|| Chapter 7 ||

Victoria ran.

Through the deep, endless dark, her breath came in ragged gasps.

Why was she running? Was something chasing her?

She didn’t know.

All she knew was fear.

Her foot caught on something sharp—pain seared through her as she stumbled forward, crashing onto the cold ground.

Gasping, she turned her head.

Scattered across the ground were the shattered remains of a sword.

Her body trembled. The sight pulled forth memories she didn't know came flashing in her mind—

A knight, standing in front of her—his sword drawn, his stance firm—

A flash of steel.

A sickening thud.

Blood.

Her breath hitched. She clutched her head, fingers tangling in her hair as an unbearable ringing filled her ears.

"Get out… Get out!" she screamed, her voice breaking as tears spilled down her cheeks.

A sudden crash.

Victoria’s head jerked to the side.

A broken teacup.

Beside it—Aria.

Lifeless.

"A-Aria—" Victoria’s voice trembled as she crawled forward. Her shaking fingers reached out—

And then, she vanished.

Footsteps.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Victoria’s body stiffened. She turned.

A sword was raised high above her—

The blade swung down—

---

Victoria jolted awake, sweat clinging to her skin.

Her breath came in harsh pants, her body cold with fear.

A damp cloth slid off her forehead, landing in her lap.

She blinked, dazed, before her gaze shifted—

Someone was there.

At the edge of her bed, slumped over and fast asleep—

It was Aria.

Victoria pressed her lips together, her breath unsteady. Her trembling hand reached out—hesitant, uncertain.

The image of Aria’s lifeless body from her nightmare lingered in her mind.

Her fingers barely brushed against Aria’s head.

“…Aria?” Victoria’s voice was weak, barely above a whisper.

A sleepy hum was her response.

Aria stirred, shifting slightly before rubbing at her eye. “Oh, you’re awake, my lady…” she murmured, still drowsy.

Then—

Tears welled in Victoria’s eyes, spilling over before she could stop them.

Aria blinked, instantly more alert. “M-My lady?”

Before she could say more, Victoria wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a desperate embrace.

“Oh, Aria…” Victoria whispered, her voice weak and desperate.

“My lady—this isn’t really appropriate—” Aria began, only to freeze when she heard the soft sniffles against her shoulder.

She fell silent.

Then, with a quiet sigh, Aria slowly wrapped her arms around Victoria, gently patting her head.

---

Some time later, Victoria finally pulled away—though there was a brief hesitation, as if reluctant to let go.

Aria tilted her head slightly. “My lady… may I ask why the sudden hug?”

Victoria’s face flushed with embarrassment. She averted her gaze, fingers tightening around the blanket.

“I… I simply had a nightmare, that’s all…” she murmured.

Aria smiled, understanding. “Ah, no worries.”

This reminds me of the time I had a nightmare and went sobbing to Sherly about it… only to get smacked on the head for disturbing her sleep.

Aria deadpanned at the memory.

“B-but anyway… I—”

Victoria hesitated, her lips pressing together. Should she tell Aria about her nightmare?

Would Aria think she was overreacting? Or worse—dismiss it entirely?

She shook her head, pushing the thought away. Aria watched her in silent confusion but didn’t press for an explanation.

Instead, Victoria took a deep breath and asked, “Have… have you been taking care of me?” Her voice wavered slightly, as if she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Aria hummed in response. “Mhm, I have.”

Then, with a practiced grace, she stood and clasped her hands neatly in front of her. “After all, it’s my job as your personal maid to take care of you, my lady.” She smiled, resting a hand over her chest in a polite gesture.

Victoria’s lips quivered.

No one had ever taken care of her like this before.

Not even her previous personal maid—the one she had once trusted as a best friend.

Back then, she had always been met with excuses, brushed off with half-hearted apologies whenever she had fallen ill.

But Aria…

Aria had stayed.

“Ah, right. Pardon me, my lady,” Aria said softly as she placed a hand on Victoria’s forehead.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips. Her temperature had returned to normal.

But before Aria could step back, Victoria’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“M-my lady?!” Aria exclaimed, quickly pulling her hand away as panic surged through her.

What did I do this time?!

Her inner self was practically tearing her hair out, scrambling to figure out what had gone wrong.

“I—I’m sorry—” Victoria hiccupped, her tears spilling over.

How do I comfort a crying noble lady?!

Aria’s panic was written all over her face, but before she could stop herself, her hands moved on their own. She cupped Victoria’s tear-streaked cheeks, her thumbs hesitantly wiping away the tears.

“D-don’t cry,” Aria stammered, her voice unsure.

She forced a reassuring smile, but internally

I don't know what I'm doing! Aria cried out in her thoughts.

