I Choose The Villain Duke

"Euphee, what's the matter?" Lucien asked worriedly.

"That new Saintess. I . . . knew her," Euphemia said, her shoulders shaking.

The two of them were still at the Sanctuary Gardens. All the other nobles had already left a while ago.

Lucien held her shoulders. "Euphee . . . did you know her personally?"

"S-she was that actress, the girl Hiro wanted to marry," Euphemia said.

"Hiro?" Lucien repeated.

"He was my . . . fiancé," Euphemia said.

She was still shaking. Lucien put his arms around her and patted her head.

"You're okay, Euphee. You're okay," Lucien murmured.

"But I don't understand why she's here. She must have died. Did Hiro kill her too?" Euphemia said to herself. 

"Do you wish to talk to her? We can request an audience with her and the two of you can talk in private," Lucien said.

Euphemia was quiet for a while.

"No. I'm not ready yet," Euphemia said.

After a while, Euphemia calmed down and she was no longer shaking.

"Let's go home?" Lucien asked, still hugging her.

Euphemia nodded.

"Yes, let's go home."

*

*

*

A day after the King's funeral in the Imperial Palace . . . 

"Glenn, I'm so sick of wearing white. I don't want to wear white forever! Why does a freaking Saintess need to wear white always? This is so fuc*ed up!" Miyu said, wearing a frilly white dress.

Miyu still had a habit of cursing and she only used curse words with Glenn. 

Glenn snickered. "It's because you're the Saintess. You're expected to be pure and holy therefore white is suitable for you. Black will make you look evil, oh Holy Saintess."

Miyu glared and threw a pillow at him from the sofa. Glenn blocked it and laughed.

The two of them were at a study room in the Imperial Palace. It was decorated nicely with shelves filled with books of various subjects, an overlooking wide window, sofas, and a table.

"You're a bad student, Holy Saintess. I should punish you," Glenn said, adjusting his eyeglasses.

"Really? Well, you haven't done any teaching, Sensei. You do look the part though," Miyu said in an amused tone.

Glenn had tied his long green hair with a metal golden leaf scrunchie. He was wearing rectangular unrimmed eyeglasses and a formal coat, tie, and pants instead of his usual robes.

Glenn smirked and lowered his glasses a bit.

"Like what you see?" Glenn asked in a husky tone.

Miyu's cheeks reddened and threw another sofa pillow at him.

"Hey, if you're not going to teach anything let's get out of the palace. I want to look around the kingdom," Miyu said.

"I want you to show me something first," Glenn said in a serious tone.

"What?"

"Your power. Show me your power then let's get out. I'll show you around," Glenn said.

"Oh."

Miyu chewed on her lip.

"Is there a problem?" Glenn asked.

"Well, I don't know how to use my power," Miyu said looking embarrassed.

"I see. I haven't been fair anyway. You don't have anything to use it on. The Saintess has healing magic so you need something to heal," Glenn said, smiling.

He stood up and walked around the room looking for something.

"The God didn't mention that to me. I'm not sure I have that type of power," Miyu said.

"Well, there's only one way to find out," Glenn said.

"Should we go to a hospital? Look for injured people? Not my preferred way to spend the day though but at least I can get out of this palace," Miyu said.

"Ah! Found it!" Glenn said and picked up a fountain pen that was under the table.

Miyu watched him curiously. 

"There's a quicker way. Let's get this over with and then we can go out," Glenn said, smiling with his eyes closed.

Miyu was starting to feel worried even though she wasn't sure why.

"Glenn, what do you mean?" Miyu asked.

"I mean this," Glenn said and put his hand on the table and stabbed his hand with the fountain pen.

Blood oozed out of his hand.

"I think you should try healing me now, Miyu," Glenn said, still smiling.

*

*

*

The blood. It was now dripping down the table. Miyu put her hand over mouth. She felt nauseous.

"Miyu?" Glenn called for her.

"You crazy fu*k!" Miyu screamed. 

"I don't think that's the right healing words. Come on, just try to imagine healing me. Close your eyes. Maybe it can help you concentrate," Glenn said.

Miyu closed her eyes.

"Heal!" Miyu said out loud. 

She needed to heal him.

Heal! 

But there was nothing but darkness.

"I can't," Miyu said, opening her eyes.

"I'm losing a lot of blood now. Come on, try for me please. You're a Saintess. You should be able to heal," Glenn insisted.

Miyu placed her hands on top of his bloody hand.

Oh God. The blood.

Heal. Heal. Heal. Please! 

"Heal!" Miyu screamed. 

Nothing but darkness. She couldn't feel an ounce of healing magic in her. 

