They should have really known better than to leave Katarina on her own.
Today has been a collective disappointment for every one of them, though they know that this day will come sooner or later. Being a member of the student council surely has privileges but all those benefits have an attached obligation. Duties that they have tried to set aside as much as possible. With this unspoken competition to which everyone is committed, no one is willing to give any of their rivals an inch, even if that means procrastinating just to have extra time to spend with Katarina. Skipping work once or twice is alright but as the work piles up (Much to the unspoken dismay of Sirius) they have to spend a day to work and finish them once and for all.
There's also this dirty trick to which you will have to find 'reasons' to delegate your work to another member. Not only do you get to lessen your work, but you also get your victim to spend less time (and hopefully) influencing their angel's heart.
Gerald is not having any of that today though. He has the work equally distributed today and the only way to leave that door is to have all of the assigned work done perfectly. The work was already segregated yesterday, but with Katarina joining them, needless to say, no work was done that day.
With the dirty trick out, it didn't take long for them to figure out a different method to mess with each other. This time, it's to point out as many corrections they can spot with each other's work to prevent or delay anyone from departing early. Chaotic as it may, cruel even, but it does effectively improve everyone's output. Unfortunately, this also ended up with them unable to finish their work today. The sun is about to set and it's about time that they have vacant the place. Everyone agrees to just take their remaining work back to their dorms.
None of them returned directly to their rooms though.
"Aren't you guys going straight to your rooms?" Keith asked as they passed the entrance of the dormitory building and none of them turned to get inside.
"Oh my! Master Keith, I can say the same for you." Mary retorted "Didn't you complain earlier that you were exhausted from all the paperwork? Perhaps you should retire early today. As in right now."
"I have to get to my sister first. Ms. Anne has errands to run so my sister is probably alone in her field right now. As a family, it's my responsibility to look after her." Keith defended. "You, on the other hand, have no further business with my sister for today, so you should go back to your rooms."
"Right, you are family," Mary replied with a grin. "Lady Katarina is surely blessed to have you as her brother."
Everyone noticed her emphasis on the 'brother' part of her sentence. Keith glared at her to which she simply shrugged.
"In that case, I should also check on her." Prince Gerald claimed. "As her fiance, it is also my responsibility to secure her wellbeing." The third prince claimed proudly. Keith switches his glare to him and Mary follows suit. It's the only thing they ever agreed upon.
"For now..." Mary and Keith silently murmur.
"Lady Katarina tends to bruise her hands when farming. I'll be glad to heal her of her injuries." Maria commented in an almost whisper, that she is still not completely used to her current company.
"I think it's fine that we all go. We told Lady Katarina that we were coming so she would expect us all." Sophia reasoned, breaking the tension out of everyone.
Her older brother smiled and nodded at her.
"Oh my!" Mary gasped "Poor Lady Katarina, she's probably sad and lonely right now."
"On the contrary, I think she'll be fine," Alan responded calmly "I bet that she's too occupied to even notice the time, and without Miss Anne, she'll probably keep tending to her field until it's completely dark."
Maria is worried about the fourth prince's comment but everyone agrees with his statement so she just remains silent.
As they pass through the last turn and into the final treeline, they now have a clear view of Katarina's field. Mary dashes to the front of the group, wanting to be the first one to greet her idol. "Lady Ka-!" She choked on air, surprised by what she had just seen.
The same reaction is shared by the rest of the group.
There are three figures on Katarina's field.
One is obviously their angel in her green farming suit with her shiny chestnut hair tied in a ponytail.
The other figure is a gigantic white owl wearing a gray saddle. Despite it having its back lowered, the owl was undeniably large.
Nevertheless, it is not the imposing avian that puts everyone on alarm but the third figure. A tall stranger, presumably a man based on his physique, wearing different panoplies of white except for his face which was covered with a black mask. This stranger has the audacity to pat Lady Katarina's head.
'ARE THOSE FLOWERS?!'
'WHAT IS HE DOING?'
'DID SHE JUST CHARM ANOTHER ONE?'
'TSK, REALLY?'
Those were the different thoughts that were running through everyone's mind. Some stranger petting Katarina's head is already bad enough, and seeing that Katarina appears to be enjoying it fueled the fire further. Before they know it, they are already running at full speed.
They yell in hopes of getting her attention to no avail. In the meantime, the stranger already left. He climbed up onto the owl's back the bird shot up into the sky while Katarina waved at him goodbye.
"Lady Katarina!"
"Sister!"
"Katarina!"
Finally, she looks into them, although she appears to be surprised and confused about their presence.
"Hello!" She greets them. "Are you guys alright?" She approaches Keith and wipes the sweat on his forehead with her handkerchief.
Keith was taken aback but offered no resistance.
"What's the hurry? Did something happen? Is anyone hurt?"
"We're alright!" Mary answered. She embraces Katarina's arm, successfully separating the two siblings.
"Yes, we are all good." Geordo calmly follows Mary's lead by grabbing Keith on his shoulder, fighting the urge to hurl him away. He's not sure if he actually can but he surely wants to try. Anyway, they already have a more important matter at hand. "Moreover, who is that... that you were talking to?"
"Oh, he's...no!" Katarina stopped, her eyes widening as her face expressed shock.
"..." Everyone gulped, waiting for her to finish her sentence.
Katarina raises her free hand and snaps her fingers, "I completely forgot to ask his name!"
