5 The Countess and Knight

Countess Thea Charmant and Sir Willaim...

It would have been perfectly fine if the two love birds were to publicly date, however, Miss Charmant's family was not the type to settle for spouses not in their rank of nobility or higher. They were picky with whom they married off their daughters and whom they allowed their sons to bed. Pride.

Sir William was only but a mere Knight. A Noble but of the smallest rank.

"Milady, would you please close your eyes," William excitedly stops to turn to see the face of The Countess, Lady Thea. Face lightened in the dark by the soft glow of the moon above and by a small candle she holds to see.

She raises a brow, a little smile on her face and as she does so, Will pulls out the White Lily he had been holding on to and inserts it behind her ear. Brushing a strand of her chocolate locks lovingly.

Maika inwardly cringes. As sweet as this is, she feels as though she'll be getting some kind of sickness.

Thea flutters her eyelids open in surprise and reaches to carass the soft petals of the flower. She smiles with a pink hue covering her cheek, looking back at him, she stands on her tiptoes just to reach Will and plants a small kiss on his cheek. He blushes. Smitten Idiot.

"Will… I have to go now, it's nearly sunrise." She says feeling slightly woebegone.

'Was I really out that long?' Maika thinks to herself, wondering how the time has passed and how deep in thought she was.

" And I don't want us getting in trouble," Thea says. Will sighs, and both of them start talking in a lowered volume. Maika frowns, frustrated because she can't hear and thinking to herself that they should have had their voices this low to not be caught.

They both part ways, Will's reluctance evident on his face. Meanwhile Thea was already a distance away, snickering at him and as she continued to wave goodbye.

'Hm, I wonder if this is just infatuation?' Maika stares at both Lady Thea's disappearing back and Will who's just standing there with a dazed look. Maika slowly shakes her head in disappointment. 'Poor guy, he has no idea the meaning of discreet.'

…

It's been a few hours since then. It's midday and Maika is in her chambers mindlessly reading and reviewing the boring etiquette lessons, despite not having proper sleep last night. She didn't want her tutor scolding her and causing unnecessary headaches if she skipped a book, or any room for Hundine to use against her. Meanwhile, Ella was present as well sitting on the chair across from her keeping her company.

They both knowingly look up at each other as their lips turn to sly grins.

"Of course, they sneak out to see each other in the middle of the night!" Ella stands up abruptly, squealing excitedly, almost knocking over the teacups on the table, a happy grin clear on her face.

Maika coughs at her behavior and warns her excited friend in a hushed tone "Ella, lower your voice-! Someone might be outside." Ella clears her throat and sits back down, quickly trying to bring back her composure.

In silence, They both think about it for some time. Before Ella blurts out without much of a thought, "If they're madly in-love with each other, maybe they'll elope? Do you think I'd be a good aunt?"

"I think it's best we don't talk about them behind their backs," Maika takes a quiet sip of her tea.

"Hmmm… but at least I'll have something to tease Will about!" She snickers happily, a content smile on her face, some would say Maika laughs at her dear friend and nods in agreement, already seeing the face Will would make when Ella makes fun of him.

"I wonder, why does Nana Rong allow Will to carelessly pursue a Noble lady despite the possible consequences?" Maika asks, confused, knowing her Nannies personality.

"Well…" Ella trails off, mischief seen on her face. "She doesn't really know. Will, being who he is, didn't tell her because of Nana Rong because of her being who she is." Ella says with an amused expression in how she worded it. "And yes I know Nana Rong would react badly to this, I TOLD HIM so, but he would always come up with some horrible excuse." She says as she rolls her eyes, remembering his excuses. What kind of excuse is 'being too busy feeding his cat', HE HAS NO CAT.

Suddenly a gentle knock is heard from the door.

"I'll go get it," Ella rises from her seat and walks to the door, she twists the knob and it cracks open revealing a graceful woman with an expression not matching her stature at all, quite opposite actually, for a lady does not gape.

"The Countess, Lady Charmant has come to pay a visit to your highness," Ella announces, immediately going back to her professional persona. Maika 'almost' lost her grip on the teacup she was sipping on. Her eyes widened as if she was surprised and caught.

"Lady Charmant- how long were you outside?" Maika's voice wavers in nervousness, in the ears of others but inside that was a slip of the attempt in containing her excitement. Ella at the side, though nervous, covers her mouth with a hand trying hard not to laugh.

Thea, has heard the whole thing, and currently has her neck to forehead flushed red. She didn't know the Princess and her handmaid knew about her relationship with William, and was even appalled at them discussing it.

Ella closes the door behind Thea, Maika motions her hand to a 'shoo' at Ella. Getting the hint, Ella bows and leaves the room.

"Princess-" Thea looks frantic but before she could try to explain herself, but before she could, Maika cuts her off "Don't worry, I have nothing against whatever you two have" Thea purses her lips still not sure.

Maike took an immediate notice of this and gestured to the seat that was occupied by Ella just a moment ago. "Please take a seat."

