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Her friends would call her an open book. They would say how she did not have the mental capacity to plot and sneak around. How her naive and oblivious nature was part of her innocent charm. How she would be the first to tell you what she was thinking and how she felt. She was not constrained in the way she spoke her mind and wore her heart on her sleeve. Katarina Claes was anything but secretive.
That was their first mistake. To assume just because she smiled and laughed openly that the girl did not have her own worries, her own insecurities, her own fears that haunted her. They were not supposed to know the inner workings of the girl before them whose eyes would sparkle at the sight of sweets. The girl who was the first one to extend her hand and show them a love that they did not existed. She, who pulled them out of the darkness, how were they supposed to know that she was also trapped there.
Her bright smile was the first deceiving mask. Deterring them away from getting too close to her, for while she could love them openly, she always felt like she did not belong. Like it would only be a matter of time before they turned their backs and forgot about the foolish girl that had a toy snake in her pocket at all times. There was another voice in the back of her head, always telling her that she did not belong here, that she did not deserve her friends, that she would be better off gone.
“Her birthday is coming around the corner, we should plan something for her!” Mary said with a bright laugh, her mind already racing to think of the perfect gift before any of Katarina’s other suitors even thought of it. The lady in question was probably at her small farm tending to her harvest so it was the best time to plan for a surprise party.
“It’s her sixteenth, right?” Nicol said with a soft smile as he poured himself some more tea.
“Our parents mentioned that they wanted to throw a grand party back on our estate. I’ll send the invitations as soon as we get the date settled. And do not worry Maria, knowing my sister she’ll make sure you come with a proper dress. She wouldn’t dare let any of her friends not join her for such a wonderful celebration. ” Keith said with a small smile, to the blonde girl who had already begun to worry quickly smiled back at him. Keith didn’t mind everyone taking his sister’s attention during the party, he already planned for a small family dinner and he couldn’t wait to spend some quality private time with his dear sister.
“Well as her fiancé, I wonder if I should get her a rin—”
“Absolutely not!”
“If you do, I’m burning your invitation!”
“No!”
“Are you insane!?”
“What a sly thing to even think about!”
“We will throw it out before she sees it.”
The prince’s shoulders slumped at the onslaught of reprimands from his friends. He would never get a chance to give the love of his life a ring and get married to her if Katarina continued to charm everyone she met.
“Maybe we ought to throw a nice little garden party or picnic on her farm. Just us and her?” Sophia piped brightly, already cataloging what sort of books she should order to gift to her precious friend.
The student council meeting had quickly changed to a conversation on what they thought they should do for the sweet girl outside of the grand party that her parents will host. All bright smiles as they thought of making the girl that made their lives so much brighter.
SLAM.
“Is Lady Katarina here?!” A heavily breathing maid frantically asked. Her usually neat hair was a mess, eyes wide with fear opened the door without a care for manners as she looked into the room. Startling everyone for the normally composed maid who looked at them with so much fear in her eyes.
“Anne?” Keith rose from his seat to rush to the woman who looked like she was going to be sick. “What’s going on? Is something the matter?”
“Lady—Katarina.” And with that, the happy room turned cold. The fear and worry was palatable as everyone rose and was wanting nothing more than to rush out at the sound of the name. What could have happened to her? Was it like before where she was found in the gardens unable to wake up after her incident with dark magic? No, that could happen, there was no way—“she’s missing.”
And their biggest fear was confirmed and the group had quickly ran out with a plan to find her. This is the second time since she attended the school that she vanished. Their hearts pounded against their chest, believing in the worst. They wished she had more of a sense of her own doom. That had to be more careful of the dangers out there, that there were red flags everywhere for a girl like her.
According to Anne, Katarina had not come for lunch. That was the first warning, but Anne just thought her mistress had gone to the farm earlier than before. But then she saw smoke coming from where the farm was, and knew something was terribly wrong. They had all run to the farm to see what she could mean. When they first saw the chaos, they were speechless. All of Katarina’s hard work ablaze and dying. Alan had cursed and quickly summoned his water magic to take down the fires as best as he could. Wiping away her tears, Mary raised her hands to help her fiancé.
The fruit trees that she had been taking care of were on fire. Mary remembered how excited her best friend was when the first of the fruits bloomed and how quickly she took a bite before having to spit it out. “It’s not ripe yet, Lady Katarina!” Mary scolded but with a smile as she handed the girl her water.
