13 Not Over Yet

Yale's eyes were barely open, and his thoughts were dizzy. His head turned towards the side and all he could see were the two candlesticks. At this distance, at this moment, he thought it was the sun. And this room - a large shadow cast on him. Wasn't it the same as that time?

A person wearing a halo of the sun stood in front of him. Destiny? Should you call it fate when you are traveling West and your companion climbs the hill first and turns towards you? Surely, it seemed the case that treacherous day.

"Yale Alucard, you simply didn't fight me for a woman." The speaker's shadow fell on Yale.

The blinding sun didn't let Yale see the person's face. But he could imagine it, every line the lips made, every move the eyes made. Was the voice magical enough or did the day long life and death battle change something?

"I have no right." Yale closed his eyes and said.

"You open up more and more after every battle."

Yale imagined a smile. Crucifying, how crucifying! He felt ashamed to ask for a rematch again. But he knew he would, he had to. At this moment, the blank space in his heart ached more than his wounds.

"Your love for this woman has all burnt up into the strength you used to face me."

"Tell me, my king, what do I need to ever open these eyes again?"

"Ambition-"

Yale let out a deep breath and his eyes snapped open! The memory from the past had completely vanished along with the pain. He coughed out a few mouthfuls of blood, but his body didn't complain in the slightest. A strange glint appeared in his eyes just as he realized what had happened.

At the side, Arnacia was screaming wildly inside her heart. An unfathomable scene played out in front of her - Yale's body shined in an eerie light. Too many unknown variables were present here. Was it really the world of her favorite light novel?

The veiled lady broke from her momentary stupor. This development was out of her wildest imagination, fear slowly crept onto her. Yale was already getting up. She raised her leg through the right split in her dress and stomped down with all her might. This time, not only the heel but her entire sole crashed onto Yale's head like a hammer.

A muffled sound echoed; it shuddered the souls of spectators. The cracked tiles were far more ghastly than before. Even Rose had closed her eyes for a second, let alone the young maids.

Yale's hand did not have enough strength to hold the rapier anymore. It slipped out of his hands. But even then he was barely able to push his body towards the side to lie on this back. The result was unimaginable! His shining body twitched with rough breaths as he struggled to keep his eyes barely open. Slowly, the eerie light subsided, his breathing stabilized, and eyes closed.

Arnacia felt hopping mad on witnessing the scene. In her view, from start to finish, the veiled lady stood there like a goddess.

'Queen Afeefa!!' Arnacia screamed in her heart. She felt like her body would go out of control any moment now. The ecstasy was unmanageable. She walked towards the queen, but her movements were stiff.

"T-Thank you-u so much!" she blurted out.

Queen Afeefa was the first wife of King Nicolas.

'But! She only married him to stabilize the kingdom. Just like her name, no! Even better, she is purer than the heavens itself!' Arnacia wanted the queen to touch her. Was this even real if he couldn't?

"Autograph!" Arnacia put forward her hand. "Please!" Her heart skipped a beat when the lady turned towards her.

'Oh no! What did I say?!' She wanted to pull her hand back, but it was difficult to get off a riding horse.

"Autograph?" Afeefa asked.

"Y-yes! Can you touch my hand to tell me this is real?" Arnacia said with little thought.

Queen Afeefa looked towards her hand, then at her face. A smile escaped her red lips. Through the netted veil, the red looked like a blooming rose in the middle of the moon. The queen removed her gloves and lightly touched Arnacia's hand.

"Silver Knight Rose, tie them up then show the girls outside," Afeefa said.

Rose acknowledged awkwardly. She had her own speculations about the veiled lady's identity. But questioning directly was one of the rudest things she could do. After tying up the two men, she led the maids outside.

After coming out of the dark hall, the surroundings truly felt like a fantasy world. The contrast seemed uncanny to Rose.

But for Arnacia, the weather was bright and blue, similar to art and anime.

Rose bid the maids a quick farewell and rushed back to the upper floor.

"She was so cool," Arnacia said. Most of the unsettling thoughts vanished from her mind after Queen Afeefa defeated Yale. Not to mention, it was very easy and took only two kicks. The shining Yale looked more like a gimmick.

Arnaica stretched herself and adjusted the basket on her back. She wanted to bask in the feelings more, but her attention quickly shifted. A fruit wagon was passing by. She took out the shopping list. Earlier today, while following the knight, she saw a few points of interest. These shops had the items she needed.

"Give me your shopping list," she asked Isabelle, who quietly handed it over.

"You must be tired. Don't worry, I will handle the rest," Arnacia consoled Isabelle, then moved towards the marketplace. She constantly hummed along the way and replayed the scenes of Queen Afeefa in her head.

The maids soon reached their destination. Apparently, Arnacia walked one step ahead and Isabelle followed. Slowly, the baskets filled with goods and shopping ended.

'Phew, such a long day.'

It took two maids much time to get back to the maid training camp. They followed the path up the hill. Baskets were heavy but neither of them felt tired. While crossing the Redcherry bridge, they saw a figure standing in front of the main door of their sleeping quarters.

'Oh, crap!'

The sun was far in the west, hiding behind the sleeping quarters. Rosalia stood in the shadow like a demon starting straight ahead. Her sharp eyes, despite being focused on the two, seemed as if they saw right through the maids.

