n

n

n

"So, how are you and Conrad?

" I asked out of the blue.

nI looked at her expectantly, waiting to see her reaction. I was honestly curious about that, ever since graduation day. They were not acting like the usual, which is rather different from what I was used to seeing. I waited until we were in that cafe but nothing happened.

nGwen stopped lifting her teacup upon hearing my question.

n

"We're fine,

" was her answer and continued what she was about to do.

nOne of my brows lifted,

"That's it?

"

nIt wasn't what I had in mind.

nThis is really strange.. Before, Gwen would instantly blush upon hearing her fiance's name. Then she would start acting like a shy maiden and castigate me. Most of the time she would pout and call me a meanie for teasing her.

nShe's not doing any of that at all right now…

nWe were out here in the garden having tea, just as we used to do all the time. I got surprised by Erin waking me up from my deep slumber, telling me that the two had arrived without prior notice.

nIt's not that it's early in the morning, it was actually already close to noon. Yes, I am still in bed and snoring. As I've said, there are a lot of things in my mind lately. This is why I couldn't sleep early even if I wanted to and had been waking up late.

nI kept trying to think of the future. The very murky future.

nBea knowingly glanced at Gwen for a second, and I saw it. This made me curious as to why she did that. After all, Conrad is her older brother.

n'Does she know something?'

n

"What else?

" Gwen snapped at me.

nI blinked at her in a mixture of shock and amazement.

nDid she just snap at me? Wow… I never knew that there would be a day that she'll get so worked up like this.

n

"Are you two having a lover's quarrel?

" I teased, wanting to ease up the mood.

n

"There's nothing like that. We're fine as we are,

" she answered in an indifferent tone.

nBea silently sipped her tea and said nothing, even after I looked at her with questions all over my face.

n'Why is she being like this?'

n

"Are both of you still not in speaking terms? It's been three years already! Shouldn't it--

" I got cut off.

n

"What do you know? You are always acting as if you know everything, but you don't.

"

n'Wha--'

nI definitely shut my mouth after that and was just looking at her like she grew another head.

n'What does she mean by that? What the hell just happened?'

n

"Excuse me?

"

nCan you guys tell me what is going on right now, and why did she say that all of a sudden? I wasn't even sure if I was offended or not, I'm just shocked.

n

"You kept doing that, asking about us, teasing me all the time. It's getting really old,

" Gwen added some more.

nShe had sounded so angry that it made me shut up yet again. I was bewildered. One thing, we were light-heartedly talking about rainbows and stuff, and then she got like this after a question from me.

nI don't get it...

nGwen sighed as an uncomfortable silence pervaded the atmosphere. No one was talking, nor moving.

n

"Sorry, I was just tired,

" she said.

n'From what?' That was what I wanted to say but held back. I have no idea what's going on with her life, or between them. That's why I better not say anything and just drop the subject off.

nI won't pry anymore.

n'But I am still her friend and friends help each other…'

nI gazed at Gwen,

"You know you can talk to us if you have a problem, right?

"

nGwen was one of the first-ever friends I have, so, naturally, I would be worried for her. Throughout the years that we have been together, I have never heard her tell me about her problems once. I thought everything was fine, so I never bothered to ask.

n

"You're really kind Nadia,

" Gwen commented and smiled softly at me. It didn't reach her eyes.

"But sometimes, I wanted to hit you for how dense you are…

"

n

"What?

"

n

"Ehem,

" Bea finally voiced out--

"This tea is good, and these cookies too. I like them,

" she remarked.

nI don't know if I wanted to laugh for how obvious she was being but, okay then. Bea should be thankful that she's cute or else, I won't let this slide at all.

n'I still don't get it…'

n

"Mrs. Noelle baked them, so of course it would,

" I replied.

nThere was another uncomfortable silence, and it lasted for far longer than I desired. I'm growing tired of it, and it feels so strange to even have that atmosphere. We never had this kind of tension before, so this is making me uncomfortable.

n

"Do you guys want to go to the greenhouse?