“But Mary the apple was so shiny! It looked so good!” She said with a laugh before taking the water with a thanks and taking a sip. And there was that bright smile, so full of kindness that it helped Mary bloom to become more confident. To try to be better than what other people expected because she wanted to be good for her. She wanted to be the best for Katarina and stay by her side as best she could. She wanted to be by her side as long as she could.
“The day I catch the bastards that did this!” Alan hissed through his teeth as he took out another flame that was approaching the shed that held all of Katarina’s tools and clothes. But it wasn’t just fires, there was the giant mound of earth that was stood where the greenhouse had been. The greenhouse that housed some of the smaller plants and the few flowers that Katarina had been taking care of. The one that could not withstand that climates and needed a more controlled environment.
Alan recalled when he found Katarina taking care of a tiny plant in the house and saw the softness in her eyes as she patted the soil down in the pot. Her cheek had some dirt on it, she was sweating from working the fields and now in her greenhouse. But she never looked more content than when she was taking care of her plants. “This is apparently one of the spiciest peppers you could get on the market! I’m so excited!” She said with a bright and goofy smile as she looked up at the younger prince and he could recall how his heart skipped a beat.
“Why would anyone do this!?” Sophia cried out summoning some wind magic to quench some of the flames near a plot of land near her. Nicol quickly contained another fire, suppressing the air around it to make the fire hiss.
But then the fires roared free and kept spreading. Everyone knew that this was fire created by magic and Gerald’s hand clenched into a fist. There was nothing he could do for his magic would only cause more damage.
This was everything to Katarina, it was her safe haven and it was on fire. It was being destroyed by someone’s ill intent.
“Alan. Lady Mary. Please stay back here and try to save what you can. Keith, you go with Miss Anne and try to look around to see if you can find a magic repressing talisman. There should be one in the council’s room. We need to find the center of this magic to stop the flames.—Nicol, go with your sister to look for Katarina, with Keith going to the council room, he will cover the north, You go South. I will go with Miss Mary to look for her on the west side of campus and we will meet here if we can’t find her.”
The group of friends looked at the prince before nodding and splitting off to do their designated tasks. Determined to find their friend and saving her precious place.
Running beside the lady in waiting for his sister, he could feel his heart beat in his ears. What could have happened to his sister if her farm was in that sort of condition. His heart dropped at the thought of losing his sister. It had already happened once, this terrible feeling, this endless pit of darkness that he couldn’t seem to pull himself out of.
Wiping the tears with this sleeve, he pushed himself to run faster. He couldn’t think this way. His sister was stronger, and even if she was a little dumb, she was clever. She could get herself out of whatever thing was holding her hostage. He just had to find her. He had to find his sister and save her. She had promised to never leave his side. The way the light streamed out from behind her as she looked at him. Cradling his hands and promising her that he would never be alone again. Katarina never broke a promise. She wouldn’t just leave him without saying goodbye, and even then he would refuse her farewell. He wouldn’t let her go so easily.
“Master Keith, what does the item look like?” Anne was desperate to find her mistress, to find the girl that was more than a handful and a half, and yet brought a soft smile to the maid’s lips. The spoiled brat that turned into one of the kindest ladies she could ever have the privilege of working under. Her days were never boring, and while it was tiring to always remind the Lady Claes of her manners, it was never something she resented. “I’m so sorry, Master Keith. I should have never left her alone. It’s all my fault...”
“It is not your fault Anne. This is not your fault!” Keith shouted as he harshly opened drawers, dragging them out of their spot and dropping them to the floor to find what he was looking for. Opening cabinet doors and making the council room a complete mess. “We will find my sister!” He said before finding what they were looking for. It looked like a strange crest as big as his palm before turning to Anne. “I found it! Let’s go back and help the others with the farm and then we can all properly look for my sister!”
Sophia checked the library with her brother as quickly as she could. She knew every nook and cranny of the library. She knew all of Katarina’s favorite spots, like the one with the big window that overlooked the school gardens and hedge mazes. Where she would find Katarina hiding from everyone but Sophia who had shown her the secret spot. Where she would find Katarina to read the latest romance novel and have a wonderful discussion. “Sophia! Look! I got the newest volume of The Princess and the Paupers!”
