*Story will be told from the perspective of Melvin Bond Veldonia, Milly's dad*
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Nearly thirty years ago, a fateful meeting occurred in the prosperous capital city of Veldonia.
The middle castle is bustling with visitors from all over the empire. The emperor was celebrating the birthday of his eldest son, who just turned seventeen years old. It was a grandiose banquet, and within the invitation list are many-many nobles that have contributed to the empire.
Included in the list is my family, the Viscount of Bond. My parents, my younger brother, and I arrived at the grand banquet alongside everybody else. We were greeted by many who are quite familiar with my father, who is the current Viscount of Bond.
"Viscount Bond! Are these your children?"
"Viscount Bond, your boys looked amazing! They are very handsome!"
"Hello, Melvin and Calvin! You two looked beautiful!"
Despite my father's achievements, the key point that brings everyone to greet my family was me and my younger brother, Calvin. The two of us are seven and five years old, and I wasn't quite enjoying the amount of attention that the people have given me. My father, however, was more than happy to have a conversation with his peers.
It was also my first time visiting the middle castle, where the emperor's family resides. Father has just become a Viscount, which means he now has the rank which allows him to be invited to amazing banquets such as these. Because as the customs go, no rank lower than Viscount are invited.
And just like everybody's first time, we did not have a great time. My brother, Calvin, almost puked during the long banquet, so he proceeded to go with father to the restroom. Mother, as any noblewomen should, is busy with the other noblewomen as they converse regarding simply anything.
And I… also needed to go to the bathroom. I was left all alone in the large ballroom, and I had no one to talk to considering father just left me with Calvin.
So, I headed out by myself. I didn't know where to look for the bathroom, and I was too afraid to ask anyone, since the adults in this cursed empire do not always act in a friendly manner.
I got lost. In this gigantic palace belonging to the emperor, I was lost. I didn't know where to go, and I had already forgotten the way back. By the time I realized it, I arrived at an open park that is somewhere in the castle area.
That is when I met her. The young lady wearing a bright yellow dress, shined beautifully by the moonlight. Her red hair is untied and messily waves around by the evening wind. Her dress looks very much like the sun when combined with her dark red hair, and I noticed there was a reason why she's wearing such a dress.
At that moment, I realized that she was the first person I've seen ever since I got lost. My instinct told me that I shouldn't just approach her randomly, and I should instead be cautious.
And I was right. Because the moment she turned her eyes to me, I started shivering. Her gaze was cold and sharp, and she seemed more like a beast than a person.
"Uhm… Uh…" Instantly, I lost all sorts of thought due to fear. She just looks so incredibly scary that I'm not sure about what to say.
"What do you want?" The young girl asked me so coldly, and I realized that I'm simply bothering her.
"S-Sorry, I'm just wondering where I can find the toilet…" I tried telling her about why I'm here, but my eyes landed closely onto her face.
Those are… bruises. A lot of bruises. On her face.
Now that I'm looking at her closer, I realized that her condition isn't exactly the best. Her yellow dress that looks so nice to look at from behind is almost completely torn on the front. Her face is just filled with so much mess, and I can tell even her mouth has bled. She was definitely bullied, and it definitely wasn't long before I arrived.
"Oh. A party pooper who got lost." The lady said after realizing, and she turned around again to ignore me.
"The toilet is on the right wing, turn left when you arrive at a three way junction. Then just head straight."
Even though I'm bothering her, she is still telling me. I guess it must be her method of pushing me away, and I can understand that. However, something inside me wishes for something different.
"I… I see. In that case, can I ask another question?" I made sure to brace myself before asking, and the lady didn't even bother to look at me.
"Are you… wounded?" I tried asking carefully, and she finally turned her eyes to me. I was instantly pressured by the deadly aura that she is emitting from her gaze, and I noticed that this wasn't just a simple stare.
This is… bloodlust. She is telling me that if I keep pushing her to the limit, then she will very easily kill me.
However, this much bloodlust isn't something that I can't withstand.
"… So?" She asked coldly with one eye turned to me, and I took a deep breath to calm myself.
"I can… I know healing magic."
"Forget it and just move along. Ignore me and forget that you ever talked to me. That is the best way for you to live." She uttered coldly before turning away from me once again, and I realized that she is purposely distancing herself from me.
Not because she's uncomfortable, but because she's looking out for me.
Ah. How can I not notice? This castle belonged to the emperor, so surely there are a lot of eyes watching every corner, right?
ZRING!!!
Very quickly, a small black object flew from the palm of my hand and aimed towards the roofs behind me. In that instant, the sound of a person falling on the roof was heard in a light thud, and it looks like my attack has reached the target.
The red haired girl definitely noticed what I did, and she turned to me with shock. However, I only kept a bright smile on her.
"It's okay! I didn't kill him. I also stabbed him in the back, so he definitely wouldn't know who attacked him." I explained what I did properly to her, and the girl's shocked eyes slowly turned into concern.
"… What do you want?" She asked coldly, thinking that I'm an enemy. She knows that I'm capable, and it seems like it was wrong for me to just reveal my cards to her that quickly.
"I'm sorry. I just want to offer you my help. You've let me know about what I wish to learn, so I wish to offer you help as well. I have healing magic, and I can help you feel better."
As I explained to her, I lifted my right hand and took out a bright white light ball. The red haired girl stared at my hand with so much shock, and it must be her first time ever seeing healing magic. At least, not the one that is casted by a seven year old.
"How… old are you? You're definitely younger than me…" The girl uttered with such shock, but I already controlled the healing magic ball to fly towards her.
As the bright white ball gradually got closer and closer, the girl felt the warmth coming from the ball to be pleasing. The girl closed her eyes and let the healing magic do its work. The bruises on her face slowly began to disappear, and she can definitely feel the changes.
By the time she opened her eyes, the pain had already completely disappeared. I also made sure to remove the bruises that are on her arms and body as well, considering the beating she endured also went down there. Once the healing was over, I retracted the healing magic, and the white ball disappeared.
"How are you feeling?" I asked nicely once the healing was over, and she nodded while studying her hands.
"In that case, I'll be bidding farewell. Thank you for telling me about the bathroom--"
"Wait."
The girl suddenly said to me, and I was about to turn around to leave the open park. I turned around again to face her, and I realized that something else had turned completely red aside from her hair.
Her face looked… very red.
"… Elizabeth."
"What?"
"My name. It's Elizabeth." The girl uttered to me with such a low voice, and I realized that she is trying to get acquainted with me.
But, I'm in the middle of a war here.
"S-Sorry! I gotta go to the bathroom!"
"Huh!?"
I hurriedly turned around and started heading out of the park, leaving the confused red haired girl all alone. She does look wildly surprised seeing me leaving so quickly, but I really just can't hold it back anymore.
Why… am I having such a painful stomach? I genuinely just wanted to poop.
Ah… no way. Is this… food poisoning? Not that it's poison, but are the cakes I ate just not compatible with my stomach? That's horrible.