~14~ Muffins for Everyone

"Milady! What brought you---"

Sir Howald wasn't able to finish what he was saying when he immediately saw Melly averting her gaze from him only to look elsewhere. That's the time that Howald stops in his tracks and gets a hold in his mouth and averted his gaze from them. Heat waves flushed through his cheeks while the other knights had already looked towards the lady with her personal maid and Greya wearing a chef's uniform

Then murmurs started to be heard inside the open ground for training. However, Victoria didn't pertain anything special with the knights' look towards her. Who wouldn't? All they thought was the lady is the usual old her and she's there to insult the knights or anything related to bully them. Maybe that would they get if the lady is still the old Victoria but since Anne --- was now in the body of Victoria they'll only be surprised later on

Greya, on the other hand, was now observing the hostile looks of the knights towards the lady. That only made her raised her eyebrows to them.

'What the hell had they been acting right now? Sure that the lady had changed and she had already lost all of her memories so why did they still think that the lady is the old her? why do their looks speaks of hostility towards the lady? Didn't they even be informed of the rumors?'

Greya wanted to confront the knight and say in front of their faces that Lady Victoria had already changed however, before she could even utter or step near where the knights were, Victoria already spoken to them making her halt her moves and looked at the genuine smiling face of the lady

"Hi everyone, since I decided to learn baking that here --- Greya, our chef taught me, I learned a lot and also baked a lot which made me have an idea to share my treats with you all. I know that you still can't forget the old me or if anything related to how I've acted before but trust me, I don't remember anything of them and after I've woken up I decided to change hearing some negative comments about me. so everyone, before offering you my treats please forgive me!"

After saying those words, she respectfully bowed in front of the knights making Howald's mouth wide open while Melly did the same. Greya, on the other hand, widened her eyes and was about to loosened her hold on the trays that they were holding when she immediately grip tightly on it reminding herself that it was what they've worked hard for

Meanwhile, the reactions of the knights were like those people that have seen a ghost or more like a haunted house. They can't believe that the lady would eventually bow in front of them --- a higher noble bowing to them as only a servant was something that they wouldn't allow given that they knew about the knight's code except that the noble truly holds some favorable request upon them

'Is the lady requesting for us to accept her?'

'Has she been sane all along?'

'So the rumors about her losing all her memories and changing her attitude as well were all true?'

'I couldn't expect what my eyes were seeing right now'

'It feels surreal'

All the knights were silent on the outside as they hold their breathes but all of them were having such chaos inside their minds. They're full of surprise from the lady that they didn't even know that they're unconsciously nodding and smiling towards the lady. It's only then that Sir Howald spoke first making the knights avert their soft gaze towards Victoria and look towards him

"Milady, if you always need someone to protect you. Then, don't always hesitate to come to me or even us, right comrades?"

He spoke with confidence making Victoria's smile grew wider than before. She doesn't knowit however, her smiles right now had captivated the knights' hearts and shouted with such salutation.

"YES SIR!!!"

All of them shouted as them immediately stood up and salute towards Howald which is higher than them ranking and towards the lady who was still smiling genuinely

"Milady, also please apologize us for our previous misconduct or any bad behaviors shown to you!"

"Yes, Milady. From now on, we'll be always at your service"

"We're always here to protect the estate and the name of the household Milady"

"And you're part of that now and ever, Milady"

The knights continued apologizing and reassuring the lady of their unending protection and loyalty for the household. Victoria, on the other hand, doesn't know what to react but to only smile genuinely as tears run down her face. She doesn't even know why but she just felt pity for the old Victoria knowing how blind she gets for loving the crown prince that only will only lead her to her demise at the end

'I don't get why the original Victoria never knew such things existed. Like feeling these warmth I'm feeling right now when the knights of our household swear to protect our name and our lives. I just don't get why she was so obsess with the crown prince that she tends to not see the beautiful things that was left unseen by her. it's true that the crown prince is a gorgeous guy, an intelligent guy and the one who will inherit the throne someday inside the empire. However, is that was the only things that the original Victoria had fallen in love then it's never called love in the first place'

Yet, upon seeing Victoria's reactions the knights immediately panic. They didn't know why the lady suddenly cried and they all knelt seeking for forgiveness. Only Howald was left standing and shaking his head as he chuckled towards their responses

"Milady, please forgive us!"

