Counting the days, it has already been a week since Celestine arrived and started living in the Governor's residence. The season, from the midst of autumn, has finally arrived at its last, the wind getting colder and colder.
Within this week, Celestine spent her time, training her swordsmanship to her heart's content. The time she spent doing so, kept her self patched up, in both her mind, heart, and soul.
She was thankful towards Meira, who has now started treating her as a friend, instead of being stuck in a master and servant relationship.
Though lonely, missing her dear family, she strengthened her heart, and only wished for them to be in their best conditions because, despite her loneliness, she was still living under a roof, a lavish life at that.
Luckily, Roux has left her all alone, but from time to time, is visiting her bringing various gifts. His father, however, was the exact opposite, always giving her amorous gazes whenever they cross sights when meeting, earning a disgusted scowl from Celestine's face.
It seemed like the father and son duo are both busy tending towards their official political problems, seeing that various figures throughout the city kept visiting the Governor's office, the two not being able to make time to relax for themselves, seeing that they have not made any luxurious feast nor invited anyone, except those who are frantically vising the office.
Aside from that, Celestine has not noticed anything too bothersome. She was thankful that she need not to mingle with the both of them during her stay, at least in that way, she can keep her freedom, to some extent.
Each day seemed like a peaceful life, for it was filled with wine and delicious food, as well as her most favorite form of entertainment, dancing, and swordplay. She could repeat to do so, as many times as she pleases. Though Celestine tried, she felt restless not being able to do anything well for herself.
She was not used to this life. She never did anything to make her sweat at a good cause. She was not earning anything but is only further delving into her cage.
Oh, how she missed the buzzing streets of Maylea. Seeing the wonderful smiles of her sisters and guests, hearing the laughter created by the people. She missed the times where she argued with her sisters, later making up, buying clothes at the market. She missed her mother, Tanith. Their bonding, and hearing her voice, her words that contained wisdom.
Here was quiet, far too quiet for her liking. She would rather spend her time at the bustling streets of Maylea with her family rather than stay at this peaceful, yet, humble abode by herself.
Sighing, Celestine finally dropped the sword that she has been holding. Looking up towards the brightly lit stars in the sky.
It was another moonless night.
Feeling relieved, she wiped the sweat on her forehead using the end of her robe.
It was already night, the soft breeze in the air, flowing across her lightly damp from sweat skin. She looked at her newly made friend and smiled, seeing that she was already napping while sitting down at a stone bench. She must have felt sleepy, as she has been training herself for far too long, from the afternoon and now, it was already dark.
She walked towards the girl and lightly tapped her at her shoulder. "Meira, wake up. I'm done for today." Celestine said, whispering. She did not want to startle the girl, seeing as she was already sleeping peacefully but she cannot leave her out here in the cold. She did not want her to get sick.
Waking up, Meira smiled back at her. "At last, you're finally done, Celestine." She said, rubbing her eyes as she yawned.
Chuckling, Celestine nodded her head. "You got it right, I'm done. So hurry up and stand, we're going to eat." As Celestine mentioned eating, suddenly, both of their tummies let out a growling sound.
The both of them looked at each other, before releasing a hearty laugh. They were indeed so hungry. Celestine has been moving around her body since noon while Meira has been waiting for her to finish. They have not eaten anything for a quarter of the day.
"Let's go, it looks like I'm not the only one whose starving." Meira said, smiling, before following Celestine who was leading the way back to her room.
As both of them arrived at Celestine's room, Celestine immediately flopped down to her bed. "I'm so tired." she said, grunting.
Smiling at her friend, Meira replied, "In the meantime, just rest, I will be getting your food now." Before leaving the room.
Celestine fixed her position on the bed, deciding to follow through with Meira's suggestion, however, while waiting, because of her extreme tiredness, she started feeling sleepy and for a few minutes of trying to fight it off, she finally drifted off to her dreams.
...
The scene in front of her played out far too fast.
As the storekeeper approached her, shouting, "You little thief!" Before aiming to throw a rock that he has been holding towards her.