It was the only place in the school that she shared with her precious friend. Their secret place where she could have tea and spend time with her precious friend. The friend that saw her as beautiful, that took her hand and brought her out to the world. Telling her that she shouldn’t be afraid, that if anyone would protect her, it would be her. She was sixteen when she died last time. The thought passed by her mind quickly and made Sophia snap her head up at the sudden voice that lurked in the back of her head. Covering her mouth, she let out choked sobs, she felt like she was going to be sick. The dreadful feeling of losing a friend. She thought she felt it once when Katarina was found unconscious in the courtyard. What if she lost her most precious friend again. What would she do if she lost her again and couldn’t properly protect her here, either?
“Sophia!” The concerned voice of her brother came as he jumped down the remainder of the steps and cradled his little sister. “Sophia breathes please.” He said as he held her and rubbed her back. The look of panic in her sister’s red eyes as she let out another choked sob. “We will find her. Lady Katarina...we cannot think of the worst. Don’t your stories always have happy endings?”
He will always be the one to protect his little sister, to make sure she is happy. And once upon a time, that was just him and his parents. Protecting her ears from the evil words of those around him. But then there was a strange voice that said how blessed he was to have such a cute and beautiful little sister and stunning parents. It was the first time he didn’t feel completely alone in trying to protect his family.
And his admiration turned to a need. A need to have this girl in his life. This girl who was less lady-like than any of the girls that he was told would be like his wife. His wife would be the wife of the next prime minister, and the role demanded perfection. But while the world may look at Katarina as imperfect, she was so much more than that. She, who could look at him and see him as a person. The girl who gave him a chance to live his life, to not be afraid of leaving his sister alone.
Sophia nodded slowly as she looked back at the cushion that was cradled at the couch that they always sat at. She was not going to sit here and be comforted when her friend was in danger. When her friend was missing. She wasn’t going to lose her precious friend again. “Come, brother. We must go. I will not...”Wiping the tears she had quickly, she felt the shuttered feeling of being breathless course through her body. “I will not lose my precious friend.”
Opening door after door, Maria and Gerald looked as quickly as they could, running the halls of the school. Checking everywhere they could. They were met with confused looks from the other students. Why would the student council be running around campus, looking afraid and scared? if anything, it was more concerning when they kept looking into a room only to look more scared and frustrated. Was there some danger like there was with the dark magic user from before?
Prince Gerald even had to stop a few times, much to his annoyance, to calm the fellow students down and telling them they were just looking for someone. That there was no danger, that there was nothing awful happening. Even if he didn’t feel that to be true.
The courtyard where they found her asleep, all of her classrooms, her dorm one more time, opening doors and feeling their heart sink when she was not there. Maria even checked the kitchens and was only greeted by wide-eyed chefs that asked why she was crying. How could she even possibly begin to explain why?
“Where could she have gone?” Maria whispered into her hand as she ran next to Prince Gerald, the normally cool and collected prince looked ready to call the royal guard to find his fiancé. His eyes looking up into the trees to check if Katarina was there as they headed to the farm. They needed to head back. They needed to find clues as to where she might have gone and the farm was their best choice.
The fires were still raging but with the combined forces of both Alan and Lady Mary, they were able to contain more of it. Sophia and Nicol were already there helping them with their wind magic. Keith finally came with the amulet in his hands looking around the farm trying to find the source. Before his eyes fell on the giant mound and his eyes narrowed. It must be within that earth mound. “It has to be inside that mound!”
Anne followed his line of sight and her brows furrowed. It looks so familiar, the way it was formed, the way it was shaped. Keith was already starting to summon up his magic to create a doll to destroy the mound before Anne gasped and took a hold of Keith’s hand quickly. “Master Kieth! No!” She remembered why she recalled the mound. It looked like Lady Katarina’s little earth bump, yes. But it was more than that. It was back before Lady Katarina had met anyone of her friends before Keith had joined the family.
The thing had appeared around the Lady Katarina when she had a terrible flu, as if it was protecting its host from outside danger. But she was just a child. How could she possibly know how to control her magic. She recalled the scared way the Duke and Duchess looked as they finally got her out of the mound that contained her, holding their only child close. She was trembling in their arms as she clenched her father’s nightgown. Her breathing only beginning to get normal, it looked like she was being buried alive. Unable to breathe in the limited amount of oxygen in the mound. It took her weeks to get back to being a healthy child again. And even then, the Duke and Duchess feared for their only child
She recalled how the servants whispered about that sort of uncontrollable magic being something that could kill a little girl like that. How the Duke and Duchess made sure that sort of magic wouldn’t appear again with magic suppressing potions created from herbs that could slow the growth of a child’s magic. It was why the Duke chose to spoil his child, to make sure she wanted nothing. That was the only thing he could do as a father, and that was what made him more upset.
