Summon the Modern Lady!

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The garden stilled, the kid's big eyes trembled and looked behind her, as if searching for the strange occurrence some place else. Not noticing the lady's reaction.

"I saw a really really really long~ black hair~"

Amaranthe froze for a heartbeat before smiling again, "Black hair? But I have pink. See?"

She gestured to her vibrant locks.

The boy chuckled nervously. "Yes… The sudden change surprised me… haha… my mother said unnatural things were the work of ghosts."

Her gaze sharpened for a fleeting moment before softening again. "Well since there's no ghosts here, how about we become friends? What's your name?"

"It's Pete, my lady."

Amaranthe tilted her head, scanning the boy, from head to toe. "Steadfast…?" She mumbled to herself.

Pete's eyes sparkled. "You know the meaning of my name, my lady?"

As Pete beamed with delight, Amaranthe's expression turned serene. "Right... I see, so you're Pete..." Watching him, she hesitated before asking, "Are you the only one pulling weeds here?"

Pete nodded. "The head gardener helps me, but his back has been giving out these days, so it's mostly me now."

Amaranthe's smile returned, warmer this time. "Then let me help."

Pete's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly nodded, his excitement bubbling over as they worked together by the fountain.

Far from the scene, laying down on a sturdy branch with two sleeping birds on his chest was Kayer. His purple eyes watched the lady crouch down with no hesitation to help the boy, Pete.

"So she can smile like that after all..."

He mumbles before turning his head, closing his eyes to rest.

Kayer had been busy running around to prepare the meeting of envoys for the thanksgiving event, this was his only reprieve and thus could not be wasted.

At least, that was what he wanted...

"Oh no!"

The startled gasp of the boy reverberated within the garden, loud and panicked.

Kayer stirred from his perch high in the tree, his sharp purple eyes narrowing as he scanned the distance.

His gaze landed on the boy and Amaranthe near the fountain.

But both of them seemed calm...

Just moments ago, he had distinctly heard Pete's startled gasp.

"What…" he murmured, confusion clouding his expression.

Nan and Kaya, the two small birds, cooed softly. They leaned their tiny heads against him, their warmth a quiet reassurance and a reminder.

Kayer exhaled slowly, realization dawning. His muscles relaxed, though his brow remained furrowed. So that's what it was…

The ability that stirred at the edge of his awareness was one he hadn't consciously used. It was one of her abilities— Pre-recognition.

A power that allowed the caster to perceive events five seconds into the future.

His jaw tightened as he pushed the thought away. Not now. He didn't want to think about her. Not here.

But the ability had activated. And it had done so on its own.

Does that mean…

Something shifted in the grass below. Kayer's eyes snapped to the movement, tracking the quick, fluid motion heading directly toward the boy and Amaranthe.

Without hesitation, Kayer leapt down from the tree, landing gracefully on the ground. He dashed forward, his long strides covering the distance in moments.

"Stay back!" he commanded, stepping in front of the two. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his blade, ready to defend against whatever was coming.

Pete stumbled back, clutching his basket tightly.

His wide, fearful eyes flickered up to Kayer in recognition. "B-brother Kai?" he stammered unconsciously.

Kayer's mind raced. If pre-recognition activated automatically… does it mean they're in danger?

Amaranthe's startled expression caught his attention, but before he could question her, something burst from the grass.

"No! Stop!" Amaranthe shouted firmly.

Kayer froze mid-motion, his blade half-drawn. The creature paused as well, coiling in place.

It was… a small white snake.

Pete stared at the snake in dread, his voice trembling. "Why is there a snake here? This is the royal garden..."

Amaranthe chuckled softly, her amusement light. She cast a glance at Kayer, though her gaze was hesitant, reluctant to meet his eyes directly.

With a sigh, she spoke. "Your Highness," she said evenly, "please don't hurt the snake. I'll take care of it and put it outside."

Kayer blinked, his grip on his blade slackening.

For a moment, his gaze shifted between the snake and Amaranthe. The white serpent blinked back at him, its tongue flicking out smugly as if amused by his hesitation.

"Oh… I… Is that okay, Pete?" Kayer asked, his voice uncertain.

The boy nodded quickly, his expression softening.

The snake slithered forward slightly, its tongue darting out again. Kayer could almost swear it was smug.

Amaranthe knelt, extending her hand calmly toward the snake.

The creature paused, then glided closer, brushing its smooth body against her fingers. It leaned into her touch, rubbing affectionately against her palm.

Kayer watched, his expression unreadable.

The scene was too familiar. It clawed at memories he had buried—a reminder of someone else who had shared this ease with creatures most would avoid.

Amaranthe straightened, holding Pete's basket.

The snake settled inside without protest. "Be good, okay?" she murmured, caressing its head briefly. The snake nodded, as if understanding.

"There. Should we release it outside the estate?" Amaranthe asked, her tone light.

Pete hesitated, glancing back at Kayer.

His small hands fidgeted as he spoke. "How about I put it out? I'm not scared of it, I was just surprised… and my brother Kai seems off. Please help him, lady!"

Amaranthe blinked, surprised by the boy's plea. She hesitated, then nodded.

Pete beamed, clutching the basket tightly before running off with the snake.

Amaranthe turned her attention to Kayer, her green eyes studying him with quiet concern. "Your Highness… are you okay?"

Kayer blinked, startled by the question. After a pause, he asked, "Is it normal in your world to touch snakes like that?"

She tilted her head, watching him thoughtfully. "Yes. In our world, there are zoos. They're places where animals are gathered, tamed, and can interact with humans."

Kayer's gaze grew distant.

He imagined such a place. Though there was no equivalent here, the description reminded him of a different location— a place where all manner of creatures gathered.

The Great Forest, southeast of the continent of Levis.

And her home.

