I opened my eyes and was welcomed with an unfamiliar ceiling, so I immediately got up but a striking pain hit my shoulder, "Ow," I whispered. I then notice that my shoulder was covered in bandages, and that's when the memories finally occured to me.
I was bitten by a beast... I thought I was so done for.
"Looks like you're awake," Kian was sitting down on a chair next to me with his arms crossed and a gentle smile plastered onhis face. Did he eat something bad? Why the hell is he smiling like that?
"How long have I been asleep for?" I ask nervously while getting off the bed. Hopefully, it didn't take months like last time. If so, I'm really going to lose my mind.
"Three days. But more importantly, where exactly did you learn magic?"
He knows?!
"How much... did you see?"
Magic is not easy to learn nor is it commonly used by nobles. In fact, you have to be born with mana in order to use magic, "Ever since you fought the ancient dragon," he smiled.
"W-w-wha- How did you know about that?"
"He was the one who brought you back home," Asborn appeared in a human form while Kian's expression remain the same. Judging from his reaction, he's really not lying huh?
Sigh... Its one thing for someone to discover that I can use magic, but it's another thing that the one who happens to know about my secret is Kian, a love candidate!!
Suddenly, a knock echoed around the room as Kian and Asborn disappeared, "Are you feeling better?" Keith walks in.
I'd like to assume that he isn't worried about me since he always gives me the cold shoulder, but his expression is seriously making me think twice. What's up with him too? Did he also eat something wrong? He's acting so.... Weird.
"I'm fine," I replied while beginning to walk out the door but he grabbed my wrist and spun me around to face him. However, he couldn't do so because Margaret welcomed herself inside along with the crown prince.
What is this bitch doing here?
"Vanilla! I'm glad you're okay!" she throw herself for a hug as I wince in pain. Truthfully, it was all just an act since I wanted to see how she would react, but I was shocked when Keith lightly push Margaret away, "Lady Margaret, she is still suffering from heavy injuries, please refrain from touching her."
When he said those lines, my jaw dropped.
Seriously, they dropped.
Is he okay? Did someone punch his head?
"I'm sorry... I didn't know you were still in pain... Please get better Vanilla," she entangled her fingers together and looked down on the ground. Is she seriously acting apologetic right now? Don't make me laugh.
"You want to get better? I wonder who it was that told me to go to the forest," I shrugged my shoulders but the crown prince grabbed my shirt and gave me a deadly glare, "Are you accusing Lady Margaret? A nameless noble like you?"
"Oh dear me, how could I accuse my friend like that? Lady Margaret is such a kind woman. There's no way she would do such things. I hope you didn't take my words in the wrong light, first prince of empress Magnolia," I smirked at him.
According to the book, the King had two wives and each of his wife had one son. However, the king favored the other wife which resulted into Queen Magnolia's demotion. It wasn't long after her demotion that she was pregnant with the king's child. Even if the King didn't show Queen Magnolia or Prince John any love, they weren't treated badly either. The two wives were also not in bad terms, so the life inside the palace was more... lonely than sad.
The thing is, the prince hated the fact that he was born from an unfavored queen, so he despises being identified as the Queen Magnolia's son.
"I will seriously kill you," Prince John raised his hand as his mana began to shroud his fist. If that thing comes in contact with my face, I would probably die, but I'm tired of running away from death every time.
"Do you really think you can?" I glared at him, releasing my mana so he can sense just how capable I am.
Before the situation could escalate between us, Keith seperated us, "You're highness, I apologize on her behalf. I will make sure-"
"If you're truly a crown prince, then don't blindly accuse people without proper evidence. If you do, then you'd just be proving to be unworthy of the throne," I slap his hand away and glared at him.
Just because he's a prince, just because he's strong, just because he was the authority, just because he's the love candidate, doesn't mean that I will back down from his insults. How dare a nobody like him stand in my way. In fact, I should kill him right here and right now for trying to kill me before!
"Y-you're highness, she's right. She was only joking. We are friends, so I'm sure she isn't accusing me," Lady Margaret grabbed on to his arms while he let out a heay sigh before leaving.
"Lady Vanilla, you're quite feisty. I heard that you're the most beautiful woman in the empire, but to think that you have such personality, I'm a bit amazed. Still, he's the prince of this country, please refrain from speaking in such manner," he warned me as I frowned at him next.
Who the hell is he to lecture me?
"Of course I can speak however I want. If anyone tries to kill me, no matter who it is, then I'll make sure to bring this whole country down. I've died once, and I can jus die again. I'm sick of being a side character anyway."
With that said, I walked out of Keith's place without a word and made sure he wouldn't follow me. Then, I hopped inside a carriage that was already waiting there.
"Bring the whole country down? That's quite bold of you. Have you forgotten that I'm the head of the magic tower here?" Kian suddenly appeared in front of me as I gasp in surprise. This man just pops out of nowhere, geezus christ.
"Yeah, whatever," I replied dryly, hoping that I could get some peace, but Kian was bothering me the entire ride back to my manor.