Turning around he looked at Anne like she was crazy before she took the talisman from his other hand ran to the mound as quickly as she could before pressing it against the earth. The talisman sank into the dirt before the mound itself exploded. Grabbing Anne’s wrist, Keith quickly shielded Anne from the upcoming dirt. Everyone ducking and taking cover from the dirt as it spread throughout the farm, covering the flames and killing the flames.
As they coughed and moved the dirt and dust from their way, Anne quickly moved out of Keith’s grip before heading towards the rubble of where the greenhouse once stood. There in the middle was Lady Katarina. Knees pressed up to her chest, her head down and covered, her arms wrapped around her legs as if she was trying to make herself smaller. In one hand was a piece of paper, clenched tightly as the other gripped her dress. Her brown hair a mess with dirt and sticks. The rubble of whatever was left of the greenhouse surrounding her.
“Katarina!”
“Sister!”
“Lady Katarina!”
Everyone wanted to rush to the girl, to make sure that she wasn’t harmed, not hurt. But all they could see was her lack of movement as she sat there, trembling as she huddled her body into itself. As if she was trying to squeeze herself and vanish from sight. She looked so small, so scared. They could hear her whisper words, but they could not understand what words were coming out of her mouth. They didn’t even sound like a language that any of them knew. Obachan. A strange word, but the way it fell from her mouth made it sound so sad. A longing, a yearning, like a child calling out to be saved.
“Wait!” Maria said loudly before she took a rushed step and gasped. There was something dark surrounding the girl. Similar to when their classmates were accusing Katarina of bullying. There was a cloud of darkness that seemed to be eating away at and wanting to bite at Katarina, Not being able to get too close to her. “Dark Magic...”She whispered with a gasp.
Everyone’s eyes widened at the mention. The only person who had experience with snapping someone out of their trappings of the dark magic was the one being surrounded by it.
“It hasn’t hit her yet. It’s...It’s like she’s protecting herself...She’s in pain...she’s fighting it the best she can...but—” Maria said with a gasp, readying her light magic to save Lady Katarina by all means possible.
“Lady Katarina?” Anne’s voice was soft as she walked towards the girl with soft steps before kneeling down to put a hand on top of the shoulder of the dirty gown. Keith tried to grasp Anne’s hand but was too slow as the maid noted the torn gashes throughout the gown. “Lady Katarina?” Voice trembling, afraid that they have really lost the lady. That this was her version of a breakdown, that something terrible had happened. Gently shaking her shoulder, the concerns as palatable throughout the group.
It took a few moments, everyone slowly approaching the maid and the lady that they were looking for. They all wanted nothing more than to embrace her, to ask her what had happened. But the silence, the whispered words that no one could understand, the way they felt helpless and unable to help her broke their hearts.
“Lady Katarina?” Anne tried again as she squeezed the girl’s shoulder, tears running down her face. She didn’t know what to do. She had not seen the girl like this since she was a little child. To be so scared, to be afraid beyond belief of something that no one else could see.
Slowly raising her head, Katarina’s eyes were red and swollen from the amount of tears that she must have cried. “Anne?” A horse whisper before the maid let out a breath she had been holding and wrapped her arms around the mistress.
“You had us so worried!” Mary shouted, finally being able to breathe at the sight of her friend’s eyes lifting. Crying loudly as she wanted nothing more than to hold her friend close, to tell her that everything will be okay. There was a wince in Katarina’s tired face before she looked up to up back at Anne. Her hand still clenching the letter in her hand tightly.
Maria gasped and nodded when the Prince looked at her, asking her if it was safe for them to approach. “It’s gone. She did it again,” relief in her voice as she was ready to run to the girl’s side. But then Katarina turned back to Anne, her lower lip trembling before she lowered her head to her knees again.
“I want to go home...” The pained whisper that echoed throughout the destroyed farm. “I don’t belong here.” Her voice sounded so far as she clenched her body tightly around itself again. Her shoulders hunched painfully as she brought her knees closer to her chest.
“That’s not true, Lady Katarina.” Nicol’s voice was soft and low, like when would speak to Sophia after a very bad day out. He never thought he’d have to use this tone again. But the way Katarina retreated into herself, it looked all too familiar.
