Chapter 9
***
Sponsored by LC. Thank you ❤️ (2/5)
***
"She's as dexterous as she is spunky."
Late in the afternoon, Mrs. Zendle brought someone into Amber's room.
"Hi, Amber. I'm Meti."
The girl, who was introduced as her dedicated maid, looked a year or two younger than Amber.
She had dark brown hair and chocolate eyes and smiled broadly. She was adorable, with light freckles on each cheek, and Amber tilted her head at the sight.
"She's Aiden Fermal's younger sister."
Her rosy lips parted in a small smile.
Mrs. Zendle, who had answered her question, patted Meti on the shoulder. Her eyes were filled with trust.
"Please take care of me.........."
Amber stopped talking and looked at Mrs. Zendle. Like her, Meti was a commoner.
But she was different, even if they were in the same situation. She was a commoner, but also a noble child, and it was natural for her to wonder how she should behave. Seeing Meti for the first time, Amber found it hard to keep her voice neutral.
"She's on the same page as us, so make yourself comfortable."
Mrs. Zendle, sensing Amber's hesitation, offered a soothing explanation.
Amber smiled and spoke up.
"I'm sure we'll need your help a lot in the future, so please be good to me."
It was her first time seeing Meti. She knew the rules: unless she was a true noble, deference was the natural courtesy.
"Lady Amber, you are a noblewoman, so you may speak as you please."
No nobleman would be deferential to a maid. Meti’s determination showed behind her expression of regret that it would be dangerous for a lady to lower herself, considering the eyes of those around her.
“...I will do that. Please take care of me from now on.”
Despite the awkwardness of her delayed response, Amber realized that she had no choice but to accept Meti’s words.
The only people her age around her were her older sister Lena, who was two years older, and Mr. Finley's son Ryan. Being a stranger in a strange place was still difficult.
"I'm two years younger than the lady, so I really hope you’ll feel comfortable.”
Unlike her brother, who was reserved and cautious, Meti was cheerful and full of energy. Amber thought they seemed to have the same good vibes.
She was both intrigued and grateful for Meti’s casual approach. At Amber's awkward smile, Mrs. Zendle stepped forward.
"Meti. Don't make the young lady uncomfortable."
Meti had been excited for days at the prospect of seeing someone her age, and while she knew why she was coming to Bliss Manor, the idea of companionship gave her an irresistible thrill.
She was the youngest person in the mansion. The mansion was small for its size, but every single one of them was a part of the revolution.
The serious and sensitive atmosphere of the mansion often made her feel uncomfortable at her tender age, so it was no wonder she was excited by the news she heard.
But Mrs. Zendle was scolding her, and Met’s lips pouted.
"It's okay, I'm already looking forward to all the fun we’re going to have."
Amber's words made Meti’s eyes widen and she nodded. It was a sign of affirmation that they could be really good friends. A smile drew itself across her bright face.
"And Mrs. Zendle."
Mrs. Zendle turned to Amber as Amber called her softly. The old woman’s soft gray eyes narrowed at the corners. She reminded her of her mother.
"Please, Mrs. Zendle, please treat me comfortably, you know. I’m just………”
Even for s person who knew her situation, the word commoner didn't come easily. Neither the atmosphere here nor the revolution and the people who joined it were familiar.
‘Everyone at Bliss Manor is good.’
They were united in one cause, and their faith in each other was strong. Imperials and nobles. There were a lot of commoners, but they had long since disappeared from Bliss Manor.
So there's nothing to worry about, Mr. Finley said.
The unfamiliarity of the place and the strangers was still too much for Amber. It would take time for her to feel as comfortable as Mr. Finley had said.
"Miss Amber. You can't do that, you know, you have to be careful at all times, in all situations, to serve His Highness' will, because one mistake could hurt so many people. To me, you will always be Viscount Kaida’s daughter."
When comfort becomes familiar, responsibility is forgotten.
It happens to the best of us. One small mistake at any moment could have ruined everything.
Living in the moment as if it would be the last meant that there was no culpability. The moment you lose the tension, everything might be irreversible.
When she finished, Mrs. Zendle looked at Meti. She gave her a look that told her to always be mindful as long as she was part of the revolution.
That hard stare seemed to reach Amber as well. She nodded, unable to help herself.
"From now on, you’ll be joining me for dinner."
