"Marchioness L/N!" Petra greeted me, beaming as she walked over to my carriage, "you're finally here."

here goes nothing

"Lady Ral," I nodded, leaning in to whisper into her ear as we hugged, "have they started?"

"Yes," she nodded, "they just moved to one of the drawing rooms, I've arranged for our tea to be in the garden right next door- if anything happens we'll be able to hear it."

ok-

i still hate this plan

to be totally clear

"Did Levi end up giving you something?" I frowned slightly- looking around to make sure no one was in earshot.

"Don't worry about it," Petra shook her head, "he promised you didn't he?"

I AM WORRYING

"He did- still- he keeps on acting strange," I muttered. "I guess it's too late now- let's hurry to the garden- I don't want anything bad to happen."

he was really busy

im just paranoid

i don't like this at all

"Between you, me, and Isabel we should be fine," she reassured me. "Besides, Farlan made arrangements for a doctor to be brought right?"

that's correct-

we're pretending that my visit with petra is because she asked me for help introducing her to a physician for when she takes over as the Lady of house Forester

not that that's ever going to happen now

"Petra?"

"Yes?"

"Have you given any thought as to what's going to happen after this?"

"Well- I suppose you'll take Floch to trial?"

"No," I shook my head, "not that- what you're going to do after all of this."

"Oh," she sighed. "Not really- the engagement will be annulled that's for sure."

and then?

"I'll probably lay low in my family's territory for awhile before they find someone else for me."

that's sad

"Surely there's something you wanted to do but couldn't because of the engagement," I murmured, thinking back on what Levi mentioned the other day.

i don't want to force her to go live in the woods just because it's the only option other than getting married off again

"Sure," she shrugged, "I envied my brother for going to school- it would be nice to do something like that- but I'm too old for that now."

you could get a tutor

"If you could- I would invite you to spend some time in the marquisate after this is over."

maybe hanji would come if i wrote her a letter

that would be nice

i'd like to hold a proper memorial for my father

"I would love to," Petra had led me to a small picnic set up in the garden.

which room are they in

"It's that one," she murmured, gesturing at a nearby open window, "I went in earlier to open the windows."

"Thank you."

"No need," she laughed, "ok now we have to try to have a normal conversation- he'll definitely get suspicious if we're too quiet."

right

"How well can they hear us?"

"Just low background noise- if you yelled they would hear it," she glanced over at the open window. "Even if they shut the window we'll be able to hear yelling."

hopefuly everything goes smoothly

"Seriously- don't worry about it- they're going to get concerned if they can't hear us laughing at the very least."

how can i not worry

"Alright," I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. "As I was saying earlier- I'd love to invite you to the marquisate."

i think she would get along well with some of the knights

"What's it like? I haven't heard much about it." Petra smiled as our conversation kicked off.

it's a lot of things

"The territory itself is mostly forest- but the castle town is fairly large-" I paused to think about it. "There's a theater there we could go to."

actually, i don't even know if she likes going to plays

"There are other things too- I think you would enjoy it," I muttered, "I guess I don't know that much about you."

but i would like to

i feel like i owe you

that much at the very least

"There isn't much to know," she shook her head, "up until a couple of days ago I was a regular noblewoman."

that seems like an understatement

"I don't think a regular person would have done as much as you."

you're giving up so much for us

it would be infinitely easier to keep quiet

instead you've told us everything and willingly offered your help in this plan

"That's nonsense," Petra laughed loudly at me, "it's all selfishness."

i don't think so

"Regardless I think you're underestimating yourself."

even if you think it's selfish

i still appreciate it

in the end i don't think your intentions matter

"You might be right, maybe I'll figure that out after this is over," this overwhelming sense of calm seemed to settle around Petra. Almost like every other feeling was being forcibly choked down until all of this was over.

i understand that

"I'm excited for everything that comes after this."

if the plan goes well-

there will be so much for all of us to do

all of them things i wouldn't have been able to imagine in the past

im excited to be in love

without burden

"Me too-" she nodded, glancing up at the window. "They should be done soo-"

A blood curdling scream, unmistakeably Isabel's, rang out over the peaceful midafternoon silence.

no

"Come," Petra urged, grabbing my wrist and dragging me forward away from the light of the garden into the dark of the house like she had known.

had she?

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "the doctor is coming, it will be fine." Her words sounded as much promise as they did prayer.

what did you do?

The door swung open revealing Isabel- standing over a pinned down Floch while Levi laid on the ground- blood dripping from a small wound on his head.

what did they do

From somewhere I could hear footsteps racing up the stairs as the rest of the world faded away- the feeling of his slow heartbeat one last tether to the world around me.

what am i going to do?

_____________________________

tee hee!

- ami