I ROLLED AROUND IN BED ENDLESSLY FOR TWO WEEKS. Although I would receive routine check-ups from the physician and exercise out of bed, I was BORED.
But, at last, today was different.
"Congratulations, Lady Ruto!" Dorothy claps cheerfully after talking to the physician and I lift my head from my pillows. "The physician states that you are now free to move outside!"
I shoot up from my bed with my eyes shining. "Truly?!" The excitement fills up inside of me as I've been dying to do something more interesting than sitting around and reading books. There was an entire palace to explore! "Then am I able to look around the palace?"
Dorothy smiles. "For the time being, we shall head out the Marble Garden! It is a fabulous place within the Lobelia Palace and a perfect distance from your chambers to provide excellent exercise!" she suggests while tilting her head. "I am afraid that an expedition will have to wait until your stamina is built up, my lady."
'I'm fine though...' I think and sigh. "I suppose it's better than staying here!" I say, trying to look at the situation in a positive light.
Dorothy nods to my words. "His Majesty has approved of your freedom to roam the Lobelia Palace as well, Lady Ruto!" she adds as she opens the door for me. "I suppose he is providing you with the chance to encounter him."
My thoughts trace back to the deal and internally scoff. If he was such a nice person then would he really bring up executing someone for fraud? And then I remember Clarity. "Oh, that is right! How has Lady Shacklebolt faring?" I ask as Dorothy leads me down the corridors.
I freeze as Dorothy stops in her tracks, looking troubled. "Lady Shacklebolt is faring well!" she tells me in a rush, hiding her fluster. "She resides on the eastern wing of the Lobelia Palace so there will be little chance for her to cross paths with you, my lady!"
"Viscountess Dorothy," I say with my voice stern. My hands curl at my sides because I knew what I was going to ask would happen eventually. "Has Lady Shacklebolt been spending time with His Majesty? Or perhaps there are rumors of me being spread?"
While Ruto's a fallen noble who's lived five years in slavery, being abused at every turn by a jerkwad of a master, Clarity was different. She's an elegant woman of nobility with an even higher standing than Ruto. And with the health problems I had to fight for the past two weeks, she would've had a bunch of time to get a head start.
"Viscountess," I call Dorothy again and she jumps. But as her gaze locks onto mine, I smile. "Please be honest with me. I may appear fragile but I assure you that I am a tough woman."
Dorothy shifts her gaze, holding her hands in front of her. "The word of His Majesty receiving his Silver Candidates have not been spread past the palace walls as of yet... But Lady Shacklebolt's lady-in-waiting is a resentful woman, Lady Ruto."
She goes on to tell me about Countess Hestia De Mariupol, a woman who hates me for being in this position. One where the palace and its luxuries can pamper me despite being in the same status as her previously.
To put it simply: she's a jealous little buttercup.
I chuckle, taking Dorothy's hand and we continue our walk to the Marble Garden. "You had said it yourself, Viscountess!" She blinks. "I will not cross paths with Lady Shacklebolt often, therefore Countess Mariupol will not come across me either."
All to live a fulfilling life.
'I just want to fulfill grandma's wish for me to be someone great!' I cry on the inside as Dorothy takes lead in our walk. 'But...'
As someone who has spent most of her life alone, not knowing what was the truth from the lives...living a life in a fantasy world palace was a dream come true. I wouldn't be able to count how many times I wanted to be whisked away by a prince charming.
'But then I got a prickly old man instead!'
"Here we are, my lady!"
My eyes are overcome with an enchanting sight and I gasp, hurrying out into the sunlight with Dorothy calling for me in concern. "This place is beautiful!" I laugh while running up to the fountain. As the name of the garden says, the fountain is crafted delicately from marble.
The roses around us are vibrant and healthy, I feel like I'm standing in nature's jewelry box. "Thank you, Viscountess! This is much more exciting than an expedition in the palace!" I smile brightly and hurry over to the flowers.
I hear Dorothy's giggle. "My, Lady Ruto you are acting quite childish," she says teasingly and I pout-- immature for a twenty-one-year-old, I know-- touching the flowers gently.
"Viscountess! You must understand that it is quite unbearable to remain in my room for such a long time!" I exclaim and turn back to the flowers with a smile. "Especially if this palace as a garden as beautiful as this."
Back in a dreary city full of pollution and busy streets, the sight of nature was scarce. Grandma would raise a small vegetable garden with the other apartment tenants on the rooftop and I would help her out. The fruits of labor when gardening was a great thing to see.