A resounding clap from simultaneous facepalms could be heard after her declaration.
"Lady Katarina!" Katarina once again hears a surely familiar voice calling her from behind. She immediately turns around and sees her maid calmly approaching.
"Anne!" She calls back. "Here!" Then gave Anne the bouquet she was holding. "They beautiful, right?"
"Yes." Anne genuinely agrees, looking into the flower which she immediately identified. It's a blue moon orchid.
This however brought the question of who gifted this flower. Most of Lady Katarina's friends should have known by now that her mistress is not that much into things that usually impress typical ladies of her age. It's well known that they would probably get a better reaction from her if they presented her with a huge pumpkin or a cluster of tomatoes instead of flowers. It could be Miss Maria as she is the latest addition to the group and is not yet fully accustomed (or even aware, hopefully) of Lady Katarina's eccentricities but that answer is very unlikely. The flower used in the bouquet is known not only for its beauty but also for its usefulness and most of all, its rarity. It's close to impossible to cultivate and extremely difficult to find that even if you found a cluster of flowers, only a couple of them at most would be emitting the famous beautiful blue light that the flower is known for. Also, a good flower of this is also known as an ingredient for a high-class potion thus it's obvious that this outrageous flower is very valuable. The bouquet has about 3 bundles, each having at least 5 flowers on them. Not only that they all show the perfect traits, but the flowers were also larger than usual. In total, this bouquet would surely fetch a price not less than 100 gold. It's a rough estimate and Lady Mary would surely be able to provide a more accurate evaluation. Still, it is undeniably a very expensive item. Knowing her background as a commoner, it is highly unlikely that the flowers come from her. Besides, she already has her baking skills that produce the same or even better results.
She then looks at her mistress's 'friends' to identify gifted the said 'bouquet'. They are discussing among themselves yet their focus is still locked on them.
No, not from them. They are looking at the flowers, leering even.
This only means that the flower is from someone else entirely.
"Where did you get this from, milady?" She asked.
"There was someone who helped me a while ago and we were hanging out until just now. You barely missed him." Her lady answered.
"Does this someone have a name, milady?"
"I kinda...completely forgot to ask his name, hehehe" Her mistress cutesily scratches the back of her head as she admits.
"Is he from this school?" Anne continued to ask, knowing that she had to get to the bottom of this. She took a passing glance at each of her mistress's friends and they seemed as well eager to know the answer. "Perhaps another one of your classmates?"
"No, he said that he just snuck in here so I think he's from out-" She stopped herself by covering her mouth, eyes both wide upon realization of what she just said.
Anne can't help but mirror her mistress's expression. Not that Lady Katarina met an outsider and has not reported it to the school authorities, but she also openly admits that she had harbored the stranger. Should any other people have known of this, they would be in deep trouble as Lady Katarina may have jeopardized the dormitory's safety, albeit unknowingly. Fortunately, one of the benefits of her lady having practically the most influential people in school around is that they will willingly and easily cover up this whole fiasco.
"Milady, you know that you should not speak with strangers. You could have been in danger!"
"I'm not!" Lady Katarina argues. "I'm sure he's not a bad person. He even she saved me from falling when I was harvesting a carrot. Twice!"
The air around them suddenly becomes heavy upon her declaration but it was right away broken by Prince Alan's laughter upon hearing their friend's story.
"A carrot beat you, twice?" He mocked, though he was immediately stopped from commenting further as he felt the elbow of his fiance hit her side.
"It was a large carrot in irregular shape." Katarina crouches to pick the carrot from the picnic blanket and shows it to everyone. "Look!"
"That vegetable indeed looks wonderful." Praised Sofia.
"See! This is a good one. I'm excited to harvest the rest of them tomorrow!"
"Well, since we have a break from class tomorrow, let me help you harvest them." Prince Gerald stepped forward and offered his help.
"That won't be necessary, Prince Gerald." Keith intercepts the third prince's approach "I'm sure you have something better to do, yes? Like those papers you are carrying."
"Oh, this? This will not be a problem as I'm sure I can have them easily done later. Besides, It's only right that I take priority of helping my FIANCE." Gerald argued.
"But you'll definitely need some rest after all of your hard work. Please don't worry about my sister. I'm sure that I ALONE would be enough help to harvest those carrots. I am an earth mage after all. " Keith countered.
Both of them were smiling but everyone, with the exception of Katarina, could see the sparks of lightning between the two.
The lady in question, on the other hand, has a completely different view of what's happening.
'There won't be school tomorrow, perhaps Prince Gerald would have nothing to do, so he doesn't want to be left out ?' Katarina thought.
"It's alright Keith, Prince Gerald will surely be a great help!" She taps her brother's shoulder a couple of times reassuring him, then he grabs Prince Geralds's hand with both of hers. "Thank you, Prince Gerald! I'll be expecting you tomorrow, I'm sure we're going to have fun harvesting those carrots!" She thanked him with a very flashing smile on her face.
"Y-yes. We definitely will!" He stuttered but immediately recovered as he flashed his own and grinned victoriously.
"We will come to help as well!"
"Me too!"
"I would like to come as well... if it's alright."
"I would like to go as well, but I will finish this paperwork first."
A chorus of offers rose from their other friends except Nicol who just smiled and remained silent beside her sister that is eagerly pulling his arm.
"Sure! The more the merrier!" Lady Katarina accepted.
And just like that, everyone once again got sidetracked and the issue was now overlooked.
