“You are having nightmares every day, Abigail. Is there something that’s bothering you?” asked my father as I walked into the dining room for breakfast.

His words brought everyone’s eyes on me as if they were waiting for another drama. I glared at Beth who cowered and tried to hide among the group of maids standing at the side.

“I am fine, daddy. I just felt cold because of the cold compression in the winters’ ‘ I lied, his eyes stayed on me for long as if he was trying to look deeper, knowing that I was lying and hiding the truth.

“I have told you to stay away from Noah, but you did not listen. Though he is good at fencing, he is very violent and rude. He had arguments with everyone on the ground. I would still recommend you to stay away from him” said Nickolas in a disappointing tone.

“Well, that boy looked nice to me. Nicholas, you are exaggerating. And wounds are common in training. She needs to bear this much if she wants to be a knight. You can’t protect her forever. So stop fretting and let her train well.”

I raised a brow at how my stepmother scolded Nickolas. When she started supporting me, Nickolas looked at me pensively and then started having his meal without a word.

I felt upset that I was making him worried constantly, but I had no choice. I had to be strong so that they can live happily and ignorantly. If I burdened them with truth, then either they would think I need treatment or else the happiness we had now would be lost forever.

Even when I looked at my stepmother and Isabella, I wanted them like this, I could not even see them dying, much less father and Nick.

Someone had to take the burnt and that one was me here.

“If you are not feeling well, you should rest more and did not think about going out,” said Isabella in a worried tone and I sighed.

She was being too sweet these days or had I been treating her badly. I had torn her clothes and mixed spices in her food in the past just to torture her so that she would create a scene and then I would cry and gain sympathy. Though the plan mostly failed, she had suffered a lot in my hands.

Since I had stopped tormenting her, maybe even she was trying to improve! With that thought, I gave her a bright and grateful smile which stiffened her instantly.

The fork fell from her hands and she looked at food as if it was poison. If that was not enough she started coughing instantly as if she was trying to get the food she had eaten out of her digestive system.

“What happened darling?”

“Mother, there is something wrong with my food, I can feel it, I..” she stopped when her mother glared at her, and then she looked at me as if it was my fault.

My lips turned into a thin line, ‘I just smiled at her alright! It was all her past trauma that she reacted like that, hmph!!

It was not my fault that she could not digest my goodness, if she wanted me to stay as a villain, then let it be like that!

“THERE. IS. NOTHING. WRONG. WITH. THE. FOOD” her mother spoke through gritted teeth as she passed a smile towards us.

“Enough, it had been days since we had one peaceful meal,” said father in his ever so strict voice, making the whole room silent.

“Abigail, Isabella, get ready we will go to the royal palace at 5,” he said as he wiped his mouth with the napkin and stood up.

Patting my shoulders he walked out of the room and I followed in case the trumpet of war would blow.

Just as I walked out of the room, I saw Carl walking towards the stair. Why did he spend so much time in my father’s office?

I stood there watching him enter, contemplating whether I should follow him again or not as my interest in him was piqued. Only now have I realized he was shrouded by mysteries.

But instead of going to the other side, he walked towards me. It made me embarrassed and hesitant as he saw me staring at him blatantly. Though it was something very common in the 21 century.

It was something noble ladies never do in this period.

I coughed as he stood in front of me.

“Yes, is there something I can help you with?” I asked as he looked at me hesitatingly.

“I am here to apologize,” he said as he looked at the portrait on the wall as if he was talking to it and his voice was so sharp and rude!

Though it was true that I was not expecting an apology but since he was at it, should he not do it in a proper way?

“Kind sir, did you say something to me?” I asked and he glared at me.

“Why are your ears damaged too?” he asked, tilting his head and I fumed.

What a way to ask for an apology, bloody jerk!!

“My ears and my whole body are fine. But I thought you were talking to that non-living painting rather than me as your eyes were set on that,” I snarled, folding my hands on my chest.

His eyes widened. It was clear he was not expecting a reply from me. And then my posture was a strong one.

“You- you are nothing like a lady. What a rude girl you are…” he commented and I laughed.

“Of course, I am a knight and my posture is like one. Never underestimate me as a weak noble lady… Soon I will be able to beat you.” I challenged and he smirked.

“We will see that”

“Yes, we shall see”

“Hmph”

“Hmph!”