"Viscountess! Is it alright if I come here every day?" I ask her excitedly. "And perhaps speak with the groundskeeper?"
Dorothy laughs fondly. "My lady, I hadn't known you would take such interest in the fruits of nature. If so, I would have requested the physician to perform your exercises out in the garden."
"Oh, pooh. What a missed opportunity..." I lament and take a seat on the edge of the fountain. Tilting my head back, I stare up into the clear sky. It was nothing like the sights I had to see back in that musty old city.
This place was beautiful.
"Viscountess..."
"Yes, milady?"
I reach my hand up towards the sky. "May I meet that groundskeeper?" I ask my question again. If I was going to capture the heart of a ferocious Emperor, then I would need to gain some more skills or even something I could tell him about.
"Of course. I shall arrange for a meeting in due time."
"Wow! So this one likes the garden!"
I jump, springing to my feet to hurry behind Dorothy. The sound of beating wings fills my ears and my eyes widen as a figure perches at the top of the fountain.
'Golden...feathers...' I think as my gaze slowly travels up to the top. A mischievous smile enters my line of sight, it was one of the birdmen from that time.
"Master Goran, a pleasure," Dorothy greets him with a curtsy and a soft smile. "Apologies, Lady Ruto has not left her chambers until today so I am afraid that she is still quite on edge."
The golden-haired birdman laughs, his wings folding at his sides as his blue eyes gaze down at me. "No need, no need." He smiles and I hide behind Dorothy, nervous. "I am not fond of formal greetings anyhow."
"Master Goran...?" I whisper to Dorothy.
"Yes, milady," she replies, not taking her eyes off of the birdman. "Master Goran serves as the secretary in His Majesty's council whereas Master Gror, his twin, serves as the general that oversees the imperial army as well as the diplomatic ties in various parts of the Chandani Empire."
I awe, eyes sparkling. 'Mister Bigshot!'
Goran smirks, hopping down in front of Dorothy. "She may be the first to not question my appearance," he mentions while stretching out his wings. I catch his eye and he tilts his head. "Do you not fear me?"
'His demeanor is so different from before...'
"No, sir! I actually believe that you are quite stunning!" I say with a brilliant smile.
"Is that so? Then why do you hide behind your lady-in-waiting?"
'Crap!'
Laughing nervously, I step out from behind Dorothy and curtsy. "My apologies, Master Goran. I am Ruto Elisheba Lanesworth."
"You look much healthier than last time!" he smiles warmly. "Looks like I taught that physician well."
'Huh?!'
Dorothy chuckles. "You are quite skilled in your craft, Master Goran. Many of your pupils have gone off to become great scholars or physicians."
I have no clue what they are talking about so I stare dumbfounded.
Goran notices my confusion and laughs. "Pardon me! I've lived much longer than the Emperor has, Lady Ruto. So my brother and I have cultivated years of knowledge in this empire."
'Oh...' My gaze drops. 'So he's cursed too.'
"Seems as if I've gone off-topic," Goran says and clears his throat. "I have come to teach Lady Lanesworth about her Eve."
I unconsciously touch my face at his words and glance at Dorothy as she grows worried.
"Perhaps it can wait? Lady Ruto has only just recovered from her malnutrition--"
"Viscountess," Goran leans forward, smiling sweetly in contrast to his ominous air, "have I ever done anything that would harm another intentionally?"
Dorothy bows and steps back. "No, sir."
'Scary!' I shiver.
"Now then!" He claps cheerfully and my attention is turned back onto him. "I am aware you were taken into the WONDROUS care of Baron what's-his-name when you had just turned sixteen, yes?"
I nod, eyeing him nervously. 'The heck is an important guy like him coming to me directly to teach me this? I can figure this out on my own if I try...' Nonetheless, I listen as Goran begins to speak.
"Children in the empire are taught of their Eve when reaching the age of then and their sacred insignia begins blooming until it Is fully formed at the age of sixteen," he explains and I put the pieces together with Ruto's fragmented memories. "Normally at the age of sixteen, children would enter classes at the Sacred Church to learn of their Eve, but we know that can't be the case for you! It would be humiliating to enter the Sacred Church at your age."
I grow irritable, not knowing if he was mocking me or helping me. 'Piss me off more, fella! I don't give a damn if you're a living fossil, don't disrespect me!' My inner thoughts scratch at my wall to come out but I keep a confident expression with slight annoyance showing.
