15

He/Heroine and My Villainess

(STAND YOUR GROUND AND DON'T BLINK A DOUBT)

-DUKE RESIDENCE-

"Cathlen," Duchess,

"Mother, why you here? You're not busy today?" Cathlen reply, surprised,

"Where have you been? And what's up with those cloaks?"

"Oh, this?"

"Yes,"

"Greetings to you, madam," Angela butt in,

"Angela, you were with her?"

"Uh, yes…" Cathlen respond,

"Yes, the miss wants to go downtown, and I escort her," Angela answer,

"No wonder, what did you do downtown? Why didn't you tell me you were going to visit the town? I could have joined you," Duchess complain,

"Um, is fine, mother. I didn't want to disturb you," Cathlen reply,

"Oh, don't say that. You are not bothering me. You are my daughter. So how is your visit downtown today?"

"It was fine, mother," Cathlen answer, signaled Angela to go on ahead and leave her with her mother.

[Okay,] Angela mouthed, then walk away, leaving them both alone.

-GARDEN HOUSE-

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling well, mother," Cathlen answer.

They're inside the garden house having tea time together,

"How about your head? Does it still throb pain?"

"No, not anymore,"

"I see, that's good to hear,"

"Yes, you don't have to worry, mother. I'm fine now," Cathlen mention, then duchess Aerwen nod and smile,

"Some servants report to me that you get your desk and chair change the other day because you accidentally break it," Duchess mention, sipping her tea,

"Uh, yes," Cathlen can't explain any further,

"Why?"

"Yes?"

"Why you throw tantrums to your things. What happened, did the marquis daughter bother you again?" Duchess speculation.

"What? No! I mean, ahem. No,"

"Then indulge me with your explanation. Your father and I are worried about you,"

"Yes?"

"You've been spacing out a lot these days and your behavior towards us and your servants is changing. What happened to you inside the forest?" Duchess asks,

"I'm sorry, I can't remember," Cathlen answer,

'What is this? Is this an interrogation room? But seriously, I can't recall or even remember what happened,' Cathlen panic, as Duchess Aerwen, look at her with doubtful eyes.

"Cathlen, don't be afraid to tell us about what happened. We're here, your father and I will protect you,"

"I know mother, but I still can't remember what happened,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Cathlen answer, and Duchess Aerwen deep sigh,

"Okay, but if you remember somethings, don't hesitate and tell us right away, okay?"

"Yes, I will. Mother, don't worry," Cathlen smile, then Duchess Aerwen continues sipping her tea and so does Cathlen,

"Mrs. Jean, the viscount wife, invited me to a tea party,"

'Mrs. Jean? Who is that?'

"That's good to hear, mother,"

"Do you want to join me at her tea party?"

"Me?"

"Yes,"

"On what day, Mother?"

"Four days from now,"

"Oh, is it okay?"

"Of course, we can then tell spread the words that you and the crown prince already engage,"

'Ahh… no, I won't go. I hate having attention to myself,'

"No, mother. I will stay at our mansion," I respond,

"But why? Don't you like me saying to everyone that you and the crown prince is already engaged? Then I won't say it to everyone at the tea party,"

"No, is not like that, mother. I still feel a little sick," Cathlen answer, lying.

"Okay, I understand,"

-MARQUIS RESIDENCE-

*Vendia Chamber*

Knock

"Young miss?" Mary calls for her permission to get inside. Mary peeks inside and saw Vendia still sleeping. She smiles and gets inside.

*Swoosh*- The sound of the long curtain being open,

"Erm... Mary, is that you?" Vendia ask with a sleepy voice

"Yes, miss," Mary responded as she went over to her and sat beside her bed.

"Morning..." She speaks drowsy

"Good morning to you too miss, his excellency and Madam are already in the dining room," Mary mention

"They do?" Vendia asks, still sleepy.

"Yes, miss," Mary replies,

"Are they waiting for me?" She asks.

"No, miss. I brought your breakfast here is over there," Mary pointed at her guest room. She nods and yawns.

'It's raining?' She thought, surprised.

"Oh, outside is raining,"

Mary mentions she nods as her eyes light up. She then got an Idea as she stands up and runs to her big window then open them causing, the wind to get inside her room,

"HA HA HA," She laughs, awake now.