Before they all separated, ms. Anne apologizes once more on behalf of her mistress before escorting her back to their own room to clean up. Unexpectedly, the group let them go easily unlike the usual of which they join them until before the very doorstep of the eldest Claes's room. This time, everyone just bid their goodbyes and went on their way. It's odd, but nothing to be alarmed with so she did not think of it further and focused on catering to her mistress's needs instead. She has to get Lady Katarina cleaned before dinner.
Mary Hunt has just finished freshening up herself and is now sitting alone in her room enjoying a cup of tea. On the table, sitting beside the tea set is a sealed white envelope which she's contemplating whether to open or not.
The reason for this is that this mail is not hers. In fact, the letter is addressed only to a 'My Fair Lady', and while she is confident that she herself will fit into that description, she honestly knows that this 'fair lady' described here is not her.
Why?
Because this letter is one she swiftly stole from the bouquet that Lady Katarina was holding.
Common courtesy dictates that she should have not opened this but given that the letter was already in her hands, she way crossed that line already. What Lady Katarina doesn't know would not hurt her. As for the stranger, it is too bad for him to not know how fierce the competition he just joined.
Does she feel bad about doing this? Definitely not.
All is fair in love and war, after all.
"How was your day, milady?" Anne inquired, not to start an idle conversation but with genuine concern of knowing more of what happened today. Lady Katarina has just finished her bath she is currently helping her get dressed in her pajamas.
"I have a great day today! I..." Her mistress answered. The words stared jolly as she usually is but she sure felt a hint of solemnity. "... Anne, would you believe me if I say that this has been the best day I have ever?"
"Aint that a little exaggerated, Milady?"
"Well, perhaps but... " Lady Katarina paused and looked outside the window. "I am so glad that I met Shiro-san."
"Didn't you say that you did not get the stranger's name?"
"Yes, so I am calling him Shiro-san for now."
"Syieero...san?"
"Because he's wearing a lot of white." Her mistress continued to stare dreamily at the scenery outside.
"..." Anne does not know what the relation between the color white and the name her mistress has given to the stranger, but that is not important right now. What worries her right now is what is currently on Lady Katarina's face. She had seen this expression from her mistress before but only for the topic of food, never of person. This is the first and only time that she has been like this because of someone. If any of her friends, or at worse, Prince Gerald or Lady Hunt see this, that stranger will have a target painted on his back.
"Milady, you are kind and friendly, but you should really be careful around strangers, especially those who just suddenly appear and act close to you." She warned her mistress.
"I know that Anne, but I don't think that Shiro-san has bad intentions. He helped me and even gave ... stuff that I never thought I could ever have!"
"Those flowers are really valuable milady. They are surely expensive and rare but they are not impossible to procure. We found one long ago in the woods behind the mansion." She reminded her.
"Yes, I remember exactly that!"
"See?" She proves her point. "I'm afraid to ask but, did this 'Cherro-san' ask anything in return?"
"Uck!" Katarina chokes and coughs.
"Milady?" She asked again, now with a strict but worried tone as her mistress may probably have messed up more than than she thought. "What did the stranger ask for?"
She saw her take a deep breath before answering. "... Uhmm... You."
"Huh?" Perhaps she just mis-
"He asked about you..." Lady Katarina answered. She breaks her stare at the window and turns around to face her.
Anne was dumbfounded.
"He's looking for you when he arrives in my field. He saved me from falling twice and helped me harvest a carrot. Then we had a small picnic while waiting for you."
"You even dine with him? Milady yo-"
"Neee-sama!" She called her by that again. Anne doesn't exactly know what those words are but she assumes it is from the gibberish language her mistress used to speak back then when she was little. She was a little suspicious about it at first but got used to it not long after. She may not know the meaning of those words but it never sounded mean. In fact, Lady Katarina would only use those words with extreme affection.
Just like now, although she detected that same solemnity from her mistress' voice just like a while ago.
"I am not smart, but I know to be suspicious of strangers. I would have not accepted if it was just any other people." Katarina reasoned.
"I-a... I'm sorry, milady." She apologies.
"Besides, I assume you know him? You have given him your handkerchief!"
"..." Confused, she can only look at her and raise an eyebrow.
"NEEEEEE-SAMA! " This time, Lady Katarina grabs her hands and looks at her enthusiastically. "C'mon! You don't have to be shy and hide it, Nee-sama! There are only two of us here. I promise I won't tell anyone!"
"Milady, I really don't know what you are talking about. " She insisted. "I don't recall giving anything to anyone."
"Well, you didn't exactly give it, you went past him and dropped it in front of him," Katarina explains.
'That explains why I'm missing one of my...' "I did what?!"
"You dropped your handkerchief in front of him," Katarina answered. "Honestly, I never thought you had it in you, Nee-sama!"
'Because I haven't!' Anne screams through her mind. Lady Katarina is still staring at her with a wide grin on her face. This is probably one of her mistress's pranks. "You got me, milady. This is funny! hahaha..." She let out a suspenseful laugh.
"Nee-sama," This time, it's her lady who is staring at her with her eyebrow raised. "I am not joking. Shiro-san is looking for you. He even brought flowers. You said it was beautiful."
"Flowers?..." She points to the orchids that are now resting in the ceramic vase. "You mean those flowers, milady? Arent those...yours?"
"No its not. That's Shiro-san's gift. He asked me to hand them to you." Lady Katarina answered. "You missed each other by just a couple of minutes!"
