Chapter 86 - Cut

Geraldine's body felt heavy as if a mountain full of rocks has been put on top of her that she's unable to move. She felt her body being burned slowly as if she's inside the oven.

"Ugh!" She groaned as she tried to stand up as her bladder is screaming to get out but no matter how much she forced herself to move, it's useless. 

Then a hand grabbed her arm and goes to her neck and forehead, it was warm and added to the heat she's feeling. She's thankful that the hand was gone and replaced by a wet cloth placed on her forehead.

"She's still burning," Aurelie said in concern as she wipes Geraldine's arm with a wet cloth.

"What should we do, mother?" Alexjin said and tucked the blanket on her body.

"We'll just hold our faith that she'll wake up sooner or later," Aurelie smiled sadly as she gestured for her son to leave the room. Then she look one last time and leaves as well, leaving Geraldine to sleep peacefully.

Timepass by, Geraldine tried to move again as her fingers extend and her eyes slowly opened and flickered to adjust her eyesight. She moves her pupils around as her blurred vision prevented her to see things clearly but seconds past and everything went back to normal.

She used her hands to support her body as she sits up straight and the cloth on her forehead dropped to her lap. She stayed still for a few minutes as she felt dizzy and after getting better. She put her feet down and tried to stand up. She wobbled for a bit and holds on to the table for support.

Her body is screaming for one thing, water.

Her throat is so dry like a desert that needed to be wet instantly. Looking at the table, she saw the basin that contains water used to wash her body. Geraldine is debating whether to drink that water or not.

After a while, she chooses to hold her nobility and struggled to reach her door. It was early in the morning and the sun lit up the cold weather.

Opening the door, she took a peek to see who's outside and notice that no one is around and the house is silent as well.

Looking down at her clothes, she's wearing a thin white nightdress. Seeing that it's a bit see-through. She pulls her blanket and wraps it around her body as she tiptoed outside and went to the kitchen.

"Master!" Daisha greeted when she saw Geraldine walking towards the kitchen. She's currently washing the dishes that were used in breakfast.

"Wa - water," Geraldine gestured for a drink and Daisha hurriedly grab a glass of water when she understood what her master means.

Geraldine went to sit on the chair as she has no energy left to stand any longer. She instantly grabbed the glass in Daisha's hand and drinks the water in one gulp.

"Ahh! That feels good!" She wipes the excess water from her mouth and asks for another set of glasses which Daisha followed immediately.

"Master! Good thing that you're finally awake. We thought that you're gonna sleep forever and won't come back to us," Daisha tearfully wipes her eyes with joy and hugged Geraldine which caught her by surprise.

"How many days am I asleep?" Geraldine asked in curiosity seeing how Daisha reacts.

"Umm," Daisha tried to remember and count the days using her fingers, "Master, you have been sleeping for eight days already."

"Eight days!?" Geraldine nearly choked the water when she heard the days she has been unconscious.

Daisha nodded her head and gives her another glass of water, "I must tell the others that you're finally awake!" She was about to run away but Geraldine holds her back. 

"No, don't disturb them," Geraldine whispered and pull her back.

"Umm, okay," Daisha nodded and went to make her master a cup of tea.

Both of them didn't talk much as Daisy gives his master peace as she took a rest to gain back her energy. After she drinks her tea, Daisha went to get some bread left and served it to her master.

"Tell me, Daisha. What happened when I was unconscious?" She asked.

"Hmm, nothing happened out of ordinary master. We just do our daily chores and did some short training." Daisha said and tried to remember what happened for the last eight days when something entered her mind.

"Oh, I remembered something," Daisha squinted her eyes and scratch her head to remember what it was, "Oh, I remembered seeing mother Aurelie talking to someone at the door. They dressed in fancy armor, maybe they are knights. I don't know what they talked about since Aurelie never told us what happened to their conversation."

Upon hearing Daisha's words, Geraldine freezes and looks at Daisha with wide eyes, "What did you say!?"

Daisha was about to repeat her words when Geraldine gestured for her to stop, "Where's Aurelie?" she tried to stand up but her legs wobbled.

"Master, please sit down. I'll go look for mother Aurelie and tell her to come to you," Daisha assist Geraldine as she sits down and hurriedly went out to find Aurelie.

Geraldine sulks on the table while scratching her head in frustration, "I never thought I'll experience fever again," she muttered and laid her head on the table.

It didn't take long before Aurelie arrives with Daisha, "Geraldine! You're finally awake," She went and tapped Geraldine's forehead to see her temperature. Sensing that she no longer has a fever. Aurelie sighs in relief.

"Thank you, Daisha. You can now go and play with your brothers and sister outside," Aurelie patted Daisha's head and gestured for her to go and play which the little girl followed.

"Did she tell you?" Aurelie asked as Geraldine nodded her head and groaned.

"The knights are searching for you and even have a poster that has your face on it! Good thing that I'm the one who opened the door or else.." Aurelie's voice trails off and they both knew what it means.

Aurelie gets her own tea and sits across Geraldine as they both stayed silent. Thinking of the problem that comes on her way.

"What are you planning now? Your father seems eager to marry you off to someone you haven't met yet," Aurelie said in disbelief, "I mean. I know how this noble arranges marriage work but you're not even at home!"

Geraldine chuckled at how stressed Aurelie looks at that moment, "I know. I think it's also their plan to bring me back home but I won't get caught in their trap. I know my father would only use me to bridge their business to the other part of the Empire."

"So what will you gonna do? Your family won't stop until they found you and force you to marry that noble," Aurelie said with a worried tone and even feel pity for the young lady before her.

"You don't have to worry about me, Aurelie. I won't let them get what they want." As Geraldine said those words, her index finger turned to silver then she grabbed her long vanilla-colored hair. Then without hesitation, she cut it all off, only leaving the length up to her neck.

Aurelie's mouth opens in surprise as she never expected her to act that way. For the nobles, especially the ladies. Hair is a very important factor base on the color and its length. The longer and lighter the hair, the higher the value of a woman.

Geraldine put down her hair in front of Aurelie, "Burn it."

Without hesitation, Aurelie put her hand over the hair and it instantly burns until the last strand was gone. Then she went to the cabinet and took out scissors and went to the back of Geraldine.

"I used to cut my son's hair. So, I think I'll be able to do a great job to fix this mess," Aurelie laughed and waited for Geraldine's permission and when she gets it. She started cutting her hair like a man.

*Snap, snap, snap*

The scissor doesn't stop working for a while until she feels satisfied with the outcome. With the last snap of the scissor, she patted away the hair on Geraldine's back and burn it away, leaving no trace.

Then she handed Geraldine a mirror. At first, Geraldine put down the mirror as she wasn't ready to see her new look but after a few breathes she turns it around and saw her new appearance.

"Wow, I thought I'll be an ugly man but you did a great job. Thank you," Geraldine hugged Aurelie as a sincere thank you for her work and concern.

"Now, they won't be able to recognize me even though they'll see my face in the public!" Geraldine laughed evilly as she looked at her appearance one more time, "Now father, will you be able to continue the marriage if the bride will be missing for years?"

"Huh, is that you master?" 

As Geraldine snapped her head to the side, she saw Alexjin and the kids with their mouths wide open as if they can't believe what they have seen.