JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW

"I'm done, thank you for the meal," Felicia stated as she stood up and bowed her head to keep being polite and left the dinner after she finished her dish. She's so mad with the Duke right now that even her insides churn as she forces herself to eat in front of him. 

What the hell is he thinking, agreeing to the Emperor's decree? Or it must have been Constantine who pleaded with the Emperor. After all, he came earlier and this must have been the reason as to why he came. 

As soon as she opened the door that led to her room, she opened it with force and slammed the door shut, making Olivia and Noctua flinch at her, storming right into her bed and dropping dead.

"Oh dear," Olivia muttered as she immediately stood up from sitting on the sofa, walking towards her direction. "Mistress, was the dinner good?" She asked, trying to identify what seemed to be the cause of her displeasure.

"Are you alright, Felicia?" Noctua asked as he flew his way next to her, above her head while trying to look at her expression. However, she was face down and Noctua really couldn't tell whatever she was feeling. 

"Mistress..." Olivia called, holding her by the shoulder, worried about her. "Just leave me alone, Olivia, Noctua. I want to rest." She said, groaning while trying to push the two away from her. 

It's making her head burst in heat, especially since she just heard a bombshell dropping at her. A marriage? She's not even at the right age to get married. But considering this situation, everyone thinks it's the right time to get married. 

"I can't do that, Mistress. I swore to be with your side." Olivia firmly said while shaking her head in disobedience. Whatever Felicia says, she wouldn't go out even if that means Felicia is mad at her. 

"I too will never leave you, Felicia. Whatever your problem is, we care about it. Look, the night is perfect for you to be so dull. Move." Noctua even agreed, nudging her head using his beak to attempt to comfort her. 

"Is it?" Felicia asked as she then took the liberty to pull herself from lying down and sighed, sitting slowly in the bed while looking outside. It's not perfect, never been perfect. 

"Yeah, look at that. The night sky is filled with stars. I heard that the city is celebrating something. Like a night market filled with fun—"

"It's not right for the lady to go out late at this night. The family will kill me if she did." Olivia cut Noctua off, glaring at him for trying to encourage Felicia to go out. 

"What? I just told her what would happen tonight because I heard from the servants passing the room. They said there will be a big night market today." Noctua replied, frowning over Olivia's strict personality. 

"I want to go. I want some time for myself. Olivia, can you fetch me a servant's dress—"

"No." She cut her off before Felicia could even finish her words and then she glared at Olivia for denying her request. "Then just get me a pair of pants and a cloak. Then sheets as well since we don't have any ropes." Felicia initiated, glaring at Olivia who remained standing tall while not adhering to her command. 

"Lady, it is passed the time for you to—"

"Do you want me to send you back towards Helena, Olivia?" Felicia threatened, making Olivia stop rambling and just stare at her in disbelief, eyes watering after hearing her words. She doesn't want to go back at that scumbag!

She sniffed and nodded her head, turning around to fetch what she had asked. Meanwhile, Noctua looked at Felicia with a surprised expression, couldn't believe that Felicia told Olivia such rude words. 

"That was rude..." Noctua mumbled. She wasn't really in her best mood right now, given the fact that she just threatened Olivia in a rude way. That woman followed her immediately, scared by her sudden shift of personality.

"You didn't have to tell her that..." Noctua told Felicia as she sighed, looking at Noctua with a sullen expression. She couldn't help it, everything was making her feel mad. Curse this family of hers.

"I couldn't help it..." Felicia mumbled and turned to Olivia who finally delivered what she had asked her. "Here are the things that you asked, Mistress," Olivia said as she looked at Felicia with a sad expression. 

"Thank you, Olivia. Now, connect these sheets by tying them and then tie them around the balcony." Felicia commanded as she grabbed her clothes to change while running towards the bathroom, leaving Olivia who frowned at her weird request and followed her command. 

After a while, Felicia went out, wearing a puffed sleeve and a trouser, looking like an ordinary citizen of the Empire while tying the cloak on her neck to secure her identity. "I did what you asked Mistress but what are those for? It's very suspicious..." Olivia asked as she came back from tying the sheets towards the balcony. 

"It's nothing. Now, you—" Before Felicia could even finish her words, a knock disturbed her from giving Olivia the command, making their heads look at the door connecting outside. 

Felicia then looked at Olivia, giving her the look and sign for Olivia to get the door. "Whoever it is, tell them that I wish to be alone because I'll be sleeping early for tomorrow's preparation." She whispered, looking at Olivia who then nodded her head and walked towards the door's direction.

"Felicia..." Meanwhile, right outside the door, Alexander called as he knocked on the door. After the dinner that they had earlier, Felicia left as soon as she saw the chance, leaving the three looking her way. Of course, Alexander is filled with worry, especially after knowing Felicia didn't want this marriage. 

Soon his face lit up when the door slowly opened, but soon his smile crushed down when it was Olivia who opened the door with a neutral expression on her face. 

"Sorry, young master, My Lady doesn't want to see anyone as of this night. She said that she wishes to rest early and prepare for her training tomorrow." Olivia delivered, shaking her head politely as she told Alexander to back off. 

Alexander sighed, nodding his head as he respected her wish to be alone. Nevertheless, she'll try and ask the Duke to let her at least have the wedding off for two years. This is so sudden, why would the Emperor bind Felicia with that damn bastard when he hasn't met Felicia?

Meanwhile, as soon as Alexander left the door, Olivia immediately closed the room and looked at Felicia with a concerned expression. She was at the edge and anxious about this whole ordeal. 

"Are you really sure, Mistress? It's already nighttime! Knights are roaming around!" She sighed, trembling slightly. Felicia requested to go out of the mansion and explore the market as a way to relieve the stress developing inside her. 

For Goddess' sake, it's not right for a lady to explore the night! There are vicious and vindictive types of people roaming the streets right now! And the market is far from here! 

"Relax, nothing's gonna happen. You pretend that I'm me and just sleep comfortably in my bed while I'm out. besides, it's not like I'm going to kill myself. I just need space to breathe." Felicia replied, looking at Olivia while setting up the hood that she was currently wearing.

"Don't worry, I also am going out with Noctua. So it will be easy to notify you if something happens to me. So just relax there and allow me to escape this mansion for once." She added, sliding the hood to cover her face. 

"My Lady, I really don't think that it's the right time for you to find peace—"

"Hush, Olivia. Don't make me repeat myself. I'll be fine." She once again reassured Olivia who was silently panicking as she went towards the balcony where she had tied multiple sheets till it reached the ground. 

It was quite sturdy so she could escape without hurting herself. "Mistress..." She could hear the fear in Olivia's words, trying to stop her from whatever disaster she was trying to do. 

"Relax," Felicia muttered as she held into the fabric as right as she could, standing on top of the balcony. As her eyes then looked down, her heart took a leap, as she almost lose her stance if not for her balance coordination setting tight into holding herself high. 

Even Olivia let out a yelp, making Felicia look back at her and glare. Realizing the mistake she had, she then closed her mouth, even blocking it using her hand and closed her eyes in return. 

"Geez," Felicia muttered as she looked down once again. She couldn't help but feel scared at this point. Her room is at the highest point, of course, she's afraid to jump even though she has sheets tied together to the ground. 

"Are you really sure about this, Felicia?" Noctua asked as he resides on the balcony, looking at her if she had lost the screw of her brain. To jump in this tall building with only the support of the sheets she tied to the balcony, is she even serious about it?

"Yes," Felicia said, stuttering even as she looked down once again. Crap, this is too tall for her to even jump. Her feet won't even move from where she stood, getting the cold feet. 

Who wouldn't be scared at the height?!