Second Life's Revenge

It was a fine morning where the bird would sing out of the window or spreading their wings upon the air. Laura sighed out loud again. This would be her fifth time sighing out loud and of course, there was something bothering her.

Laura was by her desk, resting her arms on the table while she had her head faced down, looking at the desk. Mary and Lester had been watching Laura stay in that position since she came back from breakfast and they knew that for sure something had happened.

The first thing Mary had thought was Laura wasn't satisfied with the food earlier but Laura isn't a picky eater and so she scrapped that throughout. Mary gasped as she remembered that maybe this was related to yesterday night.

When she met Prince Winston by the doors of the estate.

How can she forget about that? Though she didn't know why Laura said those cold words towards him when she was congratulating his engagement. Maybe this situation had something to do with Serena but who knows?

Mary walked towards Laura and asked, "Do you want some tea?"

No response. Laura did not answer as her head as to occupied for other words to enter into her head. Mary frowned as she looked at Lester who also didn't know what to do. He just shook his head, saying that there's nothing they could do for now.

Flashback

The carriage arrived in the Alvarado estate and it was an exhausting but memorable day. Though Serena wasn't able to find her necklace, the time they spent together made their bond grow stronger. It's just that Laura felt bad not finding the necklace. Is there something she could do?

Laura was welcomed back by Lester who then got the cloak hanging on Mary's arms. When the reached the doors it suddenly opened and there the man that Laura wished not to see was, standing with a shocked expression. He deserved to be shocked. This is what he gets for hurting her friend.

Doing what the normal courtesy was, Laura bowed and greeted Prince Winston who didn't seem to know how to act in front of her. But he was able to gather himself together and greeted Laura back with a smile. A smile that clearly shows that he was somehow scared of what Laura will say to him.

It's funny how a royal is scared of a non-royal.

Laura didn't want to be rude but she couldn't hold in the anger she held in. Even if he was being threatened or whatever he should be scared of that. It makes him look like a coward.

"Were you visiting Tine?" Laura asked coldly.

"Yes, I escorted her back from the festival."

"So you two have been together since earlier? How romantic," Laura sarcastically said, while he frowned.

Their meeting was unexpected it was as if Tine knew where he was since the beginning. There was nothing he could do, despite not liking Tine. If it's to protect the one he loves then he was willing to sacrifice himself.

"It's not like I have a choice," Prince Winston muttered. "It's getting late and so I should take my leave."

"Have a great night, Your Highness," Laura bowed and watched Prince Winston go down the stairs with cold eyes.

But when she remembered he frowned earlier to what she said she felt her stomach sinking into the bottom. It was rude to say that but Laura didn't think about what she was going to say first. The past is the past and she can't change what she said anymore.

Back to the present

Laura still had her head lowered, looking at the desk and sighed out loud once more. The sixth time for the past 4 minutes, Mary counted with her fingers, hiding it at her back.

Lester and Mary were about to give up thinking of a plan to cheer Laura up until a light flickered into Mary's head, that's it she thought, the brooch. The brooch she bought for Erwin. Why did she forget about that?

Mary whispered into Lester's ear saying that she will be right back and try to entertain Laura for a while. The man stood on the corner, watching Laura and he didn't know what to do at all. How to cheer a lady one hundred and one was what Lester thought in his head.

"Lester, I know you're there."

"Yes, Miss Laura is there anything you need?" Lester immediately responded.

"Tell me, if you said something bad to a person and after you feel guilty of saying those words. What will you do? Because I don't want to apologize at all."

"That…If you don't want to apologize then don't."

"You have feelings do you?" Laura joked.

"I am human," Lester answered.

Mary entered the room holding a small box and rushed to give it to Laura whose interest was turned to the box. Right the brooch. She opened the box and there a snowflake-like brooch shined.

Her tender fingers traced the brooch and the thought of what she said to the Prince drifted away from her mind. This brooch was meant to be a gift for Erwin to thank for the necklace he gave her. Not only that but she still felt in debt to him.

He risked his life just to save hers.

It will match him for sure. The snowflake was light blue, matching with his eyes and somehow she didn't want to give it to him and whether or not she should just keep it.

"The brooch reminds me of someone," Mary pondered. "Is this perhaps for His Grace?"

"It's just a gift to thank him nothing more. Send this to him," Laura said and gave the box back to Mary.

Mary held the box with a grin, skipping on the hallway with excitement. She got the wrong idea that they were secret lovers. But it's alright since it's Mary after all.

=====

In the Ferguson estate, Erwin was by his desk signing papers to be sent to the Crowned Prince. He hasn't rested since he last saw Laura and he wanted to bring her out to the festival but he didn't time to spare.

He did have a thought of getting out of the estate secretly but he felt bad for Blaine who was in the same state as he was. No sleep and reading papers all day long.

A maid entered the office and handed a box to Blaine who was busy reading documents that needed to be signed soon. The maid left the office while Blaine stood up, stretching his body, and walked towards Erwin after.

"Let's take a break," Blaine suggested, hiding the box behind his back.

Erwin ignored Blaine and continued reading through the documents. He wasn't angry or anything, he just wanted to finish his word as soon as possible and maybe invite Laura to the festival. He was just desperate to see her.

Ignored, Blaine grabbed the document away from Erwin's sight who looked like who was going to complain anytime.

"Paper now," Erwin commanded.

"No, please take a rest," Blaine insisted.

"Blaine…do you want me to cut your pay," Erwin threatened.

"I don't care. If you do I'll resign and leave you to work alone."

"…Don't do that," Erwin sighed and brushed his hair. "I will and so put those documents back."

Blaine did what Erwin said but was tricked. Erwin stood up and continued reading the document. Which leaves Blaine no choice but to show the box. He raised the box and Erwin noticed it, leaving him curious.

"I've never seen that box before. Who is that from?" Erwin asked.

"Your lady," Blaine said while Erwin rushed to get the box away from Blaine but missed.

"But first you're going to take a break," Blaine threatened with a smile.

Erwin sighed and sat down on the couch, placing down the documents. He signed Blaine to give him the box and he followed. His long fingers touched the decorative box and he couldn't hide his smile.

Meanwhile, Blaine muttered, "It must be great to receive a gift,"

"You will if you find a lover," Erwin joked.

"She isn't your lover either," Blaine answered back, huffing.

The first thing Erwin saw when he opened the box was a brooch and he liked it. He thought about it, wearing it every single day. Not only that he noticed that the color of the brooch was similar to his eye color.

Typical Laura who fell in love with his eye color. He took the brooch out of the box when he turned the brooch to its back, he noticed that it was his initials that were carved. A smile formed on his lips and he couldn't be any happier.

She's just too adorable. Though he knew that this gift might be just a thank you gift he thought of it as a precious item.

Erwin looked at Blaine and said, "I'll be wearing this from now on."