Thea takes a few breaths and sits down. "Me and Sir William are good friends that's all," she explains with a stern tone, getting right to the point while sounding convincing. Which Maika would have believed if only she did not know the truth already.

Maika gently places her teacup on the glass table and snickers, Princess facade dropping. Thea tilts her head dumbfounded by this.

"Lady Charamant, I have nothing against your relationship at all, besides, would good friends be having intimate strolls at midnight?" a corner of Maikas mouth lifts up as she gestures at the flower pot filled with White Lilies she purposely asked the servants to bring to her that morning.

Thea exhaled the breath she unknowingly held this whole time. Giving in a little but still not letting her guard down. She barely knows princess Maika, and all she's heard is from Princess Hundine, who claims she is a snake, Which she and most people doubted seeing how princess Maika held herself ever so reservedly in every gathering, though with not knowing her it could still be possible. She isn't sure. For all she knows, her reserved behavior could be an act too.

As if reading her thoughts Maika, squints her eyelids to slits observing the Countess' unsure expression. Not at all surprised, she herself has heard Hundine and her rumors about herself.

" I really am okay with your relationship with William, despite what you may think due to my 'reputation' amongst the nobility," She looks out the window with her chin resting on the back of her left hand, obvious sarcasm in her tone at last bit.

Thea responds, after shaking the surprise off from the Princess' words and being in deep thought, "Your highness, speaking to you now, and hearing your opinion of the friendship me and William have" 'friendship' Maika thinks. "You seem like a good person, not that I thought you were bad before, just that, Princess Hundine hasn't been painting you in a very flattering way. From your tone it seems you're aware of this. May I ask your highness...why, why haven't you done anything?" Thea continues to look at her, curious what she has to say.

She watches as Maika closes her eyes with a drowsy expression.

"Well, I don't need to," she shrugs aside the matter like it was nothing. Like having someone from your own family, someone of high power hasn't been soiling her reputation with false rumors and claims, like this wasn't something to be worried about and like it was something normal.

Maika smiles at her softly, as Thea begins to look at her with admiration, however, confusion still evident.

"Regardless," Maika began, "back to the reason I requested your presence here," Maika continues.

Thea cringes, having a secret affair-like-situation with one of the Royal Guards.

"Lady Charmant?"

Thea is pulled back from her thoughts, "I apologize_" before she could continue Maika cuts her off, lifting her hand. Thea seemed like a good person, and William seemed to like her, what she wanted to do here is gain the trust of the Countess.

"No need to apologize, but if you really feel like you should, I forgive you.."

"I just wanted you to know that I support your relationship with Lord William. After all he's the grandson of my caretaker_"

"Ah_" Thea's eyes widened with the new information.

Everyone knew that Princess Maika wasn't the favorite child of the Royal couple, how could they not know, it was made very apparent. Why though? Nobody knew exactly why, but they did know that she was raised by an old woman, who cares so much more for the Princess than anyone in the castle, spending time with her as much as she can.

"She treats me like the granddaughter she never had," Maika smiles gloomily.

"Your caretaker got fired…" Thea utters faintly. Of course that news was also spread.

"Mhm... so... May I ask, do you trust me?" Maika pulls out one of the while lilies from the vase and holds it out to Thea.

The White Lily reminds Thea of Will, which makes her smile lovingly,something Maika took notice of.

"....I'm glad you support us and all, I do trust you, your highness but I'm still worried about what my mother and father will do if they ever find out…" she takes the White Lily from the Princess' hold. Watching it with despair.

The room is silent except for the chirping of birds from the open balcony door, Maika observes Thea quietly.

'Once you find true Love dear, you'll realize that nothing else matters. Power or wealth means nothing if they aren't with you…' that familiar voice again, showing so much love.

Maika nudges her temple with her wrist annoyed. She feels that she knew the owner of the familiar voice. Comforting wise words would come along with the enchanting voice. How Maika wished she could recall more.

"Your highness, I should be taking my leave now," Maika turns to the direction of which Thea is standing, Thea curtsies with the flower in her hand, smiling genuinely. Maika makes an 'o' shape with her mouth and rises from her seat saying her farewell and dismisses the Countess.

"I'm really glad that I have someone to confide in" Thea clasps her hands together as a sign of respect.

…

Click

Ella steps back inside and shuts the door.

She immediately rushes to Maika's side at the speed of light jittering, "Miss please tell me_".

Maika replies with silence.

"OH NO-" Ella's eyebrows furrow in shock. Maika snickers and jumps from her seat "It went well!"

Ella got startled by the jump and felt tricked for a short moment before excitedly jumping around with Maika. They finally got to introduce herself to her.

Princess Maika and Ella after learning of Williams and Thea's little night stroll decided to make a plan to help the couple. The first step was introducing Maika to her and getting to know the lady of the subject of worry and gaining her trust. Which was a success.

Then there's plenty of steps next…

Maika laughs heartily along with Ella as they discuss their plans. Even so there were still more worries that lingered in the back of her mind, desperate for this kind of simple life, and the strange familiar voice she hears...