Olivia opened her eyes slowly. The remains of last night’s events were still stuck in her mind, making her chest feel tight for no reason.

Then she slowly lifted herself up to sit. For a moment, she just sat quietly, staring blankly ahead.

She drew in that fresh air calmly. Something inside her chest felt heavy and painful. As if she had been through something very exhausting. She held her chest.

Then accidentally looked toward the table beside her. She snapped back. Then she shook her head slowly.

No. I can’t be late.

As Ophlia’s personal maid, her mornings always start at the same place.

"Javien... I need to see him today!"

She said. Then without hesitation she threw off the blanket covering her feet and immediately ran to clean herself up and put on her maid uniform. Her hands moved faster than usual this time. As if there was something she wanted to chase.

Until she almost tied her hair ribbon wrong. But she fixed it anyway.

"No time for this" she said then stepped out of her room. Her steps were quicker than usual. She walked toward the kitchen and took the food that had already been prepared by the kitchen servant on duty at that time.

The kitchen was very busy and noisy at that point. Olivia pressed her lips together. Her eyes watched the servants who were serving Duke Herold’s food and many more.

If it’s like this I’ll definitely be late....

Without hesitation, her hand grabbed the tray beside her then took the food that had already been prepared and placed it on that golden tray.

She couldn’t wait for the movements of the servants who looked slow. After Olivia had taken everything, she left without telling them. The maid on duty to place things on the tray was confused watching Olivia who looked like she was in a rush.

She walked along that corridor with a breath that was coming in and out. But she forced her feet to keep stepping to reach the destination quickly, until it drew the attention of the servants passing by.

But Olivia didn’t stop. She couldn’t . There was only one objective she wanted to do that day besides being Ophlia’s servant. That was....

[Meet Javien]

When she arrived right in front of Ophlia’s room door, she drew in her breath to steady her breathing that had been going up and down like a roller coaster. She stood there for a few seconds. Then,

TOK TOK TOK.

"It’s me My Lady, may I come in?" she said softly while looking at the slightly scratched door knob.

"Come in" Ophlia’s voice was heard answering from behind that room. Then quickly, she turned that door knob and pushed it slowly.

After she entered and closed Ophlia’s room door again. She walked quickly toward Ophlia. She served that food on the table slowly. But an electric feeling ran down her back. As if someone was staring at her. Her eyes caught a figure standing behind Ophlia. Sharp eyes staring toward her as if wanting to devour her whole.

Huh... Long time no see.

Olivia said in her mind while her hands were busy pouring water for Ophlia. That stare didn’t leave her. Suddenly, she felt a chill down her spine. She turned toward that woman.

"Do you have any problem with me?" asked Olivia while smiling but at the same time feeling annoyed.

She just looked at Olivia from head to toe, as if assessing something that other people couldn’t see. Even though she didn’t say anything, her gaze clearly told what she wanted to say. Sarcastic but at the same time like a frightening stare. She had felt that kind of stare before.

This stare I’ve felt before.

Olivia whispered at the back of her mind. As if that stare felt like deja vu. But she didn’t know where she had received that stare full of spite and arrogance before. Olivia furrowed her brow.

Then slowly, the lips of that girl, she was certain was Delia, curved into a small smile.

"I should be asking that question to you," she replied calmly. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Olivia raised her brow slightly, still keeping her smile even though the feeling of unease was becoming more obvious.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Delia rested her chin on the back of her hand, her eyes still not leaving Olivia.

"You look... strange today."

That sentence was said lightly, but enough to make Olivia’s fingers stop for a moment.

"Strange?... I feel like it’s just a normal day though?"

Olivia laughed a little, trying to cover the feeling that was suddenly disturbed. She shook her head while trying to stand up.

As if not affected by what Delia said. Ophlia who was in the middle of them stayed quiet and didn’t make a sound.

Confused about what to do. She only looked toward Olivia then shifted toward Delia who was behind her.

VvJust pretend I didn’t hear anything....

She whispered in her heart then went back to sipping the tea that Olivia had brought. Calmly. Acting nonchalant.

Delia smiled thinly. Her fingers tapped slowly on her chin, a rhythm that strangely made the atmosphere feel tighter and more stuffy.

"Really?" her voice was soft, almost like a whisper.

"Sometimes... the person who looks the most ’normal’ is actually the one hiding something that is... interesting."

Olivia’s step stopped for a moment. Just a second.

But enough for Delia to notice. The smile on that woman’s lips grew deeper.

"I’m just curious," she continued casually, her eyes still locked on Olivia. Olivia’s heartbeat felt stronger, as if every word coming out of Delia’s mouth was knocking right into her chest.

She forced herself to turn away, rearranging the tray in her hands even though everything was already perfect.