She still hopes that this is just a prank and that her mistress is just playing fun with her, but those flowers pull the idea dramatically to the 'It is real' side. No one in their right mind would give such a glamorous and valuable item to a simple maid.
Right?
"So... How did you know him? What is his actual name?" Her lady pleads, almost begging for a satisfying answer.
"Milady, I believe this is a mistake." She has to set this straight right away. Knowing how talented her mistress is when it comes to miscommunications, this will surely end in something troublesome if not mended immediately " I do not know him, or any about this."
"But I've seen you did. It's in the town, in front of the odd grey building with swords."
"You saw me?" Anne wondered what Lady Katarina meant, and the building she described seemed to be the adventurers guild. She went to that part of the town a couple of days ago for another errand. Now that she recalls it, she indeed lost her handkerchief that day.
"Yes, I mean no-" Her lady retracted her words "I mean, the napkin. Yes, that! He showed it to me and I'm uh... sure that it's yours. That!"
Anne can tell that her mistress is not being completely honest right now. Lady Katarina was not a very good liar, but she could worry about it later.
"I cannot confirm if that is what happened milady. I don't have any recollection of doing that. But if it is, I assure you that it is an accident. " She explained, " I did not have such intentions, nor that I have any!"
Instead of being pacified, however, it seems that her mistress's excitement just increased further upon hearing her explanation. Lady Katarina stared at her surprised for a few seconds before letting out a giggle followed by a joyful screech. Then she grabbed a pillow, embraced it, planted her face into it, and continued screaming.
She also heard him saying something but the pillow muffled her voice so Anne could only get a few of them. Something about 'Side Story' and 'Easter Egg'. Whatever those means.
Anne couldn't help but worry about her mistress. It has been a few minutes now but Lady Katarina's excitement is yet to waver. She is still rolling back and forth on the bed with pillows in her arms. The hair that she worked on to fix just a while ago is once again a mess and tangled. She would have to redo those later.
It is also getting late. If this keeps on going, they may end up having a noise complaint...Again.
"Lady Katarina, please, you should calm down." She requested her, but she was surprised at her mistress reaction. Lady Katarina suddenly stands and pulls her into a hug.
"Nee-sama, whatever you decide to do. I will completely support you!" Her mistress declared.
Anne sighed. This is cheating as there's no way she can argue with her further if she is being like this. "Thank you milady," She returned the hug. "And I swear to do the same for you as well."
Katarina looked up at her without breaking their embrace and started it again. "Yes!, so... will you tell me now?" Her mistress asked again.
The situation repeated over and over through the night yet it ended with Anne still failing to clear the idea from her lady's mind.
"So what's in the letter?" The third prince asked his brother's fiance. They were currently helping Lady Katarina harvest the carrots in her field as they had promised. The field owner has stepped away for a moment to take the bushels of harvest under the shade of the nearby tree.
"What letter do you mean, Prince Gerald? I haven't got any letters recently..."
"We both know that you know what I meant, Lady Mary." Gerald retorted "And I do not have to say this but what you did is very inappropriate and you better not do it again."
"Oh? Then why didn't you say anything yesterday? Also, since what I did was apparently wrong, then you asking to know the contents of the letter should be wrong as well?" She responded.
Both were now staring at each other's faces with malicious smiles.
"It's one thing to be worried about her, but stealing that letter is still too much." The fourth prince interjected. It is unusual for him to side with his brother but there is no denying that he has a good point on that argument, or at least partially correct. "Besides, ain't it already obvious? It's just a typical love letter... or sorts?." Allen added further.
"Hmp!" Mary pouted, disappointed that her fiance didn't take her side. "Fine!" She sighed and gave up. "Prince Alan is right. It is indeed that kind of letter. Honestly, it's a little odd knowing that the letter is from a man. It's the ladies that typically do this."
"See? There's nothing to worry about." Alan reassured. "It is but the usual."
"Anything else?" Gerald asked.
"It is said in the letter that Lady Katarina dropped her handkerchief in front of him." Everyone was a little stunned, even Maria and the Ascart siblings who were not so secretly eavesdropping on them gasped
After a short while, a collective sigh was heard.
"Knowing her, it's probably an accident! HAHAHAHA..." Alan laugh.
"I'm back! Did something happen?" Katarina runs into them. She then turns to Alan to further inquire. "What's so funny?"
Alan just continues to laugh even further and the rest of the group could only shake their heads.
"How about you?"
"What about me?"
"Playing dumb doesn't suit you, Prince Gerald. I told you what's on that letter, it's only fair that you tell me what you found out."
"I don't know what you are talking about." He replied, not even bothering to look away from the papers he was working on.
"Please, knowing you, there surely people that went out there searching for that man, I won't even be surprised if some assassins too. It's been a couple of days now, surely you have some news, yes?"
"Touché. Has anyone told you that you know too much for your own good, Lady Mary?" Finally looking at his adversary.
"Bite me."
The third prince drops his pen and sighs. He then looks at Mary and the rest of the gang which were also staring at him, clearly waiting for what he is about to say. Maria refills his cup with freshly brewed tea but remains in her position near him, waiting for him to speak as well.
"The man is only known as 'Silvers', apparently, he works as a receptionist in the Adventurers guild." Gerald then took a sip from his cup.
Everyone remains silent, still watching and waiting for his next words. He put his cup back in its place on the table and remained silent as well.
