038 - Calm Before The Storm (2)

"Huuh..." A low, adorable groan was heard, causing the people around to turn to gaze at the source of the sound.

"You're awake? It's okay, just go back to sleep..." Someone whispered soothingly.

"Aahh...?" The adorable moan echoed once more, this time accompanied by the sight of two small hands that longed to grab for the empty air but were too cold.

"Hahaha... My daughter is so cute..." Again, someone said quietly.

It was a woman in her late twenties, her face hidden beneath the hood of a thick white robe.

She leaned out to gently caress a three-year-old baby's red, puffy cheeks.

"Uuuu...?"

The baby wiggled in the woman's arms. It was clear that the baby was attempting to escape from her cozy hug.

However, the woman tightened her arms even more so that the baby would not feel the terrible cold temperature on the baby's warm body.

"Your Majesty The Queen, we will be here in a moment," a middle-aged man appeared from behind the woman. From his helmet to his boots, he was completely covered in iron armor.

The two young men who trailed the middle-aged man from behind, both wearing iron armor except for the iron helmet on top of their heads, lowered their heads as they awaited commands from the woman known as the 'Queen.'

Instead of answering or giving commands to the knights who were patiently waiting, the woman stared at the view before her, which was nothing but trees.

Despite being surrounded by massive trees, the woman felt a fascinating sense of serenity.

Even though winter had not yet arrived, the branches of the trees swung in the wind, emitting a rather frigid air. And the woman looked at it peacefully.

She longed to lie down on the ground covered with fallen leaves, feeling the unique air of the forest and calmly hearing the rustling sound.

But she had to cease this refreshing pastime right once, or her little baby would become worse from standing in the dense forest for too long.

"Let's go," said the woman called by the Queen, putting her arms around the baby in her bosom.

The knights instantly obeyed the Queen's directions, but just as they were about to set forth, the Queen abruptly stopped moving again.

"What is it, Her Majesty The Queen?" questioned the middle-aged man standing alongside the Queen, his back straight and one hand on the scabbard. When the Queen paused, the other two young knights also assumed the ready position.

Instead of responding, the Queen, who was dressed in an fancy thick white fur cloth, pointed in the direction she was pointing.

The three knights escorting a young Queen and a three-year-old baby followed where the Queen directed her index finger.

In the midst of a vast and dark dense forest. There was another woman.

She was dressed in a bright crimson dress with a huge black fuzzy robe over it.

The woman was hunched under a massive tree, as if she was concealing something in her luxuriously puffy red dress.

"...Is she lost?"

The woman's gorgeous dress appeared to show to everyone that she was a noblewoman.

"It seems so... There's no way a noble lady could be in the middle of the forest without a single person escorting her." The two young knights said softly.

"What shall we do, Sir Bernard?" asked one of the young knights to a middle-aged man in his ear.

Instead of responding to his subordinate's question, Bernard, the name of the middle-aged knight in iron armor, stared at the beautiful woman she was serving.

"We await your orders, Her Majesty," he said, bowing respectfully. The two young knights swiftly followed Bernard's movements.

"I'll continue my move with these two young knights first, while Sir Bernard helps the lady."

That's what the Queen intended to tell the three knights who were escorting her.

But she had to correct herself since her precious little baby suddenly extended her small hand to grab for the air again.

"Eunggg. Eung! Ugggg!!" She began muttering incoherently, as if she was upset about something.

The Queen smiled, despite the fact that she had no idea what her daughter was talking about.

"... You want to help that lady, don't you?" she mumbled gently.

The infant stopped babbling and smiled pleasantly, as if it understood the Queen's words. Her rosy and plump cheeks only added to her adorableness.

"Very well, my wise daughter," the Queen said softly as she noticed her daughter's beautiful smile.

She took a step forward to approach the woman in the red dress.

The three knights were perplexed, but they still followed the Queen as a cautious measure in case the five of them were ambushed from all sides.

On the other hand, the woman in the red dress, who had purposefully hidden herself beneath a large tree, was startled to hear the rustling of the bushes in front of her.

"Who is that?!"

From the time she entered the forest, she knew no one would realize she was gone.

Previously, the woman was compelled to walk out in secret, away from the squad of bodyguards who were protecting her, so that 'those' who were after her would not know she had gone.

It was because she was in a difficult situation and couldn't simply sit back and hope for a miracle.

As a result, she ultimately decided to go to the forest since she had heard of a myth.

That there is a Fairy Queen hidden in the deep, treacherous forest known as Illusion Forest.

The myth, whose accuracy could not be proved, became the woman's sole hope.

