“My lady, are you finished?” Angeline called from behind the door.

“Just a moment!” For all my thinking, none of it would matter if I couldn’t speak to Lord Rannon.

…

The dining room matched the breakfast room with its shimmering, navy velour drapes and gold detailing. And the food was downright godly. How long has it been since I ate a full meal that was cooked and not microwaved?! I wondered, mesmerized by the way the chicken melted in my mouth.

Angeline looked on from the corner of the room, and, truth be told, it made me uncomfortable to devour my meal iike a rabid beast while she watched.

“Do you want to join?” I said, wiping away crumbs from the brioche bread with a table napkin.

“I wouldn’t dare, my lady.”

I didn’t have the energy to argue with her. “Suit yourself.”

I finished off my plate sooner than expected, but, if all went well, I figured I’d have plenty more chances to eat like this again.

“Would you like to retire to your quarters now, my lady?” Angeline asked, her gaze turned to the floor.

“Sure, but can I ask you a question?”

“Anything, my lady.”

“Does this place have Metflix?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Metflix. Y’know, the streaming platform? Has a ton of shows and movies?”

“I’m afraid not, but we do have a DVD and film collection spanning back to the 1900s, if you’d--”

“Yes! Yes, take me there right now!”

…

You know that moment when the Beast shows Beauty a grand library to win her favour? I suddenly understood it then; my eyes carried me from shelf to shelf counting every title I knew or wanted to know. Lord Rannon must have lied. This was definitely heaven.

No bills, no cooking, no chores, and a whole library of movies to watch for eternity? Yeah, this has gotta be heaven.

Finally finding myself in the fantasy section, I snatched up every Lord of the Rings movie I wanted to watch that night, and, from the second floor, I called to Angeline, “Hey! What about internet? Do you have that?!”

“No, I’m afraid not, my lady!” She called back.

“How about a phone?!”

“No, my lady!”

Yeah, figures, I scoffed. It was weird, though. This place had running water and electricity and DVDs, but no internet? No cellphones? Not even a landline? I knew Lord Rannon was eccentric, obviously, but, adding the fact that my last memory was dying and that he said he wasn’t human, wasn’t this just not adding up?

Still, I wasn’t in the mood for thinking hard. I should just enjoy my time here. However long it lasts. He did tell me to try to relax, didn’t he?

…

Angeline took me to the manor’s home theater, and I had to wonder just how many rooms exactly were in the mansion. It looked big from the outside, but being inside made me realise just how huge it really was.

Like every other room here, it was gorgeous. While the lights were on, you could see the navy velour cushions lined up in 2 spacious rows and the soft, matte black carpeting beneath them. Each of the chairs had a button on the left armrest, which, when pressed, turned it from a loveseat to a recliner. That wasn’t even getting started on the snack bar.

“Does this get restocked regularly?” I said, pressing my hands the glass casing. My mouth was watering just looking at the chocolate bars and candies inside.

“It does.” Angeline replied, flicking the popcorn machine on.

“It’s a lot of snacks, though. Does he come here often?”

“He does. Guests sometimes visit as well.”

“I can imagine…Can I get one of these?”

“You may.” She nodded, barely sparing me a glance.

Slinking around the bar, I swiped 5 bars and a bag of gummies. “Can I have a box?” I motioned towards the popcorn, now popping its way towards the top of the container. The scent of it and its buttery glory was tempting me.

Angeline pivoted, her brow raised. She passed a critical gaze over the snacks overflowing in my arms before replying, “Obviously I’m making it for you.”

“Really? But I didn’t ask.”

“I knew you would,” she scoffed, scooping out a boxful, “Cheese as well?”

Well, what’s that supposed to mean? And also, “Yes, please.” I huffed, but she was right.

“And, yes, I’ll be having some as well.”

“You knew I’d ask that too?”

“You’re rather easy to read, my lady.”

“I see.”

…

Angeline pressed hand to my shoulder, “My lady? My lady, I shall lead you to your quarters. You must wake up.”

I groaned in response, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I must have fallen asleep by the second movie, since the last thing I remembered was them talking to the tree people.

I was groggy, hardly walking straight or still, following Angeline’s silhouette in the candlelit halls. When I got particularly tired, I braced myself against the walls. It had grown quiet since the afternoon, when you could hear the clatter of cleaning supplies and dusters and the occasional chatter as the servants made their way through the manor.

“Your room, my lady.” Angeline motioned towards the entryway.

“Thank you, Angeline…” I murmured, my words slurred. “Say, will he be here tomorrow?”

“It is…likely.”

“Alright then…Good night…”

The bed somehow felt softer than it had in the morning. Maybe because of everything that had happened? Maybe because it felt more real now? I wasn’t sure. But, the one thing I did know was that it was too good to be true.