August watched the scene in front of him and opened his mouth, “My liege, the king wishes to see you at this very moment.”
Damien shot him a glare, “Did I not tell you that we had a passionate night together? Can’t you see that our liege is too tired to even stand?”
“Even so, the king-!”
“If my brother has a problem, he can come to me.”
Damien motioned to Donna, “Take your time. I’m escorting her to her room.”
Donna bowed, “I’ll be there soon to assist.”
August didn’t appreciate the feeling of being ignored and grabbed Fantasia’s arm forcefully. The force caused Fantasia to wince in pain. Donna’s eyes pierced August’s soul with raging inferno as she quickly hopped down from the carriage, but Damien shot her a look.
Donna knew that it would be risky to just do something right now, but she couldn’t help it. Damien knew that if Donna did something now, it would risk everything.
Instead, Damien freed one of his hands to draw out a knife from his sleeve. He pointed that knife at August's neck.
"You dare lay your dirty hands on our liege?" Damien threatened.
August let go and took a step back, "My apologies for scaring you, my liege. It would be wise, however, to see the king at this very moment."
Damien lowered his eyes at Fantasia's arm. It was slightly bruised with intention to harm. His eyes widened as he placed the knife closer to August's neck, drawing blood.
"Leaving a mark was simply scaring her?" Damien questioned.
August tensed up a little at the slight pinch at his neck, "Please understand, your highness. I'm simply doing my job as the chamberlain and delivering a message."
Damien looked back at Fantasia's face. She was definitely playing the part well as the tired maiden. She rubbed her bruised arm but slowly closed her eyes again, leaning her head back on Damien's shoulder.
"Deliver this message to my brother," Damien ordered. "After I put Fantasia to bed, I'll see to him instead. I'm sure he would rather hear from the source of the rumors."
Damien sheathed his dagger back into his sleeve, "No one is to visit our liege while she sleeps. You may come to grab her only after she's rested."
Damien eyed Donna. She looked at August, "We will be taking our leave now, Mr. Winifred."
Donna led the way to Fantasia's chambers. Damien followed her, with the fake sleeping Fantasia in tow.
August fumed in silence before turning heels and walking the opposite direction.
—
We arrived at my room. Once the door closed, Damien placed me on the bed, sitting up. Donna immediately ran to my side and kneeled in front of me.
"Your radiance!" Donna gasped. "Are you alright?"
I gave her a small pat on the head, "I'm okay, Donna. Thank you for worrying about me."
Donna lightly grabbed onto my arm and examined it. I guess Fantasia bruises a lot easier than I thought. When August grabbed me, it did hurt, but it didn't warrant a bruise as big as this.
I felt Donna shake in anger, "Your radiance, you don't understand what's going on in my head right now. I was ready to kill that man."
Damien placed a hand on her shoulder, "That's because our liege's emotions are now linked with yours. You'll be able to feel what she's feeling from now on."
Damien gave me a look, "That's why I stopped you from getting out of the carriage. If your anger got out of control, Donna really would've killed August Winifred."
I held my head, "So I need to control my anger. That's going to be a little hard."
Damien sighed, "You seem to calm down when you're being held. This is where I come in."
Damien sat next to me and placed an arm around my waist, bringing me closer. I was leaning on his shoulder with a hand on his chest. His heartbeat held a steady rhythm. It was nice.
"You're getting good at this," I joked.
He blushed, "Please don't tease me right now."
I laughed at him. We stayed like this for a minute before he lightly pushed me to the side. It was inevitable, but it must be done. He already promised to see the king in my stead. Damien looked annoyed about the whole ordeal and scratched the back of his head.
"Victor is the last person I want to deal with right now," Damien admitted. "But I'm glad I was able to see you back to your room."
"Next time, I'll forcefully summon you to the palace so we can spend another night together," I teased.
Damien turned red, "I'm…looking forward to it."
I gave him a wide smile, "You should go now before your brother gets even angrier."
He smirked, "Compared to the king, I'd rather not make you angry."
He got up and left the room. As soon as Donna sensed that Damien was no longer in earshot, she looked at me. Her eyes watered but never fell; as if the small tears just rescinded back into her eye sockets.
“Lady Diana,” she said. “I want to actively protect you. It’s hard to just sit back and watch when I can feel everyone’s intent from a mile away.”
For a minute, my Donna went back to her crybaby self, but then relaxed back into her stoicness. I also felt that she was getting haughty once she became my Sword, but I’m beginning to think that her becoming a Sword is what’s developing that haughtiness to begin with. It looks like she’s going through puberty.
I feel bad. I didn’t know that making a sacred oath could change someone’s personality so drastically.
“Please don’t sit on the floor, Donna,” I begged. “Sit next to me instead.”
Donna obeyed. As soon as she sat down, I gave her a huge hug. She flinched but reciprocated.
“I want so badly for you to shine,” I whispered. “But I can’t risk you being exposed. If they find out that you, a mere maid, is able to do incredible things, they’ll get suspicious.”
“What if I just don’t do incredible things? What if I was able to become average?” she asked.
“I feel like the king would try to win you over to his side if you were competent enough.”
“I’d never choose the king over your radiance. That’s blasphemy.”
“Oh ho! Be careful of what you say, Donna. You could be tried for treason if someone overheard you.”
“I’d rather have my head on a spike for all to see than choose the king, Lady Diana. I will die on this hill.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Donna really is my right-hand man. My most trusted friend. My ride-or-die. I can’t believe I got so lucky meeting her.
“If you can find a way to be great, but not too great, I’ll allow you to be my guard,” I promised her.
“Not only a guard, your radiance. I wish to forever be your maid and cater to you as well,” Donna added.
So, a maid that knows how to fight? A combat maid?
It would knock two birds with one stone. It doesn’t sound that bad of an idea. If she does become my personal guard, she can also do her due diligence as a maid as well. With her ability to sense things now, she can rush over just in case she believes I’m in danger.
I ruffled her chestnut brown hair, “Alright. Be my combat maid, Donna. In fact, be the youngest to get acknowledged as a knight. That’s your first mission.”
Donna got up from the bed and kneeled before me. She took hold of my hand and kissed it.
“I will not fail you, your radiance,” she declared.
“I know you won’t. I’ll be expecting good news within the month,” I told her.
“A week.”
“Pardon?”
“I only need a week. I know what I must do.”
Donna’s puberty is going to take some getting used to. That haughtiness is turned up to the max. If she’s able to do all that in a week, it would be quite a feat. However, that’s overkill. I don’t need her to garner crazy attention when she just starts swinging a sword after only a week of training.
What am I going to do with her?
I just smiled, “Okay, get it done in a week; but don’t show off in a week. Show off just a little bit after a month. Make it seem as though you’re a rising star.”
“As you wish, your radiance,” Donna agreed. “Now please stay here. I’m going to fetch some ointment so we can heal that bruise on your arm.”
She turned away from me and headed out the bedroom. I sprawled across the bed and stared at the ceiling. So many things happened in the span of two days.
How long ago did my soul land in Fantasia’s body? Has it been a few weeks? I spent most of my days moping over the fact that I didn’t truly die. I guess it’s a blessing that I didn’t.
I closed my eyes for a spell.
I hope Damien is okay…
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