Chapter Two

Chiyo's POV

Weeks before I will be announced to the world, I heard my mother and father arguing inside their bedroom. I hid behind their door.

"Michael, it's time."

"You know, I will not do that."

"You've been hiding our daughter to everyone. She deserves to be outside."

"I will not expose our child to danger." I heard my father's footsteps approaching the door until my mother raised her voice.

"My lord, please think about Chiyo's feelings!"

"Elizabeth! This discussion is done."

True enough, I want to be outside. I want to explore the world outside our manor. It's not a sign of disrespect if I interrupt them, right? I breathed deeply before entering their bedroom.

"Mother, Father…" I called them. Their faces turned to my direction. Mother was surprised while my father was confused.

"Chiyo, were you listening?" I bit my lip and nodded. I closed my eyes and bowed to them.

"Father, may you grant the wish of this selfish servant." I said. Still, bowing, my father walked towards me to raise my head.

"Who is a servant? You are my daughter, of course I would grant anything you want." He assured.

I smiled, then. "Invite everyone on the day I'll come of age." My father's forehead furrowed when he heard me.

"You heard me earlier, didn't you? I won't expose you to any danger." I held my father's hand.

"For seventeen years, father, both of you are protecting me. This time, I want to protect your name. Did you think I don't know about the rumours going around about me?" My father averted his eyes.

"Introduce me to the whole Anastifa that I am your daughter."

---

"My lady, are you sure of this?" Anne asked me when we are alone in my room. To be honest, i am still not. But, my mother is right. I deserve to be outside.

"Times like these will really come, Anne." I just told her. I know she's worried about me.

"The lord was clearly opposed to the idea of letting you go outside, my lady. M-Maybe it's really better to stay here, inside the manor, just quietly living away from the toxicity of the people." She said after she raised her head and looked at me, directly to my eyes.

"Anne, I cannot live within this manor. I must do something." I said. I looked outside. The moon is peeking through the clouds. Were they watching me?

"My lady…"

---

Day of the celebration.

"My lady is really beautiful with light colours!" the maids who took care of my appearance praised me. I was wearing a light blue gown with diamonds on top. The skirt of my gown has the pattern of roses and thorns going around. I wore a white fur coat on and gloves. Mother was so afraid I might pick something dirty. I chuckled at the thought.

"Would you like to put powder on your face, my lady?" one of my maids said. I looked at the tray wherein different shades of some things they will put on my face was present. To be honest, I'm not good at these things, but I want to appear gentle on the eyes of our guests on this day.

"Not yet. I'll be out for a while." I said and stood up.

"B-But, my lady, the party is starting in a few minutes." They said. They looked at me with worry, probably scared that they would get a scolding from my mother.

"Don't worry, I'll be back."

I walked slowly towards the door but stopped again and said, "Oh, if I'm not back, just let Anne find me." all of them whined but I continued walking until I reached my very own sanctuary—the garden.

"How are you?" I asked them, even though I know they won't answer. If they would, that would be really creepy. Plants can't talk, but they are living. They have a life. Flowers, leaves, animals, insects, even water; they are all our way of communicating.

"Are you all watching me from there?" I asked. Just then, I saw a butterfly flying around me. A white butterfly, to be exact. I lift my point finger and it rests on top of it.

"I see, you really are watching me." After I said those words, it flew away, again.

I went to get the sprinkler to water the plants, obviously. Then, I felt my hearts beats faster than usual. Why? What is it?

I heard footsteps echoing through the hall. People? But there shouldn't be any—oh, maybe it's Anne. Am I already needed there? I was only gone for a few minutes.

"According to the rumours outside the castle, it seems that Duchess Irenty forbid her daughter to step out of their manor for personal reasons." A man's voice. No, it was not Anne.

Then, two men entered my garden. I know one of them. My hands dropped the sprinkler and it caught the attention of the two

"Who is there?!" shouted one. I observed his clothing. He was obviously a knight, but he has the crest of the castle. T-Then, it's really him. No! Why is he?! I clutched my chest when I felt it tightens. Breathe, Chiyo.

L-Luke…" I whispered. Why are you here? What are you doing here? The man in a fancy white coat obviously wanted to go near me, but he was stopped by his knight.

"Do not, my lord. She must be some kind of mo—" he was cut off when Luke slapped his cheek. It was not loud but I think it was hard enough to feel numb on the cheek.

Monster. He was going to say that word.

"It is a disgrace of a royal knight to call a lady like that, Philip." He told him. So, Philip was the name of his knight. I fix myself up. I forced myself to calm down in order to look fine in front him.

"I—Forgive me, your royal highness." He bended on one knee and bowed his head. Luke, then, looked at me.

