Angelique stared at the two kids as they looked around, avoiding her gaze with a boring look. She was dying inside out of grief. ‘Precious babies hate me!’ she thought. Angelique then remembered the gifts she got. She had stored the boxes in her dress pockets and could feel them shake. She gently lifted them out.
She handed them to the kids, shining another bright smile. “My Lord and Lady, your gifts,” she said. The children glanced at them and looked away. Angelique tried to turn to Julian for help, but he was engrossed in a conversation with his brother and sister-in-law.
Angelique put two of the boxes back in her pockets, only holding one. “These are puzzle boxes, you solve the puzzle and get inside the box. Each box has a special treat inside. Would you like to try?” Angelique said, showing how to move the boxes' tiles. The kids stared at it, and then the small girl lifted it out of Angelique’s hand.
Angelique watched, her joy growing as they fumbled with it. It took them five minutes, but eventually the door to the box popped up and they lifted the bag of toffee out. Angelique was so happy to see them, smiling at the reward in the box. “Do you like it? There’s two more?” Angelique said, handing them both the boxes. The kids nodded and ran off to a table in the hall, the boxes tucked beneath their arms.
Angelique stood up and brushed off her shoulder. ‘Children love bribes, especially candy bribes.’ she thought triumphantly.
Julian had reached the end of his discussion with the couple, and now they were turning their attention to Angelique. Their blue eyes seemed to pierce her soul. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Alishe Hinton, Alishen Roberta.” Angelique kept her head bowed until she heard the chuckle of Alishe Hinton.
“We are family! Please! Stand up! We didn't get to speak to you since the wedding, and my brother here hasn't spoken to me in a year!” Alishe Hinton and Alishen Roberta both broke out into a laugh. “We saw what you gave those kids, how kind of you. They are not that social, so it was a miracle you could even have them listen to you.” Roberta smiled at Hinton, and he nodded assuringly. “They are sweet, but picky children. I’m glad you gave them a gift they enjoy.”
Angelique let out a shaky breath. ‘I feel so happy right now. Like I just won a gold medal!’ Angelique turned to Julian with a triumphant grin. Julian had just finished a conversation with another man in a hood and turned with a grimace. He didn't acknowledge her and instead said, “Brother, when will you host another event?”
Hinton thoughtfully looked back at his wife. “Um, I believe the children’s birthday will be in a few weeks. You should come!” he smiled. ‘My my, what a happy couple.’ Angelique thought, daydreaming. ‘He always checks in with his wife, and they have two precious kiddies.’ A sharp jab broke her daydream. Julian had shoved her side with his elbow. “Yow! What the hell-”
“We will definitely attend your party in two weeks,” Julian said, his stone-cold face turned to Angelique as she rubbed her aching rib. “Screw you!” she whispered. The lovely couple before them seemed to still be shining with joy, and sparkles seemed to fly from their flowing hair.
“Brother, I believe it is time for me and my wife to retire. We shall see you once again, soon.” Julian said, bowing slightly and leaving, with Angelique’s wrist squeezed tightly in his hand. Her eyes watered a bit from the pain.
They passed the door, as Julian stomped through the dissipating crowds.
They got outside to a secluded place in the gardens, and Julian ordered their servants to keep their distance as the two traveled deeper into the sea of flora. Angelique struggled to free herself, but Julian was only holding tighter the more she struggled. “Let me go! You’ll snap my wrist!” she cried, hitting him with her heel. His grip tightened and she held back a yell.
Finally, he let her go, throwing her to the side and she held onto her swelled, blackened wrist. “What do you want!” she shouted, backing away from him. Julian stood shaking his head angrily, his hand holding his head. “I thought you couldn't get any worse. I was wrong. I can't even look at you.” he said.
Angelique’s head throbbed from the pain, and she slowly began to inch backward the way they came.
Julian kept shaking his head and said, “You went to the street and bullied Roscentia and her father, right? You took your anger out on them like you always do. You just had to kick them while they were down!”
Angelique stopped at his words. Her chest rose and fell, and her mind was racing. Her anger began to build and she could feel her heart about to explode. She took a deep breath and slowed her pace. “So you had someone follow me?”
