..."I.. really love you."...

...The man finally said the words he had prepared the whole night. His cheeks blushed a little as he has been keeping his feelings ever since they are little. At the top of the cliff, facing the vast lake, he made his confession to the girl he truly loves....

...The wind blew softly fluttered the golden hair of the girl he was talking to. Her beautiful green eyes met his soft brown eyes. His words really surprised her, made her freeze in this warm day, but he found it cute....

...He took a step closer to her slowly and faced her not further than 10 inches. He kept staring at her, then, he tucked her hair behind her ear gently....

..."Will you... accept my feelings?"...

...She felt something inside her chest. Something really strong that makes her couldn't hold back anymore. However, rather than happiness, what she felt was 'guilt'. Guilty feeling of deceiving people she sincerely loved and taking someone else's life and happiness....

..."I'm sorry, but I'm not the one who should answer it."...

...He was puzzled by the words she said. Knowing that, she gave him a further explanation before he questioned what she means....

..."I'm not someone you fell in love with."...

..."What if I tell you, that I'm not Rushia? She was dead 5 years ago, and someone who stands right in front of you now is not her."...

...The man couldn't give any response. His mind tells him that she was joking, but his ability tells him it was true. It doesn't make sense, but she wasn't lying....

...***...

...The sun was setting, but the girl still there, sat on the ground, looked at the sun which about to go....

..."Is it my time to go, too?"...

..."My Lady!"...

...She flinched after hearing the call. Her maid was looking for her everywhere and finally found her. The girl gave her a glance while her maid still panting. She put her eyes back to the lake again as sending a farewell to the sun. Her maid walked closer to take her home....

..."...I'm, not belong to this world."...

...Her sudden words made her maid stop moving and starting to listen to what her Lady said. Even though she didn't really understand. Yet, nothing came out after that. She just sat there silently....

...It started to worry the maid, since the Lady she knows, was a kind and cheerful girl. It would be normal if her Lady smile and greet her the moment she sees her. Yet she gave a short glance awhile ago....

...Moreover, recently, she often spacing out when no ones around. She lost her appetite and seemed fragile. She thought this vacation will bring her usual self back....

...When her maid about to check the things out, she said,...

..."Tisla."...

..."Yes, my Lady."...

..."I'm, scared..."...

...Her smile awkwardly bloomed along with her trembling lips. She looked back at her maid when she can no longer hold her tears bursting....

..."What should I do?"...

...The girl lay silently. Dressed beautifully covered in flowers.She could hear a man talking in deep and respectful voice, leading the ceremony to begin. Her body felt a little cold, although she was in a room....

...The girl opened her eyes, slowly regained her consciousness. She could see the white and vast ceiling. Luxurious chandelier hanging in the middle. She found herself laid in a small space, a comfy coffin full of white flowers. It smelled nice, too, she thought....

...She woke up and sat, then, realized so many people gathered in that room. Dressed in black, they all lowered their heads. Yet the sorrow overflowed inside the room. The heavy atmosphere made the girl feel uneasy....

...She wondered, what is this situation? Where is she? Who are they?...

...The girl was still processing the situation yet the man suddenly stopped talking. She put her eyes on him, found his shocked face unhide. The silence drove everyone to raise their heads. The same thing happened to them....

...The girl still sat in silence, when a woman rushed and hugged her....

..."My goodness, thanks God."...

...A woman cried over her daughter's revival. The girl had claimed to be dead yesterday night, in the accident that happened to her carriage. Under stormy weather, she was found dead in her carriage, and now, God brings her back....

...This funeral ceremony only attended by the main family, the girl's childhood friend, few relatives, their knights and servants. Even the man who leads the ceremony was the girl's father himself. The contentment they felt after this ducal house's daughter awake was swiped away the grief and sorrow....

...However, nothing left in the girl's memory, about this world, this family, and about herself. Many questions stuck inside her mind yet she decided to remain silent....

...After the Duke asked everyone to forget this incident and not leak anything they had witnessed, they back to their daily lives like nothing ever happen....

...***...

..."How was it?"...

...The Duke asked his wife about their only daughter's condition. He sent a medician- a doctor-like person, to check their child's condition....

..."He said nothing's off but her mana. Only the basic left."...

...Their daughter was known as someone who had a great amount of mana. This means she can't use magic anymore. This ducal house was possessed by growth magic abilities, and so their child was. For someone who can't use magic, it equals to someone without talent. This news didn't satisfy them, but their daughter's condition was more prior. They happy enough by knowing she's alright....

...The mother stayed with the girl the whole day, while the girl rests....

