Chapter 55
RATTLE! The faint sound of someone shaking the parlor’s doorknob reached Yuki’s ears. She stiffened and her thumbnail accidentally scratched the skin under Luca’s eye. Warily, she looked over her shoulder through the bedroom to the parlor door.
Rattle! She saw the knob turning as it rattled against the lock.
Now isn’t the time for me to be captivated by Luca’s good looks… She mentally berated herself and shook her head.
“I-It’s not like I was too entranced by his face to move!” she denied, making excuses to herself.
Wh-Wh-What do I do now? Under the bed isn’t an option and there’s nothing in this room aside from the bed.
The massive white bed and lace curtains were the only fixtures in the unreasonably spacious room. See-through lace nixed the curtains as a possible hiding place. She cursed whoever thought transparent curtains were a good choice.
“…Mende? You are in there, are you not, Rhadal Mende? Haven’t you had enough time? Will you let me in already?” a woman asked from the other side of the door. Cornered, Yuki fixed her eyes on the door. The woman rattled the knob and knocked impatiently. “The time we agreed on has long since passed. Why haven’t you come for me?”
The elegance in her voice despite her apparent agitation let Yuki know there was a noblewoman standing outside the door. But why was a noblewoman allowed where even servants were eliminated once they finished their job?
She knows Rhad is supposed to be here… What does she mean he was going to get her? Did he plan to bring her here?
“Oh, was I turning the knob the wrong way? The door is unlocked. If you are inside, won’t you please open this door for me?” Yuki’s silence roused an impatient screech from the woman, “Rhadal Mende! It is only because I had your promise you would allow me to see Lucat that I had the servants and guards cleared from the area. It’s not fair for only you to see Lucat! Don’t hog him to yourself!”
The door clamored as she tugged on the knob to yank it open. However, the woman was too weak to open the heavy door. Her groans as she put her whole weight into pulling back on it echoed through the corridor and into the room.
Spurred by her panic, Yuki wiped the remaining tears from Luca’s eyes—she didn’t want anyone else to see he had cried. She jumped down from the mattress and straightened the covers. She checked Luca to find he had stopped moaning and was back to sleeping peacefully.
I’m glad… Even if he were only suffering in his dreams, she didn’t want him to suffer at all. The person at the door doesn’t seem to be a soldier.
Yuki watched the door creak as it cracked open. Once it had some momentum, the inertia made it easier to pull. Enough space for a small person to slip through appeared between the door and wall.
Just like Yuki had earlier, a woman slipped in through the small space. The skirts of a pearl beige dress swayed with her effort to squeeze through. Her exposed white shoulders were covered with a shawl the same color as her fancy dress. Long, light-blue curls bobbed and swayed with her dress as she rushed inside before the door crushed her. Her graceful features were delicately framed between her pearl-white skin and light-blue hair.
Wow, what a gorgeous woman…
Yuki stared at the intruder from where she stood beside Luca’s bed. The intruder called for Rhad and restlessly searched the parlor for him until her eyes met Yuki’s in the bedroom.
“…Oh, hello. Is Rhad not here?”
“Um…”
The intruder noticed the bed next to Yuki and gracefully strode over to them without an ounce of hesitation.
“Did I not give the orders I would be the one to reposition Lucat today?” the woman inquired reproachfully and glowered at Yuki through emerald eyes hidden under long, blue lashes.
Yuki racked her brain to comprehend the situation. Rhad had said he used a last-ditch method to have the room cleared of servants and guards. The only reasonable conclusion then was the beautiful woman advancing on her had something to do with his plan.
What did he promise her in return for her assistance?
“…Are you deaf? I have given you the order to leave. Rhad must not have arrived yet. Rhadal Mende is about to arrive in these chambers with a skilled doctor. As you have already been informed, I shall take on all work dealing with Lucat for the day. Leave.”
The noblewoman appeared to be in her mid-twenties. She looked down on Yuki with the ferocity of a lioness protecting her cubs. Her attitude irked Yuki, but her cocky explanation helped piece together what Rhad had promised.
“I am that skilled doctor. I had Rhad…return to his station. Forgive me, but who might you be?”
The noblewoman’s perfect mask of indifference crumbled at Yuki’s surprising declaration. Drawing her own conclusions, the woman sneered. “Oh, yes, I totally forgot the ‘Miracle Girl’ was said to come from a remote village in the boondocks. I’m Shae Revent—Lucat’s Master. Now that you are no longer ignorant, show me the reverence I deserve.”
“Huh…EXCUSE ME?!”
Shae’s high-handed impudence took Yuki by surprise.
She’s Luca’s Master?! How is that even possible? I’m supposed to be Luca’s Master.
Yuki gaped at Shae who stood a head taller than her. Beguiling emerald-green eyes stared down at her judgmentally. She thoughtfully brought her hand to her mouth. Yuki’s eyes locked onto what donned her right hand.
“Ho…w?”
A familiar ring sat on Shae’s pinkie finger. The silver ring glowed violet—a symbol only a Master of a Violet Knight could wear.
“…Are you mentally deficit? I already told you it is because I’m Lucat’s Master.”
“No, that can’t be!”
Because I’m Luca’s Master! Yuki shouted in her heart, but didn’t say aloud because she wasn’t sure if she should. Nothing in her possession would prove her point. For some reason, the only physical evidence adorned Shae’s finger.