“I will talk to the headmaster to issue a break. I will send a letter to the Duke and Duchess.” Anne’s voice was soft as she quickly took thee lady’s hands into hers, taking out the letter before handing it quietly to Keith who stood behind her. His hands shaking as he looked at his normally bright sister in utter despair. “Let us get you to see a medic.”
A slow and quiet nod before she took Anne’s hand and tried to get up. As she stumbled, Gerald was quick to get to her side along with Alan who took her other hand. Between the two princes, Katarina looked so small, she mumbled a thank you to the two of them.
“I’ll carry her. It’ll be faster.” He said not out of wanting to get his brother’s hands off his fiancé but truly to take care of her. The look in her eyes, how distant her gaze felt, it brought a chill down Gerald’s spine. Putting his arms under her, he scooped up the lady into his arms and carried her out of the ruined fam. “Katarina...are you okay?”
The girls were quick to follow behind the prince’s footsteps, worried looks shared among them as they kept asking questions to her.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Did you hit your head anywhere? Do you remember what happened?”
“If you’re worried about the farm, don’t worry. We will take care of it. You always said I had a green thumb! I’ll make sure it looks as good as it was.”
“Would you like something to eat? I can make you something? Bake you some muffins. ”
They didn’t know what to do. Not a single member knew how to help her. Not when she looked like she was still trapped. They never had to deal with a Katarina like this. It wasn’t just a sadness that overtook their friend, it was something so much darker, so much more painful and they didn’t know what to do.
Keith watched the retreating back of the prince surrounded by his sister’s best friends before he looked down at the letter in his hands, there were ash marks and symbols across the edges of the paper. So, the letter was cursed and so whoever opened it would release the flames. His sister should have paid more attention during the ruins class.
How scared she must have been when sparks began flying out of the paper, when she was all alone, thinking that maybe one of them had sent them a letter. His foolish naive sister, of course, someone would take advantage of how low her defenses were. Why? Why was it that his sister always seemed to be the target of someone’s torment? When she doesn’t wish ill to anyone, when she is always the first to extend her hand in friendship. She has done nothing wrong, and yet the world seems to always be against her.
His eyes trailing down the words on the letter, he felt his hands shake in anger. The words written were even more cruel than the curse on the paper itself.
Everyone around you will only suffer with you around. They have to take care of someone so weak and stupid. Don’t you think they’d be better off without you? Don’t you think that you are just a burden, a nuisance, a liability? You are an embarrassment to your family name. Weak with barely enough earth magic to even be allowed in this school. You don’t belong here! You are a thorn on their side. What sort of lady even starts a farm. What sort of lady acts like you. The world will be better off without you. Dumb girl. If you weren’t a lady, you would be nothing. You wouldn’t have the people surrounding you. They wouldn’t consider your idiot tendencies to be charming, they would see it as what it is, your lack of common sense. Maybe the only thing smart about you is surrounding yourself with powerful people. But isn’t that what villainess would do? To hide away and use other people. You are using their power, their strength to protect your pathetic life. Leave Katarina Claes. We know what you are. You are a fraud. You are do not belong here!
“We will find out who wrote this...The ruins are intricate, which means it must be someone with high intelligence. ” Nicol said as he took the paper before Keith tore it up. His dark eyes scanning the words, gaze cold as he reread the words before handing it to Alan who huffed and growled as he quickly lowered the paper. The words were meant to hurt her. They were meant to poke and stab at all of Katarina’s insecurities. “With the fire magic curse that was placed in this letter, we can assume they also have that sort of magic.” Nicol tried to logically find a plan to find out whoever threatened the life of the young woman.
“She read this...alone.” Alan finally spoke quietly looking around the ruined farm, all of Katarina’s hard work gone in such a short amount of time. “She read this alone and then the fires happened and she must have been so scared.” He could picture her trying to take out the first fire before it all happened to grow more and more. The panic that she must have felt. Trying her best, doing her best, and nothing working out.
She would be spinning around looking at everything going terribly wrong and just the sadness that would overtake her. As if the words in the letter were true. As if she couldn’t take care of the problem herself. As if she couldn’t do anything right. The self-doubt, the feeling of being alone and helpless. It would lead anyone to crumble.
