THIRD PERSON POV
After two weeks of being back in the Empire, Diara focused on her duties as per usual, although things have changed for her quite a bit due to her engagement with the Grand Duchy of Eiris' heir.
Training, paperworks, preparations for her wedding, and etc.
That was how Diara's schedule for two weeks.
IN THE TRAINING GROUND
Diara was sparring with one of her knights to train them as usual when one of her maids interrupted it whilst carrying a letter.
The maid walked over to Diara and bowwed.
"My lady, a letter from Lady Ivy has arrived.", said the maid.
Diara stopped what she was doing and took the letter and read it.
After a minute, her expression changed from unbothered to surprise.
After a while of reading, she sighed and ordered the maid.
"Tell the other servants to prepare three guest bedrooms and the tea room for tomorrow. I will be having visitors.", she said to the maid.
"Right away, my lady.", the maid said as she bowwed again and hurriedly rushed out of the training grounds to the manor of the Reinhardt's.
Diara looked at the letter once again and sighed then resumes to training her knights.
THE NEXT MORNING
Diara woke up much earlier than her usual morning routine as she was to welcome the unexpected visit of the Saintess and two other 'familiar' guests.
She dressed up by herself as she woke up too early than her maids.
She wore her black knight-suit with its matching pants and she let her hair be tied up in a somewhat elegant but strong ponytail.
She walked towards the entrance of the manor and waited for a carriage to arrive.
After a few minutes, the carriage arrived.
The Saintess went out of the carriage first and was quickly followed by the second daughter of Marquess Ravenshield, Ashtine Melphie Ravenshield, who will also be the "Villainess" that will be the reason for Diara's death in the future.
The last person who went out of the carriage was the youngest daughter of Count Anders, Morgana Thalia Anders, who will be the famous "Red Witch of the Forest Mountain" in the near future.
But Diara knows they are different people than the ones in the book that she wrote.
She went closer to them.
Little by little she felt nostalgia.
"Dia. Long time no see", said Morgana with a small smile as 'she' went to Diara and embraced her as if there was no tomorrow.
Diara chuckled by the action of the 'lady' and returned the embrace she was being held onto.
"Long time no see,Ris. You're still the same, I see.", Diara jested.
The 'lady' chuckled in response and let Diara go.
"So are you, Dia. Nothing much has changed.", said the 'lady'.
The other lady, the 'villainess' that will be her cause of death, gave her a nod a small smirk.
She returned it with a smirk and went to her.
"Still the same,Rine?", Diara asked jokingly.
The lady snorted and replied with a smirk on her face, "Still the same, Dia.", she said.
"Uhm hello? I'm also here, you know?", the Saintess, the 'female lead', proclaimed as she felt left out of their group's 'touching' reunion.
"We know.", the three said at the same time that caused the Saintess to pout.
"Let us go inside and talk there.", Diara said and guided the three other ladies inside their manor.
Inside the manor, the servants began to wake and assisted them with their needs.
They were in the tea room and talked and talked to catch up on some things they had missed when they have not found each other yet.
"So you are now the eldest daughter of a powerful Ducal family, huh?", said Morgana as 'she' takes a sip of tea.
"Yes. But I will soon be married to another empire. I'm certain you already know.", Diara responded.
"Yes, we have heard. I am surprised you accepted that ridiculous arrangement though. But knowing you, you must have had a reason.", said Ashtine, the nonchalant friend of theirs.
Diara wondered why she had to be the villainess and not the witch's role that landed on her younger twin instead.
Diara laughed at the thought of it in her mind and takes a sip of her tea before answering her.
"That's right. I did have my reason. But if it wasn't for someone who messed up the timeline, I wouldn't have had to agree to the marriage and check it for myself without getting married at all.", she said and glanced at the Saintess as she said 'someone'.
The Saintess looked away and whistled.
The other two, who knew it was the Saintess Diara was referring to, chuckled lightly at her.
They chatted and catched up some more until the evening.
It was a nice and nostalgic day for Diara.
Without knowing,
Someone was watching them.