BELLE'S P.O.V
I told May to send the letter to their recipients.
While waiting for their answer, I did some exercises to refresh my mind.
But it looks like people are inquisitive about Hendrick because they kept on asking those near him about this and that, and as expected, I am one of those people they kept on pestering every day.
That is why I have a hard time relaxing these days.
"Do you want me to kill them, my lady?
Arkanghel showed up.
"Hey, what are you talking about? Don't joke about something like that."
"All right."
Arkanghel raised both of his arms in the air.
"Why are you here anyway?"
These days, it is hard to see Arkanghel as he is dealing with Sebastian, and he is still looking for those people who were with Sebastian when he did those evil plans.
As for May, I think she is preparing for something.
I am not sure what it is, but I saw her buy something from the capital. It's like an accessory, and I heard that she also goes to Inodin's place.
But when I asked her about that, she just got me and told me that everything was fine, so I shouldn't worry about her.
I am here to give you snacks, my lady.
Arkanghel gave me a bag of chips and put it on the table near me.
"What do you want for juice, my lady?"
Hmmm…
"I think I want to drink pineapple juice."
"All right."
"Wait!"
I stopped him.
"On the other hand, let me just drink myself."
Arkanghel eyebrows raised.
"Why would you do that? You have a lot of people here."
It is me who shrugged this time.
"I just feel like it! Am I not allowed to make my own drink?"
Arkanghel shook his head.
"I didn't say that, my lady."
"Then let me do it."
I smiled at him as he couldn't argue with me anymore.
He accompanied me until I got to the kitchen.
Since it was already after lunch, there weren't many people in the kitchen anymore.
"You can go, Arkanghel."


"Are you sure, my lady?"


"Yes, of course!"
Arkanghel left with a cookie in his hand.


When he was not visible in my eyes anymore, I searched for the ingredients.
I can use it to make my own juice.
I missed doing this. It feels like it's been almost a decade since I had to do this myself.
When I found the ingredients for the juice, I started making it and bringing it to the garden.
Since the guards took extra measures so that those journalists and reporters wouldn't be able to come near this mansion, this day was pretty quiet and peaceful.
I had never heard a report of her shouting from outside, so I had the chance to think about what I should do next and what I should say to those I invited to talk.
One of those people is Charlotte and the other nobles that I have grown fond of. Although we're not really close, there's still a friendship between us. Although some of them were just my business partners, I believe that they also deserve my explanation.
It's been quite some time, and some have already agreed to meet up with me. I am waiting for the others to decide, and I will start preparing for it.
"My lady."
I almost jumped when Hendrick appeared out of nowhere.
"Hi?"
It is a little awkward for me because of the news.
Hendrick looked like a different person.
He is now clean as hell, and his face seems glowing. He has changed the way he wears clothes, and the materials look really expensive.
I think it is nice that he finally came out and accepted that he is a prince.
"How are you, my lady?"
Hendrick asked for my hand, so I gave it to him.
He gave it a little kiss and stared at me.
These past few days, we have seen each other, and I can tell that a lot has changed in our relationship since before.
Especially when the issue with Georgia is finished, it's like we now understand each other's feelings and faults.


Now, Hendrick came here to greet me and talk to me from time to time.
And to those days that he is like this, I feel so special that he is coming here just to see me.
I have never felt this special before.
Maybe I am starting to appreciate every little thing around me because of what happened to me before.
I can now finally see the efforts that the people around me are making for me, and I can also see what is happening to them. I can see them whenever they need anything, and I am gladly doing it if I can help them.
Life is a given, after all.
Because of that, I feel like the house's atmosphere has changed a lot.
Although before I went to the west, the atmosphere was really good because everyone was happy. Now that I have come back, everything feels magical.
The atmosphere in the mansion isn't just happy, but there's also warmth and understanding that you will feel.
It is so happy to wake up every day thinking that the people around you are trustworthy and are trusting you. The assurance that they will not betray you and protect you is worth all the pain.
So to give them what they deserve, I promise that I will also protect them and do what I can for them.
There is this new policy in this mansion that if you need anything, you just have to say it, and if it is crucial and we can do something about it, then the people in this mansion will help.
It's like I have become a family.
Hendrik and I talked about stuff until we didn't realize that it was almost sunset.
"I think you should go home now?" I said to him.
"I think so too...although I don't want to..."
Hendrick's voice softened.


This side of him is melting me every day.
"Don't say that, prince Hendrick."
I teased him.
Ever since I came here, I always teased him by calling him prince Hendrick after hearing the news.
I know that he doesn't like it, but he still laughs at it when I say it to him.
Hendrick rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on, why don't you hug me instead of teasing me?"
"No!"
Here it is again.
Hendrick really liked teasing me.
Whenever I tease him, he always makes sure that he will tease me more.
"No, you will hug me!
I ran because Hendrick started to catch me.
"No!"
I shouted.
We kept on laughing while running in the garden.
When Hendrick managed to catch me, he hugged me instantly.