"Miss Rosalia, it was a long-"

"Where were you?" Rosalia authoritatively cut off Arnacia in between. "The other maids said they did not see you two in the market."

"Miss Rosalia, we got-"

"You better have a good reason, otherwise no dinner!" The tone was strict. It demanded no causal explanation.

Arnacia narrated the incident as if her life depended on it. Right at that spot, she spoke with great emotions. The basket on her back, that didn't feel heavy until now, suddenly seemed to get heavier. She was sure the incident would spark a reaction to Rosalia's face. But the witch's stern expression did not change.

Rosalia simply turned back to enter the building, but her eyes, the movement of her hand, no. It was as if her entire being emitted an aura that said she wanted the maids to follow her.

The three stopped in front of the first room. A table was placed, like a shopping counter, blocking the entrance. The maids put down their baskets, one of which was stuffed bizarrely. A rope was used to tie its opening to keep the items from spilling.

"How much did the rope cost?" Rosalia nonchalantly questioned.

"I got it for free," Arnacia replied. At the marketplace, she had asked a shopkeeper to give her a spare rope. But, of course, a new one was handed over since she bought too many items. While tying the goods with the basket, she was filled with discontent. The witch was really a slave driver!

But coupled with the fact that the basket didn't feel heavy and Rosalia said nothing about the Women's Court incident, Arnaica decided to suck it up. She handed over the shopping list with the coins left.

The witch's eye hovered on the coin, then swiftly scanned Arnacia and Isabelle. Then dismissed them with a wave of her hand.

***

Next destination was the changing room inside the bathhouse. The room seemed bigger than earlier today. However, it was the same with wooden lockers. Complex markings on the locks were still a sight to see.

Arnacia found it difficult to believe that it was her first day in this world. She picked up her nightdress. It was in the same spot where she left it in the morning. She hummed as she changed her clothes.

"Isabelle!" Arnacia almost forgot! She looked towards the girl, who clumsily folded her clothes.

'How can a maid not know how to fold clothes? I have to teach her…'

"Isabelle, my…" But before she could finish, Isabelle stood up and moved out of the room.

'It will take time for her to accept this world. I should talk to her before bed.' Arnacia sighed and picked up Isabelle's roughly folded clothes.

***

"As a punishment, wash all dishes after dinner."

Arnacia heard just as she entered the living quarters. She looked around to figure out the source of the voice. Of course, it was Rosalia who sat comfortably on a chair inside the storage room.

'I had the perfect reason! This witch doesn't care about anything!' Arnacia thought. But her body deeply bowed towards the first door to acknowledge the command.

Opposite to the first room was the kitchen. It was double the size of other rooms, which were all the same size. Three lamps lit up the hall with the dining table at one end.

Arnacia quickly went to check what dishes were made today. Bread, cheese, boiled lettuce and peas. She sighed and looked around for Isabelle. But it was very clear that the maiden was not here. She collected the plates and served herself, little. The twenty-first century mentally very boldly rejected this medieval food.

Maybe it was the long day. Probably, it was the heavy basket. Arnacia couldn't point out a reason, but the food wasn't bad at all. She ate her fill and collected the plates.

'I can do this much.' Arnacia saw the pile of dishes but didn't let the quantity sink in. In the original world, or maybe it was better to call it her last life, she had only washed dishes as a kid. A sense of nostalgia hit her, mixed with an ache, but she quickly suppressed it with a curious thought.

'How does this tap work?' This reminded her of the hot water bath. The system was very refined for this medieval period. Another gimmick? She undamped her hands with the apron around her waist.

***

Arnacia turned off the hallway lamp and walked inside her dark room. She thought back about the events that transpired today - kissed a girl, walked naked under the stare of other maids, arrested, slapped by a knight, witnessed the brave Knight Rose and ultimately Queen Afeefa's splendor!

Emotions surged like crazy, but Arnacia focused on the present.

"Isabelle, my love! You didn't eat much today."

Arnacia called out a bunch of times, but Isabelle didn't respond. So she crept onto her side of the bed. The bed's warmth washed all her tiredness. She tried to feel the blanket and pull it towards herself, but a powerful force denied her. She didn't mind it much and soon fell asleep.

In the morning, a light knock on the door sounded. Arnacia's eyes opened, and she quickly stood up straight in the bed. Light from the window lit up the room in deep blue.

'It's not a dream!' She smiled and looked towards her companion, who showed no signs of movement. Swiftly, Arnacia left the bed and went towards Isabelle's side.

'This won't be as awful as yesterday.' She took a deep breath, then moved like lightning! Her hand lifted the blanket and squeezed Isabelle's cheeks so the teeth would show up. Then hurriedly forced her lips onto hers.

"Mhm-mm-"

Arnacia was suddenly pushed back!

Isabelle was looking back at her with racing breaths. Her face looked like a scared kitten.

"What- why did you do it?"

"Isabelle, my love… I have every reason to kiss you," Arnacia quickly made it up.

"No… you don't," Isabelle spoke slowly.

"Remember, I am your lover."

"No, you are not!" Isabelle raised her voice a little.

Arnacia only saw Isabelle's face for a few moments before the latter pulled up the blanket. But she noticed a few signs on the pale face. How could she be mistaken? For the last two months in her previous life, she had seen the same signs on her own face every day.

'She didn't sleep last night…'