"That's it?" Keith asked disappointedly.
"Disappointingly, I know." He answered.
"Have your men... you know... asked the guild?" Alan interjects.
"Of course they did." Gerald looked at his brother. "Surprisingly, the guild's lips were tightly sealed. Those little that we know are from a few adventurers who were bribed rather heavily. As for the man himself, no one was able to find him."
"That is very suspicious," Nicol commented.
Everyone nods in agreement.
"However, we can't take any further actions until we know more. Even if it's just the dorm's backyard, that man was still able to successfully sneak in without being noticed. With such, I trust everyone to keep an eye around Katarina for anything suspicious." Gerald instructed. "As much as I want to do it all myself, I know that I cannot be with my fiance every time."
Alan stared at his twin brother warmly. Those words were something he would never expect to come from Gerald, at least on how he knew him back when they were still a kid. He used to see him as that infallible perfect child who excels on his own, yet now he hears him speak humbly and ask for help. There is also himself, willingly lending his support, something that he would surely not do as well if this were the old times.
They really changed, odd as it may, but it feels like those changes are surely for the better.
"Speaking of which, where is Lady Katarina?" Sophia questioned.
And just as she asks, they hear a couple of knocks from the door before it opens with Katarina coming in with a paper bag hand.
"Hello everyone!" She then presented them with a bag she was holding. "These were the cookies that I mentioned before, I finally got a pack before they all sold out!"
"... I can hardly read the examples during the lecture, what would I do with those that are in our homework?" Katarina complained, holding a piece of paper with runic inscriptions on them.
The gang is currently walking on their way back to the dormitory after a usual school day. Most if not all of the urgent and pending works on the council were already taken care of in the past couple of days so they can once again use their post-school time at their leisure. This time, to help Katarina with their rune homework.
"It's alright Lady Katarina, those runic characters were not easy to begin with. " Answered by Nicol "Even we had a hard time from it when we had it last year."
"Ehh?" Katarina groaned. "If it's difficult even for you. I'm definitely gonna flunk this!"
"I'm sure we can figure it out as long as we work together," Sophia reassures her.
The rest of the crew remained silent, with the exception of Nicol, everyone had a copy of the homework on their hands and was thoroughly studying it. Even Gerald and Maria, who the undeniably the smartest of the group are focusing.
'If I figure it out first, I will be the one to teach this to Lady/Katarina' A shared thought of everyone.
"I don't know about that. This really is something." Alan commented. "It's like a combination of multiple thoughts conjoined together despite being different from each other and having a single end."
"See! It just doesn't make sense!" Katarina yelled, childishly scratching her head in annoyance.
A sudden gust of wind blew and the girls instinctively protected their skirts from being blown up.
"My homework!" Katarina yelled again. Her paper slips from her hand and is carried on by the wind. Obviously, she chases after it.
Eyes locked on the flying piece of paper, Katarina continues to run after it not noticing that someone just come out from the the corner of the street.
"Watch out!" She heard her friends yell just as she caught her soaring homework. Only then that she realize that she was about to hit someone.
And she did.
"Oh?" The stranger grunted in surprise.
"Oof!" Katarina whimpered.
She was knocked back upon their collision. Bracing for her fall, she closes her eyes and expects herself to be hurt, only for that pain to never come. Instead, she felt a familiar sensation of an arm behind her back catching her.
A Deja Vu from a few days ago.
"Lady, you really ought to be careful." A familiar voice scolded her.
Slowly opening her eyes to glimpse at her savior, Katarina immediately recognized her masked-faced savior, or victim since she technically hit him.
The rest of the gang recognized the stranger as well and they are now rushing toward them.
"Shiro-san!" Katarina yelled. She goes back on her feet and jumps him, attempting to put him into an embrace. The stranger, on the other hand, does not return the sentiment as he dodges away from Katarina which makes the brunette shoot past him. Her momentum carries her a couple of steps away, making her almost fall to the ground again. Fortunately, she is able to regain her footing this time. She turns around to try it again but stops as she feels a flick on her forehead. "OW!" She halted, holding her forehead to nurse the sting.
"You just run into someone. The first thing you should do is to apologize, not jump on them." He reprimands her.
Katarina's friends were now close to them and of course, they did not like what just happened. It's one thing that the stranger is holding their beloved, but what immediately irates them is that the stranger raises his hand to Katarina. It may be a simple flick on the forehead but he hurt her nonetheless. No one hurts Katarina and gets away with it.
Except Duchess Claes of course, but it's a completely different matter.
The boys were immediately in the front, obviously wanting some blood from the man. Mary is with them too. Maria is not far behind, magic already flaring up to heal her idol.
Katarina on the other hand, just shrugs it off and continues to talk to the guy.
"But you're not hurt at all! I feel like I hit a pole or a tree" Katarina argued. Her tone bears no anger at all but a hint of familiarity and excitement. "You should be the one apologizing to me, as I'm the one who got hurt!" She added, putting her arms across in a proud pose. A stance that she immediately abandons as she feels a tightening grip on her nose. "AHHHHH!"
"Well I'm sorry milady, you hurt yourself by running into me." He apologizes sarcastically "My apologies as well for pinching your nose because you're being unreasonable."
"AHHHHH FYINE! I'Wm Sworrrty!" She apologized.
