I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 65

(THE ABANDONED ANNEX)

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Ah… I walked back here out of habit. 

My room on the top floor… It looks so empty. The floor is filled with pieces of broken glass. It's noon. But because of the heavy cloud, it's dark as evening.

Rumble~

The loud thunder lightning reflected on those pieces filled the room with hundreds of light reflections just for a moment. 

Shaa~

Drops of rainwater are coming out the broken window. 

It looks like a room that has been abandoned for years. 

"My Lady! You are here. Your room on the fifth floor is already prepared."

Anne said, suddenly entering my room. I looked behind and replied.

"I see."

They sure are fast. 

"Did they take everything?"

"Yes. I personally looked over the maids who were working. They transferred everything to your room."

"Good job."

"T-Thank you. M-My Lady, you shouldn't go there. You might get hurt with the broken glass."

Anne thanked me in a cheerful voice then said with an expression as if she was worried about me.

Hah! As if.

"Let's go."

"Ye-Yes. My Lady."

Soon I left my messed up old room and walked towards the fifth floor.

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Ha~ah!

"Wh-What is it, My Lady?"

Of all the rooms why did it have to be in between the Princes room.

"Nothing. Let's just enter."

I sighed and entered the room. 

"Hurry up. The Princess will co-"

Gasp*

"The Princess is here."

The maids working in my room gasped seeing me for some reason.

"Hey! Why aren't you greeting the Princess?"

Anne asked the maids with an angry voice.

Hah! If anyone sees her now, they will think she is my loyal maid or something. You didn't even greet me until the slaps this morning.

"Apologies, Princess. Greetings."

The maids apologized and bowed.

"Hmm. Get out of my room now."

"Ah. Y-Yes."

The maids flustered then bowed again. Soon they left the room.

"Anne."

"Yes, My Lady."

"I am hungry. Bring me steaks and steamed vegetables."

"Okay, My Lady."

"And I hate if someone plays with my food."

"Ah. I-I will be careful, My Lady."

Anne replied with a nervous voice.

"You'd better. Now hurry up and go."

"Yes."

Soon Anne bowed and left the room.

Hah~

I lay on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

The room has a sky blue colour. And of course, it's bigger than the room on the top floor.

The corner of the ceilings has beautiful Viney golden art. 

"Hmm~ I want to check out the balcony but it's raining."

Knock* Knock*

"Princess, May I enter?"

Sigh~

I can't even lie down peacefully. 

I got down from the bed and sat on the couch. Then said,

"Yes."

Creak~

"Greetings, Princess."

Kelvin bowed and greeted politely. I guess he has learned his lessons.

Anyways-

"Why are you here?"

"Ah, that. I wanted to ask if you liked your room? Is there anything you dislike? I will ask the maids to change it right away."

"What If I say I don't like the room at all?"

"Ah- That…"

"Don't be so tense. It was just a joke. Anyways I like the room… For now at least. If I want to change anything, I will inform you through my maid."

"That's kind of you, Princess."

"..."

"Oh. The maids searched every nook and cranny of your room but didn't find the Blue pendant you mention, Princess."

"What?"

"I-I apologize, Princess."

Sigh~

I wonder what happened. I don't think Anne stole it. If she did, it would've been the same in the past. But that didn't happen the previous time.

I have a feeling the necklace will have some clue about my return and also my power. 

"Umm… Princess. Should I call the jeweller? You can order him to make one like the Blue pendant."

"No need for that… In another thought, do call him. I will need some new jewellery for Rubena's birthday."

"Yes, Princess."

Unlike the other times, I will try my best to outshine you… Rubena.

"Anyways, Why are you still standing here?"

"Umm... Princess that..."

"Don't beat around the bush. Hurry up and finish whatever you want to say."

"A-About this morning…"

Kelvin said with a cold sweat while bowing his head.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Princess, that-"

"Because of the earthquake, my room was completely messed up. It's beyond repair. That's why you changed my room. Was there anything else?"

Isabella asked with an innocent face. 

As if understanding what I meant, Kelvin bowed and said,

"No. Nothing else happened. Then I am taking my leave, My Lady."

"Just go."

I said while waving my hand.

Soon after, Kelvin left the room.

I got up from the couch and walked towards the bookshelf. It seems like they brought all my books. There are also other books.

"Let's see if there's any interesting book to read here."

<A Lady's Etiquette And Duties>

<Lady's Duty to Her Husband>

<How to be Sophisticated>

<Become Social Butterfly in One Day>

"What the heck?! What are all these?!"