"Young, miss. Close the door!" Mary runs over to her worried, but she goes out to her balcony before Mary can get close to her, showering in the rain, jumping, and running like a three-year-old child.

"HA HA HA HA HA, Mary come here let's have fun," She speaks, drowning Mary to join her in the rain,

"No, miss. You'll get sick if you stay long in the rain, please come back inside, let's dry your hair hurry," Mary insists Vendia pouts for a minute then smile at her,

"No, I can't. Mary, I love rain,"

She announces, full of joy as she continues having fun in the rain. Mary feel an urge to join her miss as she bites her lip, refraining herself,

'Alda, are you enjoying this rain too?'

Vendia looked up to the sky smiling as she closes her eyes, spread her both arm, feeling the rain brush onto her face remembering her past day with alda when they're just a little child,

[Flashbacks]

"Hahaha, Yerre, hurry!" Alda exclaimed, running into the playground.

"Okay, I'm coming," Yerre reply having a hard time catching up to alda.

"Hurry, oh, YERRE! Yerre is raining!" Alda extended his joy upon seeing the rain pouring on the playground. Yerre looked up, and her eyes lit up from excitement then, she got startled because someone held her right hand.

"Oh, sorry, did I startle you?" Alda apologies,

"No is fine," Yerre relax and smiles at her, Alda nod.

"Come on, let's play in the rain and dance,"

Alda proposes, Yerre nods, then they enjoy the rain together, playing and dancing just the two of them inside the playground.

"I LOVE RAIN," Alda shout and confess,

"ME TOO," Yerre also does the same, and they both laugh together, then continue what they were doing.

[Flashback End]

"Pft! AHAHAHA" She laughs, remembering her past with alda. Mary looks at her with concern.

"Miss?" Mary calls. Vendia turns around and looks at her smiling,

"Come on, Mary, join me," She exclaimed, full of joy. Mary gives up and nods joining her in the rain then the two of them have fun together like little children.

On the other side, someone is also outside the balcony, letting the rain pouring on her as she feels the peace and relaxing impact.

"Are you having fun with the rain today too? Yerre?" She speaks, looking up to the sky, smiling and spreading her hands-free,

"Young, miss! What are you doing outside? Get inside now, miss. You'll get sick if you stay there for long," Angela nag at her, disturbing her wonderful moment.

"Angela, let me be. I want to enjoy this rain for today," She responds, not caring,

"But miss,"

"Join me," Cathlen respond,

"Um," Angela look at her indecisive,

"Come on, don't worry. Mother and Father won't see us. Come on a hurry," Cathlen excuse, then Angela join in with her,

"Ah... this feels nice... I wish you're having fun with the rain today too, Yerre," She utters as she closes her eyes and feels the rain pouring down on her. Then she heard Yerre's cheerful laugh at her back.

'HA HA HA' Yerre laughing voice, she opens her eyes and turns around only to see no one.

"Is there something wrong, miss?" Angela asks,

"No, is nothing."

'JE! that can only mean that you're having fun too,'

She laughs, feels relieved and happy as she looks back up to the sky, smiling, and closes her eyes again, enjoying the rain.

"Come on. Mary dance HA HA HA," Vendia request as she dances in front of Mary, making fun of herself just like what she used to do with alda.

"I can't miss. I'm afraid you might laugh at me," Mary insists, shy.

"Why would I? Come on have fun with me, come on Mary," She begs Mary look at her for a second then nod giving up, smiling then dance with her,

"Good, good,"

"May we join in too?" Someone speak up the two of them got shocked and look to where the voice is and saw,

"Father? Mother? Your both here," She got surprised,

"Yes, it seems you both enjoying your time," Lord Marthen respond.

"Yes and is on the rain," Madam Rose trying to sound mad Mary got nervous,

"HA HA HA mother good one, Mary got scared," Vendia understand her mother quip,

"She did? HA HA HA HA," Madam Rose laugh, feeling satisfied upon teasing Mary.

"All right, let's go join the two of them," Lord Marthen remarks,

"Are you sure, father? and mother?" She asks.

"Of course, we can do our errands later," Lord Marthen respond. She smiles.

"Okay, come on then, mother and father. Let's us all have fun," She mentioned, then the four of them have fun like a family,

To be continued...