Tears started to leak out of her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Glenn. I c-can't heal. I'm useless. I'm a fraud," Miyu sobbed.

Glenn looked surprised but not angry.

"I see. You must have a different gift then as the second Saintess. Sorry for startling you," Glenn said.

"I'll tie up your wound. Let me remove that pen for you. Oh, wait, I think you shouldn't remove it. Oh, Glenn, what do I do? Should I call for a doctor? Is there even a doctor here?" Miyu babbled on while crying and panicking at the same time.

"Shush, I'm alright. This will be our little secret, okay?" Glenn said and winked.

Miyu looked confused.

Glenn removed the pen and placed his fine hand over his bloody hand. Green light with sparks of gold appeared over his wound. The blood returned inside his hand and the wound closed.

"There! I'm okay now," Glenn said, flashing his easygoing smile.

"What the fu-"

"Aw, you cried. Did you worry about me? Look, my hand is okay now. No need to cry, my non-healing Saintess," Glenn said and wiggled his fingers in front of her. 

Miyu glared at him angrily.

"Are you angry? Sorry, I had to make you panic so you would be able to draw out your healing power more easily but if there's no healing power, I can't do anything about that. Aren't you glad we didn't go to a hospital? All those injured people would have been so disappointed and you would be greatly embarrassed," Glenn said.

Miyu continued glaring at him.

"We can go now. Where do you want to go? The market? Shops? Scenery?" Glenn asked while smiling. He even looked excited. 

Miyu couldn't take it anymore. She stepped closer to him, only a few inches away from his face. Glenn looked surprised.

"Miyu?" Glenn asked in an unsure tone.

Miyu placed her hands on his shoulders.

"I'm really alright now, Miyu. Are you still worried? Oh, you must have been shocked. Shall I hug you?" Glenn asked.

Miyu kneed him in the groin as hard as she could.

Glenn screamed in pain.

"AAAARRGHHHH!!!!"

He collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain.

"That's for fu*king with me, Glenn. Fu*k with me again and I'll do that to you again," Miyu said.

"I'm sorry . . ." Glenn said in between gasps of pain.

"Take me out to town tomorrow. I want to shop dresses not in white," Miyu said and left.

*

*

*

Miyu did not see the crown prince that day either. He had not bothered to show himself and she did not bother to look for him either. She was just content staying at the palace . . . for now. Where would she go anyway?

The moon was bright again that night. It illuminated her balcony and she felt like she had a street light post stationed just outside at her room. She was in a bad mood.

It felt terrible to be tricked like that and she was even starting to like him. How dare he?! 

And the blood! 

Why the hell did she feel nauseated when she saw the blood? She killed herself already. Shouldn't she be immune to those kind of things?

"I'm sorry."

Miyu already knew that voice even without turning. A figure stepped forward from the balcony.

"Go away," Miyu muttered, turning over so she won't have to face him.

"I have flowers for you," Glenn said, sitting beside her on the bed. 

"Argh, now I'm going to sneeze all night because of you," Miyu said.

"Oh. I'll throw this now!" Glenn said and he was about to get up from the bed when Miyu suddenly pulled on his sleeve.

"Just kidding. Let me see them," Miyu said with an amused smile.

Glenn smiled in relief and handed her a bouquet of purple flowers tied with a light blue ribbon.

"What are they called?" Miyu asked, sniffing the flowers.

"Hyacinths," Glenn said.

"Why the hyacinths? Usually men give roses to women. I haven't heard of this one," Miyu said.

"The purple hyacinths in flower language mean 'I'm sorry. Please forgive me' and that's why I chose them," Glenn said.

"I see. I forgive you," Miyu said, her gaze fixated on the flowers.

It was nice of him to apologize and she knew it was quick of her to say that she forgave him, but she felt his sincerity. 

"Truly?" Glenn asked.

"Maybe," Miyu said.

"How can I change that to truly?" Glenn asked.

Miyu turned her gaze towards him. He was no longer wearing the eyeglasses and the scrunchie. His long green hair moved slightly from the breeze coming from her balcony. Even in the dark, she could see his jade green eyes looking at her with such intensity.

"Promise you won't hurt yourself again. No stabbing yourself with a freaking fountain pen again or anything else," Miyu said, frowning at him. 

Glenn smiled. "I promise. Aren't you going to ask about my healing power?"

"I will. Maybe. I'm just not in the mood to ask now though," Miyu said nonchalantly. 

Glenn chuckled and got up. "See you tomorrow, Miyu?"

Miyu nodded. "Go away now. I need my beauty sleep."

Glenn laughed and leaped down from the balcony and he was gone.

Miyu fell asleep hugging the purple hyacinths.