Not knowing what to do, she could only stare at the incoming rock before finally closing her eyes. She did not know what to do but only to stand still and wait for the rock to hit her.
But somehow, it did not happen.
Instead, she felt a warm embrace, the heat, spreading throughout her body, replacing her anxiousness with warmth.
She felt safe.
Opening her eyes, she could see the boy that she was talking to earlier, protecting her.
But why? Why would the boy save her?
Suddenly, she felt the boy's warm breath over her ears, lightly whispering, "Save yourself." She can feel a light shudder flow through her body.
She looked up, meeting the boy's gentle eyes, far from the mocking one that he has given her earlier.
Nodding her head, the boy released her from his arms, giving him one last look, she ran away, not noticing the comb that she has dropped in the process.
She never dared to look back, though she wished that she did.
...
Due to a sudden noise, Celestine woke up from her dream.
She was gasping for a bit, still tired like she felt the emotions running over her body throughout that dream.
Her memories started to rush back in her mind, the boy, there was actually a boy, that's right. Apart from her mother's words, there was also a boy that night. He was the one who made her realize her wrong interpretation and her wrongdoings... Despite laughing at her, in the end, he was the one who saved her from that storekeeper.
Thinking about it, she never knew what happened to the boy as she left him behind. Everything seemed to slip out of her mind. Yet, why was she remembering all of this now? Specifically in her dreams?
Shaking her head, Celestine stood out from the bed, fixing her attire. She looked out from the window, she can hear crickets chirping. It was already deep in the night.
Sighing, she went towards the wonderful aroma of food towards her room's table. Meira has left the food, not waking her up. She probably saw that she was tired from all of her training since earlier, thus, not wanting to disturb her from her sleep.
"Meira?" Celestine tried to call her out. She was always by her door, only leaving once she has allowed her to, but Meira did not answer, she was not there.
Celestine shrugged, maybe she has already retired? It was already nighttime too. "I just hope that she has already eaten." She said, before sitting down and proceeding to eat the food that was prepared for her, it was still quite hot.
As she finished, she put all of the plates back on its tray. Standing up, she thought to just bring it back towards the maid servant's quarters before proceeding to take a bath.
Nodding, Celestine decided to do as she planned. She left her room, carrying the tray in both of her hands, careful to not let them slip. She did not want to bother anyone just because of her clumsy mistake.
She arrived at the maid servant's quarters. There were a few that have still been working, cleaning up.
Looking around, she asked for her friend. "Have you seen Meira?" She asked another female servant, however, the servant only shook her head. "Apologies, Young Mistress. Meira has bot yet returned ever since she brought your food." She said.
She knotted her eyebrows, "Whatever do you mean? She was not in my room when I woke up, only the food was delivered and prepared." She said, pressing the servant.
Once again shaking her head, her body, lightly shaking, the servant apologized. "I am sorry, Young Mistress, I truly do not know of Meira's location. I am deeply sorry." She said, bowing her head.
Seeing that she was unnecessarily putting the servant in an uncomfortable situation, Celestine decided not to push her for information any further, for it seemed like she was indeed telling the truth. She really did not know where Meira is.
Bowing, Celestine apologized towards the servant. "No, I am sorry for my actions, I didn't mean to scare you." She said, smiling, but the maidservant only took that as her signal to finally be able to leave, bowing before running away, hastily at that.
Once again, Celestine noticed the odd reactions that she has been getting from the people that she has encountered inside the residence. It seemed like all of them were to some extent, scared at their Masters? At least that is how she has viewed it. Meira's reaction was also like that when she first tried to interact with her.
Finally leaving the maid's quarters, Celestine decided to look for Meira once more... But where? Thinking about it, she doesn't really know anything about her, except for the fact that she serves the Maynard Family.
Sighing, she thought of herself as a bad friend. She has only been talking about herself, but never did she ask her newly made friend about herself. It seems like what Nesryn said about her was true, she was indeed selfish.
Comments (0)
See all