"Master wait!" Majic called after Orphen. "I'm so sorry Miss Mariabelle!".

"No, it's alright Majic," she said, sighing. By now everyone had left the dinner table and Orphen had once again ruined dinner. Just like every other time he visited.

"Miss Mariabelle...? Why are you so angry with Master?" Majic asked. Mariabelle was silent for a few moments.

"Majic..."she said, then sighed.

"I'm sorry Miss Mariabelle. Am I intruding?" Majic said, standing.

"No, no. Stay, and I can explain it all. It would do me good to talk about it." Mariabelle said, smiling sadly at her only remaining dinner guest.

"Alright...if it's okay with you," Majic said cautiously, then sat. He had been a witness to Cleao's mood swings in her youth far too often to let down his guard around another who looked so like her.

"Majic, the reason why I get so angry...the reason," she attempted.

"It's okay if you're not ready to tell anyone," Majic said gently. She slammed her fist on the table and Majic nearly jumped.

"No! I have to say it," she said, determination in her misty eyes." Majic, Orphen is right. I was jealous of Cleao when I learned that she was pregnant with Orphen's child. I kept thinking, if it had been me who went on the journey, I might have been where Cleao is now. In Orphen's heart. I thought that Orphen and I had a connection but I was presumptuous. I wish I had come to my senses sooner, before she came back to us-expecting," Majic's eyes widened.

He mentally scolded himself. How could he have not figured it out! The one night at the end of their journey when Cleao insisted he stay with his father and tell him about the journey. And when Cleao hadn't been at her mansion when she said she would be. Majic realized he was a blind , naiive fool. How could he have not noticed that seven years ago? And then how the two of them disappeared for a day every time they visited.

"Are you still in love with master?" he suddenly asked. Mariabelle looked up, and a dark yet remorse expression covered her face.

"No. I was so jealous. I tried to marry her off to rich bachelors before she began to show. My jealousy killed the love in my heart. I was arranged to marry someone else, I had no hopes of capturing Orphen's heart. But none would accept her , she was too fiery and the there were the rumours..." Mariabelle responded.

"Rumours?" Majic asked.

"Yes. A young man was here to propose to Cleao, but his mother came with him. She was a seer. She knew that Cleao was pregnant the moment they met. And she told her son, who left. Any man who attempted to propose and was rejected contributed to the rumours in their spite. And I remember," Mariabelle began but took a deep breath to calm herself. "I remember I was so angry. I remember thinking 'She deserves it'".

"But Miss Mariabelle, you weren't in your right mind. You didn't actually mean any of it," Majic tried to comfort.

"But now...now that Sachi wants to leave, I realize that even I will miss her. I'm her Aunt. And I hated the way she looked like Orphen. Now that she's leaving...I'm so sorry for everything I have done Sachi..." she said, covering her face with her hands and she began to sob.

"Mariabelle..."he said sadly.

"Excuse my behaviour Majic. But thank you for talking to me," she said, suddenly standing and leaving the room. Her long blonde locks covered her face and any chance for Majic to visibly see her crying but he could tell she was nonetheless.

(a/n)

wow!A reviewer! jumps for joy (no pun intended)

chichi5- thank you so much! It gladdens me to know someone is reading this at last! exasperated sigh I was so worried it wouldn't hit off with the readers! But if I have provided entertainment for just one reader... gets all emotion-y and turns away

... R&R! ...