Chapter 8: Rumors (1)

•Diana POV•

As I leave the carriage, Anne who is waiting at the gate, walk towards me.

"Good morning Lady Diana, we have prepared your room"-Anne

She said which makes me stunned.

"How did you know that my father would agree?"-Diana

I ask her

"Princess Scarlett predicted it, Lady Diana please follow me, Princess Scarlett is in her office."-Anne

She smiled as she ordered the other maids to take my belongings, Julie and I follow Anne as she led us to Princess Scarlett's office.

Julie left me as we walk towards the office saying she would fix my things on my new room as Anne led her to the room.

As I was about to knock on the door, I heard the princess voice.

"Come in"-Scarlett

She said, letting me in.

I was surprised for a second but enter without wasting time, I saw her diligently doing documents. I was stunned to see the princess appearance; she stands out as the sunlight that was coming from her window hit her back without as she focus her view on the documents without looking at me.

"Excuse me, Good morning Princess Scarlett"-Diana

I politely greeted the princess as I give a polite bow.

"Please take a seat Lady Diana, Unfortunately I am busy but don't worry I will be done in a minutes"-Scarlett

The princess informed me as she looks at me, I hear the tap that the princess makes.

"No, it's okay princess"-Diana

I responded as I take a seat near me, I sat down in silence as not to disturb the princess work.

Observing the princess, I subconsciously stare at the princess. I heard the princess tapping at her desk again, I notice that her taps kept getting slower.

I look around to pass time, I saw pink carnation on the princess's desk as well at the entrance of her door.

'That's a beautiful flower, I wonder where they got it?'

I thought to myself.

"Ah, you can read a book Lady Diana. I might take a while, though"-Scarlett

Informing me as she signs some documents. I stand up from my seat, while saying.

"Thank you, Princess"-Diana,

Thanking her, I walk towards the bookshelf. Looking at the books, I notice a blue book at the end of the bookshelf. Walking towards it, I look at the title which make me shock.

'The owl in the abyss? Is this the limited edition?'

I thought to myself, as I observe the book.

"That's a limited edition, it was hard getting that book"-Scarlett

The princess spoke to me on my back causing me to jump in fright.

"Ah!"-Diana

I shriek, letting a cute shriek. I felt my face rapidly turn into red, embarrass that I let out an embarrassing voice.

"Cute voice"-Scarlett

She blurted out, teasing me as she smiles causing my face turned even redder.

"Princess!"-Diana

Slightly shout her name, sounding embarrass.

"AHAHA"-Scarlett

The princess softly laughs at me as she put her hands up in the air.

"Thank you for waiting while I do my work, Lady Diana"-Scarlett

She added as she fixes her cuff.

"No, It's okay Princess. But may I ask something?"-Diana

Requesting to her, Princess Scarlett tilt her head and smile.

"Go ahead"-Scarlett

"How did you know that my father would agree to your word?"-Diana

I ask her, curious. It took me a while to realize something.

"Well, Duke Shawn really treasure his children. And I'm confident that he will agree"-Scarlett

The princess explained as she tilts her head whilst placing her index finger on her cheek.

'Right, Dad work on the palace. There's no reason that the princess and him would meet'

I thought to myself.

"Right! Lady Diana shall we tour you into your temporary home?"-Scarlett

She said as she claps, she took my hand and drag me while loudly open the door in her office. The princess took me all over the mansion, in the middle of our touring we stop at the basement.

"This is our basement Lady Diana, although your free to go down but I advise you to not to for your own safety. I brought some friends here and they enter the basement, they seem to be terrified you see"-Scarlett

The princess advises me as she shared one of her friends experiences as she smiles causing me to shiver from her words.

Coincidentally princess's master exits the basement, we look at her as she looks at us with slight surprise in her eyes.

"Good morning Princess Scarlett and Lady Diana"-Kara

She politely bows to us; she glances at Princess Scarlett then at me with a stern face.

"I see, have fun on staying in the mansion Lady Diana"-Kara

She slightly smiles as she said that to me.

"Yes, thank you…?"-Diana

I thank her as I try to ask her name.

"Kara, Kara Atkinson"-Kara

She answers.

"Thank you, Ms. Kara"-Diana

This time I thank her with her name, after hearing my word Ms. Kara look at Princess Scarlett then as if understanding something, she then said goodbye to us then walk out.

"Well, let's continue, shall we?"-Scarlett

She said as she took my hand and walk.

---

"And lastly! Your room Lady Diana!"-Scarlett

Beaming as she poses, kneeling as she points her arms on the door. Coincidentally Anne opened the door, seeing Princess Scarlett kneeling.

"Princess Scarlett"-Anne

She said in a low tone, making Princess Scarlett jerk when she heard it while gulping. I saw her stand up quickly, Anne glance at me making me to wryly smile at her.