Victoria stared at Aria’s expression—worried, yet clearly unsure of how to handle the situation.

Then, to Aria’s surprise, a soft chuckle escaped Victoria’s lips. There was amusement in it, but also something bittersweet.

“You have… an interesting way of comforting,” Victoria murmured, placing her hands over Aria’s, which were still cupping her cheeks.

Aria sighed, her lips forming a slight pout. “I’m not used to comforting people, my lady.”

Victoria’s smile grew ever so slightly at that, making Aria’s face heat up. She quickly averted her gaze.

“Haha… I just…” Victoria’s smile dimmed, sadness creeping into her eyes. “I.. just felt guilty for making you worry.”

Her voice carried a melancholic weight, one that Aria couldn’t quite place.

"Y- you don't have to worry, lady Victoria.." Aria said with a slight stutture before she smiled, looking at Victoria in the eyes.

"After all, I'm your personal maid— it's natural for me to stay by your side." Aria said, unaware that the woman in front of her took it in a serious approach in the future.

"Y-you don't have to worry, Lady Victoria," Aria said with a slight stutter before offering a smile, meeting Victoria’s gaze.

"After all, I'm your personal maid—it's only natural for me to stay by your side."

She was unaware that the woman before her would take those words to heart in the future.

"Yes… of course," Victoria murmured, her gaze softening as she released Aria's hands from her face.

"Then… you should rest now," Victoria said, glancing at the window where the moonlight shone through.

"Very well… Goodnight, my lady," Aria said softly, offering a bow before heading toward the door. A soft click followed as it closed behind her.

The moment she was alone, Aria let out a sigh of relief, sliding down against the door. Pressing her lips together, she buried her face in her hands.

SIDJEJND—I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT—!

Her thoughts drowned in embarrassment as she recalled the moment she had cupped Victoria’s cheeks—only to be met with that small smile from her lips.

---

After that day, Victoria no longer acted distant. Yet… how could Aria describe this new behavior?

More… uh…

"Good morning, Aria."

Victoria smiled—radiating a bright aura, as if the sun itself shone behind her.

Aria, on the other hand, could only stare, utterly shocked. Why was Victoria in the servants quarter this early in the morning..?

"My lady… what are you doi—"

"Good morning, Lady Victoria!"

A sudden voice interrupted her.

Before Aria could react, a hand landed firmly on her head, shoving her into a bow.

"Ack—!" Aria yelped at the all-too-familiar sensation of being forcibly bent forward.

Is this déjà vu…?

The memory of Chapter 2 flashed through her mind.

With a small, quiet whine, she straightened up, rubbing the spot where Leah’s hand had just been. Meanwhile, Leah herself remained composed, her usual poker face now carrying a look of determination.

Victoria, however, was unimpressed.

"Leah, I believe I did not permit you to do such things to my maid." Arms crossed, she regarded Leah with a cool gaze.

Leah gasped before bowing again. "My apologies, my lady."

Is this favoritism…?

Aria sweatdropped at the unfolding situation.

Victoria, however, remained unfazed.

"Anyways, come, Aria. Let's go."

She turned gracefully, walking ahead with a smile.

Aria hesitated for a brief moment before she glanced at Leah only to meet Leah’s sharp glare—wordlessly ordering her to follow.

With a small sigh, Aria trailed after Victoria down the hallway.

---

Later, in the garden…

"My lady… may I ask why you were in the servants' quarters?" Aria’s voice held a mix of confusion and curiosity as she carefully poured tea into Victoria’s cup.

Victoria took a sip before responding, "Oh? Simply because I was looking for you."

Aria deadpanned. "But my lady… you do know my first responsibility is to report to your quarters, right?"

Victoria set her cup down with a soft clink and smiled. "Yes, but you were taking too long. Besides, you're my maid, aren’t you?"

Aria remained silent, unsure how to respond to Victoria’s words.

"Right… How are you feeling, my lady?" she asked, swiftly changing the subject.

Victoria didn’t hesitate. "I’m feeling much better—especially now that you’re here by my side."

She spoke smoothly, without so much as a second thought.

Aria, however, wasn’t as composed. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

"My lady, I suggest you stop joking with me," she sighed, trying to mask her flustered state.

"I'm not kidding," Victoria said as she set her teacup down, her gaze settling on Aria. "You have a charm that puts me at ease."

Aria’s eyes widened before she quickly looked away, letting out a small, forced cough.

"Did I perhaps infect you with my illness yesterday? You look unwell."

Victoria’s tone was laced with mild concern.

Aria let out a nervous chuckle. "Haha… Don’t worry, my lady. It’s just the summer heat."

||End of chapter 7 ||