"Take your hands off my fiance!" Gerald ordered and grabbed the stranger's wrist. There was obvious anger in her voice and his eyes glaring at this man who continued to lay his hand on his fiance. He tries to yank the stranger's arm away but tremendously fails for the arm did not even budge a little.
Both Katarina and the stranger paused to look at him before looking back again at each other. The stranger then finally releases the lady's nose and Katarina briefly nurses it with her hand.
"It's alright, Prince Gerald, I'm perfectly fine," Katarina calms the blonde prince, pulling his hands away from the man. She looks and smiles at him for a bit, reassuring him that it is alright before returning her attention to the stranger.
"Who are you calling Shiro anyway?" The stranger asked, completely ignoring the prince. He is not unnerved in the slightest despite that he is in the presence, and, even crosses a royalty.
"Well, I forgot to ask your name, so I'm calling you that since you wear a lot of white," Katarina answered.
"I also didn't get your name, by that logic, should I be calling you Midori-chan since you were wearing green back then?" The stranger countered. "Wait, aho-chan seems better."
"HEY!" Katarina protested and hit the stranger in the arm playfully.
Sophia raised an eyebrow. The words of Katarina and the stranger piqued her interest. They kind of ring a bell in her mind but she can't figure out why.
"Lady Katarina, are you alright!" Maria worriedly asked as she got to Katarina and inspected her face, especially those that the stranger attacked. Surprisingly, there is no trace of any damage. Not even a little redding from being flicked or pinched.
"I'm alright, no need to worry, Maria," Katarina reassured her as well before shifting her attention to the stranger once again. "Hey, Shiro-san, are you off to visit?"
"Actually, yes. I hope it's not a bad time." He answered.
'Yes, it is!' Most of the clique thought yet none of them dared to voice it out.
"No, it's not!" She confirmed.
"We are heading back to the dormitory as well. You can come with us. Let's go!" Katarina, on the other hand, invited him. She even grabbed his arm and attempted to pull him.
The stranger didn't budge "I appreciate the offer, but"... He then gestured her towards the rest of her friends." You already have a company."
Still embracing his arm, Katarina looked at her friends and saw them all smiling at her. Not noticing the tremble of their eyes and lips in an effort to hide their ire. "Everyone, it's fine right?"
"...Yes"
"O-of course."
They reluctantly agreed.
Hidden behind her fiance, Mary is clenching her teeth in anger.
"It seems to me that you were already occupied." The man added.
"Just homework. We can still hang out after or even while we work on it."
"Right, you're a student." He freed his hand from her hold and turned to walk away. "I can visit some other time, I do not want to be a bother."
"You won't!." This time, she grabbed him by his waist, technically embracing him from behind.
"Sister! Don't cling to him like that...!"
"Katarina!"
"Lady Katarina!"
"WHAT!"
The gang yelled out flabbergasted. Sadly, their dejection went unnoticed due to Katarina's one-tracked mind, which is currently focused on the stranger.
"You're good with magic, surely you can help us up, right?" Katarina requested.
Before he can answer, they are interrupted by a loud growl from the direction of the rest of the gang.
"Is there a dog?" Katarina asked worryingly. She jumped behind the stranger for cover.
"No, just a very clingy and insensitive tabby." The stranger answered sarcastically.
"I don't see any cats."
"Let go and I'll show you."
"Okay." she loosened her embrace but immediately tightened it again. "Nope, I feel like you just gonna run away if I do."
"Tsk! Fine." He surrendered. "I'll help, but you owe me one, you hear?"
Katarina just winked.
It is then that Keith finally stepped in and separated her sister from the stranger.
"Sister!" Keith reprimanded her "You can't cling to a stranger like that."
"Keith, Shiro-san is no stranger. We have met before. " She reasoned. "He's the one that helped and accompanied me in the field a few days ago."
"But you've only met him once." Keith contends. "You don't even know his name!"
"I'm with your brother on this one," The stranger agreed. "Should the role have been reversed, I'm surely in cuffs by now."
Keith raised an eyebrow, he didn't expect the stranger to agree with him.
"And just to be clear, I am called Silvers, though I thought you knew it by now." The man finally introduced himself.
Gerald felt a shiver crawl into him, the motion was very minuscule but he was sure Silvers turned to him as he introduced himself. His agents should have been discreet but it appears that this man knows about what he did.
"The nickname I gave is not that far off." Katarina commented, "I will stick with it" She then laughed.
Silver sighed in defeat. "Can you at least introduce me?"
"Oh, Right!" They then both turn towards the rest of the clique "Everyone, this is Shiro-san - "
Silvers facepalmed
"He's the one from the I'm telling you about." Katarina continued.
"Yeah, we figured" Alan murmurs.
After introducing everyone to Silvers, or Shiro-san as Katarina insisted on calling the stranger, the gang continued their trek towards the dormitory. Leading the group were Katarina herself and Silvers whose left arm was still being clung on by the former. Everyone's protest fell on Katarina's deaf ears as she continuously dragged the newcomer while barraging him with different questions.
"Shiro-san, what's with the giant owl from the last time?"
"You mean Hoots? She's a great white owl. She likes carrying me around so she kinda acts like my mount. Also, don't call her 'giant', she'll peck you if you do. " They heard Silvers answer Katarina.
"She can understand words?! How can..." Katarina then followed up with more questions.
Needless to say, everyone is envious. It's confirmed that this newcomer was a complete stranger to Katarina. They had only met once and were together barely for only a couple of hours yet she treated him as someone close, even having a nickname for him. They have known Katarina since childhood yet none of them ever have a nickname from her.