I lifted the side of my skirt up, slightly, and bowed to him. "It is my honour to greet the royal highness."

"Lift your face." I did so. "You called me by my name earlier. How dare you call the prince without the honorific?" my eyes widen for a moment. That was only a slip of the tongue and I made sure I was the only one who would hear it. I grasped my skirt and gulped. I can't let him know yet.

"I didn't, my lord. Maybe you heard it wrong." he arched his eye brow at my answer but it seems like he let it go.

"Stand up, Philip, and apologize to the lady." He said. The knight—Philip, rather—stood up and ready his stance to bow but I raised my hand to stop him from doing so.

"It's alright; it's understandable he had a shock. After all, being a royal knight of the crown prince is a huge responsibility and it was probably the first time he saw me." I said. Yes, it was really normal for people to call me 'monster'.

Still, that word made me feel the fear I have been running to ever since I was a child. Calm down, Chiyo, it's already in the past.

"May I know your identity?" he suddenly asked.

"Oh, I think it's the other way around, your royal highness." I chuckled, never letting them notice that I am still nervous.

"I am Prince Luke Norman Orion, the crown prince of Anastifa." I know. I smiled and bowed to him, in order to introduce myself.

"I am Duchess Chiyo Enola Irenty of Eternina; it is a pleasure to finally meet his royal highness." I said.

Our paths have once again crossed, Luke.

"The Irenty family, huh." I heard him say. I looked at him and noticed that he was staring at me. I bowed to avoid his eyes. I cannot turn my back on him without his permission; it's a sign of disrespect to the royal family.

I don't know what he is really thinking but I can take a guess. He remembered my family's name. He must be thinking about various things right now. Maybe the fact that…

"The right hand of the royal family?" I gulped. I knew he would think of that.

"My lady!!" Anne's voice, shouting, was heard. This is the voice of Anne when she's panicking.

"My la—oh, my lady!!" she gasped when she saw who was inside the garden with me. Her eyes widen with shock as she bowed to the prince.

"Greetings to the prince." She said, still shaking. The prince acknowledged him and he looked at me again.

He's staring. I thought, so I looked down.

"You have silver hair?" he asked, clearly he's curious about my hair. I forgot it was not tied up.

"I guess I have, is it that unusual?" he smiled slightly and nodded.

No! Please, get away from him.

I touched my right temple. Huh? I thought I just heard a voice. Who was that?

"My lady, let's go to your quarters." I'm thankful she's here. If she wouldn't, I can't get out of here.

I nodded at Anne. "Your royal highness, would you mind excusing us from your presence? I have to get ready and greet our guests." He raised his right hand and it's our cue to get out of there. Anne, then, held my arm to support me.

"What is the prince doing there?" she asked, as soon as we were away from them. I shook my head. To be honest, I really don't know.

"My lady, do you want to let your hair down or to tie it up?" one of my maids asked. I looked at my hair again. He's looking at this earlier.

"Tie the other half and let down the other." They know what to do. It was my usual hairstyle in our manor. They'll make it elegant with accessories; that's why I won't worry. I trust their instinct.

More importantly, why is he there? It's too soon. It is today that I have just come of age. If it is like this, then…

You have to find her, please. I beg you.

Again, I touched my temple. That voice, again. Who was that? But… it sounded like my voice.

"My lady… my lady…" I heard them. I was back to my senses; I looked at them and saw to hair accessories on their hands. One was a butterfly and the other was a rose. Both of them have red stones.

"What accessory do you think should you use for today, my lady?" they asked me,

Red, the colour of the Irenty family because of our eyes. The king bestowed this colour for us.

"I'll use the butterfly. The roses are on my skirt, you see." All of them chuckled and they got back on fixing my hair. Two of them put wonders on my face.

"I want to look gentle, so please make it light." I told them.

"Yes, my lady." They replied to me. I don't know what they put on me. I never liked these.

"My lady, it's done." They said. I opened my eyes and looked at the mirror.

This is me.

---

Eyes were on me when I entered the room. Shock, confused, afraid; a lot of them were. I held my hands together but my mother took my right hand, smiling and assuring me.

"Don't worry, I'm here." She said. I nodded. My father walked to me, his eyes still objects this idea of mine. But, he sighed and guided me through the center. The eyes of our guests still follow me. Was it a bad idea to expose my hair to them?

"To all the people present here, this is my daughter, Duchess Chiyo Enola Irenty of Eternina." My father said. He looked at me. "My only one." The room filled with silence was suddenly filled with claps. The whisperings were still there, though. But, I didn't care. I have my people who protect me from danger.

On April 17 of year 1192, I was introduced to the world. This will be the start of my escapade to fulfil the promise that was past down from generation to generation of Irenty family.

I will be the one to fulfil it; I will end it with me,