Purple Villa

"Thank you... but won't you get in trouble for that?" she asked and saw that the chefs were glaring at Zared. She dismissed them promptly, telling them not to be rude.

"I mean... I work for Britannia, Zared... I, I'm the enemy of the Cult of C... just as much."

Zared put his face in the palm of his hand. "As long as I do as im told, they don't care bout what I do."

Zared then shook his head. "But thats only one of the reasons to why I shouldn't have brought it up. As you said, we're on opposite sides. And then theres how your side would think, like with the Chefs. I wanted to keep it to myself, as to avoid this, but you wouldn't let me go till I told ya."

"I like you, Zared," she said with a smile. "I am unsure to what extent however."

Then shook her head. "They are my family - these chefs. They are just being like fathers," she said and giggled.

"But... I have much to do to fulfill my duties and responsibilities. To both my name and my country." She looked at him sadly. He was such a nice man.

What she said calmed Zared down a little.

Zared even laughed a little. "They're a good family then."

Zared then turned to her, blush and awkwardness gone. "I understand. I am the same, and we might even be forced onto opposite sides." Zared reached out and lightly touched her hand. "I'll have to avoid hurting you during those times, and make sure I don't decimate all the troops and all that."

Zared then gave her a smile. "But, as soon as I repay the Cult for my knightmare, I can leave the Cult."

She smiled as he relaxed a bit.

Anisette nodded. "Very! They are wonderful." Then the head chef spoke to Zared, his accent on the French side. " 'Zos noblemen - we cannot trust for ze mademoiselle. You, we no know, zerefore, you must prove your worth!"
Anisette blinked, reddening. "Monsieur!"

She smiled at him. "I think it is safe to say that we definitely will," she nodded. "If you must. But if anything, target me instead. But do not hurt my servants and never my butler."

Anisette returned the smile. "I hope everything goes well. I still have... my revenge I must exact."

Zared didn't completely understand what he said. But, as soon as she reacted the way she did, he understood. "I appreciate that, but I dunno if she prefers this cup of tea, or the next."

Zared grinned at her. "Wishing for the dark knight to steal away the princess, eh?"

And with that, Zared blinked. "Revenge?"

Anisette covered her face in embarrassment. "Dear me," she didn't know what to say. But the monsieur only laughed. "Ah! Zo you zay! You zee, monsieur Zared," he said. "Ze mademoiselle is ver'ee important to us. Zat said, we would not let zust anyone take 'er."

She laughed, her hands still covering her face. "If that's what it takes to save my family."

Her hands fell to her lap as she stared at it for a while before firmly looking at Zared. "Yes, revenge," she affirmed. "I want revenge on whomever decided to burn the main house down, killing everyone except me."

"I wouldn't expect any less, monsieur. I would even expect you to throw me out if needed." He then turned to Anisette, smiling. "Your being too cute right now~"

Zared then crept up behind her, and whispered in her ear. "Im thinking its more then just protecting them" Zared pulled away and laughed a little, looking at the Chef. "Don't worry about her when she's with me. I'll treat her as she deserves."

Zared leaned on her chair, thinking about what she just said. "Do you have a slight idea on who did it?"

The chef only laughed. And Anisette only reddened some more from Zared's words and buried her face further in her hands, bowing her head.

"Eh?" Anisette turned to him at his words. "That's just teasing, Zared!"
And the chef bonked him in the head with a ladle. When Zared turned to him, he bowed in apology. "My apolozies, monsieur," but he smirked. "Zust fazerly instincts. Ah, but afzer zat little bout, how could we-," he stretched his arms and the servants fell into place. "Not worr'ee?"

"Monsieur!" Anisette was so embarrassed, she didn't know what else to say. At all!

Then turned serious. "No," she looked away, sad. "Not in the slightest. I was just a child then."

Zared rubbed his head and nodded. "Lil Zared is going too far, eh?" He laughed. "Lil Zared will be sure to behave ^^"

Zared returned to his chair. "I guess I could help you out with that. I won't be much use, but I could try."

Anisette giggled. "I was just surprised, that's all. Monsieur is just very overprotective. He's one of the few who survived the fire incident."

She relaxed more, and placed her hands on her lap. "You don't have to Zared, I don't want to bother you, nor involve you in affairs that could ultimately make the high society hate you."

Zared looked over at Monsieur. "Just don't make me fight lions to prove my worth. Don't want to hurt the poor lions." Zared laughed to himself.

Zared slid his hands under hers, and lifted them. "I want to, Anisette. And if the higher society grows to hate me, then let em. I'll just go hid in a dusty warehouse ^^"

The monsieur shook his head. "Zat is violence. No needed," he said. "A proper zentleman is what we need. Prove yo'zelf zere."

She blinked and smiled warmly. "My, thank you very much. I'll let you know when I need help then."

Zared nodded.

He then looked at the time. "I've been here for about a hour. You bored of me, or do you wanna go do something?"

Anisette blinked as the chef hit Zared again with a ladle.

"...is there anything you want to do, then, Zared?" she asked and panicked when the chef hit him again.

"Apologies" Zared said, rubbing his head. "Wrong phrasing of words. I meant to ask it as 'Do you want to go do something different'."

Zared thought for a second. "I think it would be nice to see more of this place ^^"

Anisette stood up. "I see," she smiled at him. "Then would you let me do the honors of showing my villa?"

Zared stood up, smiling. "Only if you allow me the honor of being escorted by you"

"You sure are dangerous with words, Zared," she giggled and curtsied. "Then, is there anywhere you particularly want to see first?"

Zared bowed slightly. "I'd like you to show me the ends and curves you desire to show, if you don't mind."

Zared, quickly realizing his phrasing, covered his head.

"I mean show me the parts of the house you want to show me by that."

The chef whacked him with a frying pan this time. "My apolozees, monsieur. My handz slipp'd."

Anisette, laughed nervously. She knew how to act flawlessly when it comes to interacting with other noblemen. But someone as casual as Zared, she had no idea. It was rather weird for her but exhilarating all the same.

"Well, then," she started to walk and led him to the library. "This is one of my favorite places here."

Zared stumbled around a little from the hit. "Its all good..... deserved a good whacking......"

Zared shook his head and followed her to the library. He looked at all the books in the room. "Would take me years to get around to reading all this." Zared said, admiring the books."

Anisette laughed. "Monsieur and Zared are getting along~" she mused.

She looked at him in genuine surprise. "My, really? I've read them all already," she blinked. "It took me a year and a half, however. We get so busy from time to time. Do you like reading?"

Zared blushed in embarasement.

"With as much as I had done, you'd think I'd enjoy reading a book. But, ever since I became a fighter, my ability to read has..... lessened."

He picked out a book and began reading it aloud.

"Litt....el rad ribbing mood......?"

He facepalmed. He almost couldn't read at all. He couldn't even read 'Little red riding hood'.

"Aw, really?" she said, her voice earnest. "That's okay. What happened? Why did it lessen?"

She looked over the book. "Little Red Riding Hood. It's a wonderful story."