Veto

Dream or not, Sigrid can't help but be bothered by it. Before she entered the forest, all she could remember was passing out while being under the feeling of ecstasy. She can't erase the picture of that place in her mind, not ignoring the birds, lake, grass and the flowers.

"When could I possibly go there again?" She thinks, 'What if I tried to sleep again, will I be able to enter the forest once more?' but that plan of trying to fall asleep again, failed. No matter how many times she tries to do it, her body is not listening to her mind.

"Let's think about that later," she drifted her gaze on the window that's directly focused in the garden. Whenever she looks at the view outside, she can't help but to see the Aquilegia flower that's saying 'hi' to her. She remembered the scene when she was in the forest. This flower is the first thing she encountered.

She looked at the table to find something, and after she knew it, she's already ringing the bell and calling a maid. Not more than a minute has passed, she heard some knock on the door.

"Come in!"

The door opened and the girl that came in, bowed. "You called me, Miss?" said Risa.

"Yes. Please prepare the bath," she's planning to take a bath before going down to the garden. Thinking about it, it's her father's order to make a garden that's in front of her window.

"Yes, Miss. Is there anything more that you want me to do?" asked Risa.

"That's all," after she said that, Risa came out of the room without a noise. "Ah, do it again and I might really think that's you're an assassin," she giggles.

She's thinking if she should try practicing what Risa's doing so she can go wherever without making a sound. But then again, she just laughed and shrugged the idea off.

After taking a bath that Risa prepared, she also asked her to prepare a dress that's good for a walk, the maid followed her. Not long after that, she's already in the garden, taking a walk...

"Look at you, smiling all over this place," the flower is like the main character of the garden because of the aura around it.

"I wonder if I, too, can smile like that?"

A wind that passed by slapped her and it made her hold the hat to prevent it from flying.

"My Lady, the weather doesn't look good, please let me assist you on our way in," said Risa.

Sigrid allowed her to do what she wanted, but what bothered her was the weather. "It's shiny earlier... why is it suddenly acting like that?" she mumbles.

When they got in the house, a familiar man welcomed her. "Good to see you again, Siri!"

"Veto!" she then embraced him with a hug. Just when she was about to ask him why he came to their house, she remembered what her mom said last time. The Priest that sent her a message.

Because of his attire, the woman can't help but giggle, "You're not even in the church, why are you wearing a cassock?" she said, pointing out his outfit.

He patted her, "Today's not the usual, Siri. I'm with the Cardinal," he then placed his arms on his neck, "As much as I want to wear casual clothes, I can't. Let's bond next time, shall we?"

Whenever this man visits them, he's always wearing casual and comfortable clothes, so Veto, wearing his cassock, is unusual for Sigrid. She gave him a little nod. And with that, he bid his goodbyes and probably went to the meeting.

'But... Cardinal? Why did someone that important come into our house?' The only one that she's familiar with was the Priest, Veto. He, who's examining the people who would become a member of the church, he's like a guard.

But then again, she just shrugged it off. She doesn't want to be involved when it comes to the church's issue, though she knows some of the details because her parents are close with the Pope and the other members of the church, but she never dares to be one of their allies.

After which, she found herself standing in front of their library's door and before she knew it, she's already holding the knob.

"It's been a long time since I came here," the moment she got in, her eyes wandered around the area. Her five senses are now tingling because of the books.

Knowledge, it is something she always wants. Knowing all kinds of things that are on Earth, different species that's not yet named, theories that might be true. The aroma of books, the picture of old and new shelves.

"Heaven," she heads towards her favorite spot and hurriedly gets the book that she will never get tired of reading. She wipes the dust off using her hand and blows away the rest of it.

"Wings of freedom..." she utters. A book wherein the protagonist was being held captive but only got out of the imprisonment was because of his determination.

She hugged the book, knowing that they might still be dust around it. "How good it must've been to be freed,"

She knew it, she's not like the protagonist who was being caged. But she's also not being freed. "Then which part of it is my place?"

Sigrid likes to be protected, but being protected like a rabbit is too much for her. "Is it because of my true identity?"

She laughed. "If only I'm their true daughter, something like this won't happen…"

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lilithnov