..."You should tell me right away if you feel anything, understand?"...

..."Yes, mother."...

...Rested a lot, ate nutritious meals, took a walk sometimes in the garden, made the girl feel refreshed and spirited. Although, she hasn't used to the people around her, she tried her best to act kind since she couldn't avoid them....

...Yet everyone noticed it, her formal attitudes, is not like her, especially to the knights and servants. The way she addressed her mother and father, and her childhood friend, too, is different. It wasn't hard for them to find out considering how close she was with everyone....

..."Sweetheart, are you perhaps, don't remember anything?"...

...Her mother's question hit the right spot. She didn't want them to know made her find it hard to admit it. However, that silence was a prove. An indirect fess up....

...Her mother covered her mouth in shock, the other maids just felt the same. The girl really felt bad letting them to know, letting these kind people to worry more....

..."Why you didn't tell me honey? Didn't I say to tell me anything you feel?"...

...Her mother's concern really made her feel anxious. Her eyes couldn't focus in one place anymore....

..."But it's not like, I feel hurt or anything."...

...The woman lost for words. She covered her eyes as doesn't want to cry in front of her daughter. Instead of her mother, the girl cried despite doesn't want to cause a scene....

..."My, apologies."...

...The girl trembled only by this situation as if she made a huge mistake. The mother couldn't stand seeing her beloved daughter suffer from her own thoughts. She embraced her gently....

..."It's alright."...

..."I'll tell you anything you want to know. So, don't hesitate to ask. You know we all love you, right? We'll get your memory back slowly."...

..."Promise me you won't keep anything by yourself again."...

...Her mother looked at her daughter's green eyes with a loving gaze. They had the same bright emerald green eyes, and the girl saw a great affection in her mother's eyes. Thus, she made the promise to her mother....

...***...

...A few weeks passed, she had learned many things about who she is and people around her....

..."Rushia Oreclara Fliesh."...

..."Yes, my Lady, that's correct."...

...The girl had already known her name is Rushia, but after learning her full name, she kept repeating it again and again. In order to trigger her memory, she said it over and over so many times. Besides, she just likes her name so much. It sounds pretty. She also liked to call out someone else's name, that made her look even more cheerful when meeting someone....

...Fliesh is this family name, known as the only family who possessed a growth magic in Lucaria kingdom. Even so, Ducal Fliesch with vines and Alcasiia flowers as its symbol is the lowest in order of the other Ducal house because growth magic is not an offensive magic....

...Rushia's parents believe that her magic will be back along with her memory. So, they only focus on restoring her memory for now, helped by her childhood friend, Valster Framiis Evorey. Second child of Duke Evorey....

..."You look happy today, too."...

..."Valster! You've back?"...

...Rushia was 15 this year, but she still acts like a lively little girl. Everyone like it though. The innocent princess really adored by everyone around her....

...Living as the adorable daughter of the house, Rushia's life was showered with love. She had many beautiful memories with everyone around her. Even though Valster is her only friend, she never feels lonely, since everyone in the house always spend their time with her....

...A year passed, there is nothing to worry about her condition now. She started to learn to be the heiress once again. Even if she had to start it again from the beginning, it seemed the progress going much better than expected. Perhaps because she really enjoys it, to learn, and gather around people. Madam Vascal, from the Count Vascal house, her private teacher, really like Rushia even though the Madam was known as someone with rigid personality....

...2 more years has passed, it is Rushia's debutante day today. Everyone had gathered in the hall the funeral ceremony 3 years ago was held. The atmosphere was completely different than that day. The joyous feeling pictured on their smile. It is still too early for this lively child to know about how cunning the human mind could be....

...Young girls and boys also gathered on that celebration, she finds a few new friends now. Valster only stared at her from a distance, doesn't want to ruin her excitement of making new friends. He smiled as seeing that girl smiling....

..."Ugh, no, you won't understand Lady Rushia. Having a brother like him is pointless, he's a total useless!"...

..."You useless being"...

...Those words ring in her mind so suddenly. Even if she couldn't recall the situation, nor the one who said that, she could remember the feeling when she heard that words. She fell in silent and her face became pale. No one noticed that yet since they still busy talking and laughing about the topic they brought. Valster was the only one who noticed the change of her expression all of a sudden. He made his move....

^^^To be continued...^^^

...Valster appeared from behind the stifled Rushia. He stood beside her and tapped the back of her hand to bring her out of her thoughts....

..."You guys look passionately attaint someone, is that person is me?"...

..."N-no! How could we!?"...

..."Ha-ha, I'm just joking."...

