(MC POV)
That note Brendan found pretty much confirms my suspicions that someone is messing with me right now.
I'm pretty sure I had read through that book before handing it over to Brendan, so there was no way a paper like that could have been left inside it even if what Rina said about checking through the books was true.
That meant someone must have slipped it in there while I wasn't looking and it definitely couldn't have been Rina.
The fact that this was slipped into the book right under my nose was also a worrying fact.
"Seriously, if you're my patron and you're the one doing all this, why don't you just show yourself already?" I wondered aloud.
Rina turned to raise an eyebrow at me, "What?"
The two foxes accompanying me on my shoulders also turned to look at me in confusion.
I shook my head, "Nothing, just talking to myself."
Of course those words weren't meant for Rina, Shiori or Akari who were currently escorting me back to the palace. I thought that if I were to say those words out loud the entity that had been messing with me might actually show itself.
Seeing that no such thing happened, it was either unwilling to do so or everything was me being paranoid.
I'd like to think I wasn't going senile yet.
Rina gave me a look that suggested she thought I was actually going senile before turning back, stopping in her tracks when someone appeared in front of her.
Compared to before when she looked a little feral and, dare I say crazy, Tsuki seemed to have cleaned herself up nicely now that she wasn't living in the wilds.
I never really paid much attention to her before but looking at her now, she actually looks rather cute.
Her straight, long black hair reached past her shoulder blades and stopped just above her lower back while her fringe and sideburns framed her face perfectly in what I recognised to be the princess hair cut.
I suspect Elaria had something to do with it but she was also dressed in gothic lolita fashion. While Elaria had sported dark blue and white as her colours with emphasis on lace accessories, Tsuki had chosen to go with black and red while adorning herself with various red ribbons. The colours accentuated her brown eyes which were a stark contrast to Elaria's red eyes.
Interestingly, Tsuki seems to be the same height as Elaria, both of them reaching to around my nose level which made them tilt their heads up when talking to me.
"Aniue, good day, what a coincidence," She greeted with a slight bow.
"Oh, Tsuki. I see you've taken up Elaria's fashion sense?"
Tsuki smiled, "Actually it's the opposite, Aniue. I believe Elaria had gotten this idea from you before you had lost your memories right? This used to be what I would dress like in the other world. I thought if I dressed like this again, Aniue might remember? Maybe you are already recalling a few events?"
I shook my head, "I'm afraid not."
She smiled, "Don't worry, I will try my best to help Aniue regain your memories, no matter what I have to do."
I shivered slightly.
That was most likely the mentality that drove her to do all that crazy stuff in my previous life. I don't even want to recall any of it anymore.
I'd like to think that she wouldn't resort to any of those methods in this life now that we could actually talk to each other, but I knew for a fact that she was a very determined person so it was still a possibility.
Thinking that it would be my best interest to at least find out about my past with her, I suggested, "Why don't we go somewhere to talk over a cup of tea? Maybe you can tell me some things about my past life and I'll remember about it?"
Rina frownd, "Could I suggest that the two of you use the tea room in the palace? The room is very comfortable, very quiet and what's more, I can go back to serving my Mistress instead."
Right, I almost forgot that Rina really doesn't want to be here.
Tsuki glared at her, "You have no idea how fortunate you are, do you?"
Rina scoffed, "Do forgive me, my lady. But I am her most gracious Majesty's maid first and having to accompany anyone else is a chore to me."
"If that's the case, should I just find someone else more suitable to replace you? Aniue's life is way more valuable than yours."
"Oh, please by all means. It would benefit all of us if you do."
Tsuki was about to continue the argument before I stepped in between them, "Alright, alright. That's enough now. Let's just go back to the palace's tea room, ok? Despite Rina's complaints, she still guards me properly and she does have the skills to back her up."
"I would still like for Aniue's guard to change. For all I know, she might be waiting to stab Aniue in the back."
"Please, I am not that boorish. If I wanted to, I would be stabbing him from the front."
Akari's tails straightened, "Was that a threat?"
The maid side-eyed the fox, "If it was, you would know."
"You sound pretty arrogant for a mere servant. Should we put you in your place?" Shiori asked, a chilling aura emanating from her.
"And you sound pretty arrogant for a pet. Be glad we're not putting you all in a dog house."
Tsuki gritted her teeth, "Such impudence in front of Aniue, you really have a death wish. Perhaps some discipline is in order."
A cooking knife appeared in Rina's hand, "Only her most gracious Majesty can discipline me. Someone like you isn't even worthy of touching the hem of my skirt."
Tsuki's eyes glowed and I blocked their view of each other, "Ok, that's enough."
The two women glared daggers at each other before turning away, while the two foxes busied themselves by cuddling my face.
Seriously, it seems like everyone is at odds with everyone here. Can't we all just get along?
I'm not even sure why Tsuki was so insistent on me having a guard since I've pretty much shown her how strong I was without one. I mean, Rina's only here because Luna ordered her to, otherwise she wouldn't even be here either.
Luna was treating me like her precious and fragile treasure so it was understandable that she would be overly protective of me.
It's not like she didn't see me hurl a continent size meteor at her either, unless she thinks everyone else is as strong as her? No, that can't be the case since she has at least lived in this world for a long enough time to know the difference already.
Maybe it has something to do with my past life? She did say I was assassinated after all.
But with Akari, Shiori and even Xun Guan by my side most of the time, I don't think just anyone would even be able to get close to me anyway.
Oh well, Tsuki should be telling me about it soon enough so I guess I will find out more about my past in just a while more.