"Sometimes," Olivia finally spoke while smiling thinly,

"the person who likes to guess about other people... is actually the one who thinks the most about things that aren’t their business."

Delia’s smile faded little by little.

But Olivia didn’t stop there.

"Are you a dog?..." said Olivia while smiling crookedly staring at Delia. Delia’s expression changed drastically. The wide smile from before disappeared immediately. Ophlia startled.

"I’m not sure what you mean, Olivia..." she replied finally, her tone still calm.

"Hmm..."

Olivia made a calm face. While laughing a little. Even though her face looked like a child of 11 years old, her thinking wasn’t like someone her age.

"It’s nothing.... A barking dog usually doesn’t bite." then she leaned her body back. Delia went quiet.

Silence.....

Delia’s face started to go dark. Her hand clenched tight on the hem of her clothes. She stared at Olivia sharply, her eyes looking like fire that was overflowing. Her lips were pressed tight.

"I will remember this!!"

Said Delia. She turned and walked out of Ophlia’s room. Without telling Ophlia that she wanted to leave that room.

The sound of that room door being opened roughly. Her footsteps could be heard all along that corridor. Then Celine walked in looking slightly confused watching that tense situation. She looked toward that corridor and looked toward them.

"What happened here?" said Celine with a worried face. Her brow dropped. And her eyes were full of question marks. Olivia exhaled. Getting rid of her annoyance.

"Nothing, she was just picking a fight with me."

Olivia let out a breath.

"She really has no manners." Celine snorted.

Ophlia only smiled thinly.

"Enough. No need to make a big deal of it."

Olivia and Celine nodded.

That conversation finally ended with an answer that truly satisfied all sides. They chatted like usual.

---

Night came faster than Olivia realised.

The palace atmosphere had been quiet for a long time, only the sound of guards’ footsteps occasionally heard in the distance.

That cold atmosphere of the corridor added more doubt inside Olivia’s heart as she was walking slowly toward the bushes that were rarely passed by anyone. Whether maids, servants or guards. Absolutely nobody was guarding that abandoned garden.

Quickly, her feet moved faster. Until she waded through all kinds of thick grass, until her feet stepped right in front of that door she knew so well.

The night breeze that night was very calm. The full moon cast Olivia’s shadow on that ground. Then quickly, her hand opened that door and went inside immediately. She went down those very worn stairs carefully. Her eyes looked around. Nothing had changed. Same as before.

The smell of earth, mixed with the pungent smell of grass pierced into Olivia’s nose. She walked toward that old door. Her hand reached for that door handle. As soon as it opened, a body could be seen still lying on that cold floor.

Her eyes went wide at that body that wasn’t moving. Suddenly, her nose caught a pungent smell as if it was the smell of blood that had been there for a long time. Her breath caught. Her hands kept shaking that body, getting stronger without realising.

"Javien..."

Her voice trembled. Almost breaking. For a few moments, silence crept in.

Olivia’s eyes moved slowly, observing every small wound on that body. Blood that had already dried. The golden chain still locking his wrist.

And for the first time...

Olivia felt something she never wanted to feel.

Fear.

But then

Javien’s fingers moved slightly. Very small. Almost unnoticed. Olivia stopped.

His eyes opened slightly, half awake. His breathing was slow, heavy.

"...you... came again..."

His voice was hoarse. Weak. As if every single word was painful to let out.

Olivia leaned down closer.

"Don’t talk too much. You need to get up."

Her hand was still on Javien’s shoulder, but now more careful as if afraid he would disappear if touched too hard. Javien didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were only half open, looking at the dark ceiling above them.

"Noisy..."

His lips moved slightly, almost unclear.

Olivia went quiet for a moment.

Then she laughed a little but it wasn’t a happy laugh.

"Still have the nerve to call me noisy..."

Her breath escaped slowly. At least he was still alive. But before Olivia could feel fully relieved...

"What happened to your body?" Olivia asked with a disappointed tone. Javien looked at her with a tired gaze.

"You don’t remember?" Javien replied briefly. Immediately, Olivia startled. The memory of that night she had called a dream crossed her mind.

"What do you mean?" Olivia replied with a trembling voice. She looked toward Javien in front of her with hope.

"You were with... me that night" he said with a tone that was halting as if holding back pain. Olivia was stunned. She went stiff.

So... that wasn’t a dream?

Olivia smiled thinly. She shook her head slowly. Olivia laughed a little but it was empty.

"Don’t say strange things when you’re like this..."

But Javien didn’t answer anymore. His eyes slowly closed again, his breathing was still there... but weak. Olivia bit her lip hard.

"Hey... don’t sleep."

Her hand was still on Javien’s shoulder.

But her mind... was no longer at peace.

What actually happened to me that night...?

And why... every answer I look for, only leads to more questions.