12 Enchanting

I did promise to serve the country, but I vowed to love you.

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Even at the day that Charles was scheduled to return to their manor, Xael only showed up for the manners. She didn't even look at the man's eyes and only lowering her head to give him the feeling of being avoided.

With this, Charles left with something bothering his mind, even General Atticus and her two uncles were not left unscathed.

Like it's now part of her routine, Xael continued to go to the gazebo and met up with Marshell.

It turns out that Marshell and the kids who he mentioned as his siblings were actually from an orphanage near the field. It was a coincidence that they were there to make another bunch of flower crowns assigned for the weekly task bumping to Xael as she was roaming just to relieve her boredom.

Today, exactly like few days ago, she was again watching the kids to play in the field of flowers. Marshell and Xael who's considered as the adult and the one supervising the kids were sitting while having some drinks.

From time to time, Marshell would talk about his experience in the orphanage to how silly and playful the kids are. Xael who never thought that these kinds of stories would make her laugh were actually having fun on listening.

There are also moments when they would just silently sit together, feeling up each other's presence. It was not boring; on the contrary it's calming and serene. She had never felt this peaceful for thousands of years.

Unknowingly, she was having a great time with Marshell. Whenever the two of them chat, time would pass by in a heartbeat, too fast that it's kind of disturbing.

Even Xael was a bit bothered as her body clock never reacted this way, even her façade of being the ice cold strict young lady has never taken effect in those moments.

In the end, she swapped the uneasiness in her heart saying that she might be just too relax because her preparation is near complete.

It's no different this day; afternoon immediately fell like it's naturally like that.

As Xael was leisurely walking out of the field, Ethan, the kid from the market, suddenly ran after her. He heaved a sigh before raising his hands similar to what happened back then.

"Miss Xael, this is for you," Ethan said.

Xael was touched, even though the kid was holding a flower crown made from that little yet bright bluish flower, she knew that the one this time is not made by the boy but by another person.

The appearance and the arrangement alone brought the difference between the two.

Smiling, Xael asked the boy teasingly, "Are you selling those to me?"

The boy shook his head to say no. It's very clear that he really is embarrassed that his face looked beet red. Even the servants that were accompanying Xael have a smile on their faces.

They could discern the difference when their young miss is in this place or back at her home. Even though they can't see her face because of a veil, it was no denying that the air around her carries softness and warmth.

Xael fluidly stretch her arms, poking one of the flowers in the crown as she said, "Then why should I accept this gift of yours? Is this as special as the flower crown last time? I'm rather hesitating." She withdrew her hands.

Ethan was suddenly tense up; he was not expecting the question and just thought that Xael will just clearly accept it. Recalling some conversation he had earlier, he answered assertively.

"This is the same flower I filled with my love, brother made it more beautiful though. He has always made mountains of flower crowns to teach us. Back then, I think it was filled with warmth. But now..." Ethan's face then looked confuse, his head tilted his head pouting. "Brother made it for you. It was filled with something I don't understand."

Ethan was more confused as he continued to explain things, Xael couldn't help but stop him. She laughed before playfully flicking the tip of Ethan's nose. "It's fine. Thank you."

In the field that was covered with flowers, Marshell who was standing in the middle was smiling at her. Even from a distance, his bearing is powerful.

At first, Marshell wanted to hide as Ethan deliver his gift but then again, he buffed up his self and confidently wait on where he's standing.

As he watched from afar, he was suddenly tensed up as Xael looked like she's hesitating to accept the flower crown. "Tsk. I was never this nervous even in the..."

Marshell's words were cut off when Xael took the crown and poked Ethan's nose. His brows creased, sourness was nevertheless seen in his face. Suddenly, while gazing at them, an enchanting scene happened before his eyes.

Xael pulled off the veil revealing her delicate face with juniper colored eyes, cotton like rosy lips as her chestnut colored hair lightly play with the wind.

She softly put the flower in her head before smiling to Ethan and then gazed from afar.

Knowing that she's looking at him, Marshell waved his hands indicating his farewell.

That moment, Xael's heart throbbed for a bit that she was startled. Her hand became unsteady as a pinch of panic entered her eyes. Wh... What happened?

Being flustered because of that, Xael looked away before she left in hurry.

In her mind, she was apologizing to Marshell. She knew that she was unconsciously using him as he resembles her beloved husband.

In her thousands of years of training, this occurrence never happened, not even once.

Thinking about that, Xael never went to the fields again. The feeling of betraying her husband started to occupy her guilt, her pain. It was great that her mind has at least developed an impressive amount of mental strength that she didn't make any wrong steps.

"To love is to admire within the heart, to admire is to love within the mind," Xael said to assure her self.