With each breath
let go of what doesn't
serve you
~Harpreet M. DAyal~
INSIDE THE CAR, Aurora couldn't stop thinking at her action earlier. What if she had angered the man? Will he going to punish her? If so, she'll have to accept it then. Like she's been doing for the past years of her life. Well she was just surprised for the grand car that she was to ride. She had never ridden any vehicle before in her whole life!
While on their way, Aurora was so amazed at everything she was seeing. Since no one was with her inside the grand car, she could not help but to kneeled on her seat and glued her face to the window to see further the wonderful view outside. It was her first time to see different kinds of things - houses in all shapes and colors, landscapes of whitened mountains and even the frozen stream! There were cars and buildings and even people! The beautiful look of the outside world.
It was what she's been missing on her life of isolation!
After hours of journey, the car slowly halts in to a stop, but Aurora was so immersed at her surroundings that she didn't realize Gideon was already waiting for her outside the opened door with the two escort men carrying an outspread translucent umbrella. When Aurora finally noticed their freezing forms - gawking at her - she quickly settled herself properly and made her way out of the car without difficulty.
She was then face to face to a beautiful peach colored house. Unconcerned of the falling snow and unfeeling of the biting cold, Aurora walked further away from her still stunned escorts to see closely the cute house.
This must be the person's house.
It wasn't small but it wasn't big either like her father's. It was an elegant medium size house and the design was too feminine.
Does that mean that the person was a woman?
"My Lady!" Gideon shouted.
Aurora looked at her three-companion remembering their presence but quickly lowered her head when she saw their unreadable expression, though she couldn't really tell for she have not look at them longer than a glimpse.
Had she done something?
Aurora saw Gideon went to her side with an umbrella on his one hand. He then raised his other hand giving Aurora the thought that he was going to hit her. She lowered her head waiting for the impact that never came. Instead, she felt a gentle pat in her head removing any fallen snow. She stayed unmoving until the man finished.
Aurora didn't know the sharp observation of Gideon to her reaction and behavior.
"There, all gone now. Let us go my Lady. It is so cold here, Im afraid you might catch a cold. It is better if we come inside your house."
Aurora's brow furrowed in confusion as she was led to the open gate. Her house, he says? Surely, she misheard the man. But she dares not ask the man escorting her. When they arrived at the front door, Gideon opened the door for her to enter first. Aurora did and was startled at the sudden booming voices that greets her.
"Welcome to your new home, Lady Aurora!"
She was so startled at their surprise that she took several steps back. If not for Gideon's fast reflexes she would have probably twisted her feet and trip. Aurora looked up at the massive built of Gideon and found that he was looking at her in concern. Their eyes met and a sudden emotion crossed in the man's eyes. When his gentle hold at her arms loosened, Aurora hastily snatched her arms and straightened her body into a standing position.
"Im sorry." She whispered soundlessly, lowering her eyes on the floor. Gideon barely heard the words that came out of her mouth. But to other watchful eyes who hadn't heard her are wondering at the Lady's unexpected reaction.
Didn't she like their surprise for her?
"Are you well, My Lady?" Gideon asked her instead, disregarding her given apology.
Aurora just nodded her head and looked at the two lined up servants. When she saw them watching her, they quickly bowed their heads.
"Who is the Head servant?" Gideon asked while looking at the still bowed servants.
An old woman steps out of the line. "I am Ellyn, Sir." presenting herself without looking at them.
"Now Ellyn, Is the food ready for Lady Aurora?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good."
Aurora then, was led to a closed door in the side part of the house. The lined-up servants were following them until they reached the dining room. In the medium size long table rests different dish of foods that Aurora have never seen in her entire life nor taste them.
Gideon walked towards the head seat and pulled it.
"My Lady, please have a seat. This food is solely prepared for you. "
Aurora stared at Gideon stunned. This food? For her? How - Why?
Seconds ticked by and the room waited in a silent breath. The servants were waiting for the lady to move. Afraid that if she didn't like what they prepared for her, they might be fired from their hard-earned work. Gideon stared at the unmoved lady in front of him. Waiting for any kind of reactions. Generally, every lady in her position will act arrogantly and demand other foods or complain on why the foods is not to her liking.
Aurora looked at the servants lined up in one side of the table. In the very front was the middle-aged Ellyn. All with bowed heads and waiting for her order. Aurora returned her eyes to Gideon's lower body and to the offered seat.
This....
Aurora walked with small steps toward her small distance with Gideon, ready to stop and retreat if someone ever stops her.
She sat at the chair and watched as a servant come to her side and served her plate with different foods. But instead of eating, Aurora waited for the others to take their seat as she always does whenever on her father's household the time for food comes but seconds ticked by and no one move.
As a minute passed by, Aurora isn't still eating, all the present servants are starting to sweat even though the weather is bitingly cold and get nervous from waiting for their new mistress.
Gideon that is standing behind Aurora started to get impatient. The silent girl neither move nor talk.
"My Lady, are the foods not to your liking?"
Aurora raised her head and look at Gideon with her furrowed brows.
Why is he asking her that question now? And why were they all standing aside as if shes an important guest of this house when in fact, she was just a nobody?
Aurora at her perplexed expression, blurted out her own thoughts.
"Shouldnt we all eat together?" she mumbled and looked to the people around her.
All the servants gaped at her while Gideon looked at Aurora weirdly.
What the hell? Just when did the master asked for her servants to sit levelly with her? Let alone, eat with her? Aurora had no idea that — that simple and innocent question led her to be the oddest lady in her new home.
When the servants were ordered to leave by Gideon, Aurora thought that she had asked a wrong question, so when Gideon sat on her left side and started to put some foods on his own plates she was startled and just stared at the man. When Gideon caught her staring, she quickly looks down and stared at her prepared food.
"Please eat, my Lady, or else the food will turn cold."
Aurora nodded and eat the served foods on her plate. Just after a few munches, Aurora stops eating and stared at the barely eaten food. For the first time in her life, she tastes food that is beyond a servants food. It is so delicious that she wanted to eat all of them but was afraid for the man beside her. How could she want to eat all of these when there are other servants who havent even eat?
How could a servant be this special to be feed like this? Aurora wondered to herself.
After eating a seven-spoonful food, shes full. Aurora then got up on her seat, grabbed her plate and went to the kitchen to wash her own plate. Gideon was left with mouth-open as he watches his Lords new concubine strangely.
This, just what the lady is doing?