Haah~

All these are useless to me. 

Tch! I guess Grandfather's Library is my only hope.

Knock* Knock*

"My Lady, May I enter?"

Anne knocked on the door. I guess my food is ready.

"Yes. Come in."

Creak~

Anne entered my room with a tray. Then put it on the table.

Hot Steaks… Steamy Vegetables… And Soup…

Soon I started eating my lunch.

Mmm~ So delicious! The juicy steaks…

Anne did a good job bringing delicious lunch…

After eating my fill, Anne took everything back then returned to my room.

"You are excused."

"Huh? But-"

"You have worked hard today. So rest for a while. If I need something I will ring the bell."

"Alright."

"And don't go to Rubena today."

"Huh? But if I don't then she-"

"Go to her, the day after tomorrow. You just have to say that I didn't let you go out of my sight after the earthquake as I was too scared."

"A-Alright, My Lady. Then I will be taking my leave."

Anne then bowed and left the room.

Hmm~

I should sleep too. I have to stay awake at night, anyway. 

Soon after, I lay on the bed and fell asleep.

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Anne: "My Lady. Wake up."

Anne: "My Lady."

"Tch! Shut up! I heard you."

Sigh~ I can't even sleep peacefully.

"S-Sorry, My Lady. It's just… It's time for your dinner."

"What?"

"I-Its already way past dinner time, My Lady. I came to your room in the evening to light up the lamps, I didn't wake you up as you were sleeping peacefully. Bu-But you have to eat now."

I looked outside. It's still pitch dark outside.

Rumble~

The weather is also the same it seems. 

But… Did I really sleep the whole afternoon and evening? I wasn't that tired though. Is it because of using that power?

"M-My Lady?"

"Did you mix something on the food?"

"Wh-What? How can I?"

"Pfft! Don't make me laugh. You have done it several times in the past."

Anne flinched hearing that.

"I-I apologize. But I swear in my life that I didn't mix anything with the food. If you want, should I show you? Should I eat the food?"

"So that I have to eat your leftovers?"

"What! T-That's not what I meant, My Lady."

Anne answered with panic.

"..."

I can't believe a thing that she says.

"I really didn't mix anything, My Lady!"

"Alright. I will eat the food."

"Th-Thank you for believing me, My Lady."

After that, I finished my dinner. And it seemed like Anne didn't lie. The food was perfectly fine.

Soon after, Anne took back all the dishes and returned. Now she is changing my dress into a nightgown.

"Braid my hair."

"As you wish, My Lady."

"Anyways, where did the Emperor go?"

"He might have gone to the 'Shadowmoss' Territory for an expedition."

"Is that so?"

Shadowmoss Territory… It's in the North of the Loire, the totally opposite of the Capital. Because of this, he couldn't attend Rubena's Birthday in my previous life. Something more important than Rubena…

I have to find out about that place…

"What time is it, Anne?"

"Few hours until midnight."

I see. Everyone else must be sleeping by now.

"Anyways, get out now. I am sleepy. Don't even think about bothering me again."

"Alright, My Lady. Have a good sleep."

Saying that Anne bowed and left the room.

"I should also get going."

I got up from the stool and wrapped a shawl around my shoulder.

Rumble~

Tch! I will get wet for sure. 

Haah~

Stop fussing and let's just go, Isabella.

Soon I got out of the room and started walking sneakily.

Hurry up and go to the stairs. 

Phew~

I sighed with relief after reaching the stairs. Thank goodness no one saw me.

Then I started walking towards the first floor and got out of the Castle.

Grandfather's library is on an Annex behind the Royal Palace. It is an Abandoned place now. No one would think that there is a Library in a place like this. 

Even though I said it's BEHIND the Royal Palace, I still have to walk for 10 minutes to reach the Annex. 

Rumble~

What a loud thunder. I am glad that there are so many trees here or else I would be completely wet by now.

Anyways, after walking for 10 minutes, I finally reached the front of the Annex. A three-story mansion covered with vines. 

Rumble~

The sudden thunder lightning made the annex look like a haunted house. Well, the annex is like a mansion in the middle of a forest. Even at day, the servants are too scared to enter here. Which is good for me, of course.

Anyways, I should enter now. I walked up the stairs that lead to the main gate of the mansion and pushed the door.

Creak~

With a loud creaking noise, the door opened.

Haa~

It really looks like a horror house.