n

n

nI gasped from the pain and doubled over, clutching my chest. The water from the tub sloshed like waves from my sudden movement. I heard my maids utter something but I was so deep in my own painful world that I didn't get to understand it.

nThere was another squeeze, as painful as the first and as uncomfortable as it was either. My vision suddenly started getting white and dark spots were appearing at the sides.

n'Oh my goodness, am I dying?'

n

"Milady?

" Someone called me but I don't know who it was.

nMy knuckles were turning white as I grasped the rim of the tub as tightly as I could as if I'm borrowing strength from it. Afterward, I forgot what happened because I suddenly felt really drowsy and fell asleep just like that. It's also possible that I fainted but I have no recollection of it if it was really the case.

nThe next morning, I woke up with a hammer smashing my head repeatedly.. My head hurts like a bitch and I wasn't even exaggerating! There really is like a hammer bonking my head as hard as they could, you know!

nIs this a hangover? Goodness me!

nIt's not just my head but my body aches as well. I felt heavy like I ran a marathon when I clearly didn't. I groggily sat up, all the while groaning from the torture it gave me, and then regretted it almost immediately. My headache suddenly wanted to be more aggressive now that I wanted to leave the bed and started whacking me with not just a hammer this time, but with a mace.

n

"Fffffuuuuuu---

" I groaned out, clutching my head.

nI wanted to curse all the colorful words that I could think of but let's not do that. If only I could bash my head so this pain would go away, I definitely will…

nIs this really a hangover? Just from wine? Seriously?

nI didn't sign up for this!

n'Well, maybe if you weren't such a drunkard and swam on wine all night, this might have not happened!'

nUghh. This is the last time I will drink that much, I swear!

n

"Milady? Are you feeling well?

" Was that Mari or Erin? I don't know, I'm too groggy to tell.

nInstead of answering, I just let out an inhuman sound. The kind that you will hear from wounded animals perhaps. I couldn't even open my mouth to ask for relief. How pathetic...

nI felt something furry nuzzle my side, it even climbed on my back, sniffing me. That's obviously Kuro who's being affectionate early in the morning, as always. I want to cuddle him but man, my limb felt like molten lead and my head still hurts. Even just from a slight movement, my world would start spinning crazily.

nI felt someone went to my side, wheeling a cart,

"I brought your medicine for headaches, milady. Master Nathaniel sent this for you,

" was what they said.

n

"Oh, really? Thanks, I needed it,

" I grumbled, all the while grimacing from the dull ache in my throat. I sounded hoarse as if I spent the whole yesternight in screaming the heck out of it.

nHonestly, what the hell happened to me?

nThe maid, which was Erin apparently, helped me consume the medicine. I downed the bitter fluid in one swig, cringing from the taste. Afterward, I gulped the whole glass of water down to chase away the bitterness and sighed.

nMy eyes were still closed, just waiting for the pain to dull away. Kuro purred and settled on my lap. He was so heavy that I felt like my legs would get numb. You guys already know how big he was and as much as I like the feel of his fur, it's really not favorable to have a giant sitting on you.

n

"We got worried when you suddenly fell asleep while bathing, milady. I'm glad that you are fine,

" Erin sincerely uttered.

n'Oh, I fell asleep on the tub? Hmmm… I don't remember that.'

nThe pain on my head then gradually settled down until it's only a dull ache now. Slightly uncomfortable yes, but much better than earlier, at least.

nI opened my eyes, blinking away the dazedness and squinting from how bright the room was. It's actually not morning anymore, probably a quarter before 12?

nI then glanced at Erin at my side who was preparing the food for me. It wasn't the usual breakfast set now because I already skipped that, but a proper meal instead. She set it on the table that could be set on the bed in quick successions and straightened her body afterward when she finished.

nI thanked her for the second time. I also just realized how hungry I really was after seeing the food in front of me. My stomach even agreed and made an approving sound. If there were other people around, I must have felt shy from the rumble but it's fine. Erin and I are the only ones here, I could be shameless as much as I want.

n

"Ah, and sir Kai said you left this in the carriage,

" she suddenly exclaimed.

nShe handed me an envelope, a very familiar envelope.

nI blinked at it,

"Ohh…

"

nI then took it from her and stared. It was the envelope that Lukas personally gave me last night. Just then, a certain memory of that certain someone resurfaced. My face felt hot at once. It was an instant blush, I tell you. It wasn't just that but after remembering what happened by then, my face scrunched together.

n'That breezy man!'

nI tried to chase away that memory and shove it all the way to the back of my mind. I also wished that it won't get to see the light of the day either and would completely vanish in time. It's not really a fond memory to begin with.

nIf my brother learned that a man touched me so carelessly, I bet that he would turn the whole of Rosenthal to hunt that man's ass down.

nWait. Did he and father get back last night as well? They didn't come home with us and ordered the secret guards to bring us back without them. I was going to wait for them but I apparently fell asleep.

n

"Hmm…

"

nI put the spoon inside my mouth as I thought the events from the ball over. For the life of me though, no matter how much I tried to think, nothing came over.

nWhy can't I remember?

n