Charlotte woke up late and was still exhausted even after a warm bath , she still felt and looked exhausted and nobody including herself knew why .
' My lady should we call the physician, you don't look so good ' suggested Charlotte's favorite maid .
' That won't be necessary Lena , just make me a cup of black tea with dried persimmons and I'll be fine by tomorrow ' Charlotte breathed as she looked out the window where the clouds had turned pinkish_red with the sun setting .
Charlotte had spent the entire day in her room , she felt that something inside her wasn't right but she didn't know what with her engagement ceremony around the corner she didn't want her health to ruin that .
Charlotte's maid was on her way to her young mistress with the tea she had prepared when she almost bumbed into Scarlet who glared at her before asking
' You stupid maid , you almost burned and ruined my precious skin , which you have none ' clearly irritated .
' Forgive me Lady Scarlet I didn't mean to bump into you , I just wanted to take this tea to Lady Charlotte to help her feel better ' with a deep bow the girl tried to explain .
' This tea is meant for Charlotte ' it was more like a statement than a question but a small smile crept up on her lips .
' Give it to me , I'll take it to her myself . I need you to find my pearl earrings from the laundry room that I lost this morning ' Scarlet stared at the maid who hesitated at first but then gave her the tray before she scurried away to laundry room to find the earrings.
Now alone Scarlet set the tray on a nearby table before she added the potion in her sister's tea ,each drop promising the dark days ahead .
' Sister I think there's something wrong with me , am always exhausted and nauseous ' Charlotte tried to explain as she sipped her tea .
Scarlet studied her face , Charlotte looked slightly weak and exhausted. ' I don't think if there's anything to worry about , it might be the weather or anxiety due to the engagement and the wedding coming up ' she was slightly concerned about her sister.
' That might be it but I keep having strange nightmares ' there was a distant look in her eyes as she said this as if recalling those nightmares .
' Strange_nge how so ? ' Scarlet asked with doubt .
' I see someone taking my face and my life leaving me stuck in someone else's face....' just before Charlotte could finish her words Scarlet's eyes widened when she heard her .
' Whose_se face did you see , who ? ' Scarlet asked urgently a thin sweat forming on her forehead , her heartbeat rapid hoping her sister hadn't recognized her in her nightmares .
Charlotte locked eyes with her sister as she stared intently as if she knew something was up with her sister , minutes passed in suffocating silence before Charlotte calmly replied .
' The face I see is always... blurry but I feel like I know her '
Scarlet sighed relieved that Charlotte didn't know that it was her who was trying to take her life from her .
' Charlotte I think I should let you rest now , am sure you'll be fine in a few days' she stepped out of the room trying to figure out how she would be able to face her sister after switching places with her .
Days were fast approaching and Scarlet felt anxious whether the potion was really working , the lord was to arrive tomorrow to take her to Willow Creek the next day for the truce but the potion still had not worked yet .
Charlotte stared at the moon from her window lost in thought about her worsening condition when she felt a pebble hit the railing . She was pulled out of her train of thoughts and when she looked down she saw Henry the man she had been thinking of a minute ago .
He gestured for her to come down and meet him in the garden and she agreed . She looked at her face in the mirror and it looked nothing like before there were black circles under her eyes, hollow cheeks and she had lost weight but she had no choice but to go to Henry . She had missed him so much.
Most of the family members had retired to their rooms leaving only a few maids and servants , she moved in the shadows and managed to sneak in the garden .
' Henry_y am sorry I Coul... ' before she could explain why she didn't go see him for so long he locked her in a tight embrace which made her forget all her troubles and worries .
' I know my love , I met Scarlet today and she told me that you were down with a weird sickness and that I shouldn't come because it might be contagious ' he started .
'Forgive me for I didn't come earlier than expected ' Henry continued as he pulled back and stared at her apologetically with love filled eyes as if she still looked the same way as she did before , he was in love with her and nothing could change that not even how she looked right now .
' Contagious ! , this sickness isn't contagious so why did she ? ' then it all came together slowly , she hadn't been feeling herself ever since her sister had a talk with her but she didn't know what she had done to her .
' Henry it's late ,you should head back and we can meet again soon ' Charlotte suggested with a concerned gaze in her eyes .
Henry thought about it for a minute because he didn't want to leave Charlotte, all he wanted to do now was to take care of Charlotte and give all his affection to her .
' You know that I don't want to leave you like this but I know you must be exhausted and need rest so I'll wait for you in our secret spot when the sun is low and warm the day after tomorrow . Let's spend the evening together that day ' he placed a sweet kiss on her forehead .
' I promise I won't miss it for anything or anyone my love , wait for me okay ' Charlotte kissed Henry cheek with love and adoration in her almost empty brown eyes , he stared at his face as if it was going to be the last time she was going to see him .
Henry smiled as he embraced her one more time before he left .
Not knowing that it might be the last time they shared time together like that and the last time he would see her in the same face their fates were being pulled apart by the potion and the witch's magic .
Charlotte watched him leave until he had disappeared from her eyes before she turned and stepped into the mansion .
Dark days were ahead of her but somehow there will also be the ones which will be warm and filled with light if the wheels of her fate favoured her .