Lies In My Ear

The guards dragged Kiha’s fragile body on the platform where the guillotine is waiting for her. She felt her throat getting dry as the executioner stood beside her. Her wounded body was revealed to everyone as her clothes were torn apart. The only thing that covers her slender body is the thin bandage covered with blood.

The chain on her thin neck was tightened the moment the Emperor and other aristocrats enter their respective boxes. Screams full of resentment resounded in her ear. Eyes that are full of hatred flash before her. There is no one to hold on to now, now that that woman already invaded their house. “Sinner Kiha Richter, I would like to ask you one thing. Did you poison the Grand Duke of Grimaldi and harm the neighboring Crown Princess Elaina Harrington?” The Emperor asked as he looked at Kiha with a satisfied smile on his face.

‘You’re still going to kill me even if I plead innocent, so what’s the point of answering?’ is what she’s thinking but the brutal reality came fast. The Emperor’s eyes were glued on her as if he’s thinking of beheading her himself. “I refuse to answer your injustice question, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

And with that, the Emperor’s hand was raised to the air, allowing Kiha to be put on the guillotine. On the corner of her eyes, she saw her family sitting proudly beside the Grand Duke’s seat box. Her dull eyes landed on her family’s seat as her head was put on the guillotine. The sturdy rope that was tied on her wrist tightly suddenly glowered as the executioner pulled the blade’s rope and it begins to fall on her neck but the sudden shield on her neck shocked everyone even Countess Kalyna who suddenly looked relieved.

Everyone screams again as Kiha blinks her eyes rapidly. The unexpected scene never occurred in any of her dreams. That was when she realized it. The reason why the blade stops only near her neck was that it’s not the reason why she will die. Screams reverberated once again as the Grand Duke Rhysand Grimaldi stood up and strode to the platform. There he is, the reason for her death.

“Kiha Richter, I know your situation well.” He looks down on Kiha then lifted her chin upwards to see her frightened eyes well. It was trembling so much that it gave her a hard time to see his face. His eyes that originally full of disgust of her flash before her, His outstanding skills that will kill her in a flash. She saw it all. The way Rhysand pulled his sword and wielded it on her throat.

“-dy! My Lady!” The gentle sound that surrounding the dark and empty space assures her that that was just another dream of her. Kiha slowly rose from her queen-sized bed, holding her neck.

“Are you okay? You’re having a nightmare, My Lady.” Riva smiled at her gently as she put the cleaning materials on the table near the balcony. Her cheerful voice, it’s her first time hearing Riva’s cheerful voice as she always with Czarina every morning.

“I’m fine, how are you doing, Riva?” A gentle smile spreads on Kiha’s morning face. The maid on the door came in with a bowl of water. The sun rays meeting every one of them cheer Kiha’s mood. Her maid, Czarina was living a rather comfortable life than her. Chores like this are done by Kiha herself while her friend will only choose what dress she needs to wear. And to think that she’s foolish enough to let her do whatever she wants just because of that simple word “friendship”.

“Never been better, Miss.” The other maid helps her dress as Riva changed her bed linen and other blankets. She looked at the maid helping her and realizes that there is one missing. It was the maid named Emily.

She carefully searches the room but there is no Emily. Kiha’s brow creased as she remembered what she saw that day. It’s been a while since Riva and the other servants came back to serve her again but unfortunately, there is no Emily. She once asked the other servants about it but they didn’t know too.

“Riva, could you please inform the butler that I will be going outside.” Kiha smiled gently before looking at herself in the mirror in front of her. Her maroon simple but beautiful dress touches the floor makes her more radiant. Riva walks out of the room then heads out to the butler’s office.

“My lady, you need to eat first.” Sheila, one of the maids who always helps her said with a hint of worry on her freckled face. The maid was informed to force Kiha to eat in the dining room as it’s been a while since she dine with her family but the timing wasn't right. Kiha who already has a plan refused.

“But I’m planning to meet a friend and eat there.” Kiha’s cold and reserved tone confused the maid as she brush Kiha’s long beautiful ginger hair. The maid braided her hair and smile widely, looking proud at herself.

“The Count wants to apologize for what happened that night, so please eat with them today, Lady Kiha.” She avert her gaze from the mirror to the maid behind her then let out a sigh, nodding her head.

“Then please lead me there.” The other maid’s face brightens up as they bow their head to Kiha.

The Count’s face was pale to the point that the doctor visits him this morning. The Countess on the other hand was sitting beside him as the four of them is eating their breakfast quietly. The scene last night never slipped their mind this whole time. “Lady Kiha is entering!” their head turned to the dining room’s doorstep and there she is, beautifully standing with her maroon dress and hair braid.

“Kiha!-” Count Richter’s hesitant voice resounded everyone’s ear. The sun was bright that they can see the unusual make-up she’s wearing. At this point, Kiha looked like a proper lady of a well-known family as her face is filled with only unusual light make-up.

“Good morning, Father.” The sun shone on Kiha’s face as she entered the dining room where her family and friend are quietly dining. There is no loud Kanna as her resistance to mana is slowly decreasing.

“You’re here too, Czarina.” Kiha’s friend was taken aback when she showed them her beautiful smile when Czarina told her to fake a smile in front of her family. Scenarios of Czarina comforting Kiha with her what-so-called comfort words suddenly flashes on Kiha's mind one by one. Every single word she received from Czarina resounded in her ear as if it became a horrible sound that keeps repeating every second.

“Yes, no one will love you even if you try. No one except me, my poor Kiha.”

“Elaina Harrington, that wench will snatch everything to you, even your love, Young Master Grimaldi if you let her stand in your way so I will give you advice as to your precious friend, Kiha, kill her.”

“Kiha Raelynn Richter, you are the worst woman.”

"You know how dangerous they can be, Kiha. They do not love you, speak or they will throw you out."

Silence envelope each of them as Kiha stand there without saying anything. Kalen, who’s sitting near the doorstep hastily stride towards her then gently touches her shoulder as if to comfort her but Kiha just looked at him with wary and disgust in her eyes.

“Young Master,” Kiha said. The Countess stands up then walks towards Kiha as well as the Count who’s looking at her daughter with mixed emotion.

Czarina watches them as they sit in their respective seat. Kiha stands beside Czarina then looks down at her. Her eyes are full of displeasure that Czarina cannot move anything but her trembling hands. “Move, Czarina. That seat never became yours, I need to hurry and eat as I have an appointment today.”

Kiha’s braided hair touches Czarina’s shoulder as she leans closer to whisper something. Upon hearing what she said, her dear friend hastily move to another seat then eat with trembling lips and hands.

The five of them eat peacefully then Kiha walks out of the room as soon as she finishes her food. It only took her a second to amuse everyone in the mansion as they were all shocked by her sudden change of attitude.

She saw the carriage and the coachman waiting outside. Kiha went to them then enter the carriage, saying her destination to a coachman named Martin who used to be her mother’s coachman. Martin looks at her with shock written on his face as he hears what the young lady of Richter said. He can’t believe his ears at first as everyone knows how the eldest daughter of Richter hated the daughter of Count Harrington, Elaina Harrington.

“Harrington Residence.”