Tangled By Fate

While Veronica was talking to the Head Chef, a voice asked from behind, "What are you doing?"

Veronica turned around and saw Catherine. "Cathy!" Her face beamed. "Why are you awake so early?"

"What to do? Temple habits die hard. I can't sleep anymore after six." Catherine yawned and requested the Assistant Chef, "I want two vegetable sandwiches and two boiled eggs please."

The Assistant Chef replied, "Coming in ten minutes."

Catherine held her friend's hand and dragged her to the dining hall. They sat right across from each other. Catherine poured a glass of water for herself and Veronica. She asked her, "So, how was it?"

Veronica cocked her head. "How was what?" her emerald eyes showered with innocence.

"Are you kidding me? You stayed in the bedroom with your newlywed husband for a whole day without eating and drinking. Don't you dare to tell me you guys did nothing." While pointing a finger at her, Catherine sipped water.

Veronica sensed her face burning up. She covered her red face and said, "I slept almost sixteen hours."

Catherine frowned. "…I don't believe you."

Veronica drank water and then told her friend, "I didn't sleep the day before the wedding…"

Catherine slammed the wooden mug on the table. The water jumped and slashed around the table. "Quit joking!" she retorted. "You got red kissing marks all over your neck and jaw and everywhere!" She was blushing and still, she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

Crash!

A silver plate slipped from one of the chefs. "I… I'm sorry." The poor guy was flushed to his neck. He was so embarrassed that he couldn't look their way.

Other chefs had the same expression. They all looked awkward.

"I…" Veronica touched her neck. Her head was down. She couldn't look at anyone.

"Ah… my bad. I should have controlled my voice." Catherine covered her mouth.

'I think that's too late for that,' the Head Chef thought.

It was fortunate that only chefs were present at that moment. They were already scared of Arthur. So, they wouldn't joke about their Mistress. 

Veronica couldn't look at her neck but she tried to check her chest. There were indeed some red love bites on her skin.

'Kissing… kissing marks?' she was bewildered. She had no idea where to look. While dressing up, she didn't notice them properly. She thought they were mosquito bites she got from the journey.

'No wonder the chefs weren't looking at me properly. Even the Head Chef did his best only to look at my eyes,' she thought. Her face was tinted with fifty shades of red hues. She stood up. "I think I should cover it up."

Catherine grabbed her hand. "Hey, where are you going? It's fine. No one's looking at you. They won't even dare to speak about it even if they see it."

"I don't care what they think or speak. I greatly care if someone other than my husband sees me like this. I'll just go to my room and get a scarf. I won't take long." Veronica quickly left the dining hall.

Catherine let out a sigh. 'Why am I the only one who is single? Now I feel lonely. If it wasn't for the damn work pressure, I think I could look for someone.' While stretching her hands, she mumbled, "Someone who is destined to be mine."

"Destined to be yours? What's that?" Someone walked past her and questioned her.

Catherine hurriedly straightened her back. She raised her head and saw Sebastian. "Why do I have to answer you that?" she asked him in return. "Didn't you come to eat? Go eat!"

"Okay…" Sebastian raised his hand to surrender. If they argued, they would have run a marathon. However, he didn't want to fight her with an empty stomach.

"With a character like that, where will she get a destined man? What a joke," he muttered.

Catherine turned her head toward him and  instantly questioned him, "Did you say something?"

"Not at all." Sebastian's reply was quick.

Catherine didn't believe him. She narrowed her eyes. "I think I just heard you talking about me."

"Then, I think you heard something wrong. Please don't forget to give me the handkerchief you promised. My life is hard without one," he reminded her.

Catherine sneered. "Oh, don't worry. I will give you the most exquisite handkerchief made by me."

"I only need a normal handkerchief." Sebastian couldn't trust her. Who knew what she would do to that handkerchief? She could try to do something to him. 'I don't want to be made fun of in the Magic Tower. My prestige would be at stake,' he thought. 'I should be careful.'

"What are you talking about? Do you think I will just let you think that I'm ungrateful?" Catherine stood up and stepped forward. She paused in front of him and then took out something from her skirt pocket. She put it down on the table and warned him, "Listen well, I don't usually make embroidered handkerchiefs just for anyone. You better take good care of it."

"…I will." Sebastian was surprised that she made one for him just in a day. She oversaw the wedding reception party yesterday. Even though the bride and groom weren't present, she had to entertain the guests. She should have been busy and tired last night after all the work.

"Don't even think of giving it to someone with a runny nose. Or else," she threatened him.

Sebastian took a handkerchief and replied, "I won't. What if you need it…"

She interrupted his words by saying, "I will never need this. I have my own handkerchief."

"…Okay…" Sebastian wanted to say more but held back after seeing her expression.

"Good." Catherine gave him a fake smile and went back to her seat. Her meal was served shortly after.

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Meanwhile, Veronica covered her neck with a white vest that covers her neck properly. She checked one last time in the mirror and was off to the dining hall. While going down, she saw the door of Arthur's office.

There was a red stone in the middle of the door. It was normally blue. Whenever he was inside, the stone would turn into a red-colored stone.

'What is he doing in there?' she wondered.