Amber's eyes tightened at the mention of dinner, but her face softened at the mention of joining Mrs. Zendle.
Mrs. Zendle, sensing the look of unease, hastened to add,
"After all, you are officially His Highness’s fiancée. If, by any chance, you wish to speak with His Highness......."
Before she could finish, Amber shook her head.
"No. I like being with you, I think it's a really good idea."
Her voice was urgent as she clasped her hands together. Mrs. Zendle laughed softly at the sight. There was no denying that Grand Duke Cliffrid was a difficult man.
For a woman from the small countryside, it might be more than difficult, it might be frightening living in the city.
"Don't worry. I'm in charge of your education, so you'll be with me for a while."
Amber's eyes lit up at the mention of education, even as she tensed at the thought.
"Very well then, Lady Amber. Let us get ready, and I will make you pretty."
Meti’s voice was filled with excitement as they got ready as if Amber was a glamorous aristocrat, conscious of the eyes of others.
"Please, please, please. Meti."
Her colorful eyes sparkled and shone. Mrs. Zendle and Meti both smiled, sensing a certain determination.
"Miss."
Mrs. Zendle called, and Amber met her eyes in the mirror.
"When someone is speaking to you, you must listen to what they have to say, and even if you are in a hurry, you must not cut them off mid-sentence, for manners are of the utmost importance when you are a member of a noble family."
They were talking about dinner earlier. She had interrupted Mrs. Zendle, fear overtaking her at the mention of the Grand Duke. As an educator, it was a valid point.
"I'll make sure that doesn't happen in the future."
The training had already begun. Her golden eyes were tense. Mrs. Zendle, her eyes clear, put an arm around Amber's shoulders and steadied her.
"You'll do fine, young lady, believe in yourself."
Amber had never heard such confident encouragement before. Her nose tingled at the sudden warmth. Amber nodded her head vigorously, as if making a vow. It was the best answer she could give in a situation where everything was so unfamiliar. Mrs. Zendle and Meti, smiling at each other, beamed at the woman in the mirror.
"I'll do my best."
She was a lovely woman.
When Amber walked away for a moment, they exchanged the same thought.
***
Deep, deserted night.
A black four-wheeled carriage drove through the plaza where Kirne Cathedral stood. Crossing to the east, a road led away from the bustling city and down the strait to a small island. The darkness that had fallen heavily and the dampness that had set in made the place feel dreary.
Shrouded in darkness, the island sank into silence. The only sound was the reeds rustling in the wind and the hooves of horses, neither fast nor slow.
The carriage drove into the island and stopped in front of a mansion.
The carriage door opened and a man emerged from the mansion.
"You have come, Your Highness."
An elderly gentleman greeted Listan with a bow.
"Has everyone arrived?"
"Yes. They are waiting."
The brown-haired gentleman, half covered in gray and half losing its original color, was Count Berheim. One of the three great nobles of the Reuben Empire, he wore a stern expression.
"Please enter."
Listan bowed to him with the same courtesy. A stiff air enveloped him as he stepped through the open door.
He entered the drawing room with Count Berheim. People sat around a large circular table. They all bowed to Listan. He greeted them in the same manner.
The meeting began with Listan taking a seat.
"What is it like inside the palace?"
A young man with dark hair and dark eyes spoke first. A minor duke of the Duchy of Klen, he was one of the great nobles.
The kindly-looking Duke of Klen looked at Listan with bloodshot eyes.
"It is as you know it. His Majesty has no will or reason to change."
A despicable, cowardly king with a lot of vanity and greed. The nobles who worshiped him as if he were a true king, eager to fill their family's coffers, were not loyal subjects, but mere minions.
Six years had passed since Dvor had taken the throne, but the dismal state of affairs in Reuben had not changed from that of his predecessor.
A king ignorant of the country's finances, and officials who used him to further their own personal agendas, left the people struggling to get through the day.
Throughout the entire process of organizing the revolution, the Arcana, the head of the government, was a shadow figure. It initiated and finalized priorities, and all funding for the movement came from it.
What looked like an ordinary mansion was the Arcana's base of operations in each region. A place where a lot of information was gathered and coordinated.
The mansion, hidden away in the pleasures of a small island, was the center of the revolutionary arcana and the heart of their leader, Listan Cliffrid.
***
Support me @ https://ko-fi.com/doraaaaaaaa
Write a comment