Misunderstanding

Raphael Weylin Mitchell, known for being the youngest head of the wizard tower and for carrying the dragon’s blood in his vein. The mysterious hasn’t even been seen in the public eye and so no one has seen his face. The only information about him was he has beautiful long white hair with a glint of ocean blue and an eye patch that’s covering the unique color of his left eye. Only the Imperial family has seen him and know him. Without even trying, he got himself a title like his master, Hadassah.

Kiha drastically let out a sigh in front of the master of the guild, the information about the great Raphael wasn’t helpful at all. She’s been going in and out of this information guild in the façade of a dress shop for a month now, and the only information about Raphael that she has was his status and appearance. The west tower, the young Grand Duke said he grew up there but Kiha can’t go there without a proper plan.

Kanna’s condition worsened and there’s no physician that can help her. Her schedule is piled up like a mountain that she can’t even stay inside her room for a while, winter is coming and so is the Imperial banquet. Invitation letters from her father’s vassal’s daughter kept on coming that she can’t even visit her sister’s room anymore.

“How about the west tower? Can I go there?” Kiha asked as she leaned her chin on her hand, looking seriously at the girl in front of her. Madame Victoria, she’s an important lady in the Empire, known as the center of society nowadays.

“Of course not, milady.” She replied, fast enough to determine her refusal. Victoria examines Kiha from head to toe before looking straight into her orange irises. “Don’t ever think of it, Lady Kiha, that place isn’t for you.” Victoria mockingly said as she fanned her hand on her face, obviously telling her that west tower was for great wizards only.

Kiha immediately shifted her eyes from Victoria’s hand to her face, before landing on her intoxicatingly blue irises. The moment the master of the information guild met Kiha’s eyes, she felt a chill down her spine. Out of place sweats starts forming on her forehead, hair on her skin standing in fear.

‘What the hell, she just looked at me for a second and I already feel like she’s piercing something on my neck?’ As soon as Victoria thought of this, she gulp before shutting her mouth up. Trembling, she raised her hand as she form a circle in the air, a second later, the image of a black tower came into view.

“If you’re looking for Raphael Mitchell, you should go in this tower, he’ll probably be residing here since he grew there. This is the map to the western territory, monsters, and creatures are also residing there, please be careful.” Trembling hand, shaking voice, standing hair, ominous air, beautiful show, and last, a girl laying low.

She saw her. Kiha saw her on the act, for the first time. Kiha slowly rose from the couch before narrowing her eyes on Victoria. And that was when she realized who is she, Victoria Sein, the only living aunt of her old friend, Czarina. And the only accomplice of her lovely fake friend, Czarina Sein.

“If you have time, fetch your dog in my house. She’s been biting my people for entertainment, Madame Victoria Sein.” Kiha said as she elegantly turn her back to her. She opened the door and there are ladies standing so close to each other, gossiping about her usual shopping expenses for a month.

“If you keep my visit here, I’ll your dirty little secret as well, Madame Victoria Glenn.” Her voice was minimal and the only thing ladies heard was her name. They all looked at Kiha as if she is an officer. They made a way for her as they are afraid to get involved with her, her personality was just one of the worst. That was the only thing in ladies' minds every time they meet Kiha outside, whispering to each other, acting like normal but expecting her name to be on the headline of the newspaper the next morning.

The trip from south to west will take at least one month, it’s easy as there are several boundaries that need to be passed. Even nobles aren’t easily passed as they all need to have enough mana in case the monsters, and creatures attacked them. Kiha reaches out her hand to Ezequiel as he escorts her to the carriage.

Upon arrival, Kiha immediately comes to the Count’s office. Her heels are clinking soundly as she made her way on his doorsteps. She slowly raised her hand and knocked three times, waiting for her father’s welcome.

“Come in,” Count Richter yelled. All of his attention was on his paperwork, but when he saw his eldest daughter’s shadow, he stopped and raised his head. His forehead furrowed and his brows frowned. Looking at him, he’s not in the mood to tolerate his daughter’s fuss but that was where he’s wrong. Kiha didn’t visit him to make a fuss or to beg for his attention like usual, she’s here because she will be leaving tonight.

“I’m not in the mood, Kiha. Your sister’s not well and so did your mother, go back to your room, for now, I can’t give you my time.” Kiha’s intention wasn’t to beg for his attention but still, her father’s words gave a small wound to her heart.

‘When did you ever give your time to me?’ She bit her lower lips, preventing herself from spitting those words. Fortunately, she’s used to this. She’s used to be alone, until Czarina came, because of them, she thought Czarina was the only person to think of her as a person, as someone who existed in this world but now that she knew why she can’t help but curse herself for being stupid.

“You don’t need to look at me, just listen to what I need to say–” Kiha’s eyes widen as her father aggressively hits the table while looking at her as if she is a disgusting mouse that can’t break free from the mousetrap.

“I don’t have time for you, go to the punishment room and lock yourself there!” His full range is scary enough to make Kiha tremble in fear. He hastily walked towards her before roughly grabbing her out of his office. “You don’t even know how to be grateful, you selfish little thing!” She heard his father’s angry voice reverberate in the hallway.

A couple of servants avoided her eyes as she tried to control herself, her head turn as soon as she heard someone running towards her, Kiha immediately turn around, tears are starting to form in her eyes but they soon dried up when she saw her old friend, Czarina dressed in her new branded dress. Frustrated, she strides where Czarina is before grabbing her neck. ‘This is all your fault’ is what she wants to say to her but couldn’t.

“You ungrateful trash– I’ve warned you enough to kill you right now.” She mumbled as she saw Czarina struggling to catch her breath. Dressed too extravagantly, Czarina was probably leaving to meet someone. Count Richter’s attitude made Kiha mad just like how Czarina made it that way by wearing her newly delivered dress, and newly made accessories.

Screams and murmurs resonated in her ear. The servants' voice was loud enough to make the Count get out of his shell. Panicked, some of the servants run toward the knight quarters to call Kiha’s knight to calm her down. Count Richter’s eyes widen as she saw how Czarina is struggling from Kiha’s hand.

“I said, lay low, Czarina. I said behave yourself or else–” Leon Richter run toward her daughter before shoving her aside, checking the penetrator. Kiha looked at her father busily checking on Czarina before leaving the hallway when she saw her knight.

Ezequiel run as soon as a maid told him what is her master doing to Czarina. Servants gather in the hallway, there are no Kalen as they are told to investigate near the capital together with the Crown Prince, and Rhysand.

“Kiha, stay at the punishment room, no banquet, no outdoor schedule!” Her father’s voice loudly repeated around the hallway. “Czarina, are you okay?” The Count worriedly ask as he tried supporting her. He called the servants and let them handle the treatment when there’s no wound, even a scratch on her body.

Ezequiel let out a sigh before talking to Kiha. She looked at her and that was when she realized something. As usual, her master was misunderstood once again. And it hurt him so much that it was her family that treats her like that. Her eyes are red and her bugs are puffy, she must be preventing her tears back there.

“We’ll be going to the West Tower.”