[Ch. 56] A Misunderstanding (Past)

Amanda burst into my room, "Lady Moao! They've arrived."

Amanda didn't wait for my response before grabbing my hand and pulling me down the hall. I looked at her closely and noticed that her hair was styled and she even put on makeup. I wonder if that means her and Mona's relationship has made progress.

As the main door opened, Raylon and Mona were brought in by my servants. My lips curved as I watched Raylon with gentle eyes.

Raylon had a natural aura of dazzling charisma around him. He wore his light blue yukata, highlighting his body's lean features. I glanced at his waist and noticed he had the pendant strap I had given him on his weapon. My fingers brushed against the pendant hanging from my weapon that had been a gift from him.

Ah… We match.

Raylon noticed my unending gaze and looked away in embarrassment. Mona smiled and rushed toward us, "Miss Amanda, Lady Moao! So good to see you again."

Mona wore her signature light pink yukata. She also wore her hair different with a hairpin sticking out of her intricate side bun. Judging by Amanda's drooling look, the new style suited her tastes nicely.

Raylon cleared his throat, "I brought the drinks you wanted."

I nodded at him and looked to the servant who bowed, "I will go take it to your cellar my Lady."

We all decided to go rest in the garden gazebo with a cup of tea. I noticed Amanda fidgeting and realized she wanted to be alone with Mona. I decided to let them have alone time and stood up. I motioned for Raylon to follow. As we walked, Raylon spoke up after growing too uncomfortable with the silence, "Where are we going?"

I ignored him and continued to walk along my flowers.

He looked around, "Did you just want to go for a walk?"

"Mmn."

Raylon blushed while he cheered to himself silently. I looked at his ridiculous smile and rolled my eyes. Did he really get so happy just by that?

I bent down to look at my rose bush carefully. He bent down next to me, watching my careful movements as I checked the plant for any spots or bugs. He looked at the rose and sniffed it. I watched as he smiled at the sweet smell. He froze when noticed me staring with cold dark eyes, "W-what is it?"

I reached out to him.

He could only panic as he wondered what I would do to him. He closed his eyes, feeling his face heat up from his immoral thoughts. I plucked something from his hair and pulled my hand away. He opened his eyes to see me putting a ladybug on the ground.

I answered coldly, "There was a bug in your hair."

His voice betrayed his disappointment, "O-oh. Just a bug. Of course."

My heart thumped as I noticed his disappointment. I reached over to pet his hair affectionately. He felt his cheeks flush as he looked at the ground. The corners of my lips twitched, "You act like a maiden."

"What?!"

I muttered to myself, "It makes me want to bully you."

I stood up and began to walk away quickly. He hurriedly followed after, "What do you mean by that? Hey! Wait!"

I ignored his shouts. Every time he showed me that embarrassed face, it made my chest hurt. The more I saw it, the more I wanted to see it again. It was an uncomfortable feeling. Was I growing too comfortable in this life?

I stared down at my hand. Why is his hair so soft? Seriously. It is so nice. I just want to keep touching it.

After a few hours, we returned with Raylon still pestering me. Mona gave her brother a disappointed look, "Did you make Lady Moao mad again?"

He rushed over to Mona, "Listen sister. She told me she wanted to bully me. What does that mean? Doesn't that mean she hates me?! But what did I do?!"

Mona smacked her face at her brother's stupidity. Amanda gave him a weak smile, "I think that means she likes you, Sir Raylon."

"What?" Raylon said in bewilderment and looked over at me. I tensed up and quickly turned away. He turned back to Amanda and Mona, "Oh."

...

[This section is from no one's perspective.]

Amanda walked Mona and Raylon to the door when it was time for them to leave. Raylon looked around, "Where is Lady Moao?"

She grinded her teeth, "Don't worry. She said she will be here to see you off."

Mona giggled at the jealous Amanda, "Amanda, would you mind walking me outside while we wait for the carriage?"

Amanda happily nodded and followed Mona outside. Raylon stood waiting in the hall patiently. He heard clicking footsteps move down the stairs and turned to see who it belonged to.

His expression grew vicious with unkempt rage.

The Baron stood looking down at him with a condescending look. Behind him, several servants followed while shaking from fear. One servant managed to sneak away to alert Moao of the standoff.

The Baron spoke in a cold voice similar to Moao's, "Ah, so you must be the suitor I've heard so much about."

