Being The Carefree Empress - 13 Friends

I waited for myself to fall in the grass, but instead of grass I feel a warm and soft body embracing me. Body? Embracing me?

I quickly opened my eyes and I saw an ebony black hair and pair of deep dark blue eyes looking at me. I looked at him and was almost mesmerized on how such an attractive person ever exist, like I thought Reenste’s cousin was already very good looking now this guy shows up looking like a god with his handsome and yet regal and mysterious aura to blend with.

“Done staring?” His voice felt like thunder that made me go back from dreaming to reality. So Embarrassing. I quickly got up and sat to his side. Now that sober me up.

“I’m really sorry, mister! I underestimated the effect of that alcohol that I stumbled. I’m really sorry that you have to help me with that carelessness..” I hurriedly said then looked at him as he sat back up.

“Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?” I asked and looked at him and his body. He is wearing a dark blue clothing with black embroidery design. Despite the wrinkles in his clothing and some grass, he still look so fine and majestic with his aura and posture.

“How about you?” He asked and looked at me, especially at my right arm. I subconsciously touched it.

“No, I’m fine. Thanks to you.” I smiled and notice the mess he’s in.

” Now you’re full of leaves and grass. There’s also dirt in your face. Let me get my handkerchief.” I said and took it from my pocket. I had the tailor to saw some pockets in my dress, so it’ll be handy.

“Here. You can use it.” I said and handed him the handkerchief in his hand. He looked at the handkerchief then me. I just looked at him too and wait. I saw his lips slightly curled before he lightly shook his head and started wiping his face. Wait why? What did I do wrong?

“By the way, here’s your gourd. I’m really sorry if I drank too much. It was just my old habit, where I drink when I feel things I couldn’t get off my chest. But thanks to you, I didn’t drink too much because you listened to me.” I genuinely thanked him. It has been so long since I felt this great. Like a huge rock has been lifted from my shoulders.

“Keep it. If you put water into it, the water can help you rejuvenate. If you put alcohol in it, the alcohol will be great.” He said then he reached out his hand to my face. I saw a leaf in his hand.

“T-thank you…” I said pretty embarrassed from the sudden gesture.

“I mean. I can’t accept this. It was you who helped me then now you’re giving me this gourd? I can’t, it’s too much I–” I was thinking of more reasons to reject this when he spoke.

“then give me something.” He said and looked at me straight in the eyes. I looked back at him and ask myself. Is he serious right now? I mean no matter what I give him, it doesn’t seem like he lacks it.

“Mister must be joking. You don’t seems to be poor, so I bet you don’t lack money nor material things.” I said laughing. Then he just sat their and look at me. Wait. Is he really serious right now? All I have right now are 20 silver, some hair ornament, a pair of jade rings,some sandwiches and candies.

“Well. I’ll go get my basket, then you can choose in my belongings.” I said and got my basket. I lay down my things then showed it to him.

“This are some things I bought on the way. I doubt, you’ll like anything here. So if you want I can cook things for you, embroid, or knit. Haha..” I was just suggesting things when he looked at me.

“Then… i’ll take this and the offer of embroidery.” I saw him picked up the bigger jade ring. Wait what?

“You can embroid some designs here.” He took out a Dark Blue tiny string back. I just stood there dumbfounded and accepted the string back.

“I’ll send someone to retrieve my bag. You can embroid anything that you think suits me.” He said and got back up. I just looked at him as he reach out his hand to me. He looked at me then his hands, so I reach out to him and he help me got back up.

“Okay.. Bye, mister..” I said and just left trying to process what happened.

After walking half an hour, I have now processed what’s wrong with what he said. He’ll send someone to pick up this bag? Does that mean he works in the Palace?

———

I just observed the lord’s carriage as we return home.

“Hey, Urie. I think his Highness is interested to Lady Ermyntrude.” I looked at my colleague who brought his horse closer to mine.

“Hmm?” I hummed not bothering to speak more.

“I mean, he did ordered you to punish those assassins right? Also, what happened earlier is clearly a sign that the his Highness is really interested to the lady.” My colleague said. I can imagine his stupid smile despite the mask he’s wearing. He’s that stupid that I am able to imagine.

But he’s right. I too, think that our lord is interested to Lady Ermyntrude. I never saw my lord speak that long to woman nor even touch a woman. This is all new behavior that we’re witnessing.

“Sir Hue, the lord have summoned you.” One of the servant said. My stupid colleague then went to the carriage side. The curtains in the window opened and Hue cheerfully greeted the lord.

“Contact the Temple’s High Priest. I want to talk to him.”

The lord said and closed the curtains. Hue came back looking confused.

“I thought His Highness will speak to that Annoying Know it all man, but turns out His Highness is going to talk to that Creepy Smiling Dude.” Hue sigh. I just looked at him as he says those nicknames he come up with to every person.

“But why would His Highness wants to talk to him first things first after we returned?” I looked at him. He really can’t just obey orders.

“Does it matter? The Lordship knows what is to be done, we just need to obey orders and stop using the term ‘His Highness’. It’s Lordship right now.” I said to him. He looked at me and I can see how he’s sulking.

“This is why your nickname is the String less obeying Puppet” He said before leaving. This Bastard…

——————

I look dazed at the string bag that Mister gave me. I thought it was an empty string bag, but when I opened it. It has a golden ring in it. Just a simple ring with engravings on it, that suprisingly I can’t read. Maybe this is some foreign language, thus Reenste’s knowledge can’t seem to read it. Afterall, using the previous body’s knowledge and memory is what enabling me to read the writings here. I observed the engravings. It’s giving me aura that’s same as that mister.

Now that I think about it. He already chosen the other jade ring! Why did he want me to embroid in his bag now? Well, it must be my fault too, for offering that. There must be some misunderstanding. But what am I going to do with this ring? It’s gold so I am sure this must be valuable.

“That’s a pretty ring.” Blue eyes greeted me when I looked up. Those blue eyes belong from the lady in front of me. It’s Lady Alexandria Wahlberg. I was suprised that we are sharing carriages. Hearing her background from the girls, I assumed her parents must have given her own carriage.

“Did your parents give it to you?” She asked. I shook my head and kept the ring inside the bag.

“I was just asked to keep it for the mean time.. by a friend.” I answered. She smiled then stand up. Which shocked me because the carriage is currently moving.

“Be careful..” I said to her and reach out my hand to assist her. She took my hand and sat beside me.

“Hehe… sorry about that. I just wanted to be close. By the way, I’m Alexandria.” She reached out her hand which I received.

“Nice to know you, I’m Reenste.” I said as I shook her hand. This girl is really nice. She looked at me, like a child waiting for something.

“Uhm. What can I help you with?” I asked. Well, I can’t think of anything that she might want so why not just ask her.

“Ah.. Sorry for suddenly just staring. You see what happened yesterday… I wanted to help Belein because I saw what happened, but I don’t know how can I handle it. Then you came…” She smiled at me then I just looked at her.

“What I’m trying to say is thank you… and.. I want to… I mean.. Can we be friends?” She asked. I looked at her, looking nervous and all. I patted her head. What an interesting kid.

“Sure.” I said and patted her head. She looked at me dazed then she jumped up smiling. Which then she hit her head to the carriage.

I think I just made a friend with a clumsy rich girl…