she did. He also had matching eyes that it frightened her. He smirked to Silver who backed away. She scanned for guards but there was not one present.
"I can see that you're a very important person to Gaul-sama..." the man said, taking a few steps closer to Silver.
The girl tried to back away as he did. She wanted to run but her legs were frozen in place. She could not move at all. Before she could cry for help, his right hand was covering her mouth. She widened her eyes as tears were forcing to come out.
"You can be useful for me..." the man said.
He pushed her onto the ground and hovered over her. Silver screamed.
"That's enough fooling around," Gaul's voice was heard.
"Well, well, well...if it isn't the prince..." the man said, smirking confidently.
Gaul growled and glared at the man. The Genoise appeared. Jaune kicked the man off from Silver. Noir helped her up to her feet. Vert and Jaune tied the man up.
"Take him to the dungeon. Tell Ane-ue about this," Gaul ordered.
"Yes!" Jaune nodded.
The two pulled the man with them. The man had his eyes on Silver the whole time until he was out of sight.
"Who was he? Why did he have matching hair and eyes with you?" Noir whispered to her.
Silver shook her head. "I don't know..." Silver replied, before collapsing.
"Silver-chan!" the black cat exclaimed.
Gaul rushed up to them. He stared worriedly at the girl. Before he could pick her up, his sister came up to them. She took the girl into her arms. She could see a single tear at the corner of her right eye. She told the two that Silver should take a break for a few days. Gaul and Noir nodded. They went inside after that.