The silence lingered on after my words and part of me wondered if she had left and I just didn't hear her walk away. I decided to take a chance and glanced up just slightly making sure to seem like I was awaiting her reply. Unfortunately, she was still there but it did seem like her anger had dissipated a little. Finally, after a good couple of minutes, she seemed to relax and opened her mouth to reply. "I would like that very much. Get out of my sight and stay out of it the rest of the day." with that reply, she and her maid continued past me with their heads held high as if nothing had happened. I relaxed and the staff around the room hurried away from the scene as if they just remembered what they were doing. Sighing, I stood and smoothed out my skirts before heading toward the dining room. I know I had said I would return to my room but I was hungry and there was little chance Asikina would return to the dining hall since breakfast was over.

As I went to the kitchen and began preparing my food after putting on an apron I wondered what had caused my cousin to become quick to anger in the first place. I made a note to ask Lisa, my only friend in the entire manor if she knew what was going on. Lisa was a maid in my uncle's manor and had been for many years. Although she wasn't my maid, as I wasn't allowed to have one due to something Asikina had done, she was someone I trusted and thought of as a friend. She also loved to gossip and tell me what was happening around the manor. She always seemed to know what was going on. Finishing my food, I replaced the apron on its hook and continued to the dining room after a quick clean-up. If something big had happened usually the manor staff would be talking about it although I typically ignored what they did to ensure I never heard them talk about me. But it was unusual as to why Asikina had become so angry so quickly earlier. Usually, she would just ignore me like always so I hadn't expected an outburst from her.

After finishing my breakfast, I decided to head toward the gardens where Lisa and I typically met up to talk. I was early so I took a walk amongst the opals. They had been my mother's favorite flower and in turn, became mine as well. As I stood there I could almost see us sitting in the midst of them giggling and playing together. I smiled at the memory. I missed my mother truly. She was the only person who loved or cared about me in this world. Getting lost in the memory I didn't notice it right away but after a moment longer I realized that something was shimmering above the flowers. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be floating. It was purple with hints of blue thrown in. Sadly just as quickly as I saw it it was gone again. Looking around I tried to find it again but I wasn't able to find it. Huffing at not being able to find whatever it was I didn't notice I wasn't alone at first.

"Is something the matter, Zakina?" Turning I saw Lisa and my smile returned. "I thought I'd seen something but it's gone now." I took another glance around before turning my full attention to my friend and smiling. "I hope your morning has been well. Mine has been...to say the least." Lisa giggled lightly at my comment and wrapped her arms around my right arm. "So I heard. Seems Lady Asikina has already started her rebellion against her father's summons this morning. Seems her debutant ball has been postponed." We took a turn around the opals before finding a shady place to sit done to talk. "Why was her debutant ball postponed?" Lisa grinned at me after I asked this and I just knew she was aware of the reason. "The Count said he couldn't quite 'afford' to have it at that time so he is putting it off for a little bit until he can. Apparently, Lady Asikina wants it to be just as grand as Lady Marisol, daughter of the Marquise." I raised my brows at her words. My cousin wished for such a grand ball when we could barely afford what a normal count could afford for a ball.

After hearing her words shocked me, to say the least. Shaking my head I tried to think of what to say in response. "She knows we cannot afford such a grand ball but she insists on being even grander. We will go bankrupt if she is allowed to continue. I hate speaking of my cousin like this but I hope she doesn't bankrupt the family with her ball." Lisa nodded hearing my words. We were all worried about the finances of the household. But my uncle wanted the best for his precious daughter so we had to endure it while we were here. We continued talking for a short while before Lisa had to return to her work.