"How much she can carry?"
"From time to time, I get to bring a passenger with me, so two people. Although I remember that she once caught two horses that had fallen from a canyon in mid-air. "
"Wow, two horses!"
"That's quite unbelievable." Mary suddenly commented. Her tone remain kind and sweet yet its no question that she was not fond of this stranger impressing Katarina with hogwashes.
"But Hoots is a very big owl, and she looks strong." Katarina defended while Silvers remained silent.
"I agree Mary." Added Keith "I mean, we've seen the owl It is indeed big, but even for its size, it should still be impossible for it to catch a horse, let alone two. Perhaps if they were just foals."
"Horses should also have no business in being in a canyon, Goats however..." Mary added as well, questioning the validity of Silver's story.
The Ascart siblings were whispering to each other while the royal siblings remained silent. The man in question took a short glance at Mary and Keith yet did not say anything. They can't get a read of his expression as his whole face is covered with a mask and oversized eyeglasses.
"Shiro-san?" Katarina turned to Silvers.
A couple of steps everyone remained silent. A couple of steps more, then they heard a man in white sighs.
He snaps his finger.
Everyone then stops as all of a sudden, what appears to be a big square of darkness appears before everyone. Before anyone can ask what is it, the square shines and is now displaying a picture. They immediately understood that the image they were seeing was from the eyes of someone riding behind a ginormous avian flying in the sky above the clouds.
They are yet to recover from the initial surprise as they got another one. The scenery on display was not still. It moves as if it is showing them a memory. They dove down the clouds until they see a mountain and they continue to fly following the road at the side of the cliff. Not a moment later, they found a carriage pulled by two frenzied horses running straight towards the edge of the mountain. The owl flew close to the carriage, tilted slightly so that they had a better look. One of the hands that was holding onto the owl's saddle swung sidewards and from it emerged a fast and powerful wave of blade made of winds, cutting the strap and the wood that connects the horse from the carriage. The carriage was successfully separated from its draft animal but alas, the momentum of both was too much that it was already too late for them to stop. They still all run and fall off the cliff.
The owl dove into the air once more, chasing those that are falling. It was then that the mount separated from its rider. The rider drops the saddle and flies towards the carriage while the owl continues to pursue the two falling stations.
The hand caught the carriage. However, instead of continuously falling along, their descent toward the bottom gently stopped and started to climb back up. It didn't take long for them to get back to the top of the cliff from where the hands put down the carriage to the ground as if it was just a simple box. The view then moves toward the door of the carriage where the glass reflects the image of Silvers reaching towards the knob of the door. Before he gets to open it, however, the view moves towards the cliff again from where the enormous owl emerges carrying both of the stallions one for each of the owl's legs. Hoots simply tosses both of the horses down before landing then lowers its head to which the hand petted.
The viewing ended as the square went black before vanishing completely. Everyone was stunned with their mouth agape.
"She really carried two full-grown horses!" Katarina commented in awe.
"I expect nothing less from my chauffeur. " He replied.
"Do you think you can take me for a ride? I have never flown before, even in my past li-" It seemed that there was more to what Katarina was saying but she bit her tongue.
"That could be arranged, but only if she let you ride her."
"Alright! So I just have to befriend her first. Does Hoots eat vegetables?" Katarina asked.
The two conversed as they continued to walk.
"Sister, that's very dangerous!" Kieth immediately chased after them, hoping to deter her sister from the idea of riding an owl to fly.
The rest snapped out of their daze and followed as well.
Upon getting into the compound of the dormitory, Katarina led Silvers and her friends to her field instead of the receiving area or the shared room.
"I'm going to get Anne." Katarina declared and they watched her run away until she was out of their sight.
As for everyone else, they all decided to stay in the field as well instead of going to their own rooms to deposit their stuff or whatnot. Gerald decided to take this opportunity to set something straight with the newcomer.
"Mr. Silvers, a word please." He calls him.
"Sure, ahhh... Gerald, right?"
Everyone raised an eyebrow at Silvers. Maria even gasped, baffled at the Silvers's casual reply, holding no regard for the Prince's station.
"Gerald Stuart, Third Prince of Sorcier" He introduced himself. They were already introduced to Katarina a little while ago but it appears that their new 'friend' is being a little forgetful.
"Uhumm..." Silvers just nodded at him, prompting him to continue.
"You see, Lady Katarina is my fiance -"
"For now." Mary and Keith said synchronously, interrupting Gerald who just gave them a brief glare before continuing.
" ...as I was saying, I would like to inform you that I don't appreciate 'anyone' being intimate with her." He clearly warned him, and perhaps everyone else as well.
Silvers just looked at him and snickered. Afterward, he waved his hands upwards and snapped his fingers. It was then that the ground around them began to shake.
Alarmed, everyone dashed away from Silvers. Nicol immediately stood in front of her sister and so was Alan with Mary and Keith with Maria. Tension rises up and in response to the newcomer's sudden use of magic, everyone but Maria has their magic flared up as well, ready to take action.
In the meantime, solid earth erupted from the around Silvers. In an instant, those earth fragments formed what appeared to be a long rectangular table and several chairs around it. It then briefly glows white and the said color remained even after the light faded. He then sat down on the chair that appeared behind him.
