Chapter 5 Grace: The Hunt

Grace peeked at her friend. That wide grin still hadn't left her.

"Hmm hmm~"

Something seemed to amuse her. The soft hum of a tone escapes from her as the carriage jostles.

Hisin? Why him? She couldn't get it.

But it seems her friend was really in love. Out of all the girls, Sophia was the most like a sister to her.

She seemed to be in her own world, embroidering, as the notes left her lips.

"Sophia."

Sophia jolted from her words, although Grace knew she hadn't spoken harshly.

"Y-yes Grace?"

"Sophia, I've already said I'm not mad…"

There was a silence in the carriage after Grace's words.

And then Sophia giggled, breaking the silence.

She spoke softly "Gosh, Grace… I'm not afraid of you, rather…" Sophia set her embroideries aside, and timidly took Grace's hand.

"I'm not afraid, rather... I'm more scared to disappoint you, and perhaps, as you've said, I'm a bad judge of character."

"When my father died, and nanny died. You took me in, and then you, my cherished friend, spoke so harshly of Hisin."

She turned Grace's hand over, spreading it open, her thumb gently traced the lines of her palm. Grace lets her, as she noticed Sophia was gathering her words carefully.

"I'm afraid of my feelings. You've spoke so harshly of him, yet here I am. In love..."

She lifted her gaze from her palm, with a grin. Her golden eyes squeezed into crescents.

"If you really believe he is bad for me…"

"th-then I'll stop."

Towards the end of her words, her voice broke.

She gazes down at Grace's palm.

In the silence of the carriage, except for the hooves of the horse. Sophia entwined her fingers into Grace's just as Hisin had held her hands yesterday.

"M-my father…" she said, slowly. Her voice was rough.

"My father… His lands are to be returned. I've received a letter. Perhaps I'll inherit his title, no I'll be a countess and I fear that day, If that happens I'll no longer be near you… yesterday, when Lysia had taken us to see Mikah. I saw his friend. Hisin's friends amongst the soldiers. I Thought at that moment perhaps if we were ever married apart, you to Mikah, and me to Hisin, we would still be together at parties and at balls and galas."

"I was a bit relieved then."

Grace had never seen Sophia so talkative. Sophia had always teased her when Lysia and Elizabeth had been around, but rarely did she share her thoughts in such details.

Perhaps it had taken a lot for her to speak those thoughts, as it wasn't long after that she slept under Grace's careful watch.

Grace did not speak. They had ridden since midnight, dawn was approaching. The sunrise cast a golden glow on her friend, Grace thought at that moment; golden hair, golden eyes, golden dresses, everything about Sophia was golden, even her heart.

She had been so entranced by her words she hadn't spoken.

What had she been doing to her friend? Her dearest Sophia.

She had been so confident and dismissive towards Sophia's feelings for Hisin. She needed to learn more about Hisin if she were to confidently tell her friend to suppress those feelings.

All she'd known about him were the times they'd fought in their childhood.

Every interaction of theirs in their childhood had been filled with sarcasm and mockery of one another.

He had teased her, and she'd played pranks on him.

Then when he had entered the war and Mikah had followed him, the Mikah who wouldn't hurt a fly.

Her blood boils even now.

Some part of her wanted to fight him again, beat him with a sword. She still hadn't stopped her swordsmanship training. She had known someday they would fight again like how they did back then.

She was able to beat many of her father's men, he was in for a hell of a beating.

—---

Three days later Grace wasn't surprised when Lysia had invited the girls to a hunt.

Lysia had always loved the hunt. The perfect place was the Lavdrianna forest near the Powfrien estate, Lysia's father; Marquise Vissaye's personal property.

Powfrien was a relatively distant place from the borders, year round, it had always remained safe from the war.

There have always only been ladies at these gatherings. That was before the war had ended.

Many of the ladies now brought brothers or even fathers with them.

It had become a grand event.

"Miss Vissaye, is it fine if my brother joins our hunt? He had recently returned from war." Miss Mornoon, asked. By her side was a man.

"No it is fine, I'm glad you can make it, Miss Mornoon." Lysia bowed gracefully.

"Good to meet you, Mr Mornoon"

"It is my pleasure."

Grace stood by her side, her polite smile twitched as she watched the ladies bringing brothers after brothers, and fathers."

Miss Mornoon was an acquaintance of theirs; she'd always attended these events. So did many ladies of the Luxian empire.

Grace can not claim to know them all.

"Lysia. Grace, is Sophia here as well?"

"Ah Elizabeth! Yes she is here, you know that Sophia hates these events, she's such a prim. She has hidden herself in one of our old cottages in the clearing ahead," Lysia giggled.

"Lysia, Grace this is Elliadria, she is the arch~"

"I'm sorry Elizabeth," Elliadria chimed in, quickly.

"Good to meet you again, Grace," she nodded towards Grace. "~and you as well Lysia." She nodded towards her.

"Gosh, Elliadria I hadn't seen you in so long…" Lysia spoke, She nodded as well.

Grace was in a daze, she hadn't seen her since her brother had entered the war.

"It-its a pleasure."

"You know each other?" Elizabeth was stunned.