'Did 'her' side send more assassins?' She started to get more scared when she thought of this.

"I know you're hidden somewhere, so come out quickly and show yourself!"

She closed her eyes after shouting bravely, hoping that it was not an grim reaper but an angel who came to her.

In contrast to the woman in the red dress's worry and dread, the figure who came from behind the bushes made all of the negative emotions in her thoughts vanish.

Her tired eyes only had a hopeful glimmer in them.

"... Fairy Queen?"

The angel without wings appeared to her.

***

"Ah," Faerie exclaimed, her gray eyes wide awake.

Her thoughts twisted like threads as she glanced up at her room's familiar ceiling.

"... Looks like I've been dreaming of something... But what is it?" Faerie stroked her head, seeking to recall the details of her dream. Sadly, she had completely forgotten.

"Forget that, let's return back to this hard and tiring real world," Faerie murmured, yawning.

She awoke from her comfy sleep and took a leisurely look around.

Her luxurious bedroom was already familiar, which made her smile subconsciously. It would be wonderful if she were to become a true Princess of a Kingdom.

Yes. If she wasn't trapped in a trash novel and forced to sign a contract, she'd blissfully enjoy her new, luxury life.

Faerie shook the gold-colored bell, mumbling incoherently, "What time is it? I feel like I've slept too long..."

Meila, whom Faerie summoned via the bell, emerged promptly, as if she had been waiting outside the room.

"Princess! Are you okay?" Meila entered, carrying a tray of glasses and a platter of sandwiches that appeared to be freshly baked.

Faerie smiled, pleased that there was a maid taking care of her breakfast and was genuinely concerned about her condition.

"I'm fine," Faerie said quickly. As soon as she spotted the mouthwatering sandwich, her face lit up.

As Faerie ate the sandwich gently, Meila stood by with a worried frown.

'Aahh, Mona's cooking is out of this world!' Faerie joyfully wept.

"Do you want to take a bath right away?" ask Meila while Faerie savored every chew with a joyous scream in her heart.

"Perhaps later."

"Would you then like to go for a walk in the garden?"

Faerie was overjoyed and wanted to accept Meila's pleasant offer right once, but she couldn't do so while her 'God's Blessing' was still in the hands of a stranger she didn't know.

"Next time," she simply said, before adding, "now, I just want to eat."

Meila nodded. "All well, then I'll withdraw and request that Chef Mona make lunch."

Faerie smiled as she imagined Mona's lunch. But, as soon as she finished Meila's sandwich, her mouth opened wide in surprise.

"Wait, what?"

'Lunch?'

'I slept till lunchtime?!'

For a brief while, Faerie's mind appeared to stop working.

'Impossible…!'

Bzzt! Bzzt!

The gray crystal in her nightgown pocket vibrated as if to confirm Faerie's thoughts.

'A maid job at Berdandy's castle!' Faerie yelled hysterically.

Faerie quickly ordered Meila out of her room and told everyone not to come in until she called her through the bell, as Princess Faerie always did.

Although Meila didn't understand why Princess Faerie was now acting strangely, she promptly nodded at the order given to her.

Faerie dashed to the dressing table mirror after double-checking that Meila wasn't standing in front of her door. She also keeps a black hair wig and a purple maid costume in both hands.

Without hesitation, she jumped into the mirror, which instantly responded by sucking her entire body while shouting and imagining something.

"To Torenia's room!"

Faerie closed her eyes and let her body shift between spaces.

Faerie had arrived at a room full of wood in less than a minute. Even though she still felt uneasy, she hurriedly put on a wig and carelessly tidied her flimsy nightgown.

Knock. Knock.

"Y-Yes?" Faerie's voice sounded anxious since she was afraid about what the person who had knocked on her door would think.

'Who knocked on Torenia's door? A head maid? Or perhaps some other maids?'

'Whoever it is. They must be irritated that Torenia, a new maid, didn't even come out till midday. Faerie, you moron!' Faerie kept scolding herself for waking up late.

Maybe she wouldn't be in this situation if she hadn't fainted when she realized she only had a for about a year to finish the contract.

'No, it's entirely my fault for being careless!'

'As Grandma taught, I must acknowledge my mistakes and accept responsibility!'

'Let's start by giving a good reason, or if that doesn't work, just say you're sorry straight away!'

Faerie gulped as she no longer heard the knock on the door, but heard the voice of a familiar person.

"Did you just wake up, Miss Torenia?" asked Mary, the head maid.

"I have something to tell you; may I come in?" Even though it was really hot outside, her voice seemed icy.

It looked like Faerie had no choice but to accept her punishment.