~A few days later~
*The festival is gonna happen soon.*
I'm currently hanging upside down on the maple tree with a contemplative expression. My ankles holding onto the steady tree branch and carrying my weight. And my raven black hair falling over my face due to gravity.
I'm wearing my horse riding attire that I secretly wore for comfort purposes only. It was a mix of white top and black trousers. Dresses are nice but heavy. And if you ask where I learned to literally hang like this?
*Since never, I just got into this stupid position and can't get out so I'm being productive by thinking things while being helpless. See? We're smart.*
The festival that the empire celebrates once a year, "𝔸𝕝𝕜𝕚𝕪𝕖𝕟" was named after the first emperor, and was first celebrated during the founding of the empire.
The change of the season is the prominent sign that it's approaching.
*Signs such as... It's freaking hot right now!*
"Even under this tree... I can feel the wrath of the biggest star in the world... Curse you, Sun."
I said as the sun glared down everywhere without conscience, making everything shine, especially the grasses. I looked intently at them.
*Ohh... That's actually a nice lighting... Wait! Ahem, back to the main topic.*
The festival approaching means that the plot of the story is advancing... I didn't really pay too much attention to it, till now. I just chilled in my new life. I wrote it anyway, what could go wrong?..
*Well, everything. Geez, why am I such a lazy person. Anyway... What should happen now is...*
I pulled out a piece of paper that was in the pocket of my pants and opened it. It was a note of the plot that'll happen soon. And ufortunately for me, I'm part of it.
I read the note and analyzed it...
*Ugh. Dang it. It's hard to read upside down. For gosh's sake.*
Holding the note close, I finally see the letters properly.
Events:
1. When the festival approaches, all the male leads sends a letter of invitation to Hail to ask her to be their date since she's the female lead. She picks the male lead, Luke Graham, of course.
2. As Hail was walking through the streets with Luke. Alexandria which is me now, blocks their way and got angry and demanded that Luke should be with her. Luke with his fake gentle smile refused. Then with Alexa's noise, some thugs surrounded them.
3. Alexandria was taken by one of the thugs and Luke was about to leave with Hail. But then my kind heroin stepped in, so Luke had to step in and saved both ladies.
I wrote the novel in Hail's point of view, so I don't know what happens next to Alexandria except when she was left alone as Luke and Hail continued their date.
Then Hail got lost and Luke was looking around like crazy then met the other male leads and they also looked around like crazy, blah, blah. Hail got found while eating ice cream, they couldn't get angry because it was her. Blah, blah.
*Now why is this a big deal to me? Because I'm Alexandria right now. And just the sentence that 'Alexandria's life is tragic' does lots of things.*
It took everything inside of me to write this note last night. I mean, losing 20 minutes of sleep time is a big deal after all. And I wrote the character's name as 1, 2, 3, 4 so that if one of the lead characters sees it, they won't be suspicious.
*Wait, if the things I wrote is exactly what happens and one of the lead character sees it, I'll labeled as a foreteller... That's just as bad. Damn. Whatever, let's not worry about that.*
I try to pull myself up to get out of this hanging position, my hair flowing along the movement. My arms try to reach the tree branch, before instantly dangling back down at my sides as they fail to do so.
The only thing keeping my ankles to hold on is desperation. As I sighed and looked at nowhere in particular with a deadpan expression, I heard Astrid's sweet, angelic voice.
"My lady, a letter was sent to you by the-" She didn't finish her sentence and gasped slightly then opened her arms while standing below where I'm hanging.
I raised an eyebrow in confusion at her action. She locked eyes with me and said, "My lady, please come down there, the duke will be worried and furious. It's dangerous to hang like that..."
She said with a genuinely worried expression that made me sigh slightly, I loosened the grip of my ankles on the tree branch and jumped into her arms.
Astrid catches me easily and put me down on my feet. I mutter a thanks and she smiles.
"A letter, you say?" I asked.
She nodded and pulled a letter out of her apron's pocket. "Yes, my lady. It's from the crown prince. His aide sent it."
I nodded back and was about to accept it then rethought what she just said.
*From who?!*
"From who?" I asked softly despite my inner turmoil.
"The crown prince, my lady." She answered dutifully.
*The crown prince? Huh... What does he want? Suspicious.*
The crown prince and I are not even close and he, along with the other male lead are supposed to be sending letters to Hail by now. Oh well, please don't be a letter saying 'be my date'.
And as I opened the letter, as if to highlight the sentence that 'Alexandria's life is tragic.' The letter said exactly,
~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~
*"I hope this letter finds you well, Young Lady Dandelion.*
𝕀𝕗 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕖, 𝕀 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕤𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 '𝔸𝕝𝕜𝕚𝕪𝕖𝕟 𝕗𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕝'. 𝕀𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕞𝕖. ℕ𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖.
*Caleb Theobald Raycroft."*
~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~✧~
I looked at the letter with a deadpan expression.
*No pressure? Like heck.*
Astrid hummed in confusion, "Is something wrong, my lady?" She asks. But knowing her, she probably already know what it is.
I sigh and tucked the letter into the pocket of my trousers. "It's nothing. Let's head back inside." I smiled softly.
Astrid nodded and walked behind me as we headed to the estate.
*Damn this heat and this troublesome letter. My luck's run out, how do I respond to this letter, geez.*
~An hour later~
*Heck. I actually accepted it. Like I said, what's the worse that could happen? Oh, man, considering the personality of the crown prince, this is the right move. I hope.*
While walking towards father's office, I sighed, now wearing a dress that shaded a dark green and yellow green with flowery designs embroidered on it with a golden thread. I knocked on the door softly.
"Enter." He says stoically.
I opened the door and entered and his expression instantly softened. "Alexa, my dear, what is it?"
Standing in front of his desk, I locked eyes with him with a determined expression. "Father, the crown prince asked to be my date in the festival. I would like to ask for your permission."
Instantly, "NO." He says sternly.
*Expected as much.*
"Father..." I said soothingly.
"No." He says again.
*Sigh, so stubborn.*
I cleared my throat. "Okay, let's compromise. I'll bring Astrid with me. Okay?"
Duke Hendrix thinks for a moment and I saw it as my go sign for the ultimate move.
*Puppy eyes on.*
He freezes then sighs heavily in defeat. "Fine..." He says wearily. "But you are not leaving Astrid's side, not for a second." Father said with a firm tone.
*Works everytime.*
I smiled sweetly, "Thank you, father."
After gaining his approval, I stepped out of his office and walked back to my room to write a reply to the crown prince. I walked across the hallway.
"He sure was worried..." I murmured.
Caleb was like him after all, kind on the outside, pure unpredictable twist on the inside and father knew that. Takes one to know one I guess.
*Not on my part of course, I know because I'm the writer. Though, since I wrote this messy world, I guess I'm kinda twisted too.*
I hummed softly as I continued walking through the hall.