His wings disappear as he takes on the appearance of a polished official in a neat uniform. "Allow me to explain from square one--"
"I am aware what an Eve is, Master Goran," I cut in coldly, staring him straight in the eye. "It is the magical balance that forms within the people solely in the Chandani Empire with markings unique to each individual. An Eve allows a person to gain magical abilities of a certain type or element."
Goran claps, amazed. "Spectacular! I hadn't realized you would be this knowledge with your upbringing, Lady Ruto."
With my brows furrowing I cross my arms across my chest. "Pardon me, Master Goran. But you seem to fail to realize that I have spent SIXTEEN YEARS in noble upbringing before I was cast out of my position!"
"Lady Ruto!" Dorothy calls for me fearfully but I stand my ground.
Whether he was testing me or just looking down on me, I didn't care. Grandma didn't raise a girl that would take disrespect with ease.
"A little leopard."
I flinch, eyes growing wide as he smiles. That was the nickname grandma gave me while growing up with her.
"As much as I love a girl with spunk, I see those every century," he says and brushes my irritation away. "Let's get on with the lesson, Lady Lanesworth."
'Bastard!' I jeer behind him before following to the gazebo.
The structure stands elegantly by a lake that has beautiful willows brushing along the water. "The Marble Garden sure is beautiful..." I murmur unconsciously and sigh.
A life of fear would be laid out in front of me at this rate. Someone already hates me and in social positions, Clarity has a head start.
"The daughter of the Marquess of Shacklebolt..." Goran begins while seating himself at the edge of the railing, "is an extremely intelligent woman. She graduated at the top of her class at Moonbright College and excelled in political and social practices."
'Rub salt in the wound why don't you!'
He reaches out, touching the lotus bud with a delicate hand. "How about we start with this?" Goran turns and faces me with a smile. "Make it bloom, my lady. A person's Eve runs on one's imagination and interests."
"Interests?"
"You are interested in nature, correct?" Goran says with a smile and I grip the layer of my dress. "Perhaps you Eve will pertain to that."
I approach the railing where Goran sat, taking a deep breath before reaching out to the flower. 'I'll show you!' My lips pull back, focusing my all on getting the flower to bloom.
'A full flower. One like the others here.' I glance in the direction of the bloomed lotus as I touch the bud. 'I'm not going to let this stupid birdman mock me!'
I miss it, but Goran smirks and then places a hand on my shoulder as I struggle. "It will not occur when you stress it, leopard."
'Again. Does he-- he couldn't know, could he?'
"Focus, Lady Lanesworth," Goran tells me while meeting my gaze. "Nothing comes out of force. Unless this event is not what your Eve calls for."
I grumble inwardly and focus on the flower, ignoring Goran's comments. 'Please bloom!' I beg and squeeze my eyes shut.
A strange warmth touches my fingertips and I jump, eyes snapping open. The blue light that glows at my hand made me gasp. Floating away from me in the water was none other than a bloomed lotus, escaping my touch as it joined the other flowers.
"I did it!" I cheer with a jump. "I am perfectly capable on my own, Master Goran!" I tell him with pride pumping in my veins.
He smiles at my joy, clapping with a chuckle. "You most certainly are, Lady Lanesworth." Goran tilts his head, eyeing me while placing a hand on his chin. "I recommend utilizing your ability daily."
Beaming, I nod vigorously. "Of course! I am curious to see what other things I can be capable of!" I say with a bright smile. "I wonder if I could ask Viscountess Dorothy for some seeds..."
'Hm... But other than practicing my ability I should really figure out something to do with that grumpy old man...' I think and ponder. 'What do you do to entertain someone who's lived years?'
"Lady Ruto."
"Ah, yes?" I reply, turning my attention back to Goran.
He eyes me with a mischievous smile on his face. "The Chandani Empire takes pride in the fruits of its agriculture...and the Emperor holds a royal banquet to celebrate the plentiful season." I can see the amusement in Goran's eyes. "In a month from now, the last day of the eighth month is when it shall occur. I recommend you encounter His Majesty at least a few times before then."
"Why...? I have an entire year, do I not?"
Goran chuckles, the amusement growing. "His Majesty's pretty stubborn," he says, tone changing. "Lady Shacklebolt has already arranged several 'coincidences' and has tea with the Emperor."
I grow horrified, my hands dropping to my sides as I listen dumbfounded.
"When the time of the Harvest Banquet comes closer, His Majesty will be much busier."
My hands curl around my dress again.
"Though the world may stop for one, it continues to move for others," Goran continues. "Time is ticking, Lady Lanesworth."