As the three men stood and looked at the wreckage, trying to figure out the best step to take next. Who they should notify, who they should contact in order to take care of the situation at hand. A pair of shadowed figures watched from their place where no one can spot them. One with silver hair that fell to the middle of his back, the other with dark brown hair that was cut short. Both were wearing clothes befitting a high-ranking ministry officer.
“The mound was unexpected. I didn’t expect her to simply just fall. I was sure she was going to die from the fire and the smoker or that we would have to step in.”
“Hmm. She is surprising, that is something we should take note of. The mound itself was protective, and while it looked like earth magic...it seemed to be mixed with something else. You saw it didn’t you?”
A quiet nod from the other figure as they shoved they closed their notebooks, with notes scribbled of their observation of the Lady Claes. “It would explain why the Duke and Duchess used the potions. They probably couldn’t explain what was happening to their daughter. A dual magic user is rare and with the other not being fostered or cared for like her weaker earth magic, it’s no wonder that it reacted like it did. It would explain why her magic is so uncontrollable. Either incredibly weak and pathetic or—”
“Destructive and powerful. Even her friends' magic couldn’t stop the flames until her giant earth exploded and covered the flames. You recall that she was more or less able to break the dark magic that surrounded Raphael. It would also explain that...”
“Did you figure out who the sender was of that letter?”
“They were taken care of. It seems as though we are not the only ones interested in the Lady Claes and her rare abilities.”
“We will have to report this to headquarters.”
“We may need to bring her in earlier than planned.”
When they finally showed Prince Gerald the letter, his jaw tightened, and his blue eyes were dark. Alan put a hand on his brother’s shoulder and shook his head. “She doesn’t need to see this again. We will figure it out for her. This...was targeted at her. We found the envelope on top of her farming tools. Which means they knew she would be the one to see it first. They knew...We don’t know how close they are, if they are watching her, we don’t even know how they are...we can’t..She’s not in a state to be able to answer our questions.”
And indeed she wasn’t. Not even with Sophia on her left, and Mary on her right. Maria had taken to sit at the end of the bed and look at the girl in question with worry as she ate slowly and only with the encouragement of her friends. Never had they seen Katarina without an appetite. Even the sweets were left untouched as Katarina nudged the porridge from one end of the bowl to the other, barely taking a bite.
Anne had gone to send a letter as quick as she could to the Duke and Duchess. The school had been notified and now it was just a matter trying to get Katarina back to her happy state
“Sister...”Keith said finally pulling away from the whispered discussions, he took a step towards her with a sad smile. “Is the food not to your liking? I could always ask for them to bring you something else.” He noted the cakes and cookies that were left untouched on the side. She would have eaten the entire plate by now, excited and without abandon.
“The food is fine, Keith.” Taking another spoonful, she took another small bite. The girls looked like they were about to cry. They didn’t know what would cause Katarina to act this way and even beyond that the tired look in her eyes. “I...I think I’m just tired.”
“You can rest after you’ve eaten a proper meal.” Mary said before taking her hand. “Come now, what shall we get you? Maybe those sandwiches you liked so much?”
“I can make you something sweet! I’ve been meaning to have you try my new cake recipe.” Maria said with an attempt at a happy smile but the way it quivered at the corners was indication enough.
“I...I must have worried you all much..You are all so busy too.”
“We are not too busy for you, Katarina!” Sophia quipped before taking a book out of her bag and holding it out to Katarina. “Why don’t we read something?”
“I’m not sure that I have the energy to read right now, Sophia. I’m sorry.” The apology, the lack of energy, the disappearance of the girl’s smile was all worrisome. It broke their hearts as she continued to pick at her food before letting out a deep sigh. “I...I’d like to sleep. I think I’m just tired.”
“Overuse of her magic.” Nicol mumbled quietly before making note of how slow everything seemed when Katarina wasn’t herself.
A short knock when the headmaster entered the room. He noted the crowded room with a frown before looking at the usually troublemaking ball of energy in the bed. “Lady Claes...Your parents have been notified. They should be arriving soon.” A quiet nod as a response and the tension in the room was thick with grief and worry. “The garden that Lady Claes had been taking care of is being cleaned up. And the rest of you should be in class.”
“We can’t just leave her!”
“Headmaster!”
“Please..I’m sure we can miss one class.”
