"Madame! Madame! Where are you Madame Margaret? Oh! Madam Margaret, there you are. I finally found you. I went into town today and... I think I found what you're looking for!" Lucy exclaims running after a fancy lady in a big poofy pink decorated dress with long curly red hair.
"What is it now Lucy I have a meeting with the general very soon, I need to get ready. I'm hoping he'll take a fancy for me, I need a husband and soon, before people start to figure out my father died months ago." She says walking quickly down the hall.
"Yes, well, I understand but I found a perfect candidate to be your daughter. She's absolutely stunning and at a perfect age where she doesn't need constant supervision, and she has excellent manners." Lucy says running out of breath trying to keep up with Madame Margaret.
"Oh, wonderful! I expect to meet her when I get out of my meeting with the general, and if everything goes according to plan, he will be my husband. You have three hours." Madame Margaret runs into the room and slams the door in Lucy's face.
Lucy immediately runs out of a large building made of decorative marble and stone and through a beautiful garden with all kinds of trees, flowers and plants, and down a stone pathway that leads into the busy streets of the city. When Lucy finally gets to the edge of town it's already been an hour, so she has to hurry to the orphanage which is just a little ways down a dirt road from the city.
When Lucy finally gets to the orphanage she rushes through the door and down the small halls of the little orphanage building. When she reaches the door to Miss Isabelle's office she sees a worker and demands to see Miss Isabelle right away. Lucy hurrys in and takes a seat to wait for Miss Isabelle, she tries her best to slow her breathing so as not to look suspicious.
"Ah! Lucy, your back so soon, I didn't expect you back till sometime next week. Is there anything I can help you with?" Says Miss Isabelle slightly annoyed at the sudden appearance of Lucy.
"Yes, well some things came up. Well any way, that's besides the point. I would like to adopt Lilaine. I was hoping we could get the papers filled out, and I could take her back with me by the time I leave today." Lucy says still taking shallow breaths.
"What! This is very unexpected, I'm not sure if we can get that all done at this late hour. Lily would have to pack her things, you would still have to sign all the papers, and not to mention I would need to send them to the palace and get one of the court dukes to sign off on all the papers, and since the orphanage is so close to the main city the king himself will probably have to sign the papers since this is in his domain." Miss Isabelle says sitting awestruck and driven with panic at all the suddenness of what's happening.
"Oh, well that's no problem, I have many relations. I can take the paperwork and Liliane, and get it signed tomorrow and sent back."
"I'm sorry I can't do that, I am her legal guardian, and I can't hand her off until the papers are signed. If you have relations I can get your name and tell them it's urgent. Otherwise it will have to go through a line up of palace officials."
"No, no. That won't be necessary, I guess I'll have to wait." Lucy signs the papers and hands them back to Miss Isabelle. "Thank you for your time. Good evening." She then leaves and heads back to the city.
Some time later in a fancy room decorated with expensive artifacts, lush curtains and a large desk in front of a balcony terrace. The whole room is lined in large bookshelves that go to the ceiling and filled to the brim with old ancient texts. Lucy is sitting on a large plush couch in the middle of the room preparing tea and pacing around the room anxiously, as if waiting for something. Just then the doors burst open and in walks the gorgeous lady, Lucy was talking to earlier, in an overly large and poofy dress, Madam Margaret.
"Lucy!" Lucy hands Margaret a cup of tea as she sits down. "Thank you.���
"You seem to be in a good mood, I take it the meeting with General Markus went well?" She says before pouring herself a cup of tea and sitting back down on the couch.
"Yes, it did. So I need you to start preparing the wedding. I don't want it too big, just a small one at the cathedral. We can't let it get out that my father is dead by having such a big wedding. Anyway enough of that, it's time I met my new daughter. I assume she's in her chambers. I had them prepared after you left, since I don't see her here." She gets up and starts walking toward the door.
"Well, actually…. she's not here"
"Excuse me! Why Not! Did I not tell you to have her with you so I could meet her as soon as I got out of my meeting with the general!"
"Y-y-you d-did."
"So… Why. Isn't. She. Here. I am losing my patience with you."
"B-Because the caretaker said I needed to sign paperwork and have it approved by a duke. Or maybe even the king himself."
"Ugh so troublesome. Fine, I'll go down there myself."
After the little scuffle, Madame Margaret storms out of the room practically fuming with rage. She calls up a carriage and heads off down the streets of the city as people turn on the lanterns inside their houses as the sun starts to set over the North mountains. Not long after, Madame Margaret starts to reach her destination, now going down the dirt and gravel path sneaking up on the little orphanage. Where all is quiet as the children start to settle down for bed.
Madame Margaret slowly steps out of her carriage, being very cautious not to get her overly fancy dress coated in mud and dirt. She slowly walks to the little door of the orphanage, and gives a very loud knock that you wouldn't expect from such a noble looking woman. Moments later Miss Isabelle opens the door, she is so startled by the appearance of a noble woman she stumbles backward nearly tripping over her own feet.
"Madame Margaret. What a pleasant surprise to see you here at my little orphanage. Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes, actually. My secretary Lucy was here earlier today. I was informed that there were some procedures that I had to do before I could adopt…" She whispers to Lucy who is standing behind her. "What's her name?"
"Lilaine."
"Lilaine! So I was hoping if we could get this whole ordeal out of the way, and I can take the papers to the king tomorrow, and I could take.. Lilaine! Back with me today. But of course I understand if that is against procedure. I could always try to come back some other time, but I don't know if that would be possible. You know because of my busy schedule."
"Oh no, that won't be necessary. That's only the rule with normal citizens. But you're a noble woman, so of course I can give some leeway for you. Come on back to my office and we can sign the papers right now."
They go down the small cramped hall, especially for Madame Margaret with her big dress on, down to Miss Isabelle's office. On the way Miss Isabelle called for a worker to go up and get Liliane. After all the papers are signed, they walk back out to the great room with the large table in the center to wait for Lily.
With a big yawn Lily greets them:
"Miss Isabelle, is there something wrong?
"Lily dear! Well actually, you see… you've been adopted by Madame Margaret here."
"WHAT! Why have you not told me? I still have to say goodbye to everyone." she exclaimed with tears pricking at her eyes.
"I'm sorry dear, it was all so sudden. But you see she's a noble woman. I'm sure you can come back anytime you want."
"But what about Jessica? At least let me say goodbye to her." Miss Isabelle happily obliges to Lily's request, and sends a worker to go get Jessica. When the worker came back down, all the kids were with her. They all rallied around Lily. It was a giant group of hugs, tears, and laughter. After everyone said goodbye Lily went out to the carriage, Miss Isabelle came up to Lily to say one last thing.
"Lily, my dear. You have been like a daughter to me, more than anyone else in the orphanage. Just remember you are always welcome to come back anytime you miss us." Miss Isabelle kisses her head and heads back inside. Lily climbs into the carriage and she heads off to her new life.