As Raylon met his eyes full of hatred, his fists began to shake from rage. His goal had always been to kill the smug man standing in front of him. But if he made a move now, it would undoubtedly cause trouble for Moao and his nation.

Not to mention he only had a 10% chance of success.

The Baron met his gaze unperturbed, "I never would have guessed it would be Prince Raylon from the Phoenix nation."

Raylon growled at him, "What do you want?"

"Why would I want something from a nobody? Not to mention from someone who planned the bombing on my banquet." Raylon quickly reached for his weapon and the Baron held up his hand, "Relax. I'm not upset. After all, that worked in my favor. Although, I do wonder if that part about being Moao's suitor is true. Do you really like her?"

He growled, "That's none of your business."

"Oh, but it is. It is my daughter after all. I should know if her suitor has ill intentions or not." He shrugged, "But this is Moao we're talking about. She probably doesn't feel a thing about you. I'm sure you've noticed it yourself. She doesn't care about anything or anyone. That's what makes her truly dangerous. She could kill you on a whim and not give it a second thought."

Raylon unconsciously shuddered recalling the chilling scene from the inn. He felt himself hesitate. It was true that Moao was emotionless… But would she really kill him on a whim?

The Baron continued with an ominous grin, "Regardless, I have been aware of this relationship you've had with her. I admit at first, I was a little nervous. However, luckily for me, Moao is painfully unambitious. That personality of hers makes it easy enough to dispose of her."

He snapped in anger, "Dispose of?! You think people are just disposable?! You are a disgusting waste of air that should just die already!"

The Baron laughed at him in a belittling way, "Big words for such a little man. You think I should die? Then go ahead. Try to kill me. I bet you won't even be able to land a blow."

Raylon shouted, finally unable to contain his anger. He withdrew his katana and charged at him. The Baron just smiled, enraging him further. Raylon shouted, "I will make you pay for what you did to me and my sister!"

"You will make me pay?" The Baron snickered, "Please. You are nothing more than an ant to be crushed under my feet."

Raylon screamed and swung his katana down at him.

"Stop."

….

[Author's note: Okay- now we are back to our lovely FL's perspective.]

My cold voice echoed off the wall, causing everyone to freeze. Raylon blinked in confusion when his blade was stopped midair. My porcelain hand held the blade with blood streaming down my forearm. I evaporated his blade and pushed him backwards.

Raylon glared at me, "Move! Let me kill this bastard."

I clicked my tongue, "Idiot."

He froze seeing my unusually cold attitude.

I glared at them both, "You two are being ridiculously stupid."

Raylon shouted in protest, "Moao!"

"LEAVE."

My voice boomed causing him to shrink back unconsciously. He bit down on his lip causing it to bleed. Unable to contain his rage, he turned around and slammed the outside door behind him. The Baron began to laugh full of superiority.

I looked at him with a cold glare that caused the room to chill over.

He only grinned in response, "What is it, daughter? Are you upset about something?"

"You are a fool." I muttered and began to walk to my room.

He shouted after me, "I've tolerated this attitude of yours for long enough. The advisors have started whispering that I can't control you."

I stopped walking and spoke chillingly, "Then proceed carefully. You know full well that you are no match for me."

The Baron clicked his tongue in anger. He turned around glaring at the servants, "If anyone speaks of this incident after today, I will kill your family in front of you before having your head."

The servants trembled in fear and bowed, nodding quickly. He stomped back up the stairs grinding his teeth. His instincts told him that I was right. I was born with abnormal amounts of magic. My power was that of a god's. If I really wanted to, I could kill him in a blink of an eye and destroy the entire kingdom at the same time.

He only had to wait for me to make a mistake and then banish me from the kingdom.

After all, it wasn't like I felt attached to this kingdom so I certainly wouldn't fight to stay.

I walked to my room still angry. I had no idea what the Baron was thinking and I didn't care. I stopped to look at the wound on my arm which still ached. Raylon was far stronger than I imagined. He had almost sliced through my hand. It was only hanging on by threads. Looking closely, I could see the bones in my hand. I instantly healed it and sighed in relief from the pain.

I walked into my research room and slammed the door behind me. I slumped down the door and covered my face.

Raylon's voice echoed in my ears, -I will make you pay for what you did to me and my sister!-

...What had Raylon meant by his sister?

Did he mean Mona? If so, what did the Baron do to cause that much hatred? Even Mona didn't look like that whenever the Baron was mentioned.

...No. I had to be missing something important.