Yuri cleaned up the dining table after Lumen and Sabrina finished their breakfast. The day goes by as usual, work and sleep. Next day, work again, then sleep. Unlike other servants that work together with her, she hasn't really try to keep in contact or form any relationships with anyone in this mansion. She doesn't even open her mouth and talk unless it is absolutely necessary. She truly lives like an extra. Just like one of the many other shadows that linger somewhere in the corner where no one notice. But she's fine with it, she doesn't mind it. In fact, she felt safer like this, especially living in a world where she has no benefits at all. Well, maybe other than him.
It has already been over more than a week since that night. After all those "tiny little commotions" out in the garden, in the middle of pouring rain, "Mr. Merchant" disappeared without saying anything. The last moment that she remembered was a sudden hit of drowsiness as she was talking to him. Even though she closed her eyes, but she was still holding her last ounce of consciousness, since she doesn't want to end things just like that with him yet. She knew that he lifted her up and carried her back to her room. When he put her down onto the bed, Yuri remembered feeling dry, instead of wet, although she was supposed to be wet from the rain, both him and her. But either way, the last thing she remember was touching his soft warm lips on hers, before she becomes completely unconscious.
The next morning, Lumen and Sabrina were trying to invite him to the dining room for breakfast before seeing him off, but to their surprised, he has left already. What was even more surprising to Lumen and Sabrina was that he left two things for them before he disappeared, and both things were the things that they asked for the same night:
"Something that can make a person speak the truth" and "something that can make the witch lose control of their power".
Yuri was in the study room together with Sabrina and Lumen, as Leah was serving them their tea. Once again, Yuri quietly stood in the same spot where she is unnoticeable. Like the shadow itself, she doesn't move until one of her higher ups told her to do so...if they still remember her being in the room with them. But from what Yuri understand, it seems like that "Mr. Merchant" left a very short description on how to use those things. The "something for speaking the truth" is in a clear liquid form, potion-like, in which the description only stated one word: "ingest". While the "something for the witch to loose control of their power" is a very simple looking tiny stick that is made of wood. And in the description of that object is a bit longer that the first one, which stated: "witch touch". When Sabrina and Lumen read those, they thought that they lost a paper or something, but they realized it really were just those couple of words. One and two words.
Yuri was thinking that at least he made it simple and easy to use. Where the liquid of truth was supposed to be ingested by whoever they want to hear the truth from, and that stick looking thing is for the witch to touch in order to them to loose control over their power.
As much as they all understood how to use those objects, Lumen and Sabrina were still confused and doubtful of that mysterious "Mr. Merchant" that they hired.
"Are these things trustworthy? Or should I say, is he trustworthy?"
Lumen asked Sabrina doubtfully
"I...I don't know. I knew about him because I've heard about him from someone....or somewhere...."
Sabrina rubbed her head
"Which was the reason why I want to bet on it, since me and you both felt like dragging this case about me poisoning Lady Vanessa doesn't seem like a good idea either..."
"Sigh~~~ Either way, we can try out this potion looking thing for that male servant to speak the truth during the private trial, since having vanessa to lose control of her witch power is only a Plan B if nothing works out in the end."
"I don't mind trying it out either, as long as it doesn't kill that male servant, since him dying could create a bigger problem"
Sabrina nodded her head in agreement with Lumen
"The trial will be held in five weeks. I believe His majesty Mikel wanted to keep this as private as possible, away from the public eyes. So I've heard that he is planning to hold it in a secluded temple?"
"Yes, that is correct. That secluded temple is only opened for the royals to go, since that temple has been there as long as the empire had. It only open to public once every three years, since it was supposed to be so holy that the temple doesn't want a lot of people coming in and out of it."
Lumen sighed again before continuing
"....And before the trial starts, Sabrina...they wanted you and Lady Vanessa to be in the temple before it...though I doubt they will let you and Vanessa meet face to face. After all, the temple is big enough to prevent you guys from seeing each other. "
Sabrina looks at him, but then sighed also
"I see, then how are we going to get that liquid into that man's mouth?"
"Don't worry, since I don't need to stay in the temple, so I'll find a way."
"Ok, I'll trust you nonetheless."
Lumen held Sabrina into his embrace.....And that's how that very morning has ended. Which leaded to currently, where Yuri is preparing Sabrina's luggage together with other two girls, to leave together with Sabrina, to the temple. The trip to the temple takes around three day, in which Lumen will be leading the trip. After all, he is afraid of his rumored "Duchess-to-be" in danger, since it is a long trip, so anything could happen. Soo afterward, Lumen. Sabrina and the three girls finished packing up and started their trip.
The three girls were the same three girls that assisted Lumen in the banquet. Yuri, Sisi and Emily. Sisi is a slightly taller girl with a very long brown straight brown hair and hazel eyes. While Emily is a soft looking girl with bob cut brown hair and amber eyes. Both of them are taller slightly taller than Yuri, and also much more talkative than Yuri. These three girls sat in the wooden carriage that were meant for servants. Sisi and Emily started conversations from time to time, such as when they saw something beautiful or something that they have never seen before, just like people would usually start conversation to understand each other more, since they have nothing better to do, but for Yuri it doesn't matter. She either closes her eyes and pretend to go to sleep so that they won't try to talk to her, though they have tried it already, or she just look out in the window. She looks out in the window, either thinking about him or nothing. She hasn't even thought about the upcoming scenario of the plot.
Yuri felt like if the plots of the story doesn't really affect her, then she doesn't want to think about it. Since thinking about it will just hurt her head. So instead she thought about him. The way he hold her, embrace her, touch her, kiss her...the way his warmth lingers on her cold damp skin, and his soft gentle voice with a bit of huskiness from time to time. Every time she brought up memories back from that night, makes her blush and smile at the same time. She doesn't know why, but she just like it. She loves it. Obsessed with it. With him. Yuri wondered if he felt the same way towards her too. She hopes he does. She wants him to be in the same position as her, where the days without her felt like longing memories. Suffocating, but also very blissful, because she knew that he exist.
This sensation felt very new and foreign for Yuri, but at the same time, also very familiar. Just like his warmth and kisses. Just like this obsessive love that she has for him. Is it really love? Yes. Yuri knew it is. It's not a question that she even needs to think about, cause the answer is definite.