A slam of the headmaster’s cane, a stern look at their students. “Go to class all of you. Think of what Lady Claes must feel if you are all here surrounding her like this. She must feel overwhelmed. It’s best for her to rest. You are more than welcome to visit her after your classes. Now go. You already missed one and I refuse to let you all fall behind on your education.”
“The headmaster is right.” Everyone turned to face the person they most did not want to leave. “I have Anne. And...you all shouldn’t be here just because of me. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone...”
“You are not a burden!” Keith practically screamed, knowing those were the words in the letter that must have hurt her the most. To think that she was a burden, to think she would ever be in the way of their lives. Did she not realize how important she was to every person in this room.
A sad smile appearing on her lips, it brought a bitter taste to their mouths. It looked so wrong, a smile to shoo them away. A smile to try to reassure them that she’d be okay, when she clearly wasn’t. “I’ll be okay, Keith. Don’t be such a worrywart. I’ll be fine here. I’ll finish my meal and get some sleep.
“Sister...”
“She’s right. Us being here, it must make her feel like she can’t even eat properly.” Alan said reluctantly before placing a hand on Keith’s shoulder. “We should let her rest. And we will meet up with her in the evening. We will have dinner all together, how does that sound Katarina?”
This time, her smile looked a bit more brighter, a little bit more like the Katarina they all fell in love with. “That sounds like a great idea. I’m sure by then I won’t be so tired.”
As they were being pushed out of the room, they all looked back to see the brown haired female waving at them with a gentle smile. As if it tell them not to worry about her, that she’ll be here for when they return.
Prince Gerald left last, he looked at his fiancé before nodding with a soft smile. “We will see you soon.” And when the door finally closed, Anne saw Katarina sigh and her defenses finally crumble. There she was again, weak and tired. The smile that seemed to take more energy to bring out than normal.
“Lady Katarina...”
“I’m fine Anne.” Picking up the spoon and taking another bite of the bland food, she closed her eyes before taking another spoonful. She needed to bring her strength up. She couldn’t keep worrying them. She couldn’t keep expecting them to rescue her. She couldn’t keep—being a burden. “You look tired too Anne. Why don’t you take a seat next to me.”
“I’m fine.”
“It will make me more comfortable if you sat. I can tell you were running around trying to look for me. I’m sorry for worrying you.” Her voice was as distant as her gaze as she finally finished her food and moved the table away from her bed so she can properly lay down. Helping her mistress settle into the bed, Anne quietly took a seat next to her. Noting the untouched sweets. “I’m sorry again.”
“Please...don’t apologize Lady Katarina.”
“Anne..”
“Yes?”
“I want to go home.”
“We shall go back to the Claes estate as soon as we can. I think the Duke and Duchess will like that very much. Your life being in danger twice in a span of a year, I’m sure they’d like you to be home as well.”
But that wasn’t the home that she meant. The home she meant was in a world where she wasn’t a lady. She was just a student trying to finish another route on her game. She was just a teenager with two big brothers that would tease her endlessly. With a mother that would drag her out of bed for school. With a father that would laugh before heading off to work by patting her short brown hair. Where she could see her grandmother working in the family garden, small but full of life.
She wanted to go back to that home where she didn’t have to think of danger flags or the rules of a lady. Where she could eat her mother’s Japanese cooking. Where she didn’t feel this overwhelming feeling that she truly didn’t belong here. That she fell into a world where she could never truly feel like she fit properly. But this was her world now. This was where she woke up in. This was the world that told her that she could not leave.
So she’d have to fight like she always did. She’d have to be stronger, she’d have to prove to this world that she belonged. She wanted to belong here. She wanted to be with her friends. She didn’t want to be something troublesome for them. She wanted to be able to protect them better. Something or someone was out there that was threatening them, that was telling her that their lives were in danger if she was around. She would have to train harder, study harder, be better so she could make sure that no one harmed her dear friends. They could hurt her as much as they pleased. They could say what they wanted in regards to her. They could destroy everything she created, but she would be damned if they ever got a chance to touch her. friends.
“Anne?”
“Yes?”
“Can I have a cookie?”
A relieved laugh before the maid nodded and took the basket of sweets into her lap. “Yes. Of course you can, Lady Katarina.” Taking the cookie with a smile, she took a small bite, knowing that if she was going to be taking on whatever unknown force was telling her that she did not belong, that she was unwanted. She’d have to keep her energy up and act as she always did. To act like nothing has changed, like a fool. That way when they let their guards down again and try to do what they did before...she would catch them with her own hands.