Bab 19: Side Chapter: Catherine.

Side Chapter: Catherine.

Kein's POV

"Urgh where is the toilet in this place? Castles are so scary big…" I muttered to myself as I began to lose myself into these big halls. Living in a castle sure is fancy but it's so annoying having to walk more than fifty steps just to find a toilet.

I looked at my sleeves that were covered in paint, that goes the same from my pants and my hands. I looked at my right hand, one that had a really bad burn but the first princess healed it for me.

I smile, reflexively clutching and releasing the feeling of your hand no longer in pain is comforting to have.

I could ask a maid or a butler but... I can't find anyone on my way. I needed to clean up myself first and that meant going to some communal bathroom in the palace.

I mean the princess did send someone to escort me but at this point I got distracted by some beautiful painting in the back. I didn't notice that I lost them the moment I let my guard down.

"Maybe I should lay off painting for a while." I told myself giving a deadpan stare at the wall as I crossed my arms and continued walking.

I looked around left and right and after a few minutes I was seeing green- and oh! Flowers!

"White roses? There's white roses in here?" I briskly walked up not caring if this was considered trespassing but I haven't seen white roses in a while. Lenard would love these because he told me white roses were a symbol and offering for the goddess of light so it must be a sacred relic in this world.

It was really rare.

I chuckle at the thought you can get a load of these on earth. "Ah... then again we're in the royal gardens after all or something hmm... it wouldn't hurt to say I got lost and just ended up here after all. Might as well see what other flowers they have around."

Surprisingly, I enjoy nature and walks. I often teach my daughter about plants and memorize their scientific names. "Tulipa."

"Lilium."

"Hyacinthus."

"Phalaenopsis."

I muttered the names of every flower I recognized. I smile when I find a bush of red rose sticking out in the center of the garden, "Rosa."

I chuckled. "I remember someone really annoying with this flower." I gently place my hand under the petals as the touch reminds me of home. "The other flowers here look different. I'm glad to know there's still a trace of home. I miss it."

At this point talking to myself, I worry about my sanity and I just walked deeper into the garden but I stopped when I heard a weird sound.

*Busha Busha~*

"Huh," I don't know what was making the noise but- it seemed like someone was jumping for something. My ears perked up and tried finding the source of that sound.

"Hrngh... Hmp!"

It was a small little girl who was a little more shorter than me was grasping something out of her reach. Her eyes looked frantically worried at the paper that was stuck on top of the tree on one of the branches.

Oh the wind must've blown them up.

The small little girl wore shrine maiden clothes and a shawl hid her face just like any other shrine maiden. No one will be allowed to see their face except with proper consent, seeing her like this just made my heart ache.

I groaned, I really can't leave a lady in a tight situation. I walked over to her, my footsteps light, "Um... do you need help?"

I asked and she turned her head back.

"Hngh..." It was the only reply she only gave. She looked at me a little teary-eyed and I scratched the back of my neck.

I looked at my surroundings more closely, there was a small picnic blanket near here. I was guessing she was taking a rest here or something. Papers were scattered but were held down by a heavy object and I'm guessing that was the result of the aftermath.

"So um do you need help getting that paper down?" I pointed up at the paper, the branch was really not letting that go.

She looks left and right before nodding. Huh, alright. "Just leave it to me!"

The girl stepped back a bit and I readied my shoulders, stretching them. I held the tree, my foot resting on hold as I climbed up fast like a monkey. Not going to lie, after all that body training I'm perfectly capable of climbing a mere tree.

"Alright..." I sighed, a little out of breath once I got to the top but I can reach the paper now. I just have to be careful not to tear it or wrinkle it. It might be important for this girl so I better make it count.

I reach out to grab the paper, my fingers brushing the corner of it. I grit my teeth, "Almost there..."

With a few more tries I finally grabbed it and without problems too. "I got it! I'll be coming down now." I yelled looking down at the girl who smiled under her shawl.

I carefully went down the tree, bracing my feet in every step as I held the paper in my right hand. Thankfully the paint that got on me is fully dried so I'm sure none got to the paper.

I turned to the girl as I gave her the paper, "Here you go."