"We never meant to make you cry!"

"Milady, please punish us for our insolence right away!"

All the knights say those words which only earned them chuckles as Melly immediately however gently wiped the tears that were streaming down the Lady's face. Greya, on the other hand, couldn't believe what she's seeing. She was only surprised by the sudden changed of behavior the knights of the duchy was as her mouth went opened while looking at all the knights except Howald kneeling respectfully at the lady

"Please everyone, I'm just surprised that's all. No need to worry. I know that you all value your hard works that's why if it's alright with you all, then please have some our baked muffins!"

"Then immediately as lightning, the knights stood up and once again looked shyly towards the lady

"YES, MILADY!"

All of them responded at the same time with such enthusiast and gratitude in their voice.

Then just like that the open training ground of the knights were full of laughter and smiles as the lady, Melly and Greya distributed the bake muffins that they've exert effort. Howald, on the other hand, commanded the knights to form a line and eat some of the bake muffins. All were cheering for the lady and how great it tastes. That made Victoria's day a happy one

'For now I want to put smiles on people's face in hard times and in exchange for their hard works'

***

"I guess it's already time's up, Ger. You may get back the same time as you usually do. Oh! And here is your pay for the month and the bread that you say your siblings want"

"Thank you, Sir"

"Oh! No problems, but how many times did I say that just call me by my name?"

"How could I possibly do that, Sir?"

"Alright alright, just say whatever suits you to say to me, just don't hesitate to tell me if you have problems, alright?"

"…"

Instead of immediately responding back, Ger only nodded respectfully that earn him to mess his hair by the owner

"Then let's see each other again tomorrow, alright?"

"Yes, Sir"

"Be careful on your way now, night these days are always approaching so fast"

"Alright, Sir"

Then with that the owner had already locked the bakery and went to his house nearby. Ger, on the other hand, went ahead towards their small home, until he stopped walking and looked at the busy people walking ahead of him back and forth. That earned him a sigh as he remembered what Finneas told him to do

'Well, this is the first time that the lady had stopped coming inside the bakery. However, I'm just glad that I can't be distracted when she's always there. It made me felt like she's a complete distraction to my part-time job anyways. Now, all I have to do is tell Finneas what he wanted to hear. It wouldn't hurt him to hear it, it will only ease his ears'

"Brother! Welcome home! Oh! As always our favorite bread" Talius exclaimed

"Yes, brother sure is a true hero for us!" Grem exclaimed

"Well, that's our brother for us, right brother Ger!" Xenius exclaimed

"I'm hoping that brother Ger also did his tasks clearly and perfect!" Finneas signaled Ger about the gift that he gave him to give to the young lady that saved him however, he was only rebutted by all of his brothers except Ger who was chuckling on the other side

"Finneas, what do you mean by that?"

"Yeah, we all knew that brother always does his tasks clearly and with perfect"

"And don't forget brothers, he never left traces for him to be found. That's just how intelligent our eldest brother is"

Finneas was cornered on the side while making such shy smiles as the others continued praising Ger --- who was chuckling on the other side

"Alright now, guys here is your favorite bread as usual"

His happy tone captivated the brothers that they immediately left Finneas who heave a sigh and looked seriously at Ger who was only chuckling in response

"You're always the best brother that we have!"

"Silly you all, now go and eat them before they get too cold for the night. oh and Finneas may I have aword with you?"

"Yes, brother"

Then the two of them left the alley and went ahead on the side wall.

"Regarding the gift you've told me? I've already given it to the lady and she was happy for it"

He lied for Finneas' sake of being happy

"Really brother? I'm truly thankful! Love you brother!"

"You're always welcome and I love you all four too"

The two hugged for a while and they immediately went inside the alley for a warmth night of eating. While, the old man as usual had somewhere he went.

'The night is cold but when I'm with them it only get warmer'

***

"Mother, did I hear it wrong?"

Victoria ask as they were having their dinner

"No dear, you heard your father right. There'll be a duke arriving here on the weekends, they'll stay here for a week so please accommodate them well oh and treat his son like a friend, alright Victoria?"

'No way is my mother referring to duke Felium Maximus? The only duke that had a son? Xyle Maximus? In the original novel he was one of a psychopath!'