" I uttered, breaking the silence--

"The flowers are in full bloom right now. Or maybe we can ride horses around the estate?

"

nThere was a short pause, and I thought that they wouldn't respond to me at all.

n

"Sure. Let's do all that,

" Gwen answered.

n

"Okay,

" Bea seconded.

nI let out a relieved sigh.

n

"I still have to beat you,

" I told Bea who only smirked.

n

"Hoh? The two of you still have a long way to go,

" she boasted.

nBea had always been a good rider, and she had won every race we held together.

n

"No. This time I will win!

" Gwen joined in.

nI smiled at how fired-up Gwen was being. At least, she's back to her cheery self now, this suits her most.

n

"If any of you win against me, I will do whatever you want me to do,

" Bea declared.

nShe sounds so confident because she knows she will win, how charming you are Bea.

n

"Do you promise that?

" Gwen

n

"I do.

"

n

"You better keep that promise because I will win and you'll have to sing for us,

" I pointed out.

nI heard she was taking singing lessons from that famous Opera Singer, a part of her Queenly lessons, so I was curious if she's good at it. We have been pestering her about it but she never heeded our requests.

nAnd yeah, Bea was one of the prospective fiancees of Ezekiel along with Rosamunde, which is why she had those lessons.

nImagine Bea being the future empress… Oh wow...

nThe three of us made our way to the stables, which was a long walk from the garden. Uno was accompanying us, and some other secret guards.

nJust like what both Gwen and I have done the other day, the one who reaches the border would be the winner. As expected. We lost.

n

"Tch. I should have brought my own horse,

" Bea muttered.

nIt's kind of cute when I see her so enthusiastic because it rarely happens. Bea loved horseback riding more than anyone else out there, and it was her most favorite sport.

n

"But you already won anyway,

" I noted

n

"Yeah. Why do you sound so unhappy?

" Gwen pouted.

n

"This horse is slow,

" was her reply.

nThe horse, in response to her words, whinnied.

n'You're hurting his feelings, Bea.'

nAs we were bickering like that. I felt a tingling on the back of my nape like someone was watching me or something. I had been feeling it since earlier, while we were in the garden. My head turned in the direction of the dense trees and frowned.

n'Am I being watched?'

nI brushed it off, thinking that it might have been Uno and the others, guarding us from the shadows. I was also a little suspicious because this was the first time that I got aware of it. It felt weirdly uncomfortable.

n

"Is something wrong?

" Gwen asked when she noticed that I got silent.

n

"Do you guys feel anything?

" I whispered in a low voice.

nBea looked at me with questioning eyes, same with Gwen. Seeing both of them acting like that, I must have been the only one who senses it. Does this mean that I am being surveilled? But who?

n'Am I being paranoid?'

n

"What do you mean?

" Gwen muttered and glanced around as well.

n

"Monsters?

" Bea was looking alert now.

nIt's because of that wild boar, isn't it? That's why she's alarmed right now?

nI zipped my mouth and stared at them with all seriousness. The two saw it and started to get worried.

n

"What is it? Is it really a monster?

" Gwen said with widening eyes.

n

"W-why are you not saying anything?

" Bea

n

"I feel like…

" I started and gazed at the two--

"...winning.

"

n

"Huh?

"

n

"Let's race back to the top!

" I exclaimed and grinned at the two.

n

"What the hell…

" Gwen whispered and glared at me afterward.

n

"You are mean,

" Bea remarked and pouted.

n'She's so cute~'

nI shook my head and let out a fake smile. There's no point in scaring the both of them. It could be just my imagination…

n

"Come on, Whoever wins is the prettiest!

"

nGwen and Bea let out a groan but got ready anyway. I glanced back at the forest for the last time, trying to see if someone was there. After not seeing anyone, I then completely erased it off of my mind.

n