She nods while she takes the paper from me.

I tilt my head wondering why she wasn't talking. "So... not much of a talker huh?"

The girl's eyes looked saddened as she went back to her picnic basket searching frantically for something.

She took back some sort of sketchpad and a pen before turning to me and wrote something as quickly as she could. She showed it to me and my eyes widened in surprise, 'I'm sorry. I have no voice so I can't talk much with others but thank you for getting the paper stuck for me!'

It made my heart feel a little guilty, but I smiled and understood.

Hmm... but I wonder... I raised my hands and told her, 'It's okay. You are very much welcome.'

I used the sign language from earth... but I'm not sure if it would work. This is another world after all. My brows sweated as I worried that I just gestured something that's considered rude in here. I hope not.

The girl's eyes widened and began to exchange signs with me, 'You can do hand signs?!'

My heart leaped with joy knowing the sign language was the same here. 'Yes, I was self taught.' I told her.

Well, when I was on earth I had a student who couldn't hear so we communicated with sign languages. It was really hard for her to adjust in school, so on homeroom periods when we have time I would teach the class basic sign language.

It wasn't easy to learn for me. I didn't know what sign language to use so I decided to learn them all for her. The whole class got more friendly with her the more they understood her. I sighed a breath of relief knowing the sign language is the same here but I wonder why?

Coincidence? Or does earth have some connection in this world? It does have similar flowers... animals... and customs. I hope I'm not overthinking things.

"In any case, I'm not that fluent so I hope you don't mind me replying in words now." I told her but she was still happy from the looks of it.

'I am glad to know even someone my age knows basic signs.' the girl smiles, her eyes closed squinting.

"Oh right! My name is um Kein Rosenguard. I'm here as you can see..." I look at my dirty and messy clothes full of paint. "Embarrassingly I'm currently in a messy state with the paint and all. I'm here to paint one of the Light Princesses."

She nods and writes, 'Ohhhh... My name is Catherine but my last name is kind of private.'

Oh it's alright. Normally a shrine maiden who's not announced to the public by a high priest must not reveal their last names to others. "It's alright nice to meet you, Catherine. By the way do you mind if I hang around here a little. I'm lost and tired from all that tree climbing."

Climbing trees took a lot of me even after standing up for five hours trying to paint the first princess. 'Of course!'

I basically fell down on my bum once I had permission to sit in her picnic blanket but I sat in the farthest corner so I won't dirty it. I looked around and the papers that had writings were everywhere. "What are these..."

Come to think of it, the paper I reached before had writings. I'm kinda wondering what they're about. "Hey Catherine, is it okay to look at these?"

Catherine looks back at me and shyly looks away. Hiding her face further into the shawl.

She takes her sketchbook and writes, 'It's a little childish... but if you promise not to laugh at me then… it's okay.'

"I won't do that. That would honestly be mean of me if I did. I would just give criticisms then be on my merry way." I told her and took a piece of paper from what seemed to be the start of a story.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.

[Story Time]!

By: Catherine

Title: Forbidden Love

Once upon a time, a princess was trapped inside the very top of the tower in an evil witch's castle.

She hoped her voice would reach someone if she shouted. She hoped for a savior, a knight or a prince to come to her rescue but nothing.

You would ask? Why did the princess not just escape on her own? Her body was bound with the tower, so if she even left it, the evil witch would know.

Her shouts reached nothing, the princess giving up just sang her heart out.

The birds wailed at the sadness of the song she sang, the animals restless, and the people who lived near cried that they couldn't do anything to help the princess in peril.

"Oh when will my prince come?" The princess muffled softly in her pillow. "If only that witch never have taken me captive and away from my parents!"

The princess missed her mother and father. The king and queen of a distant kingdom knew where the princess laid. They had ordered every soldier to kill the witch and bring back their daughter, every adventurer, and hired mercenaries had tried but none was successful. The witch was indeed too powerful.

The only one who kept her company was the witch's son.

She enjoyed his company but she wonders why would the witch's son come visit her often?

She was skeptical of his actions but it was better than being alone.

