175 2.1.26: A Promise of a Knigh

The next day came by quickly.

And thanks to the promise she made the Duchess, she was allowed to leave her room. Her eyes glanced around until they found the magnolia flower that was dry as it had been so long since the moment that he got it for her. Despite being dry and dull, she didn't dare to throw away because it held a special memory. She stood up and gently grabbed it, placing it in a pouch. She changed her clothes to the simplistic thing she owned among her things, which was an unadorned, pale yellow dress that was lighter than her hair. The pouch containing the dried flower was still in her grip, her unwilling to let it go.

The moment she stepped out of the room, she noticed servants whispering as they stared at her. She ignored them and continued to walk until she saw Libby. Before she could utter a word to the servant, Libby looked at her with fear and sneaked off quickly.

Xiao Yunhua sighed and couldn't blame her for the reaction. She was the reason that she had ended up being whipped, after all. Her feet took her outside, where the guards protected the main entrance. When they saw her approaching, they bowed.

"Young miss, is there anything you need?" One of them politely asked, worried they might offend her.

A vain smile adorned her face. She still had an average appearance, but her smile was every bit of a haughty noble girl, leaving the guards dazed. "I'm here to leave."

When the guards heard her words, they snapped out of their stupor and were stunned. The other guard cleared his throat, "Apologies, but we are not permitted to allow you out or anyone in without proper authorization."

"'Proper authorization?'" Her eyes flashed coldly, "Is the only miss of Warrington mansion not good enough for 'proper authorization?'" The guards looked like they had been placed in a difficult situation, unsure of how to answer her. When she saw the struggle on their faces, Xiao Yunhua silently asked for forgiveness. If she didn't act like so, then she wouldn't attract the attention of the Duchess, nor would her plan succeed.

The first guard that had spoken earlier shook his head after coming to a realization. "Sorry, but our orders are strictly from Her Grace." In terms of offending the Duchess and the illegitimate child, anyone with a brain knew better and who to pick.

Xiao Yunhua ignored their words and began to walk straight across from them, pretending like they were not there. They froze but panicked when they saw her out in the open. People started to look in their direction, with the guards frantically chasing after her. They finally stood in front of her, preventing her from going anywhere else. "Please, go back." The second guard said anxiously. For the young miss to venture so far from the mansion, they would probably be punished!

Xiao Yunhua hated how childish she appeared in front of them but she still continued anyways. So, she turned and went around them, walking further until they blocked her way again. By this point, people were staring openly. They didn't know who the girl was, but they knew that she probably had status, based on the way the guards were trying to stop her.

Thanks to her enhanced senses, she finally heard the Duchess appearing behind her, accompanied by Alistair who was complaining to her about how bratty she—Violetta—was acting and how she was embarrassing the family name. The Duchess didn't speak whatsoever, but raised her hand to silence Alistair when they arrived. The indication that let Xiao Yunhua know they had arrived was the lack of footsteps and the guards that bowed immediately, possibly due to the fear.

"Violet," the Duchess called calmly, "what are you doing?" Xiao Yunhua smiled shamelessly in her direction which made the Duchess furrow her eyebrows.

"Going to that event!" Ignoring the tremor she felt when the Matron of Warrington stared at her, Xiao Yunhua was quite confident her plan would succeed. She was also sure the Duchess would know what she meant by 'that,' especially when her expression went more frigid.

"Let's go back inside and discuss this." Xiao Yunhua wanted to roll her eyes. And be locked up again? She was naïve, but not that naïve. If the Duchess wasn't going to resolve the matter right now, then she would only cause more trouble.

"Mother, why can't we discuss it here?"

"Insolent bitch!" Alistair murmured, shooting glares at her. She would've never heard his remark had it not been her enhanced senses. Hearing his remark, she eyed him with gall and he felt a shudder. Her eyes resembled the Duchess, especially in the heat of her anger. Was this perhaps the result of being under her guidance for so long? To carry the eyes that looked at him like he was below her? To look at everyone like they were below her?

"Violet," the Duchess was still calm, especially with the numerous eyes on them. "if that's what you wish, then come here, let's have a walk and talk." She extended her hand forward, inclining her 'daughter' to take it. As much as Xiao Yunhua wanted to refuse, she couldn't be that impudent. Hence, she allowed her hand to clasp with the woman's, immediately feeling the harsh grip that hurt her hand. They began to walk away from the people, hearing audible sighs following them. Everyone had wanted to hear the conflict or what the young girl meant by 'event,' but the chance for gossip had slipped away.

However, they had still managed to get good gossip as a few recognized the woman as Her Grace, and by her intimate tone plus the way the girl had referred to her, it had spread among the commoners that the mother-daughter duo had conflict with each other.

The moment they were out of sight, the Duchess pulled away her hand and raised it to slap her, but Xiao Yunhua dodged. "How dare you?" In all the ears that she had been raising the brat, she had never been more intolerable than these past couple of months. Her behavior had destroyed her reputation until she personally had to come out and clarify that she was merely 'sick' so she was indisposed. That didn't fully cover it up, but it was an excuse for the moment. But thanks to her behavior just a second ago, it was possible that it fueled more rumors and even she couldn't salvage it this time.