“Of course, how can I trust a horrible demon like you.”
“When did you hear this information?”
“Just now, while you were talking to Hinton. Why do you want to know anyway? I already know what you did, you cant get out of this.”
“Do you believe it?”
“Yes, I know it is true without a doubt. You cruelly mistreated them, even after all you've done.”
Angelique lifted her good hand and slapped his face. The sound echoed through the woods. Before he could respond she took off running down the path, branches cutting at her flesh as they flew by. She could feel him behind her, reaching to grab and strangle her. She gasped for air as she ran. ‘I’m going to die. Again. Why does this keep happening to me!’
Angelique saw Minnielle anxiously pacing in the yard, and she shouted to her. Minnielle saw her in an instant, covered in scratches with a limp wrist at her side, and rushed to be by her side.
“What happened!” she shouted. Angelique’s vision was blurry and she looked around. Every single party-goer was inside, and wouldn't hear her. “Quickly, call a carriage we need to leave, now!” Minnielle and Angelique dashed into their carriage and the horses in the front cried as it tipped around corners.
Soon they were far from the party. Angelique let out a sigh when she saw they had reached the town. “Minnielle, I think I need a hospital,” Angelique said, looking at her wrist. The adrenaline had drowned out the pain, but it was probably broken.
...
The hospital was old fashioned. The lamplit room Angelique was sitting in was dim, and in the corner were rows of bandages. She had a wounded wrist, and it needed to be bandaged and unmoved for a long while. Angelique kindly paid the doctor helping her and left to the dark street.
“What do we do now, Angelique?” Minnielle said, huddling close to her. Angelique shook her head. “We can't go back to the house. But I don't feel like sleeping. I have work to do.” Angelique said. ‘ If not for the compliments I received from the angelic family, I would probably just collapse on the ground and sleep till I return to my old body.’ Angelique thought, lumbering down the stones. “Minnielle, I need help. I need to purchase the old Constante estate,” she said. Minnielle tapped her chin, thinking of all the places she had followed Angelique in the past. “I have some good news, Angelique,” Minnielle said, with a bright glow. "Let's head to the bank, I think it is still open."
...
Angelique and Minielle both stared at the house in front of them. “This is a Lorden estate, smaller than an Alishe. Still, it is beautiful.” Minnielle marveled. After a trip to the bank, paying the bank owner to open late, Angelique confirmed that the Constante estate belonged to her. She did regret how much she had to pay the bank owner to open, though.
Now, it loomed before them, dark and gloomy. “It seems in good condition, let's head inside,” Angelique said, joyfully hopping out of the carriage. They had sent home the man driving the carriage, and had been driving it themselves for quite some time. When they hopped down they ran to the doors and flew in, exhausted out of their minds. “The Constante family will need to be picked up at 6, so they probably won't mind us staying one night,” Angelique said, collapsing on the hard stone floors. She immediately fell asleep.
Angelique hid her bandaged wrist with a long maids glove that Minnielle had lent her, and they were off, riding their carriage to the house of Rebecca Constante. The carriage pulled to the front of their shack, where Rebecca and her father, who was looking slightly brighter, were waiting with a few sacks of possessions.
Angelique brought them back to the house and guided them inside. Rebecca stepped in and large tears poured down her face. She hiccuped and held her father close. “How long has it been since we’ve last lived here,” he said, rubbing his tired eyes. Angelique looked around, the light of day shining on the dusty steps. “According to the bank, there are paid maids still working in this house, they are only paid to visit once a week but I can change that,” Angelique said, helping Rebecca lift her bags.
Rebecca glanced over to Angelique as they both looked for a comfortable room. Her father was seated on a step below, waiting for them to return. “What's this all for, Angelique. In the back of my mind, I feel like you are doing this to just humiliate us, and kick us out of our home again.”
Angelique peeked into another room and motioned for Rebecca to see. “This room will do, lets help Lorden Constante inside.” Rebecca followed her and guided her father to the bed, giving him his medicine and closing the door behind her. “You didn't answer my question.”