"Why are you frowning, your highness?" (The witch's son) asked the princess who crossed her hand and answered in a slightly annoyed tone while looking across the distance with the only available window inside the tower.

"I miss my family, my friends, my kingdom. Everything."

The boy felt guilty about the actions of his mother. He never wanted to be part of any of this. The evil witch took the princess in greed of her life and wanted to see her in suffering.

"I'm sorry. If only... I was strong enough maybe..." the boy trails off as he stops remembering the order of his mother.

"You can't disobey your mother. I know, but I just wish... I could see my castle and room again." The princess said sadly as she sighed wistfully, remembering the scent of her room, the food her maid makes, her friends that never left her side and her parent's embrace.

She wished to be free and out of the tower she's been in for almost two years now. "It's tiring. I'm homesick and I can't even move much except for this tower." The princess complained, making the boy feel guilty once again.

He scratches his chin as he smiles, thinking brightly of an idea, "Your highness, close your eyes. I think I can fix some of it if you'd allow me."

The princess shrugs as she didn't care anymore and let the boy do what he wanted.

She closed her eyes, the boy held the princess' hand and casted an illusion magic around her room, "Open your eyes now princess. It's not much but I hope you'll like it."

The princess opened her eyes, to her delight she saw her room. Her parents, her friends. She ran out to hug them only to realize that it was all an illusion. "Oh."

The boy awkwardly coughs as he changes the illusion to a sunset where they can see the whole kingdom being basked in orange-pink lights. "Has my kingdom been well?" the princess asked the boy who nodded in reply.

"Your kingdom has been well and is doing everything they can to rescue your highness." The boy told the princess as they both looked upon this realistic illusion he made. "Just give them time. You will be out of the tower, I promise you."

The princess eyed the boy curiously. He never made any advances on her, he has been kind, compassionate, and empathetic towards her. It puzzles her why the son of the evil witch would not even harm a single thread of her golden hair.

"You... are the son of the evil witch and yet-" The princess looks at the boy. "You do not wish to harm me at all? or take advantage of me? Why are you so kind?"

The boy looks away, "I cannot answer that, your highness."

The princess pushes on, "Tell me. I want to know why."

The boy sighs as he looks at the princess flustering and can't even mouth the words he wanted to say but he gathered his courage and let it all be damned.

"It's because I have fallen for you, your highness and I can't bear to see you locked up in my mother's tower no longer." The boy answered as his eyes gazed at her with honesty completely surprising the princess.

'Is this a confession?!' The princess thought to herself as she panicked in her mind. Never did she expect for the evil witch's son to fall for her in a million years! Utterly speechless she didn't dare say a word.

"I-I... I hope nothing changes between us. I know this is a one-sided feeling but I will do everything in my power as a Warlock. To defeat my mother and let you be free from the tower. You need not to reciprocate my feelings for I only wish for you to be happy." The boy's words were final.

The princess' mind ran like a carriage with wild horses untamed.

She expected; A knight! A hero! To profess their love to her and promise to get her to safety and perhaps fall in love slowly once they've set foot out of the tower! They will be the king and queen of their kingdom! To live happily ever after! Those were what the books she read have ever gone through!

She wasn't expecting... The son of the evil witch.

To have fallen for her.

And professed his love, to promise. That he'll do everything in his power, to save her.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"What? I need the next page let me... I need to know what happens next." I looked around and realized that apparently I assembled all the other scripts and that there was none left. "I-Is this the end?!"

I looked at Catherine who shyly wrote something on her sketchpad. 'I'm sorry I... I haven't finished yet. So... How was it?'

I held all the script in my hand and gave it to her with a serious look on my face. "You are a very talented writer. While there were other grammatical errors and we don't know why the witch would even kidnap a princess yet but I know you'll reveal it sooner or later this is great!"

Catherine shyly looks away as she sets down her sketchpad and signs to me, 'Thank you.'

I smile, feeling a whole pent up emotion of wanting to draw again.

I want to draw the princess now! Ah! That's right! I took out my own sketchpad and a graphite pencil on my [Storage Ring] and asked, "Can you tell me what the princess looked like and the boy did?"