"I'm so sorry about Princess Scarlett, Lady Diana"-Anne

She apologizes as she slightly bows to me, then hold her head while slightly shake her head.

"No, It's okay"-Diana

I said to her as I wave my hands.

"What?! I'm not that bad!"-Scarlett

She protested as pout.

'Cute…wait what?'

Shaking my head in confusion, there's nothing wrong in thinking that the princess is cute but why did I react like that?

"Yes, yes, your right Princess"-Anna

She sarcastically said to Princess Scarlett as she grinned at her.

"Hey, I can hear your sarcastic tone!"-Scarlett

She protested as she points her finger on Anne.

It was refreshing to me to see them argue but with a smile on their eyes, I was slightly shocked as I saw them. In my corner of my eye, I saw Julie silently left the room and walk towards me without interrupting their fight.

"They are really close, isn't it Lady Diana?"-Julie

Julie asks me as she give me slight smile, I also give her a smile in response.

"They really are but, Aren't we also the same but not chaotic as them"-Diana

I answer to her as I sweetly smile at her. Julie may look like a timid person but she's strict to others but kind to me and to someone she trusts, that's why I can relate to her.

We both laugh causing the two who was fighting to stop and look at us.

"Ah! You guys laugh!"-Scarlett

The princess beamed as she run towards us causing us to be startled, but Anne quickly caught her collar to stop her, causing Princess Scarlett to choke.

"Cough!!"-Scarlett

Coughing as she rubs throat, she then looks at Anne with irritation on her face.

"A crime! That's a crime!"-Scarlett

The princess accused as she sticks her tongue out to Anne.

"How so Princess?"-Anne

She queried Princess Scarlett as she grins at her as she put her hands up align on her shoulder.

"Attempting murder! A crime!"-Scarlett

The princess shout at Anne bulges her cheek.

The two of us laugh as we saw them arguing, the two stops then look at us. A silence was formed but was filled with our laughter after a couple of seconds.

'I think that living here would be more fun'

---

It's been a week since Princess Scarlett train me. Although there are no problem living here, rumors about me still circling in the mansion.

I'm walking in the hallway, heading to the training ground. I pass a lot of maids as I walk, although some of them stop gossiping about me but there still some people gossips after I pass them.

'This is fine, Diana this is fine. A rumor won't hurt me, I'm used to it'

I thought to myself as I slightly move my eyes down.

•Scarlett POV•

As I leave my office after getting a document in my desk, I walkdown the hallway. It's been a week since I have taught 'critical slash' and have been observing her.

'Lady Diana might be suitable for that technique, though I'm impress how fast she can familiarize the technique.'

I thought to myself as I walk, a bunch of maids greeted me as I walk pass them while them doing their work.

I notice that the plant at the corner of the wall has died, coincidently a maid has gone up the stairs.

"Hey"-Scarlett

I called out to her causing her to look up as she walks the stairs, the maid stops within a few meters away from me.

"Yes, Princess?"-Maid

She asks as she politely bow to me while sweetly smiling.

"Ask the gardener if she have a spare peony because that plant over there is dead so I want you to change it"-Scarlett

Ordering her as I point the dead flower at the corner of the wall with a light smile on me, the maid look at the flower then bow at me.

"Yes, Princess I will do that"-Maid

Accepting my order as she smile, she walks towards the flower and took the flower out in the vase.

"And if she doesn't have a spare peony, tell her to buy more. Then I'll be going now"-Scarlett

I added as I bid my goodbye to the maid, hearing my words the maid bows at me as I leave.

Walking in the 2nd floor hallway, I heard the maids talking about something. I sneakily walk towards them to eavesdrop.

{It's been a while since Lady Diana have been living here, do you think tragedy would struck later?}

{What are you saying, do you actually think Lady Diana is evil?}

{Haven't you heard of the rumors? Lady Diana is full of bad spirits! I heard that she torments one of Lady of Viscounts!}

{Yeah, I also heard that she hit the daughter of Duke Kain}

{You guys are exaggerating, even though Lady Diana haven't spoken to us, but she didn't even do something bad in the mansion, isn't she?}

After hearing the maid's word, the other maids were silent, thinking of her words.

{You're right}

They whisper in unison. They saw me walking towards them.

"Good morning Princess Scarlett"-Maids

They greeted me in unison as they politely bow at me.

I smile at them as I wave my hand to them, I continue my walk as I place my hands on the back of my head.

'Lady Diana's rumor huh?'

I thought to myself as I glance at the window.

---

"Did you guys wait?"-Scarlett

I ask them, smiling as I scratch my head. I saw Anne and Julie talking to each other at side while Diana stretching her body.

"No, I just got here Princess Scarlett"-Diana

She answers, as she stretches her arms.

