Surviving As A Cannon Fodder

CHAPTER 40

"How have you been?" Adelaide asked with a worried expression on her face. 

She was concerned about her friend who disappeared after the first day of the service.

"Same old same old" Angelica sighed, scrubbing her hands down her face.

"..."

At Angelica's passive reply, Adelaide looked at her and realized something. No matter how much she tried the other party in question was not ready. So she changed the topic.

"It's getting chilly" 

Adelaide hugged her shawl close.

"Aren't you cold dressed like that?"

"No" Angelica replied with a flat tone.

"You will get sick if you stay out like this" 

Adelaide started to take off her shawl to put it on her friend. But before she could do it, Angelica caught her hand and shook her head as if to signify a 'no'.

"You keep it on. I have a walking heater" Angelica pointed down beside her feet to Chirpy.

*woof*

Chirpy let out a cry at Angelica, feeling a bit offended by her words. He tried to climb on her and pull her down with his paws.

"Looks like he's offended" Adelaide chuckled, seeing the wolf act like a spoiled puppy.

"I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding" 

Angelica patted Chirpy's head trying to calm him down. The excited wolf jumped around Angelica and only calmed down after she promised to offer him treats. 

After that, Adelaide and Angelica continued talking till they reached the main residence.

"That was a lot of walking" 

Adelaide felt tired walking back and forth from the main residence. The sun was already down and she started feeling hungry. 

Tomorrow when the sun rises again she will be leaving for the capital.

"Good night Addie" 

Just as Angelica waved and started walking towards her room, Adelaide caught her arm and stopped her from leaving.

"Wait"

Adelaide felt like she had so many things to say to her friend, yet could not say them out loud. She wanted to be beside her, but knew Angelica wanted to be alone.

"I know" 

Angelica smiled at her.

"Then see you at the debutante ball. You promised, remember. Don't disappear again like today" 

Adelaide reluctantly let go of Angelica's arm. The expression on her face was that of a noble lady who is well used to handling the ladies at the capital.

"Sure" 

The two friends hugged each other one last time before heading toward their respective rooms.

"See you at the capital" Angelica said, as she waved her hand without looking back as she walked away.

The two friends parted ways not knowing that it would take a long time before they met each other again.

Chirpy dashed towards the bed as soon as Angelica opened the doors. He laid down on the bed and wagged her tail, waiting for Angelica to return. Angelica took a hot shower and changed into a comfortable pair of t-shirt and pants. She had clothes custom-made to her convenience as she found it hard to sleep in a nightgown.

"You have got to be kidding me"

Angelica stood in front of her bed with her hands on her hips. Chirpy was rolling all over the place, making a mess of the sheets.

"Scoot over" 

Angelica waved her hand at the furball in front of her. She fell face down on the bed and pressed a pillow on top of her head. 

Chirpy nudged close to her and rested his head on her back.

Feeling the warmth Angelica pulled the quilt over the two of them with her head still under the pillow and covered them both completely. This was their usual sleeping posture whenever they felt stressed.

For any onlookers, the posture they were in would appear like the aftermath of someone strangled by a pillow. 

There have also been a few occasions in which the maids who came to wake Angelica up ended up running out screaming in fear.

'It wasn't on purpose'

Feeling tired, Angelica closed her eyes and tried to sleep. As the fatigue crept in, she felt her consciousness drift away in the comfortable warmth.

It was past midnight when the door to Angelica's room opened.

A pair of shadows fell over Angelica, who was deep asleep. Chirpy let out a low growl from inside the quilt when he felt a presence near them. He wiggled his way out of the quilt, pulling it down in the process, and looked in the direction of the shadows. 

He stood on guard ready to pounce as the presence got near and near.

*woof*

Chirpy relaxed and let out a small bark when he realized who it was that entered the room.

"Shhhh. Don't wake her up" 

Rosaline whispered putting a finger on her lips as Lorenz motioned Chirpy to calm down.

Lorenz and Rosaline stepped closer to the bed and patted Chirpy's head. 

"Good boy. You are taking good care of her"

"Yes. Chirpy is a good boy"

Chirpy let out a whine at their touch. Aside from Angelica, they were among the few people he was fond of. The only human in the family who was his mortal enemy was Angelica's brother, Clive.

"She's sleeping like this again" Lorenz muttered, removing the pillow on top of Angelica's head. 

He gently lifted her head, placed the pillow underneath her head, and pulled the quilt over her.

Angelica squirmed a little in her sleep and let out a small groan of pain.

"Ugh.."

"It's alright" 

Rosaline stroked her daughter's face. She sat on the bed beside Angelica with Lorenz standing by her side.

"Hmmm" 

Angelica's furrowed brows before relaxing at the familiar touch. Before long, she was back in slumberland.

"How long are we going be like this?"

Rosaline had been anxious all day long. It was because Angelica disappeared as soon as the sun was up and returned only at nightfall. 

While she understood that it was Angelica's own way of coping with grief she still could not bring herself to accept it. She was afraid that if this pattern continued, she would also lose her beloved daughter for good.

"I'm worried, Dear. I feel like we are losing her" 

Rosaline turned towards her husband when he put a hand on her shoulder. Her voice was muffled and exhausted. She leaned her head on her husband's chest and closed her eyes.

"She will be fine" 

Lorenz caressed Rosalie's head with love. He raised her face and placed a feathery kiss on her forehead to reassure her fears.

"We will be fine"

The couple watched their daughter sleep for some time. Then they kissed her goodnight and closed the door on their way out.