The Second

It was a nice sleep before he wakes when the water touches his head gently with a small towel and warm little hand. He still had not opened his eyes yet, but he knew who the one who did it for him. As he then slowly opens his eyes and is being shown a beautiful nice house. It's small, made from woods but it's cozy as the owner decorates it nicely. Then, a nice aroma fills the room even though the door is already closed and he is left in a single bed alone. Then he realizes that his body becomes lighter, his skin comes back to its normal color and the wound is already treated well.

Then, he stands up as he walks to open the door and sees a warm scene of a black hair lady wearing a white dress with a soft shawl on her shoulder. Facing the burning stove that produces a nice smell. Then she turns to him as she smiles warmly and widely. " Oh, you already awake," she said, as she fixes up her shawl who reveals her smooth shoulder and her sensual collarbone. " Let's sit," she said as she put stew-like food on the table with one chair and a chunk of wood. " I live alone, so please don't mind the wood," she said. As he comes to sit down and stares at the food that puffs up smoke and aroma. " How are you?" she asked as she put her hand casually in his head. " Still warm, huh. Well, I already prepared your medicine, drink that after you eat," she said.

And the duke just does what she said to do. " You are a doctor?" asked him.

" Not really. But sure, I can do some medicine," she said while she eats her food.

Then he takes a moment to look at his surrounding. It's really a homey place with so many decorations such as plants, painting, and crafting. Then stares at her with his cold and deep gaze. " The black lady living in the deep forest, huh?"

" Ah, you heard about that myth? Well, I tried to avoid people though, but sometimes I approached one," she said as she put her cheek in her hand and imaging the past memories. " Either it's the injured one, the lost one of the fooled one," she said while then turning her gaze to him and asked. " So, which one are you? To be an injured with blue water as an Oculis."

And the duke just brushes his gaze and eats the food calmly. " You care?"

" Not really, it's just ... you slept for seven days straight and the thing that I know about Oculis is that you kinda like a noble? So..."

" seven days, huh?" and he just calmly responded. " Sure, I have to go back."

" Okay. You can use my horse, but please bring it back to me... she is my dear," she said calmly. Not realizing the fact that the duke looking at her. " Ah, but... I will change your bondage first." then tilting her head. " But, you want to take a bath first? It will refresh you up."

And then now they are both in the middle of the river not far from her house. As she jumps off the horse who is controlled by the duke who then followed her.

" No need to tie her, she will come back when I call her," she said while lying down a cloth near a tree and sitting down casually. Then she looks at the duke... " Go ahead, refresh yourself. After you done, I will treat your wound and this is the new cloth. " Oh, don't be shy, just go ahead," she said.

And the duke just stares at her and looks away as he takes off a cloth that covers him up and also his blood-stained pants. He then go inside the river and wet himself from head to toe. It is nice cold water that is so fresh and clean. As its creating a perfect image of his body.

" I am always thinking about it but you sure have a nice body is not it," she said as she sit down on the side of the river and smile at him. " Hey, my lord. Is it okay for me to touch you?" asked her. As she stretched her hand to him. " I have to make sure you wound are not open too so-" and she smiles widely as the duke grabs her hand.

It's so natural for them to touch each other. Even for the duke, he is just slowly being used to the touch of her and just follows her flow unconsciously. It is just so natural for him to accept the small hand that touches his shoulder and brushes his wet hair while then showing him her smiles. The scene of it is so fascinating, he could not even hear what she is saying.

" Now, get out from the water.. your wound will be open if you stay too long." and wakes him up from his thought as he sees the lady standing. Then she treats her like usual, and they both go back to the small house in the middle of the forest that is quite hard to find but the lady easily finds it.

" I already prepare things that you need for your depart," she said. As she stands in front of her door and watches him preparing the horse. " Just release Noah near the crossroad," she said. " I need in a week so please bring her back before that. You can do that, at least right?"

Then the duke mounts up the horse and looks at her. " Sure. What else do you need?"

And she just smiles at him. "It is okay. Just don't mess with the blue water again." and waves at him and tilts her head confused with his long gaze. " You are not going?"

" I will." but it will be nice if she asks something for her paying. " Then, I also come again to show my gratitude."

" Oh?" she surprised and smile with her surprised smile. " I am that black lady, you know?"

And he smiles who gets the lady with surprise. " Quite a pleasure, to be your loyal visitor then," he said. While then galloped his way and leave the lady who is waving.

Then the lady turns back as she closed the door. Then paused while looking at the house where she lived for a while. It becomes strangely quiet and empty. The traces that being left... the dirty dishes that usually not that much, big body traces on her bed, the leftover medicine... and the big wood on her dining table. She smiled, " I did not ask his name, do I?"

***

It's been a month since the duke that was missing come back to the Oculis State and it has became a normal day. The Oculis state that known for its elegant white and blue pattern. The symbolic blue flag with shield and sword that fluttering majestically all over the palace. The sights of elite servants and knights and the quiet places that have been the palace's norm.

Then, as their tradition when the duke comes to the palace, the servants and the knight greet him with the salutation. " Welcome Your Grace, May the god of Oculis blesses your fire." with such elegance as the duke goes off his horse after the long journey from the capital.

" Greeting Your Grace, I am glad to see you come home safely." and said the man with butler clothes who take his sword and coat naturally as he gives it to the maid behind him and walk in his side.

" Is there any report?"

" There is no major report, Your Grace, but there are some documents you should sign on your desk," he said. " ... How about the palace, Your Grace?"