His chest tightened, and he shook his head to dispel the thought. "Well, if you're alright, then I'll head off."

Amaranthe's hand shot out before he could leave. "Wait." She pointed to his arm, her expression sharp. "Did you jump from a tree? You were in such a rush that you didn't notice the injury."

Kayer glanced at his arm. A thin trail of blood trickled down his skin. "It's a small scratch," he said dismissively.

"A small scratch wouldn't bleed like that." Her green eyes narrowed, her tone growing firm. "I'll walk you to the clinic and make sure you're treated."

"My lady, it's really nothing—"

"Are you a child?" she cut him off, glaring as she stepped closer. Her grip was firm as she tugged on his arm. "Are you scared of being healed? Ridiculous. You're the prince of this kingdom, so you must take care of yourself."

Kayer sighed, biting back a retort. Her words stung in their familiarity. It was strange to be treated like a child, but the feelings her actions stirred within him kept him silent.

Without another word, he allowed her to lead him to the clinic. Though he couldn't explain it, her presence felt both foreign and achingly familiar all at once.

~~~

The room was heavy with silence, save for the faint rustling of paper and the rhythmic scratching of quill against parchment. Cheska sat hunched over her desk, her shoulders tense as she meticulously worked through the growing pile of documents.

But then—

Let's go home!

She froze, her quill hovering mid-air.

Why are you still here?

The voices were louder this time, a cacophony of sharp-edged whispers that wrapped around her mind. She clenched her jaw, her hand trembling slightly as the quill scratched against the paper.

Are you even trying to go back?

Her breath hitched, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

The words weren't new— they had lingered, persistent and insidious, a constant hum at the back of her mind. But tonight, they seemed to claw at her more fiercely, their weight pressing down on her chest.

"Cheska?"

The voice was soft but clear, cutting through the haze of whispers.

Her head snapped up, the light from her window shifting to reveal two figures standing at her door. Amaranthe stepped in first, her green eyes scanning the room with concern.

Behind her, Ayessa followed, her delicate features etched with worry.

"Lady Cheska, you look exhausted," Ayessa said gently, crossing the room to her. She picked up the teapot on the desk and began pouring tea into a cup. "Are you all right?"

Cheska forced a smile, her lips twitching unnaturally. The motion felt wrong, as though it didn't belong to her.

Stop smiling, hypocrite.

Her fingers twitched violently at the whispered venom, causing the quill to slip from her grasp.

She flinched, her smile faltering into a grimace. "Ah, I'm… not sure," she admitted, her voice strained. "But don't worry. I'll take a break after I'm finished with these."

She gestured vaguely toward the mountain of work before her, brushing off their concern with practiced ease.

Amaranthe wasn't convinced.

Her gaze sharpened, and she reached out, her hand firmly covering Cheska's trembling one. She didn't speak immediately, but her green eyes bore into Cheska's, searching for something beneath the surface.

"What is…" Amaranthe began, her voice trailing off. She tightened her grip slightly. "Cheska, should we take a break?"

Cheska blinked, her mind sluggish. The whispers had dulled—no, not dulled. They had retreated, their noise overshadowed by the warmth of Amaranthe's hand and the softness of her voice.

"I…" Cheska hesitated, her lips parting as if to resist. But the weight of the question hung in the air, impossible to ignore. Finally, she nodded, letting out a slow, shuddering breath. "Alright. A break sounds good."

Ayessa smiled warmly, relief evident in her expression. "Then let us help," she said, setting the tea down and pulling up a chair.

Her eyes scanned the papers scattered across the desk, her brows furrowing slightly. "This… all of this… is for the Winter Solstice Thanksgiving?"

Cheska nodded, her exhaustion evident now that she wasn't actively pushing it away.

Ayessa leaned closer, her curiosity piqued as she noticed a neatly drawn grant chart pinned to the side. "What is this?" she asked, pointing at the meticulously organized diagram.

"Oh, that's a Gantt chart," Cheska explained, her voice soft but steady. "It's a timeline tool to track progress. It helps organize tasks and deadlines for the solstice preparations."

Ayessa's eyes widened in admiration. "You made this? It's incredible! And… this graph?" She picked up another sheet, marveling at the columns filled with categorized materials, costs, and assignments for various teams.

"It's a common tool in the modern world, a spreadsheet. Just a way to keep everything in order," Cheska murmured, her lips quirking into a faint, genuine smile for the first time.

Amaranthe glanced over Ayessa's shoulder and nodded approvingly. "This is impressive, Cheska. Even in your state, you've managed to draft everything so efficiently. Let us help you finish the rest."

Cheska hesitated, her pride warring with her gratitude. But as she met Amaranthe's steady gaze and Ayessa's eager smile, the resistance within her crumbled.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice almost inaudible.

The three worked together, even in the next day, the once-overwhelming workload shrinking rapidly under their combined efforts.

Amaranthe took over organizing the materials, while Ayessa meticulously filled in the remaining data. Cheska, for her part, guided them through the process, her earlier drafts making the work smoother and faster than anticipated.

By the time they finished, sunset of the next day crept through the curtains.

Ayessa leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. "Cheska, you're amazing. If only everyone were this prepared, organizing an event would be a breeze!"

The experienced branch director chuckled softly, a warm feeling blooming in her chest at the praise. "I couldn't have done it without your help," she admitted, her voice light and genuine.

Amaranthe smiled, patting Cheska's shoulder. "And we couldn't have done it without you letting us in."

For the first time in days, Cheska felt at ease. The voices that had haunted her were silent now, their oppressive weight lifted in the presence of her friends.

As the three sat together, sipping the tea Ayessa had poured, Cheska allowed herself to bask in the quiet warmth of companionship, the distant hum of whispers nothing more than an echo in the background.

But... was it really okay?