...He stole a glance at her checking is she was alright. She seemed back to her sense but he still a little worried....

..."May I steal Lady Rushia for a while?"...

..."Alas! Isn't it your intention from the start?"...

...Despite always spent his time with Rushia, Valster has many friends. Since his family occupies the 3rd strongest position in the kingdom, after the royal family and the grand duke, he is outstandingly famous too....

...Everyone in high society already knew that Valster and Rushia have a close relationship. Despite the closeness they had, and now, many were expecting these two young people to be together, they still had not decided to get engaged....

...Valster, without no doubt, would be happy if that happen. His family will not against their engagement too, since it is also a good opportunity for them. However, Rushia was the only heiress and her family's precious daughter. They will not hand their daughter because of political matter. Both of these Ducal houses, only wait a word from the Lady....

...***...

...Valster took Rushia to the garden. The sky was clear. So many stars shone bright up above the sky. Even the moon looked very adorable. Yet he could not take his eyes off of the girl next to him....

...She walked alongside him. Still put her hand on his arm. But her thought was somewhere else....

..."Is there something in your mind?"...

..."...I guess I suddenly had a dream."...

...She had not said anything ever since that sudden silence. That made him try his best to follow her talk....

..."Dream?"...

..."Do you want to do something in the future?"...

..."No, a dream that you have when you are asleep."...

...Valster almost stopped his slow footsteps after hearing what the girl just said. He matched her pace again and asked,...

..."...and, how was it looked like?"...

..."A scary man- no, scary woman."...

..."Hmm, I'm not sure, but that person cried the word 'useless' over and over."...

...Now Valster really stop and stare at her. Noticing the stoppage, Rushia turned her head and looked at this auburn-haired gentleman....

..."You, sure it's not a memory?"...

...Understand what this young lad was concerned about, she quickly denied. She said the person in her dream was really scary, although everyone here around her are kind people. She tried to convince him there is no way that it was a memory. She said it might her own imagination she pictured after hearing the story from another Lady....

...Valster felt relieved after hearing her explanation and she felt the same when there was no troubled expression left on his face. They headed back to the hall after some small talks....

...***...

...Rushia believed it was only the imagination she unwittingly made. However, she seemed to dream about it more frequently even without any trigger. She saw it almost every night, in her dream, a year after....

...She didn't tell anyone about this because she didn't want to make any more people worried. She also could not bring this up to Valster again since she hates looking that troubled expression on him. Everyone was kind and care about her. She felt the same, hence she kept this by herself to make the bluebird chirp longer....

...Even so, the thought of breaking her promise to her mother agitated her so much....

..."It's not like it's a life and death matter."...

...She tried to convince herself that it is alright. She did this for everyone. And believe it was the best choice to make....

...***...

...Waking up from her long nap, Rushia felt worn out. She called her personal maid who then came with a glass of water....

..."How long did I sleep?"...

..."Around 5 hours, my lady."...

..."It's not a nap, then."...

...It was 3 hours passed for lunch, her maid went to bring some snacks and tea because she said she only wanted eat snacks for now. Rushia indeed forbade her to wake her up, but she didn't know that she will sleep for this long....

...Her maid came with the snacks and tea. She poured and served it well to her lady. She could see her lady's exhausted face. She could not help but worried. She had already asked the chef to make highly nutritious meal contains much carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in one meal. She really stressed out the chef, but the chef did his best for his beloved lady....

...However, that will not change anything if the Lady skipped her meal....

..."My Lady,"...

...Rushia could see those concerned eyes of her maid. She smiled and said,...

..."It's nothing, I'm on a diet, that's all."...

..."Parvon really strives for something. It was your doing, right?"...

...She surprised a little and Rushia laughed as her usual self. She really loves that smile of this adorable lady....

..."I'll bath, then."...

...Rushia looked at her maid with a smile on her lips....

..."Help me."...

...Her maid felt the worried for her Lady was a little lifted when Rushia didn't look exhausted anymore....

..."Yes. I'll prepare the bath, then."...

She about to leave when Rushia suddenly called her.

..."Tisla."...

...She stopped and turned her back....

..."Yes, my lady?"...

..."I'll tell you right away if something bad happens."...

...She felt touched by her words. Her lady was never let any good news untold, but sharing a bad news, was something she never wishes her lady to go through. Nevertheless, her worries was vanished knowing it means nothing bad happens....

..."Thank you, my Lady."...

...She left to prepare the bath after that. Her precious lady, Tisla hoped that her beloved lady will back to her cheerful usual self again soon....

...However, her sincere hope was only a wish....

^^^To be continued...^^^