33 Chapter 33

Avyanna's Pov

The second day of the delegation begins. Today, all knights and magicians are staying put.

However, it's different for the noble ladies. The Empress was suddenly hosting a tea party, and I was unable to change my outfit.

I came to the party wearing my hunting suit. But I am not alone. There was a certain cute lady who was wearing the same outfit as me.

But then again, I can't handle this heavy atmosphere while a certain adorable noble lady is sipping on her tea with a smirk.

Currently, me, along with France and Yena, are sitting with the Empress on the rounded table.

"I heard from my niece that Miss Gabrielle and Miss Brooke are best friends." The Empress started.

"Y-yes, My Empress." France answered.

She's too nervous.

"I also heard that the three of you have been going out together. How's the capital so far?"

Looking at the Empress' smile, it seems friendly, but her eyes are observing. Our eyes met, and I was suddenly startled at how it became cold as her smile widened.

"Lady Brooke, it's been a while."

"Eh?"

Have I met her before? Damn! Recalculating the possibilities of seeing the Empress via the original Avyanna.

"You've met before?"

I was relieved when Yelena spoke. She has that confused expression and the habit of tilting her head to the side.

"Nope."

The three of us had our poker faces plastered as the Empress giggled childishly.

"I'm just kidding. I wanted to meet the three of you. That's why I arranged this." The Empress' atmosphere becomes bright and pink.

Yelena also giggles, and I can't help but be stunned because she's too cute when laughing like that. I'm becoming more and more swooned by her.

Her gaze turned to me. That made her stop, but her face reddened and she turned away.

"W-what are you looking at?!"

Ah, she's still a tsundere even after she confessed to me. She's so cute. How can she be this adorable?!

"Hmm?"

"Are you two..."

Our gaze turns to the Empress, who is looking at us back and forth.

"N-no! W-why would we... I..." Yelena panicked.

"Zeniah..."

The Empress clasps her hands together and rests her chin on them while smiling teasingly at Yelena.

I didn't know the Empress was actually this playful. She was rarely mentioned in the original novel.

"Y-your Majesty..."

"Back to Lady Gabrielle. I'm rooting for you and my son." She gave a sweet smile to France, and that smile contained sincerity.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty."

"Make sure to give us a lot of grandchildren."

France's face immediately turned red.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty." She replied.

Her answer made us chuckle. She actually agreed to it.

"This time's hunt might be interesting because we have a lot of strong people."

Her Majesty's gaze turned to me. I can feel the pressure of her observing eyes.

"I'm lacking in so many ways, Your Majesty." I said.

"Hmm. I can see that." She said,

"High society is in your stepsister's favor, my dear niece. What do you plan on doing?" Her highness asked.

Yelena put down her cup of tea and smirked.

"She's too stupid to know that she's the one who is being controlled." She has formed that evil smile on her lips.

'Oh shit! My girl is so hot in her villainous expression.' 

"That's good to know." The Empress also has that evil smile similar to Yelena.

"Oh, right. I heard you were sick before. What happened?" The Empress changes the topic.

"That.." Yelena looked at me. "I can't remember, Your Majesty. They said I caught a cold after I roamed around the capital during its festival, and also the reason I couldn't attend the banquet."

"I see... Well, I am glad that you're okay now." The Empress has a warm smile. She truly cares about her loving niece.

....

The tea party ended as soon as I came out. I was pulled and dragged through the forest.

"What the fuck?" I hissed.

"I'm sorry, My Lady." It was the tower master.

"Do you have the information I want?"

"Yes. That saint, she was resurrected from the dead."

"What?"

"I know it's hard to believe. Not even in history, has someone returned from the dead." He said. "Except for one thing."

"Black Magic." I unconsciously said.

"Yes." He agrees. "But black magic no longer exists and cannot be true."

"Yes. But summoning and contracting with a demon can." I looked up to him. "Is that all?"

"Since the Holy Temple has a bunch of idiots. They all think that it's a miracle and made her a saint." He said.

"And, she's not here as a representative. However, as an executioner, she told the Holy Temple that a demon resides in a lady's body. And that lady.."

"Is me."

"Right."

"But she can't tell this to anyone with no affiliation with the temple because, as someone who has not been in the capital and with people who do not believe in the god and prophecies, they will think that she is the demon who got resurrected from the dead." I concluded.

"It's better to be careful, My Lady. I will send more people to protect you from her." He said.

"Thank you. I'm going back now." I said.

"My Lady, you should be careful. Your complexion isn't good and your mana keeps on leaking so much."

"I know. I.... have a thing in mind. You have nothing to worry about." I smiled.

"Understood, My Lady." He bowed to me and then disappeared.

I sighed and walked back to the camp. My body is exhausted again from walking.

"Yanna."

I smiled after hearing my name given by the most lovable person I know.

She ran to me.

"Where have you been? You don't look so well." She touched my forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever."

"I'm fine, Yena. I want to rest. Can you accompany me?" I asked sincerely.

Her face turned red. "O-okay."

We entered my tent, and we sat on the bed. I leaned onto her shoulder and closed my eyes.

"Do you feel sleepy?" She asked softly.

"Hmm." I hum.

"Then you should sleep. The hunt will start tomorrow." Her voice is so soft and calming.

"I want to be with you a little longer." I held her hand and we intertwined ours.

"Okay." She held my hand tighter.

This is so nostalgic. I don't want this to end. I want this to last forever.

"Yena." I called.

"Hmm?"

"Mahal Kita."

"M-mahal... That word. I think I heard it before." She said that made me look at her.

"Where?" I asked.

Is this language known here? It wasn't a universal language and it came from a small country.

"I don't know where. But I know its meaning." She turned her head to me.

"Hmm? What is it?" I asked.

Her face immediately turned red.

"I-its... It means, I love you." I barely heard it but my heart flutters hearing it from her. "B-but I also heard that there's another word for it."

"Hmm? What is it?" I am confused.

"Hmm... What was it..?" Her eyes are roaming the tent. "That's right!"

"What?"

"Putangina!"

I choked on my own saliva after hearing it, so I kept on coughing.

"Are you okay? Yanna?"

It lasted for a few more seconds before I recovered.

"T-that word. Never use it again." I said after I recovered.

"Why?"

"It's a curse. It stands for Motherfucker in this language." I explained.

She was out for a moment, and she covered her face in embarrassment. I laughed at her situation. To be honest, that's really embarrassing.

"Oh please! Stop laughing at me! I'm so embarrassed right now." She hissed, but I continued to laugh.

When both of us recover from such an embarrassing moment, we're just silent.

"Yena."

"Hmm?"

She looked at me with her innocent face.

I leaned a little closer to her and kissed her forehead.

"I'll rest now. I'll see you tomorrow." I said.

"Ah... Hmm." She nodded and then ran out of my tent.

I sighed and covered my face. I can feel it burning up. If I hadn't held myself back, I might've kissed her on her lips again.

||For those who didn't know. Putangina means Motherfvcker. The word "Puta" originated in Spanish that means "Fvck". And the "Ina" that means mother.