17 Beneath the Rose Bushes

My heart hardened after that incident with Miss Quisling. I did my best to act as though nothing was wrong, but it was hard. Thankfully, we only scheduled to meet for a few hours per week.

Furthermore, I had other suspicions to deal with.

I stared at my nanny, busily doing the routine work of fixing up my hair. She was always laughing and smiling. Eccentric, but definitely hiding some things.

After all, Miss Quisling won over my heart the same way. Who was to say that Lady Hestia, high daughter of House Aron, had no ulterior motives when she asked to work here?

She said she asked to be my nanny because she wanted to know me. Who would even have a stupid reason like that? Just like everyone else in the palace, from the tutors to the giggling maids to the royal family, Miss Hestia wasn't my ally. I should have known not to open up my heart.

"There, it's all done," Miss Hestia announced, patting my hair like I was her child. "What are we doing today, Lady Elle?"

"You're wearing gloves again, Miss Hestia," I observed. I wasn't aware my voice sounded so cold but my nanny flinched in shock.

She looked down at her hands, gently holding them together. "Oh, I just wanted to look proper, after all..."

I looked at her from the mirror, noticing how she couldn't even look me in the eyes. I held my suspicions, but I still felt the treacherous pain that stung my heart. I gripped my hands.

"You always seem to be busy going somewhere, Miss Hestia," I said, looking down at an ivory hair brush. "I think I can go about the day on my own."

Her head quickly turned up to look at me, panic in her eyes.

'So, this is how it is,' I thought. 'She really was after something from me.'

My nanny shook her head. "I had to send some letters to my family. There's been trouble going on lately, but it's fine no-"

I stared at her coldly, which made her stop speaking. 'Ah, in the end, I will be royalty and she will be my subject. At least she knows her place.'

"Go on about your day, Miss Hestia," I ordered her coldly. "You're dismissed."

I got up and walked towards the door, ignoring the hurt in my nanny's eyes.

~~

I've been meditating whenever I had time. I only gave myself just enough time to sleep, and the rest of my waking hours I devoted to my lessons and magic practice. It was slow, but I did feel the speed of gathering notes taking lesser time. Knowing how danger lurked everywhere, I was anxious to grow stronger and smarter.

But, I also knew how to hide my abilities as well. I downplayed my intelligence during my lessons rather than blatantly showing it off. I also made sure to only show a small portion of my magical strength to Madame Crooch. I did ask her the questions I needed to ask so I could practice on my own, though. I didn't have much choice, but I believe she wasn't too suspicious of my more advanced questions.

I kept vigilant in the next following months, and before long, it was already my 6th birthday.

"Happy birthday, your highness, Princess Eleftheria, first daughter of King Thrace of Saule Kingdom! Long live, Princess Eleftheria!"

There was a small party in the palace ballroom, where a few nobility were invited. I was seated on the high seat, looking at the fake smiles of the nobles in front of me. I replied back with my angelic smile.

One by one, I received their greetings and their gifts. I tried to act like the child I was, but every time I saw some noblemen who I knew were secretly plotting against the royal family, I couldn't hide my cold gaze. They would grow shocked, but would quickly dismiss it. After all, what could a little girl possibly do?

I felt a gloved hand on my shoulder. "Lady Elle, happy birthday!"

I stared at her, not even bothering to hide my displeasure. My relationship with Miss Hestia only went downhill since that day. But, she stubbornly clung to me with her usual smile.

'Was she really that desperate to do whatever she had to do with me?' I wondered. 'Doesn't she know I've already seen through her act?'

"... Thank you, Miss Hestia." I managed a small smile, accepting the tiny package she had given me.

The birthday celebration was more like a chance to form connections with the party-goers. I knew they didn't really come here for my sake. I barely even knew them. So, I wasn't too shocked when my absence from the high seat wasn't noticed by the nobility.

I walked around the dark corners of the ballroom, aiming to leave through the numerous side doors. Once I had escaped from the suffocating crowd and into the moonlit garden, I could finally breathe.

I relished in the cold night breeze coming from the north seas. Because the Saule Kingdom's palace was on top of a high hill, I could just see the glitter of the nearby waters, and if I drown out the chattering from the party behind me, I could almost hear the shouts of the sea men from the port. Peaceful and tranquil.

I started humming a lullaby from the Music.

It wasn't too long before my calm was disrupted.

"... told you I'm done!" I heard a familiar, female voice from behind the small maze of roses right beside me. "It's been a year, and I'm tired of your stupid antics!"

I heard the hard slap of skin against skin. "Shut up, you temptress! House Aron is on the path of doom. You're lucky to even be a servant for the royal family."

"I have my pride, no matter what. I promised you a year, and now it's done. You can't touch me any more."

"You really think you can escape?" the deep voice growled. "Ha! I saw the princess earlier. She grows more beautiful by the day. Do you really think you can protect her for long? Your own beauty is waning and I have grown rather tired of looking at your face."

There was a shuffling sound as clothes were grabbed. "Don't you dare touch her, you slimy piece of-"

There was a short shout as she was pushed down onto the ground. The deep voice shouted, "Well, then. You'll have to be contented with me taking it out on you this year as well."

My hardened heart cracked at the edges, and I revealed myself from behind the bushes. I saw two bodies piled on top of each other, lying on the garden's dark soil.

Sir Saturno... and Miss Hestia.

Under the full moon, I could see the anger and frustration on my nanny's face. I scanned down at her body to see her dirtied dress and teared up sleeves. Her long gloves had been pulled down, revealing... colorful bruises.

My head spun.

Sir Saturno of House Genta. The gloves my nanny uncharacteristically wore. Her sudden mysterious disappearances.

"Miss Hestia?" I whispered, my voice carrying through in the silent night.

Sir Saturno flinched as he heard me, hastily getting up from where he was pinning down the woman. Miss Hestia only propped herself up on her skinny elbows and looked at me with the widest eyes.

"What's happening?" I asked, even though I already knew it deep down.

"Leave us, Elle!" my nanny screamed at me with a harshness I have never heard from her before. "Leave!"

But, I stood my ground, staring at the pitiful mess my nanny was.

'Ah... she looks just like that young girl...'

"Ha.. Ha Ha HA! HA Haa HA HA!!" I saw Sir Saturno laughing, watching us. "Look at you both. Dear princess, didn't you know you sold your lovely nanny off when you decided to talk back at me?"

I thought back to that day. It wasn't even a great rebuttal. I had only rejected him. I had only...

I looked back at my nanny. If the noble man had hit me back then, would I have been let off just like that? Why had my nanny saved me back then? Why did she have to go through this abuse...

Miss Hestia, weren't you supposed to be the strongest and most eccentric woman I have ever met?

Why are you just lying there? Why are you crying? Why do you look so pitiful?

I barely even recognized the familiar energy swirling inside of me, filling me once again with fiery power. In my daze, I could barely notice the man moving towards me, a nasty smile on his face, and a hand ready to caress my cheeks.

I screamed.

I felt the notes going crazy around me as I released a wretched song from my parted lips. I glared at the noble man as I unleashed all the pain I have felt in the past year.

Weak. So weak.

I could barely hear the muffled wails of pain from the twitching noble as my vision grew darker. My senses dulled. I heard my nanny call out to me. I started hearing the Music's voice, wrapping my consciousness gently.

Ah... So warm.

"Lady Elle!"

Was that Miss Hestia?

"Elle! No, don't close your eyes! No!!"

Ah... Perhaps, I was wrong. I felt the warm drops of her tears on my cheeks.

"Don't die..."

I wanted to smile, but I have long lost control of my body.

"Please don't leave me."

Miss Hestia really did love me.