With the problem regarding Zed being solved at the earliest, we spent our days in Hellebore peacefully.
"It's snowing!" I said with excitement as I looked out of the window.
It's been two days since I came to Hellebore with my family. It was cold but I liked it here. I sat on the couch and sipped on my cup of hot chocolate. Yes, I loved hot chocolates especially during the winters.
Hot milk, cocoa and sugar- the simplest things are sometimes the best.
Zed sat on the couch next to me. He seemed to be quite relaxed as he sipped on his cup of tea.
"Zed, don't you see it's snowing?"
"Yeah, it's going to be cold soon. You better put on some warmer clothes."
I pouted as he seemed disinterested.
"Let's go out and play in the snow!" I got off the couch and pointed outside like a five year old.
"You'll only get sick again and I'm not going to make the same mistake again."
As he said that, I sat down without saying another word.
I looked out at the falling snow, the trees and paths slowly started turning white. I always loved the snow; be it in the real world or here. 'Maybe I'll go out later after it stops snowing.' I thought.
Two hours had passed since then; I read a book to pass the time though I took short naps in between and as a result, didn't finish even a quarter of the book. I turned to the window and saw that it stopped snowing.
"Do you want to go outside?"
I turned to Zed, surprised he said that.
"You don't want to?"
"I-I do!" I jumped off the couch and ran towards the door when he stopped me on my tracks.
"Wait you need to put on something warmer than what you're currently wearing."
We were finally out. But something was wrong, definitely wrong!
"Zed, I can't move in this!"
Before we got out of the house Zed made me wear so many layers of clothes that I couldn't move freely.
"This is the best solution I could come up with to ensure that nothing happens to you." He said.
I stood there looking like a giant ball of wool.
'I can't do this anymore!' I took off three layers and ran out.
"My Lady, you must not take those off!"
'Sorry Zed but I am not the old Jerinah, so I'm not going to fall sick just like that and right now I'm going to enjoy myself to the fullest!'
I lay down on the soft bed of snow and inhaled the crisp, cool air. I spread my arms and legs and swept them back and forth; my first snow angel in this world!
Next, I picked a handful of snow and shaped it into a ball then threw it at Zed.
"Straight on the face, bullseye!"
I laughed as Zed stood there with his face covered with snow. A ball of snow suddenly came and hit me on my face.
"Oww, so cold!"
"You didn't think I wasn't going to hit you did you, my lady?" Zed gave a smile that seemed to say 'I am not going to let you go that easily'.
I gulped and ran as fast as I could but the layers of clothes I still had on, made me lose my balance and I fell on the ground, landing flat on my face. I realised I couldn't get up by myself and remained on the ground.
"My lady! Are you alright?!"
Zed pulled me up that instant. My face was all frozen up that it was hard to move my jaws.
"S-so c-cold."
Zed took me back in and made me sit in front of the fireplace. Soon my face returned back to normal.
"Phew, that was uncomfortable!" I said.
Zed glared at me then sighed.
"Do you know how worried I was when you didn't get up after you fell?!"
"But the clothes made it hard for me to get up!" I saw the worried look on his face. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
I looked down as I thought about how Zed must have felt.
"It's all right. I apologise for speaking to you in that manner." He said.
Nana brought us some hot soup to drink while we were there. I didn't fall sick as I had said and I asked Nana and Zed not to tell my parents of what had happened.
They were spending their time alone and didn't have worry about me since Nana and Zed were there.
I sat back on the couch and relaxed. I turned to Zed who was relaxing himself too; he seemed less like an escort and more of a friend now. I didn't dislike that change. I smiled and looked at him.
"You look creepy you know?" He said.
"Huh? What did you say?!" I snapped at him.
'Forget about being more of a friend, he's a devil that pretends he's going to protect me but likes to pick on me every time!'
The days passed by quickly as I enjoyed myself in the Celeste family home. The garden was a peaceful escape which was blooming with winter flowers. Nana had told me that there was a flower that bloomed specifically in Hellebore. It was named ‘winter rose’ and that this territory was named after that flower. (Hellebores are also known as winter rose.)
She also mentioned that though the flowers were very beautiful, they were poisonous.
After spending two weeks of peace in Hellebore, we head back to the capital.
