Xander strolled down the gardens, the hedges high up beside him like walls, up ahead was the bed of roses of many colours. In his spare time this was where Xander would hang out, he enjoyed the outdoors and the quiet from his parents. Though most of the times his parents were rarely home, mainly out for business matters. Something that he too would pick up once he became the next head of the family. He grinned at the thought. That would mean no more free time to do as I please.
Kneeling down to the garden bed closest to him, he gently touched the rose petals. They felt dry and bristly. His eyebrows creased slightly in confusion; hasn’t the gardener been taking care of these? His thoughts were disturbed by approaching footsteps; he glanced down the path he had come from to see a gardener carrying a huge bucket of water, filled to the brim, with two shaking hands.
He stood up and rushed over to help them. “I’ll take that, you shouldn’t have filled it up so mu-” his voice broke off as the gardener lifted their head to face Xander.
Instead of the elderly man who usually did the gardening, it was a girl, no younger than himself. Her bright golden eyes widened in shock when she saw him. Without thinking she let go of the bucket and immediately stepped back, looking up at him from beneath the huge hat she wore. “I was told no one usually comes here besides the gardeners,” her voice, although gentle, was strong and confident.
Xander caught the bucket in time before spilling any of the contents. He chuckled in response. “I sometimes come here to clear my head.”
The girl folded her arms across her chest; the loose green clothes were so baggy on her that it was difficult to tell, without looking at her face, that she was a girl. “Right, I guess even rich people need to clear their minds of their oh so busy lives.”
He disregarded her remark and placed the bucket down on the ground. “Where’s the old man? As far as I’m aware, he’s the one who tends to the roses and this side of the garden.”
The girl turned her head away from Xander and shrugged. “He told me to do the roses from now on; I guess he got tired of doing so many duties I don’t blame him though; he gets pushed to do so much and he’s so frail.”
Her hair was tucked under the hat but lose strands of black hair hung around her face, her golden eyes focused on the young man before her. “And what about you, what troubles are you trying to clear your mind from?”
The corner of Xander’s lips curved slightly into an amused smile, he turned back to the roses, and his expression seemed to relax. “I’m tired of being rushed to marry some rich girl whom I don’t even know.” He heard the girl chuckle and glanced up to her, looking at her questioningly.
“Oh, I never thought rich people would ever complain, men especially. I mean, he’s free to choose from many beautiful rich girls in the country, yet here you are being picky. I guess some of you do have a soul.” she teased.
Xander frowned slightly and smiled, looking back to the roses. “My father told me that it doesn’t matter, even though our business is number one in this town, he wants me to marry one of the many girls he has lined up. He’s organised for me to meet with all 7 of them.”
The girl lightly snorted before laughing. “And how many have you rejected”
“3 so far,” he said bluntly. He waited for a smart remark from her but after a few seconds of silence he glanced up to her.
“You really are high maintenance,”
“You’re one to talk, you’ve got a pretty rude mouth for someone in your position,” he stood up, stretching his arms above his head. “You haven’t even given me your name.”
“I’m not rude, I just say things as they are. At least I don’t boss people around,” she eyed him from head to toe, folding her arms across her chest once more. “You can call me Lyrah.”
Before he could give her his name, he could hear the voice of a frail old man calling from the other side of the garden hedge. He looked to Lyrah who picked up the bucket, with a bit of effort, and began walking off. “You’re not even going to say bye?” he called out to her.
Lyrah managed to let one hand free as she waved at him with her back to him as she walked away. “I’ll see you another time.” and with that, she disappeared behind the garden hedge.
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