"They don't have cushions, but I hope they are to your liking." He presented the newly made pieces of furniture. "Those are just a table and chairs, people. Nothing you haven't seen before. I assume that we will be here for a while so I made us something to sit with. "He gestured for everyone to sit. "You're too young to be that tense, you should relax a little." He added seeing that no one was taking his invitation.
As the one closest to Silvers and the furniture he conjured, Nicol and Gerald inspected them. They are indeed just plain chairs and tables made of what appears to be a smooth white stone.
"You can't use your magic just like that and expect us not to be on guard," Nicol replied calmly. He's the first one to stand down but kept a close eye on Silvers. "Posing a threat to royalties and nobles alike is enough for a warrant of arrest." Nicol then warned. He inspected the chair a little more before taking a seat.
Silvers stared at him for a second and then let out a defeated sigh. "Point taken." He then raised his hand in surrender "My apologies then, for someone so carefree, she sure has uptight friends. Jeez!"
Seeing that there were no threats at all, everyone followed Nicol's lead and ceased their magic. They are still a little hesitant at first but they all take a seat of their own. Silvers is on one end of the table and Nicol is on the other with Sophia, Mary, and Alan on his left. In front of them are Keith, Maria, and Gerald. There were 10 seats in total and the only ones that were left blank were the ones near Silvers.
Before sitting, Keith inspected the conjured furniture as well and he realized that they were made of white marble, but he literally saw these being made from dirt. As an earth mage himself, he is sure that he too can shape the earth just like this, but it should still be impossible to transform the dirt into something it isn't. He's in awe, but he will not show it.
"Well, now that everyone is seated, I'm sure you have questions. But first," Silvers stared and then turned to Gerald "Third Prince, you claimed that you are Katarina's fiance and I see that you are proud of that. I would say that congratulations are in order but I can't help but notice." He then switched to a serious tone. "In the short time I have been with Katarina, she never mentioned you nor that she is in any kind of relationship. Are you certain that she... shares the sentiment?"
Gerald's eye twitched in annoyance upon hearing Silvers's statement. "I'm certain that she will." He answered. "And I'm sure that she will be a wonderful princess if not queen someday."
"In your dreams, your highness." Keith countered. "My sister is definitely unfit to become a royalty."
"Is that so? Aren't you looking down at your SISTER a little too much, lord Keith?"
"I am just concerned for her wellbeing, your highness. We all know that my sister would like to live a frugal life. You will just take her happiness away by forcing her to a life of royalty."
"So are you saying that she should just stay as she is? Just what would happen to her after you inherit the Claes barony?"
"There's no need for you to worry about that. I swear that I will be more than enough to take care of my Sister."
"Sound to me that you have nothing special for her at all. Anyway, if it comes to that, I would not mind stepping down on my station and living a simple life with her as you describe."
"Why you..."
They all just watched as the Claes heir and the third prince fell into their usual argument. Also, Mary looks like she would like to say something as well and just waiting for her opportunity to jump into the chaos.
"Silvers, sir, if I may ask..." Seeing that Gerald is now occupied with Keith, she decides to take this as her turn to talk with the newcomer. "How are you close with Lady Katarina?" She asked straight. No beating around the Bush. "We have known her for a ...considerable amount of time. While she is close, very close to us, but not to the point she was close to you." Sophia added.
This question unsurprisingly caught everyone's attention. This is not the first time that Katarina acted close to someone she has recently known. Maria is the evidence of that. They have barely met each other and yet Katarina went out of her way to save her from the bullies. They barely know each other for a day but Katarina is already treating her like an old friend. They assumed that this was because of the pastries and sweets that Maria baked. They cannot deny, they really are good. Better even compared to the ones served by royal chefs. Katarina praises them wholeheartedly and it has become Maria's ace in the hole, giving her a good foothold in the competition despite her being about seven years behind everyone.
Now here's another one with a similar case. From what they know, he and Katarina only knew each other for a couple of hours at most yet Katarina already clings to her like a koala. Hell, most of them never got that treatment, and those who have knew that they were very rare, only when Katarina was overwhelmingly delighted.
Gerald remembers a faint memory from before they even get engaged. Katarina used to cling to him like that before but he never found it interesting back then. Sadly, it never happened again.
"I... I can't say." Silver's answered. Before anyone could retort, however, he stood up from his seat. "How about I show it to you instead? " He added.
He then turns around and walks away toward the direction in which Katarina has run off. They then saw him pull a bouquet of flowers out of nowhere.
"HAAAAAA!?"
"How dare he..."
"Oh no, you don't!"
Mary, Gerald, and Keith yelled in alarm as they too stood up from their seat to chase after Silvers. Before they can get close to him, however, Katarina appears from the corner with Ms. Anne in tow.
Everyone felt their heart quenched as they saw Katarina's face brightened with a wide smile. A smile that was never given to any of them before. A smile matching the description of someone in love. They were stunned and helpless as they could only watch Silvers and Katarina close their distance towards one another.
One step.
Two steps.
Katarina then let go of Anne.
Three steps.
They are now closely in front of each other.
Then a miracle happened.
Katarina stepped aside and Silvers continued to walk past her. Katarina remained in her position and watched.
"Good Afternoon Milady." Silvers greeted Anne with a slight bow. He then pulled a white handkerchief from his chest pocket and presented it to the surprised maid. "I believe this belongs to you..."
The sound of a collective gasp followed by an excited squeal then echoed through the place.