After she had breakfast, Alisha excused herself from the soft yet uncomfortable chatter at the table. When the duke voiced his confirmation, Alisha stood up as quickly as she could, enough to not seem rude.
She walked out the door and saw Marian waiting nervously behind it. The youngest Magnas smiled and closed the doors. When they noticed they were finally alone, her nanny jumped into motion.
"We're you okay in there?" She asked, rapidly patting her down. Any other noble child would have slapped her for her audacity to touch a young noble lady so casually, but this was Alisha, her daughter in all but blood. No matter what other servants tend to talk about behind their backs, Marian always managed to brush them off. Often insulting them back when a superior wasn't around. Alisha had always told Marian she may get in trouble if one of the maids snitch and tell someone that she is defending the devil child. But her didn't care, as long as Alisha was happy Marian will find joy in the fact.
"I'm fine, Marian. Let's go to the garden." She decided, wanting to calm her nerves.
"Would you like some tea and snacks?" Marian asked, as they walked through the halls bypassing her room. Alisha nodded.
"Yes, chocolate chip cookies, please." She requested.
Marian answered by calling out to a passing maid that wasn't doing anything, the said girl grumbled at being called by the demon of the family.
"Get some chamomile tea, sugar, chocolate chip cookies, and some cakes, and bring them to the garden in the Rose gazebo." Without waiting for an answer they continued their way to the garden.
Once they exited the manor they followed a well trimmed path to a gazebo at the very edge of the tree line. Beyond the trees was a large forest owned by the Magnas family. It was mostly unexplored due to the various magical beasts that dwell in it. Even though humans did not magic, they can offer to contract a beast. If a beast accepts their demands, the contract is formed through the creature channelling its innate magic through the human body and a seal appears on the body. Where it appears, is solely up to the beast they are contracting.
In a roundabout way, the gazebo is sort of like a warning to others that there are dangers that lurk in the forest, every rose has its thorns. It was not meant to be interpreted like that, but as the years passed without the late Duchess the gazebo became interpreted as so.
In fact, it was Alisha's mother who often took care of this particular gazebo. It was her favorite, she had it built when she had been pregnant with her elder sister. But the roses were grown in honor of Alisha. A small momento from the late duchess, you could say.
The reason how a small gift to her daughters turned into a warning to others, escaped Alisha.
But now that she has joined the goddess, her father didn't lift a finger as his late wife's precious spot deteriorated for the last 8 years, only she and Marian kept it fron falling into shambles. Sometimes if Beau was free he would nail the supporting poles until it was sturdy enough and fixed the occasional leaks from the room. The pair of girls helped when they could, like tending to the flowers and keeping it clean.
Alisha did not know if the Duke knew they fixed it, temporarily.
When the maid arrived, she placed the small plates of sweets and fine china on the table hurriedly before leaving with a shallow bow.
They remained in the garden for the rest of the morning nibbling on the desserts, they walked for a but before walking back to the gazebo.
Fortunately, they didn't see any hair nor hide of any of the creature that lived in the forest.
When the sun reached its peak, Marian gently reminded Alisha that it was lunch time. Alisha nodded and they made their back to the informal dining room. Before entering, the youngest lady sensed a feeling of forboding when she heard a commotion inside the dining room.
"Were there any guests visiting?" She wondered out loud. Marian heard her words and went to answer her.
"No, my lady. The maids were not informed of any guests coming today." Marian answered, shifting nervously. She lursed her lips when she heard a familiar booming laugh.
"It seems that the Minister is visiting unannounced once again." Alisha tsked, she didn't like dealing with him.
Marian released a breath, before smiling awkwardly.
"Let's get this over with, my lady."
"The faster we do this the faster we can leave." The little lady whispered to herself, she niided and Marian bowed her head as she opened the door.
Alisha curtsied, lifting her dress and dipping her head.
"Blessings of the goddess and Glory be with you Minister Vernon Johann Andreas."
"And to you, young miss of the the Magnas Dukedom" an unpleasant voice answered back, the voice was awfully high for a man in his late forties. She could feel his proding stare through her skull, she plastered a practiced smile.
"Good afternoon, Minister Andreas. How are you?" She asked pleasantly, making her way to her usual seat. His eyes followed her with a grimace, as if she were a piece of gum stuck beneath his shoes.
"Quite alright, Miss Alisha." The Minister said pleasantly, his smile was ugly. Alisha managed to swallow the wince, when she met his eyes. The young child, swallowed uncomfortably quickly averting her eyes to her sister and father.
Her sister and father were present too, which was not that remarkable. But what was weird, was the wide smiles they wore.
"Hello, sister, father. What has you so happy?" She askwed curiously.
Colette scoffed, as if I had offended her."If you must know, I have been choses as one of the Crown prince's fiancee candidates." She revealed proudly.
Alisha tilted her head and smiled.
Ah. She thought for a moment. Of course her sister would be happy, Alisha heard from the rumors that the prince and Colette were close despite the gap of school years. The young prince was in his Junior year, while Colette just started her schooling in the Mendacium Noble Academy for young Lords and Ladies.
Alisha expected this to happen, since according to her tutors. Even though its quite late for a crown prince to take a fiancee, it was only a matter of time before he took one. Since his graduation is fast approaching, noble ladies would hive their best to have the prince's favour.
But why now? Especially if they could have chosen a young lady when the prince was a child, as royals tend to do to ensure that the future crown princess would be trained to carry her duties as the future queen of the kingdom.
"Congratulations sister, I hope the goddess casts her favour onto you."
Colette huffed irritatingly, huffing and slouching in her seat. Unbecoming of a noble lady, according to her tutors. But that kind attitude is what their father liked, so Alisha never attempted to scold her sister. Especially since she was hated by them.
"I do not need your blessings. His Majesty will obviously choose me since I am the most lovely girl amongst the candidates." She said, arrogantly puffing her chest. Her ruffles shifted around her, her rich brown her flowing behind. She strained her hazel eyes towards Alisha, smiling triumphantly.
What did she win, exactly?
A booming laugh followed her statement.
"Such confidence you have Miss Colette. Befitting for the Young Prince's future Princess." Minister Andreas snorted as he laughed. Reminding the younger sister vividly of a pig.
With that note, Alisha distanced herself from the conversation as she always did. Religiously focising on her food. Once again left overs from yesterday. Once they all finished, the Minister and their father retreated to the Dukes study where the talked about something that involved the neighboring kingdom, she heard vaguely.
The younger excused herself from the table, Marian following silently behind her. But before she could reach the door she was stopped with a fake dainty cough.
Alisha looked behind her and found Colette's expectant face behind her.