"I will do it again unless you let me go see his knighting ceremony today." She was stubborn, but also had a promise to fulfill.

"Absolutely not." The Duchess disagreed immediately without giving Xiao Yunhua a chance to explain her predicament.

"Please," Xiao Yunhua inhales deeply. "it will be the last time. I will behave even better than before if you let me go fulfill the promise I made to him before."

The Duchess was quiet. "All this for a promise?" She sneered at her weakness. She had raised such a fragile heart. It was pathetic.

"Yes, so let me go and I won't bother you or him anymore."

The Duchess looked at her suspiciously, appearing doubtful. As much as she didn't want to agree, the only thing she was sure about Violetta was that she was honest—despite having peasant roots. So she agreed, but before Xiao Yunhua could get happy, she set a condition. "You can go right now. If you take longer than a few hours, then you mustn't blame me for being angry. Come back and change into something proper."

As much as Xiao Yunhua wanted to change into something pretty and pleasing to the eyes, she realized that she had no time. So, she shook her head. "No, I'll go because I have no time."

The Duchess eyed her disgustedly, "You're going...dressed like that?" No child of a duke would ever be caught wearing something so simple to something so grand. Nor would she allow it.

"I won't appear...I'll just watch." Well, technically she didn't lie. She wasn't going to appear before the other people, but she was going to appear before him. At least, if she manages to catch up on time.

The Duchess was silent for a few seconds before telling her that there would be a carriage. As much as she wanted to be comfortable, the carriage wasn't going to get her there on time. She, instead, ushered a horse to ride.

Standing in front of the horse, she felt nervous because she had never ridden one before.

It couldn't be that bad...right?

Wrong!

The moment that she was helped sit on the horse, she felt extremely uncomfortable and wobbly, like she was going to fall at any second. And she did, dirtying her dress again. The Duchess sighed, seeing how dirty she looked, repulsed. She assumed the fall would cause her to give up, but she was surprised to see Violetta standing up again. Her legs were shaking but she still sat on the horse again, this time, holding onto the rein tightly.

With a initiation, the horse was startled and began to gallop. It went by so fast that Xiao Yunhua didn't have the time to react except subconsciously grab onto the neck of the horse, fearing for her life based off of the speed.

The setting went by in a blur and as did the time. By the time her horse had arrived, she noticed that the sky was already beginning to darken and the place a bit dark. Clenching her fists, she slowly got off the horse and walked in the direction of where the ceremony was being held at.

Pushing the door ajar, she realized that it was empty. All hope left her and she felt herself go stiff. Her face paled and her heart thumped loud enough to ring in her ears. She felt tears swarm her eyes not because her plan failed, but because she broke a promise. A simple promise that she could've fulfilled had she been less careless.

Her knees buckled and she sat on the chair, staring at the front where she pictured he was dubbed as a new knight.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled, speaking to no one but herself. She had said it so quietly, she expected for no one to hear. There was no one there to hear anyways.

But to her astonishment, she actually heard a response. "It's okay."

She whipped her head around and noticed the pair of chocolate brown eyes that were warm in gentle like always... the pair of eyes she hadn't seen in forever.

Why was he here? Wasn't it over already?

"No it's not." She muttered, fresh tears pouring down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm a terrible friend." She averted her eyes, not daring to look at him and his disappointment. She heard footsteps edging closer and closer in her direction, but she still didn't look up. She felt a pair of calloused but gentle hands cup her face, steadily raising her head.

Her sky blue eyes met his. He felt his heart stir when he saw how tear-streaked her face was.

"I missed..." the event or 'you,' her words were unclear. But he understood that she meant both. "I was punished all this time. I'm sorry, I meant to come sooner for this, I just couldn't and—" her words faltered when she felt his finger gently wiping off the dirt on her face. A rosy hue spread across her cheeks, making her look delicate despite her disastrous appearance at the moment.

"You're here now." That's all that mattered. He wanted to say, but he didn't have the guts. He was now a knight, but to his growing feelings...he was still a coward.

Violetta dug around and found her pouch containing the dried magnolia flower. She carefully pulled it out, holding it in her palm. Smiling fondly, Dominic saw her eyes filled with reminiscence and couldn't help but smile too.

Suddenly, her eyes turned glum and she looked at him again with unshed tears. "Domi...After this, I won't be able to see you anymore. I won't be permitted. I'll be—" Once again, her words were stopped, but this time, with a feeling of warmth engulfing her. His strong arms wrapped around her frail body, giving her a sense of security. Both their hearts thumped loudly and in unison, like one was trying to outdo the other with its anxiety.

After a period of time, Dominic released her from his arms and suddenly kneeled before her. She was confused, but was shocked when she heard his next words: "My lady, although we are not destined to be...I, Knight Dominic Jude Harrison, promise to always protect you." Seeing her speechless, he grabbed her hand and his lips gently grazed them with a tantalizing kiss. "Violet...I..." seeing him struggling, she tenderly helped him stand.

"Domi...I accept your oath." Her eyes glazed with tears as he hugged her again, her ears ringing with the sound she hadn't heard in what seemed like forever.

>

And she began to cry harder as she gripped him with sympathy for her and for him.

Him, for being part of this wicked and manipulative game set by the system invoking his pure feelings.

And she, for she realized that she could never fully fall in love.