"Let's change something shall we? Instead of practicing, Lady Diana how about we spar again?"-Scarlett

"Yes Princess"-Diana

She accepts my offer

After she accepts, we prepare our body to avoid getting hurt. Standing from the arena, we waited for Anne to get us started.

As Anne finish her word to begin the spar, I dash forward to her causing Diana to be stunned. Swinging my sword to her vertically, Diana blocks my attach as her knee slightly lower.

I heard her grunt as she tries her best to block the attack, I jump back to my original place.

"Good, it seems that you can block my attack. We can use techniques now, is that okay Lady Diana?"-Scarlett

Complementing her as I ask her, Diana look at me then smile. My eyes widen a bit as I see her confident smile thus, I couldn't help to smile.

"Yes Princess, that's fine with me"-Diana

Diana confirmed as she speaks with full confidence. We stand in our place silently, waiting for each other to attack.

After a couple of seconds of silence, Diana makes the first move as she run towards me, striking horizontally as she aims for my head.

I duck down to avoid the attack; I could see Diana's stomach defenseless. Switching the position of my sword, I thrust the pommel of the sword to Diana's abdomen as I put a lesser amount of strength in just seconds.

"Kugfh!"-Diana

She groaned in pain causing her to jump back to create some space between us, coughing as she felt the pain in her abdomen, clutching her stomach with a pained look on her face.

'Did I put too much strength? I swear I reduce my strength when I hit her'

I thought to myself as I scratch my neck.

"I'm sorry, I put a little strength. Should we end it and let you rest?"-Scarlett

I ask to her in concern as I lower my sword, taking a step forward to her. She stretches out her hand to stop me, shaking her head as she straightens her back.

"No Princess, I can continue"-Diana

Diana indicates that she can continue as she grips the sword in her hands with a clear voice as she tried to stop herself from coughing.

Immense guilt form within me as frown formed on my face, taking a deep breath then release it. I glance at Anne, seeing that she understands me she left the training field and enter the mansion.

"I'm terribly sorry Lady Diana"-Scarlett

Once again, I apologize to her

"No, no, it's your highness, how could I let Princess Scarlett talk like this"-Diana

She utters as she expresses a distress look on her face. After a while we proceed to continue our spar, our spar ended in 5 minutes. trying to end the spar faster, we delt each other's blow for a while, then ended the spar on my victory.

I could hear her panting as we finish our fight, I glance at the mansion's door, coincidentally Anne walks out the door with female doctor on her back. Anne walks towards me as she and the doctor behind her bow down.

"Princess I've brought the doctor as the Princess order"-Anne

"Greetings to Your highness and Lady Diana"-Doctor

Greeting us as she bows again, she stays her posture as she waits for my word.

"You may rise"-Scarlett

"Understood"-Doctor

She stands up as I said my word

"I hurt Lady Diana while we spar, I want you to look at her wound"-Scarlett

I stated as I order her, the doctor slightly bow her head then look at Diana

"Thank you, Princess"-Diana,

Thanking me as she bows her head to give her gratitude.

"It's fine Lady Diana, it was my fault to begin with"-Scarlett

Waving my hand as I responded.

The doctor check Diana's stomach in her room, as she lifted her shirt a violet circle can be seen from her abdomen. The doctor began to touch it as Diana whimper in pain, then the doctor took out some ointment in her bag and proceed to rub it on Diana's bruise.

"Apply this to your bruise every night Lady Diana"-Doctor

She instructed as she remove her gloves.

Diana nodded as Julie took the ointment and place it on the desk. The doctor stands up from her seat, then walk towards me.

"Princess I've finish treating Lady Diana's bruise, may you excuse me"-Doctor

She bows to me; she walks out the room.

I sat down beside Diana; I look down on her bruise. I let out a sigh as stare at it, I look up only to see Diana's face slightly turned bright red.

"Ahem! Again, I'm terribly sorry Lady Diana" -Scarlett

I cough as I apologize to her again.

"It's fine Princess"-Diana

Shaking her head and her arms to assure me, I let out a small smile to her.

"Right! I heard some of the maids kept talking about you"-Scarlett

I look at her quietly as my mouth slightly lowered, I look at her face to see her reaction. Her eyes widen for a bit, I notice her jaw tighten as she lowers her head.

"Oh"-Diana

She utters a sound; I notice her hands interlock together and tighten. The atmosphere turned gloomy, Julie and Anne who was been with us the whole lower their head, their eyes narrowed in sadness.

"Do you want to clear your name?"-Scarlett

I ask her quietly but everyone in the room can hear it since the whole room was quiet ever since I mentioned about the rumor.

The three of them widen their eyes in surprise, but Anne turned to her usual expression as she let out a smile. Diana turned her head towards me, her mouth was slightly opened as she seems to be trying to say something.

"What do you mean Princess?"-Diana