“Of course I didn't, because I wanted to deal with the most important thing first. Now, let's deal with the next problem. Angelique walked into the home’s main office, where Minnielle was placing a pen and form. “This is all that is needed to transfer back your family home, and everything attached to it. As for your title, I will see what I can do.”
Rebecca signed the papers, and accepted them, still somewhat suspicious. “Well, Rebecca, that should be enough to prove that I mean no harm.” Angelique sat back on the couch that was centered in the office. “But, I do need to ask a favor.”
….
…..
Angelique rolled up her sleeves and stared at the ingredients on the shelves, her heart fluttering. The smell of the kitchen, like mixed spice and hardwood cutting boards, hit her nose. 'What a lovely kitchen.' Luckily, Rebecca had allowed her request, and her offer to cook their meals. Angelique pulled cooking supplies from the shelves and lit the fire for cooking. The set up was old fashioned but worked well enough for what she needed to make.
“What request do you want?” Rebecca said, still looking over the signed form. Angelique sighed. “I have been kicked out of my home. Can I stay here as a servant?” Rebecca looked up with a confused face. “A servant? You're a noble, you can't perform servant duties.” Angelique shook her head. “I know how to make medicinal soups to help your father recover.” Rebecca shook her head. “Why should I believe that.” Angelique held back a bit of frustration. Her mind was still stuck on how to prove it. “Well, I’ll cook both a soup, and a full meal for you and your father, and I’ll even eat some to prove it is not poisoned. Then you can prove for yourself.”
Angelique wiped her sweat with the back of her hand, plating the food she prepared. ‘Some ingredients I had to conjure with magic, like meats and nutritious vegetables. But it should have turned out alright.’ Angelique called Minnielle to help her lift the dishes and carried them to the dining room. Rebecca was wiping off the table when she saw the food enter, it's aroma swept the room. Her stomach growled loudly.
The food was served quickly, and Angelique sat beside Rebecca. Rebecca first ordered Angelique to have a taste of each meal, which she did, before eating it herself. Rebecca first took a bite of the main dish, pork cutlet with a mushroom sauce.
The bite was swallowed, and a calmness washed over her, like all the pain in her body was lifted. The warm, soft, and flavorful bite lingered in her memory. She began to finish off the plate in a hurry, hiding her joy from Angelique. Next, she tried the medicine soup for her father. The soup tasted hearty and delicious and she could see it had nutritious additions to benefit her father's health. After the first swallow, she again felt the healing sensation. ‘How strange, this food makes you feel like you're floating.’ Rebecca thought, carrying the soup up the stairs to her father.
After leaving the soup, Rebecca stepped out and closed the door. Angelique stood, leaning on the handrail outside. “I’ve decided, you can stay. You cook well, I won't deny it. But if my father's health worsens, it will be you who is to blame.”
Angelique smiled and stretched her arms. “Thank you, now, where are the maid’s quarters, I’ll stay there.” Rebecca let out a cough of surprise. ‘This woman, she's acting so strange now. It’s like she had a weird twin sister hidden for her entire life.’
The maid's quarters were small and cozy. Angelique collapsed on her bed as soon as Rebecca left to guide Minnielle to the next-door room. The bed shook with her every movement as she lifted herself up to sit. The mirror on her wall was a bit foggy, but Angelique could now see her face. It had scabbed scratches all over, and her hair was dirty. ‘I look like a trainwreck. I can't believe Minnielle let me pick Rebecca up looking like this.’ she laughed to herself. Her eye fell on her left-hand wrist. The swelling had gone down, but the black bruise was still bleeding through the bandage. No pain could be felt. ‘It’s strange, I've been thrown against a wall, broken my wrist, and fallen on my back, but the pain goes away by the next day.’
Angelique rubbed the headache from her forehead and fell back on the creaky bed. ‘It's too much to be confused about, I just want to sleep.’ Angelique closed her eyes and drifted off.
In her mind, she was running at a high speed, branches of gnarled trees clinging to her arms and dress, pulling her back as a hungry wolf chased her.
Its gleaming teeth and blue eyes seemed to penetrate her soul, and her breathing stopped. Angelique woke up to darkness, her breath catching as a tear rolled down her cheek. “What a horrible nightmare.”
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