Catherine looked at me confusedly but still did what I told her. The princess had golden locks of hair, okay... big eyed and short.

The boy was handsome, but eerie and scary. He was unapproachable, however once you got to know him he's the kindest person you'll ever meet.

"Huh... okay I'll try my best."

First I'll do some rough sketching. Golden locks hair... I'll make her smile as sassy as they can be okay... for fifteen minutes of sketching I finally finished the princess and now for the handsome boy.

I'll give him one of those long anime hairstyles that covers your eye... ah yes. Inspiration is coming. "Okay I think I got most of it now."

I gave her my sketch that took me all in all 30 minutes and I'm wondering if the escort that took me even noticed my disappearance. Man, whatever, at least I got to read a cool story before coming home.

Catherine looks over my sketch, her hand brushing the paper carefully, she signs me- 'Would you like to marry one of my sisters?'

Urk- Hold up what??? I gave you my drawing and that's the first thing you tell me? "Listen um, Catherine I don't even know your sisters very well you see. No offense. I'm sure they're wonderful people but... marriage is kinda early for me."

That question gave me a heart attack. I wasn't expecting it.

Catherine giggles and she signs, 'Aw, such a shame.'

"I-I'm... flattered?" Is giving out marriage proposals normal in this world? Right, this is a country that's overrun by monarchy so yes it is normal. "Well, I think I spent too much time here now but it was nice meeting you um Catherine. Do you know where the comfort room is by the way?"

Catherine nodded and sketched a pathway for me into the nearest toilet in the castle. "Oh thank you!"

After that I got to the toilet with the help of her map and the escort that lost me, finally found me and they yelled if they lost me again they'll have their salary deducted.

I changed clothes, said my last farewells to Princess Cecilia who gave me a royal seal or something and told me. "Please, write me letters sometimes. I would love to hear from you. This is a seal that would permit you to send me letters. I hope you use it often." (Princess Cecilia)

I awkwardly nod, not knowing how to feel about becoming friends with the first princess but... maybe it'll have its perks? "Thank you, Princess Cecilia." I told her and she smiled.

I finally left the castle with a healed right hand. No longer itched to paint and satisfied with my day. I can't wait to tell Lenard all about it!

Oh yeah Vincent gave me a lift back home too. Surprisingly, he's tired for some reason? But something must've gone wrong with his conference with other royal members or something.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

The said conference before;

"Kein is here?! Already?! To paint my sister?! Why are you only telling me this! Traitor!" (Rosarie) yelled as she ran to her room and threw everything out in her closet.

Vincent sighs as she faces the panicking princess, "Your highness, Kein was deeply inspired by your sister's performance at the festival. She only told me a week ago and I didn't find your highness because of your busy schedule."

"You could've written to me about it!" She yelled and fussed around her room. "What do I do... Should I even risk meeting her and reveal my identity as Rose?!"

"If you want to keep your identity as Rose, your highness. I suggest not meeting her today." (Vincent) replied as he sat down, tired in a chair nearby.

"But my sister- You know how she is! She might act all humble and poised but deep inside I know she's a two faced princess like me!" (Rosarie)

"Both of your highnesses are, after all, twins. I can see the resemblance between sisters." (Vincent) replied.

"We don't even look alike much! She might be older than me by three seconds but everyone already saw her as the golden child! I'm just a shadow in Cecilia's light!" (Rosarie) groaned as she made a loud thumping noise in her bed. "Looks like I'll lock myself in my room again."

"I shall accompany you, your highness." (Vincent) was worried about the second princess and gave her a pat on the back.

"I wanna see Kein... Ughhh I wanna see her so badly Vincent!" (Rosarie) wailed and complained as she kicked her legs in the bed and punched the pillow lightly.

"There, there..." (Vincent) just continued consoling the princess for an hour before deciding to play some board games to pass the time.

After a while someone visited their room and it was Catherine;

She signs, 'I APPROVE OF YOUR MARRIAGE!'

"Wait what marriage?" (Rosarie)

"..." (Vincent) didn't understand hand signs so... he just heard the word marriage and thought of the worst.