On the way back, I suddenly realised I didn't write to Al that I was leaving to Hellebore. That instant, I could already feel the sharp glares coming at me. I wondered what he would say or even do to me for not writing to him for two weeks. I didn't want to go back at all!
Two days later, Al visited the Celeste Mansion. I don't know whether I should say it was expected or unexpected since he never did come here (it was his first time here during the garden party.)
"Lady Jerinah, could you please explain where in the world were you?"
"A-at the C-Celeste f-family h-home at H-hellebore.." I studdered, avoiding his gaze. 'Is he mad?' I thought.
"So you went to Hellebore and disappeared for two weeks without sending even a single letter to me." His tone hung somewhere between sarcastic and annoyed.
He then smiled at me.
'He better stop smiling at me like that!’ I thought. Even if he smiled at me, I knew that it wasn't because he was happy. He looked so scary but I couldn't say it to his face. Who knows what would happen if I said so.
'Why does he have such a scary expression that contradicts with his attractive face!'
"F-Father said we were to leave the next morning and honestly, I forgot to write to you even after I got there! I'm sorry!!" I bowed down with my face on the floor.
"H-hey get up! You don't have to do that!!" He said as he got up. "What if someone sees you, it's going to cause more problems."
I lifted my head and sniffled.
"Ah, I'm sorry I got mad. I was just worried since I didn't hear anything from you after the party. Now please stop crying." He handed me a handkerchief and I blew my nose on it instantly; once again.
"I-I'm sorry for ruining it again!"
“Never mind.” He sat back on the couch again. “So how was it, at Hellebore?”
I started telling him everything that had happened including how Zed felt that he was responsible for my lost memories and also about Nana's delicious soup.
“How do you see Sir Zed as?” He suddenly asked.
“How I see Zed? Hmm, he is my friend as well as my escort that I trust and have my full faith in!”
“And me?”
He kept asking weird questions ever since the first day we met.
“You are my friend too. I mean you are the only one besides me, who came from the real world. You still seem cold and scary but that doesn’t mean you’re a bad guy and I trust you.”
He sat there and didn't say a word.
Did I say a little too much? Should I have not mentioned the ‘cold and scary’ part?
“Ah, by cold a-”
“A friend I see.” He looked down for some time. “Fair enough.”
With that being said, he stood up to leave. I didn’t quite understand him. I accompanied him to his carriage and just like that, he left.
‘A weird guy.’ I thought.
I skipped across the hallway and heard father’s voice in his office. I lifted my hand to knock on the door when I heard him talking with his assistant, Harl.
“A visit to Azalea? I wonder what His Majesty wants me to do there.”
“I believe it’s just to attend a meeting there, Lord Roscoe.”
‘Father was asked to go to Azalea by the King?! I can’t miss this chance, I must go with him!’ I knocked on the door.
“Father it’s me, Adline.”
Harl opened the door for me.
“What is it my darling daughter?”
“What were you talking about?” I directly asked him.
“The King wants me to go attend a meeting in Azalea in his place. He really does know how to use his family connections.”
I thought about what father had said. He was the brother-in-law of the King but even then, the Crown Prince should go in place of the King at times like this. Maybe he had more faith in father than his son. Personally, I wouldn't have any faith in the Crown Prince either.
“Take me with you, father.” I said.
He looked at me for a second. “Very well.”
"Huh? Just like that?" I said not believing how father agreed that instant.
“Are you sure, Lord Roscoe? I mean Lady Jerinah’s health is something to be concerned about too.” Harl said.
“It’s all right, Harl. I know you're worried about Adline's health, we all are. But these days, I have noticed that her health had gotten much better and I believe she won’t stop begging me to take her until I said yes. Moreover, this is just for a meeting so I believe taking her won’t do any harm.”
By this time, my parents- the Duke and the Duchess, had already concluded that my loss of memories had something to do with my reviving health and that my memories may never return since I showed no positive signs. But they seemed ok with it, since they couldn’t be happier seeing me with no issues with my health.
Three days later, we headed off to Azalea. This time, I had sent a letter to Al about me leaving the capital. I couldn’t find myself having another meeting with him after I returned. The good news was that he had replied that he would be attending the meeting with his father too.
It was all settled.
We both knew the main reason we were going to Azalea- to find the sorcerer.
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