" As usual? Full of disgusting rats," he said. As he then sit down at his desk and lean down sighed. As he right hand, who poured his tea elegantly named Lucas knew what situation the duke was in. Even after the news of the well-known duke missing, there is no action from the capital about it. They just stayed silent until the duke then came back home by himself. After the day, just in a few days the letter from the palace came asked the duke to come to meet the king as the king was concerned about his safety. But of course, it is just an act.

The Oculis dukedom is known as the first family who put the king on his throne. The Oculis family was the one who bring the victory in the last world war and then put the crown to the first king. They are so powerful that many think that the Oculis should be the ones who leads the Kingdom but the Oculis only and always stand for their land in the North. No one even until now could interfere with his land even for the king. It Seemed, the now king was kinda concerned about it and seeking a way to gain his fullest loyalty... but because the Oculis never did so, they become more furious.

Its because the crown prince is already in his suitable age for the throne. And the reason makes sense even for Lucas especially knowing how wicked the prince is.

"... while you bring the horse to the place I asked, did you find a woman?" asked him.

And, it's something that change from the duke after he came back healthy after one week. "... No, Your Grace," he said and even the duke did not tell about anything, Lucas predicts that It seemed a woman helped him back. "... to know that a person could treat Oculis who poisoned by blue water, she sure is a good doctor."

" Sure. She is." and how the duke responses him if he talks about the lady, sure, the duke attached to that lady. Even Lucas looks calm, to know that the duke that he knew, think about a woman this way, what kind of person is she?

" Why don't you ask her to work with us then? Her ability is surely needed to protect you in the future," he said and the duke stares at him with his usually cold gaze.

"... cancel my schedule for tomorrow," he said. And Lucas nodded as he then excuse himself.

In the morning, the duke goes out from the Oculis State with several knights. They have never been told where they will be going. They just follow their duke that seems to know where he is going. And it is a surprising thing for them to then find a small house in the middle of the forest. Yet, it seems to be left unattended with the door open. The glasses broke and a messy house as someone just broke into the house.

And the duke paused for a while as he casually go inside. Checked all things he has ever seen gone, and the room is just a mess.

" it seems, whoever broke into this house leave quite a while," Arkan said. " Do you know who lives here, Your Grace?"

And the duke grasped his hand. "... black-haired woman," he said. "... bring her to me if you find a black-haired girl with black eyes," he said. As he mounts his horse in rush and anger.

For a while, he will be asking him his report of the lady, but, no sight of that lady even after 2 weeks. It is almost impossible as there is no person that has black hair on this continent. Black also is the color that is despised by most people in the country, it is so rare, so gloomy, so dark... many antagonist folklore is represented with black colored. The prejudice and stereotype that is created, then leave people thinking that everything in black is cursed.

" ... It's really hard to find a black-haired lady, Your Grace," he said. " Even there is one, to think she lives in this kind of world... she probably avoided people."

"... but people come to her, to her hidden house?" he glared.

Arkan gulped as he feels a shiver from his back. "... I will send more people, Your Grace." and excuse himself.

Then the duke sighed as he thinks the time he spent in that little house. Her touch and gaze, surely drown himself. As he knows that he eagerly wants to meet her and is addicted to her touch.

" .... Your Grace, the meeting will start soon," said Lucas while looking at the duke who had just gotten off from his horse in front of the government office in the outer town near the border with the Imperial region.

And he just calmly walks down as the people who are waiting for him greet him with salutation.

" May the god of Oculis bless your fire." they then, let him be the one to walk first and follow him soon. It took a while for the meeting and then the sun just sets when he will go back home.

Another Count comes to him then. " Your Grace, with due respect why don't you stay a night in my place?" he asked. " My beautiful daughter will be in your service so that you will take a rest." and a common thing to see for the noble trying to introduce their daughter to the duke.

"... No, I still have something to do," he said.

" But, It will be so late-"

" YOU WITCH!" and a scream comes out loud as they turn their head toward it and see a man grab a lady's hair roughly, but, no one there seems to help the weak lady. " GO AWAY FROM MY INN! YOU CURSED!" as he then slapped her hard as she fell down and the people chattered in furious and curious to see the cursed black lady who trying to stand.

" Go you bitch!"

" Oh no, is there any disaster?"

And they whispered insult and anger to that lady who then start to walk away after putting her hoodie up.

" GO AWAY!" and as the screaming go wild, she just prepared herself to get hit again. Yet, there's nothing happened so she puts her swollen face up to see the person that she believed will attack her with stone. Her eyes widen, as she sees the man that makes her smile wider. The duke who holds the man's hand who will throw a big stone at her is surprised when he is looking at the woman that he tries to find who has so many wounds and swollen faces.

" We meet in an unexpected situation again, do we My Lord?" and she laughed casually as if nothing was happening. Then she swayed, as the duke run to her and catch her. Then, the familiar feeling that both of them felt the second they touch each other again. She sighed in relief as a whole burden lifted from her shoulder. "... I spent three days running around in the forest and working my body so hard that I thought I will die... I don't have a choice to then hide in this inn.... it was only for one day, I just want to sleep for one day.... then I will leave again... so, My Lord...." she whispered as she snuggles herself to him. As she is so comfortable and close he eyes. "... Is it okay if I sleep now, as I am with you?"

And he brushes her hair gently, as he stared at her swollen eyes and the wounds in her body. " Of course. Just sleep, I will take you to the safest place you've ever been." and picked her up as she then passed out in his hand. " Prepare carriage, I will go home to my state," he said.

" As your wish, Your Grace," Arkan said.

And he hugs her gently as he looks at her calm face. Sure, it is the right thing to do. For her, to be in his arm... it is the right thing to do,

***

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