15 Purpose And Problems

'I have changed the original storyline and my actions will change you!' Arnacia grabbed the hand of Cecelia and pulled it away from Eleanor.

The sudden jerk totally separated Eleanor and Cecelia.

Eleanor made her distance. The situation was looking doomed. Arnacia and Cecelia were glaring at each other like wildcats.

"You dare?" Cecelia smirked.

'Why would I not dare!' Arnacia thought of Queen Afeefa. How the magnanimous lady defeated the tenacious Yale in one move. This was a world of a light novel, and maybe the reason she thought the best way to resolve disputes was through action.

Wasting no words, Arnacia went for a punch. The idea was absolutely crazy when she thought about it later. But right now, the punch flew - wobbly.

'Why won't it move?!' Arnacia screamed inside her mind. She had thrown the punch with all her might, but her hand moved slowly.

"Pfft!" Cecelia slapped the incoming hand. "Sleeping with Isabelle every day and now look at you, weakling." She walked away after giving Arnacia one last look.

Arnacia was flabbergasted, and her mood dropped instantly.

'There is something off about this body.'

"Are you alright, Arnacia?" Eleanor asked.

"Wait, a second…" Arnacia turned her back towards Eleanor. After making sure no one was in her vision, she touched her bust.

'I can't feel it!' She squeezed and massaged, but no effect. Then she proceeded to touch a few other parts of her body.

"No, nothing." Arnacia forced a smile at Eleanor and moved forward. The matter was very pressing. There were too many unknowns in this world and she knew her confidence would only drop if other factors arose.

'I should ask Isabelle if she feels the same.' She put this matter at the back of her mind. It would do her no good thinking about it until she could talk in private with Isabelle, who was inside the witch's den - sleeping quarters. She focused her thoughts back on the other abnormality - the source of hot water and the piping system.

"Where are you going?" Eleanor called out.

"I will be right back." Arnacia moved towards the next wooden building, a restroom. She only went around once, then followed the narrow path into the woods.

Chirping and water sweeping sounds dominated this region. It was a narrow path surrounded by trees and bushes.

Soon, Arnacia reached the riverside. She took a deep breath of the soothing cool air. Water flowed slowly in the see-through river. She walked alongside the river and found a small canal which went back into the forest.

'The water source of the brook below Redcherry Bridge.' She followed it to the Garden of Chambers. Many questions still covered her mind. Where was the water stored? How did the taps work? And the biggest question - how was the water heated?

'Can there be a hot spring below the bathhouse?' Arnacia carefully studied the surroundings. Also, there were no signs of the brook directing water towards the bathhouse.

'Is this a world planning flaw? Doesn't that mean this world is unstable? Maybe the writer added it in the third volume and it will automatically emerge as the story progresses.' She wasn't sure anymore.

"Arnacia!"

A voice broke Arnacia's line of thoughts. She frantically looked around before she caught a glimpse of Rosalia in the distance.

"Get back to work and, no dinner for you!"

It was as if an arrow shot right through her heart. But helpless and reluctant, Arnacia continued the cleaning duty.

'What is the use of cleaning all day?' She complained in her heart. The work was completed in the afternoon. After that, all the maids lined up in front of the sleeping quarters.

"As you all know. This year's tournament will be held in the Garden of Scullery." Rosalia said. "Pack your belongings tonight. And we will head there at dawn. Rest of the activities are canceled today."

The maids started talking among themselves after Rosalia left.

"Arnacia, Isabelle, let's organize a tea party," Eleanor said.

"I want to join the tea party, but Isabelle is not feeling well," Arnacia said. She gently gripped Isabelle's hand.

"Don't invite them, see the two are always busy," Cecelia spoke.

Arnacia matched Cecelia's gaze for a few seconds, but left with Isabelle without saying a word.

"Thank you," Isabelle said in the hallway.

"Don't worry," Arnacia said after entering the room. She locked the door and looked at Isabelle.

'Don't worry, I won't do anything MUCH, since I am not the real Arnacia.' This situation made her smile involuntarily.

"Isabelle, my love. It was a trying day. Let me hug you."

Arnacia closed on Isabelle when the other party did not reject. She pressed her body on the poor maiden.

'No response, even with such big…'

"What is the tournament?" Isabelle asked.

Arnacia let go of Isabelle. She heard the question, but her mind pondered on ways to check if Isabelle's body was as unresponsive as hers.

"It's a contest between the four gardens," Arnaica said. But her eyes did not meet Isabelle's.

"Four gardens?" Isabelle asked, then folded her hands to cover Arnacia's point of interest.

Arancia smiled at Isabelle's action.

Isabelle moved closer to the bed. Arnacia followed.

Isabelle sat on the bed. Arnacia sat beside her.

Isabelle climbed on the bed and moved to the other side. Arnacia did not move this time.

"If you want to know the answers, sit on my lap," Arnacia said at last. She tried to control her smile, but failed yet again. It was as if she was tricking a kid. But luckily Isabelle didn't see her face.

"Knowing about the tournament will help you. Let me touch the body of the person I love in exchange," Arnacia added when Isabelle did not speak.

"It won't take long." Arnacia persuaded as she sat on the bed and patted her lap. It was something that must be done. And luckily, Isabelle sat on her lap.

"Isabelle, my love. Why don't we sit properly on the bed?" The scene was very awkward for both of them. Arnacia was only ten to fifteen centimeters taller, but Isabelle was proportionally bigger. So the two moved onto the bed.

Arnacia's back was resting on the bed's slat. She sat with her legs wide and Isabelle sat in between. Both of them did not speak for long.

"Isabelle, my love, let me tell you about the tournament. There are four training camps for maids - Garden of Chambers, Terrace, Scullery and Green. Every year, during the time of the Evernight festival, they host a tournament." Arnacia slowly wrapped her arms around Isabelle.