I can't help but giggle.
"You are so strong. This is so unfair!"
Hendrik hugged me from behind.
"You're just weak, Belle..."
I couldn't talk back as Hendrick buried his face in my neck.
I felt butterflies all over my stomach.
"Hey, you shouldn't do this. What if someone sees us?
It's not that I don't want this, but I am embarrassed that someone might see us in this position.
"What will they tell us? They don't care anyway."
Hendrick kept on kissing my shoulder.
I want to laugh because it's ticklish, but Hendrick might just tease me more if I do so.
I let him do whatever he wanted with my shoulder as I kept myself from laughing. When he stopped.
I immediately remove his hand around me and ask him to go home.
"Why are you so excited about letting me go? Don't you want to be with me anymore?"
Hendrick's face was saddened.
"What are you talking about? It is not what I meant. I am just concerned that people might run here if they knew you were here. You know those reporters. They will do everything just to get news from you."


Hendrick rolled his eyes.
He knew that it might happen.
"Then why don't you just live with me in the palace? I have a separate mansion there, and people couldn't reach us when we were there. So we can do whatever we want."
"Hey, what are you talking about? We can't do that!"


"Of course, we can. We will marry each other soon, anyway."
I couldn't speak for a moment.
Why is he so shameless?
I blushed because of what he said.
"Stop it and go!"
I pushed him through the gates.
"Okay, okay, I will go."
He said it. But before he left, he made sure that I hugged him.
"Goodnight, my lady."
"Goodnight, Hendrick."
Hendrick left the mansion, and I went inside to eat dinner.
"I have good news, my lady," May said while we were eating.
"What is it?"
"All the invitations were answered, and they all accepted it."
"Wow, that's a piece of great news. Then we should prepare the place now."


"Yes, my lady."
"All right, thank you."
May is in charge of arranging where I will hold the meeting.
Although I will also help because I still want it to suit the guests' interests personally.
I just can't do all of it as I have something to do.
Besides, May insisted on doing it herself because she said that she loved arranging events like that.
That is one thing that I noticed about her. Even before, she is the one who is arranging the events in this mansion.
I thought she was just doing it because it's been a while, but we held a party in the mansion, but no, she said it herself that she likes doing so.
We finished dinner, and I spent the night thinking about what will happen at that event.
DAYS HAD PASSED, and it is now the day when I will lead the party or the small event that I arranged.
We are now at the garden's gate to welcome the guest.
"Do I look okay?" I ask May.
"Of course, my lady. You look beautiful today," May compliments me.
"That is too much. Well, you look good yourself."


"Thank you, my lady."
We laughed at our silliness.
Minutes later, the guests started to arrive one by one.


We greeted each other. When they were finally complete, I explained everything to them, leaving the fact that I went to the west because I was heartbroken.
I just told them some excuses and some truth.
We had a great time because they were all understanding, and they all welcomed me happily.
We spent the whole afternoon talking about stuff that happened while I was gone.
They sometimes talk about their lives that I happily listen to, and of course, they also asked me about what Hendrick said in his interview in that newspaper.
I didn't deny them that we had a special relationship, but I didn't confirm that we were getting married.
They are all blushing while I am telling them the stories about Hendrick and me.
They asked about it, so I told them some of it.
"You look really great!"
Charlotte said
I just know that Charlotte already knows who Hendrick is and our relationship.
After a while, the princess came to my tea party, which shocked all of them.


"Why didn't you invite me?"


We were too stunned to speak. But then, as what the princess is, she made herself comfortable here.
Later on, we were able to talk about things and laugh at them.
At first, the princess told me that she was suspicious of me because she thought I liked Hansel.
But then she learned that Hendrick and I have this special relationship, and that is when she stopped being suspicious of me.
I just laughed at it because I never thought that the princess would be jealous of someone in a lower position than hers.
It took us a few hours to chat, so we ended that tea party at night
"I am happy that you came back," Charlotte said.
"Of course, I would come back and thank you for understanding me, Charlotte."
I hugged her.
Later on, the princess came to us and hugged us.


When I asked her why she hugged us, she replied, "I just want to."
It's what she said before leaving.
Charlotte and I just laughed at it and said our goodbyes.
When they all finally left, I sat on the couch and relieved a sigh.
"At last..."
It's been great talking with them. I also felt like I had just created a new circle of friends. If they acknowledge it, I will be happy.
"How is it, my lady?"
May came asking.
I told her everything, and she looked happy as I was.
"That's great. You have cool friends, my lady. I am happy for you."
I'm happy that I hugged her.
"I am also happy that you are with me, May."
May push me softly because she is not a fan of drama.
I know, so you can stop hugging me, my lady.
I couldn't help but laugh.
When the other maids came to clean the area, I helped them.
It took us a few hours to finally clean it, and after that, we had a small celebration in the kitchen where all the staff and guards were present.
I just activated the magic barrier that Alfonso created before so we can still feel safe even though we are all in the kitchen having fun.
All I can say right now is that I had a lot of fun today.