I Ignored the Protagonists, Now They're After Me

Ch 14

It was quite a while before I remembered where I was.

My thoughts were continuously looping the fact that the new neighboring country, Tymeria, had established an entirely new religion.

There was a sudden pause to my train of thought.

Tymeria...? That country doesn't sound familiar. Why am I acting like it is?

Instead of the new religion, shouldn't the fact that I don't remember the creation of a whole country be even more surprising?

Thinking through my memories, I don't recall information regarding Tymeria even being relevant. All my memories were focused around that illegitimate noble daughter and the guys.

Even my school memories were of no help, because at the time I was completely drowned with trying to feign nobility and secure my spot at the same time.

I felt something clamp onto my shoulder, and shivers were sent down my spine. I froze for a split second before relaxing, Sir Albert's voice whispering beside me.

"Lady Maerie, let's head out. Perhaps the Young Masters are looking for you outside."

I glanced up and gave a meek smile. "Yes."

Sir Albert turned and opened the door again, stepping aside to let me through. I hurried my pace, following the path we used before.

•••

Once I stepped outside, Sir Albert emerged right behind me and closed the door. I turned to curtsy and give my thanks, but I was suddenly bombarded with yells of Fredrick.

"Maerie! Where were you?" shouted Fredrick, who stood with Allen at the end of the hallway.

Fredrick looked immensely dirty, while Allen was still neat and properly as always. My face immediately turned grim at the sight of them.

I gave him an indifferent glance before shouting back, "I was with Sir Albert! Where were you?"

Fredrick walked closer, Allen following suit.

"We were captured by some of my dad's knights. They told us we couldn't go inside and took us to the knight's training area. They made me fight them while Allen just got to sit and watch," answered Fredrick, wiping his face with his shirt.

I nodded at his words. "Oh. Sir Albert was with me and showed me around the castle."

I said these words nonchalantly, but I took care not to mention that I heard the meeting. If I did, I would be constantly asked by Fredrick about what was said, and I was not in the mood to be voluntarily annoyed by him.

However, instead of asking me where Sir Albert took me, both Fredrick and Allen exchanged baffled expressions with each other.

Fredrick then looked at me and around me, before touching my forehead. I flinched backwards, bewildered at his actions.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, fixing my hair.

I was even more stumped when he gave me a confused stare. His arms crossed over his chest as he cocked his head to the side.

"Maerie, are you really okay? You don't seem to have gotten much better from recovery."

As insulting as his words were, I was also genuinely confused by them. "I'm definitely okay, okay? Why do you ask?"

Even Allen was giving me an unsure glance at this point.

"Maerie," said Allen quietly, "are you sure you were with Sir Albert?"

I let out an exasperated sigh. "What do you mean, 'Am I sure'? He's right—"

In the middle of my sentence, I turn to point at Sir Albert who was standing behind me. But I as look to find him, the space was empty.

...Huh?

I was stunned, unable to make of it.

"He was just here... didn't you see him? Maybe he went to go help a maid or something..." I mumbled, lost as I looked around.

"Maerie—" Allen suddenly sighed.

"Sir Albert hasn't worked in the palace since you left."

My eyes widened. Disbelief rose inside of me, my mind speeding through the moments just before where Sir Albert was in uniform right in front of me.

"Huh? That can't be right, he was—" I tried to argue, but it was Fredrick's turn to sigh.

"Maerie, maybe you should stay inside and call your family's doctor. You're being even more delusional than before." Fredrick's gaze was like he was looking at a pitiful puppy.

Okay, this little bastard is ticking my last nerve.

"Mm," I hummed in response, keeping my clenched fist hidden from their view, "Maybe I just mistook someone for Sir Albert. Seeing as my head is becoming muddled, I should go back home then."

Fredrick released a distressed groan at my words.

"Come on, Maerie, you just got here! Sure, we missed the meeting, but there's more things to do other than eavesdropping on a bunch of fart's old conversations."

Allen was annoyingly quiet again, his eyes downcast as Fredrick continued to whine about staying.

Seriously, it's like they're a circus duo.

"Okay, I get it!" I sighed, begrudgingly rubbing my head. "So, what are we doing now then?"

Fredrick gave me a, "Duh," look as he said, "Obviously we're gonna go see if Noah is here. Really, are we even friends if we don't bother the Prince in his own home?"

Ah. That word.

Friends.

I gave a giggle at his words, the bitterness lingering behind my smile. "You're right. We should go find the Third Prince."

"Yeah! Okay, Allen, let's go find Noah!" Fredrick yelled, grabbing and dragging Allen along in the direction of the palace library.

My shoes tread softly on the soft carpet as I walked leisurely behind them, the word rolling over and over on my tongue.

"We're friends after all."

I gave a chuckle at that, my eyes dimming. However, before I could mull over it more, I looked back.

The same shiver from before was back, and more violent.

Faintly, I saw the tails of Sir Albert's coat whipping around the corner at the opposite end of the hallway.

—

Hello, Readers! This author apologizes for adding her little notes at the end of chapters lately. These next few chapters she will restrain herself! However, she wanted to note that there are many errors in her writing and she apologizes. This author recently put her work into Word and the Boss said this author had many errors (╥﹏╥). She did not think this would blow up so she failed to edit her own chapters... very sorry. When she finishes this story, she will go back and edit them all. Also, do you like the way Maerie looks? Of course, that is Lynn's art style so please do not be harsh. This author will add the reference picture in the next chapter for what she imagines Maerie as. Ah, this note is longer than this author thought, and this is not even all of what this author wanted to say...