Chapter 67: Waiting and a Duel
With heavy steps, Octavia wandered through the corridors of the castle not due to fatigue or exhaustion, but because she felt hollow inside, and all she wanted was for time to pass quickly.
With indifference and gloomy expressions, she stopped near one of the windows and gazed out at the lively town. Then, she began surveying the surrounding area and the roads leading into it. Deep inside, she wholeheartedly wished to see the person occupying her thoughts.
She let out a long sigh quietly, "My lord, when will you return? I miss your company."
She raised her hand and placed it on her chest, feeling her irregular heartbeat, then sighed. She had finally realized the nature of her feelings toward Arthur; she liked him. Not in the casual, friendly way she’d thought at first, but in that subtle, heart-fluttering way that crept up on her when she wasn’t paying attention.
It had all started when he left six days ago. At first, she handled it normally and only felt a bit off due to his absence.
But after not seeing him for two full days, she began to miss him and felt an emptiness inside. With each passing day, her longing grew, and eventually, he came to dominate a large part of her thoughts. Her mind became distracted and her body sluggish—at that point, she was certain of her feelings.
She took a deep breath and intended to leave, but hesitated, once again surveying the area around the town. Yet she found no sign of his arrival. She knew that already, but her emotions made her unable to resist.
"Where are you now, my lord? It’s been six days since you left."
Resigned, she walked away. She knew there was no point in anticipation and waiting. Besides, Arthur had entrusted her with several responsibilities before leaving, and she had to fulfill them so as not to disappoint him.
She pulled herself together, shook off the sluggishness in her body, regained her calm expression, and headed to the blacksmith’s workshop to see if he had finished crafting some of the tools they needed in the soap workshop.
On her way, she noticed that the place was unusually quiet and empty. At first, she thought it was due to her conflicting emotions, but the castle was truly empty. Normally, maids would be bustling through the corridors, and the recruits would be stationed at various corners, guarding the area. But now, there was no sign of them anywhere.