Before I could utter a single word, time froze again. Did one of the main characters die again? But it's impossible.
When I looked at Xior in front of me, the answer to my question came to me immediately. It was Miss Cat. I guess she froze the time for me to escape. So without any second thought, I ran away from that place. Thank goodness Miss Cat interfered. I really thought I was going to die for real.
Or am I just overreacting about it? Is he just threatening me to get answers, not to chop off my head?
Gosh, I'm really so stupidly dramatic.
After I left that place, time continued to spin. While in a hurry, I proceeded to that 'friend' of the princess.
When I located the place where her 'friend' resided, a restaurant appeared in my view.
Is he a chef of this restaurant? Or the owner? But never mind that, I should hurry and do what I was commanded.
Now, let's forget all problems and just sit there and enjoy the view. In fairness, the structure is a bit different from the modern restaurants, yet I can say that it was sturdy. Unlike the other restaurants that I've seen on my way here, this restaurant doesn't use wattle and daub walls but instead stone masonry walls, which are either limestone or travertine. The roof was high, as if signifying that it was owned by a noble. The doorway and the columns are arched, like the Renaissance flair. There is also a crystal chandelier at the very center of the restaurant.
It was well made. If I were given the chance to create a Renaissance-inspired restaurant, then I wouldn't mind using this as inspiration while plotting the walls and columns in my drafting papers.
Before I finished observing the structure of this building, a man came to me.
"Shall I take your order, milady?" a waiter asked after a while. Or I think they're called servers instead of waiters, since I am in a medieval times setting.
My eyes scanned the menu for a while before muttering. This is it.
"I'll order an ippocras, a nettle soup, a frumenty with venison, and an orange preserve. Can you get it ready in a minute?"
The expression of the server changed after hearing those words. A small smirk formed on his lips.
"Just how many slices of orange preserves do you want?"
"Five."
The small smirk earlier widened. "Pardon my rudeness, but please follow me. I think there's a perfect place for you to eat, milady."
Without a second thought, I followed him, and he led me to another room. When he opened the door, I was greeted by a familiar room. Did I come here before? Or did the Zeana from this world— wait, didn't the duke say that I don't exist in this world? So why am I having a déjà vu about this place? I think I've seen it, but I forgot where.
After the server left, a masked man greeted me.
"What are you zoning out about? Hurry and sit here." I obeyed him and sat on the vacant chair. "Now, who sent you? " The voice coming out from that guy in front of me sounds high-pitched, as if she's a girl or just really young. Anyways, his stature shows that it was a guy, so how should I treat him/her? Never mind, let's just use he. He might be a guy that uses a voice changer or something to sound like a girl to hide his identity.
"My superior asked me to show you this." I opened my pocket and grabbed the badge in it.
When he saw that badge, he crossed his hands and rested his elbow on the table. "So what does the princess want her friend to do?"
That confirms everything. All I've done, even the type of food that I should order and my reply to the server, was instructed by the princess.
"Her highness tasked me to track the assassins who possess this badge." I hid the badge from earlier and took another one.
The 'friend' of her highness took the badges and scanned them. After a few seconds, he answered.
"I know what group possesses this kind of badge. But what your highness wants to know is who hired them, isn't it?"
Just how familiar is he to the princess for him to know the exact reason? Or is the question just so obvious?
"That's right."
"But can I trust you?" he tested.
I sighed and recited the answer provided by the princess word by word. I don't know how the princess predicted that he'll ask this, but it's really a good thing that I came prepared. If not, I'd stutter here, unable to provide an answer.
"The princess said, and I quote, 'I'd bet my doll on this one.'" Although I don't understand why of all the things, why a doll? Am I really worth nothing but a doll?
Anyways, let's just focus on this one.
"Alright. Tell your highness to come here on the third day at the same time. We need to talk about something."
Ah! That's the same time when Xior and Racia, who was with Dria, met! It was the time when the world stopped functioning.
"I'll inform her. Aside from that, the princess told me to ask you this: 'Is Kein alright? '"
"Oh, Kein? That guy has no hope. He's getting weaker and weaker every single day," he answered.
Oh. Poor Kein. I don't know who you are, but I hope you'll live.
"Tell this to your princess: Cullen is dancing well. But no one knows who it was, and Qana was helpless about it."
That made me confused, but I don't have any right to speak or anything. But why are all their messages cryptic? Thus, my slow self can't process them properly?
Who's Cullen? And why is he dancing? And Qana? Who is she?
Or does Cullen, Qana, or Kein, human? Maybe a codename for someone I didn't know. Are they her friends or something?
Or what if they are her pets? And this friend of hers is taking good care of them since the palace is a very dangerous place. And there's no way she'll let her precious pets encounter danger in the imperial palace.
"In addition to that, the princess added. "My doll needs cotton; I badly need it'." This time, I'm really doubting if the princess really asks for real cotton or if it means something else. Because all I heard from her was a cryptic message, and my wisdom lacks a great amount just to crack them.
To my surprise, the friend of hers chuckled and mumbled, "She finally let go of her pride, huh?" It was spoken in a low voice, so I barely heard them. "Oh, just tell your princess to get everything on the third day. I'm certain there's still a few cottons in that doll. I'm sure she can wait for three days." He shrugged and leaned on his seat.
I frowned on that. Three days. In three days, you might never see each other, if ever I fail on this mission. That's why I really need to discover how I could remove that clog.
Should I prevent them from meeting? A single meeting won't change the whole story, but at least the clog would be removed.
Wait, if it couldn't change the world, then the destiny won't change, right? So I have to do something that could totally change what was fated to be.
"Do you have any more questions? " he inquired, and I shook my head.
"Since I'm no longer bearing any questions for you, I'll take my leave, milord." I curtsy and head to the door. But shock and confusion engulfed me when I found out that it was locked.
Did the guy from earlier forget to unlock them, or did he lock them intentionally? So that no one could run away if they failed to pay for the information?
Then who should I ask for the key? That guy?
"Excuse me, milord," my voice was getting fainter. I confidently strode earlier, but now I'm requesting something from him. Good thing the light is a little dim; if not, I swear he'll see my flushing face. Do you know about the feeling when you're so overconfident about something and you're corrected by someone more knowledgeable than you because all you've spouted is actually incorrect? It was embarrassing. And that's what I'm feeling right now. Not the same situation, but almost the same type of embarrassment.
"Yes?"
"Ahm… can I have the key to unlock this door?" Again, my voice is growing fainter and fainter.
"Why are you so desperate to leave this place? I still have questions for you, you know?" His voice suddenly changed." It became deep and guy-like. The high-pitched voice changer was probably removed.
That voice seems familiar. Just where did I hear that before?
Then realization struck me. Coincidentally, the guy removed his mask, and my knees couldn't help but grow weak. I slumped on the ground while staring at his familiar blank face.
Damn! Just what did I do to receive this much bad luck?
He then walked in my direction, and his every step caused my heart to beat faster and faster. This kind of beat isn't similar to the beat when someone falls in love at first sight. It's the type of beating when you saw your grim reaper in front of you and were ready to bring your soul to hell.
"I don't know how you escaped earlier, but now? It's time to answer my question, Zeana."