"Good heavens, we are running late! Rubia, Lydia, Flora make haste! Have Milady sit in front of the dressing table.'' A very excited head maid Peony and other maids were scurrying in and around Ophelia's room. Well, that was assuredly the expected hurly-burly in the Barnette mansion, for, it was day Ophelia was scheduled to meet the Duke.
It was a fine day with cloudless skies. The sunrays transpierced the huge windows in Ophelia's room, falling on her as she sat on the chair in front of the dressing table. Her brown locks looked highlighted partially as the rays continued to caress her. Ophelia dazed off looking at the sky, wondering if the Duke would like the exotic, scented tea leaves that she had prepared to gift him. She wondered if he would enjoy it black or would he add a splash of milk to it like her.
As she remained riveted in her ruminations, her maids hurriedly carried out their task at hand. As Flora untangled and groomed her brown cascades, Ophelia thought of the Duke's dark hair that gleamed under the streetlights at the lunar festival. Like a sword piercing through, so was his gaze that stunned her completely. Oh how could she just take all the time in the world to stare into those orbs that held so much of pain and blood from all the battles he had fought. As Rubia diffused her with the wild primrose scent, she reminisced his glossy lips with a tinge of pink.
She was interrupted by faint yet palpable noises from the drawing which. She looked at her maids who shook their head signaling their unawareness of the matter. As she walked towards the room, the voices became clearer. She was sure two of the voices belonged to her parents, but the only fact that made her hesitant was the rageful tone. She gently opened the door, to see a young man, probably only a few years older to her standing there facing her parents. As she entered her eyes met with the young Lord who gave a faint yet gentle smile to her acknowledging her presence.
''No! I do not yield to this arrangement all! What makes His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince to so conveniently appoint my daughter as the....as the.....the Princess' lady-in-waiting?!'' Brilliana yelled at the top of her lungs, in deep agony. It was beyond her imagination to send her lovely daughter to place so dark and fatal. The Princess was infamous to be an insanely frenzied person. She was rumored to be corrupt by the devil himself as her body was slowly giving in to the curse she was born with. And more than anything, she had the face of monster. Such gore scars that one could never look at.
To send to Ophelia to be in the company of such a person was like throwing her off to die a brutal death. The Barnette couple loathed this idea to the core. ''Sir Lucian,'' Marquis Barnette spoke up, ''How might I beg you to not do this my daughter? She is as lovely and delicate as a drop of morning dew. Please be merciful of us.'' Lucian could feel the Marquis' voice trembling as plead. His guts tightened seeing the couple drown in misery.
''Might I give my opinion Sir Lucian?'' Ophelia interrupted. Her unruffled voice was worried Lucian. He was expecting her to protest the most. But here she was, facing him like a knight with a sword, all-set to swing it to the fullest. Lucian gestured her to speak.
''I am ready to follow His Highness' orders. I believe it to be an honor to be the Princess' lady-in-waiting.'' Ophelia's declaration racked her parents as well the strong knight standing in front of her. He gazed at her with wide eye, unable to perceive her bold blazoning.
''Miss Ophelia....Are you certain of this?'' Lucian tried confirming in order to have her reconsider the proclamation. But Ophelia smiled shaking her head in denial. She refused to take back what she said. She went towards her parents and gently held her mother's face. ''Mama, do not be so devastated. I assure you of my wellbeing at all costs.'' Brilliana winced slightly but managed to compose herself. She smiled back at her daughter who she never saw stooping in dismay.
''Now if the matter is settled, I must make haste to leave for my tryst with His Grace. As the whole high society knows, he is a man who likes well-time arrivals.'' Ophelia said as she adjusted her hat and signaled her maids.
''Are you perhaps meeting with His Grace, the Duke miss?'' Lucian was already aware of this little appointment, but preferred feigning ignorance about it. Ophelia nodded in agreement.
''Would you be comfortable with me chaperoning you to the Duke's estate?'' Lucian asked.
Ophelia was slightly surprised by his proposal, but she didn't mind nevertheless. Both of them left for the Duke's residence together. The carriage ride wasn't so chirpier as they thought. Neither of them had anything to say. Ophelia kept looking outside at the streets that once homed her, not such a long time ago. She could never come to forget those days when her flowers were trampled by the bullies in the lonely alleys, leaving her with days of no penny at all. She could never forget the feeling of starvation. Though she was grateful to the Barnette couple who gave her a new life, she had resolved to never forget those days of being an orphan.
Lucian was closely observing the pensive look on her face. There was nobody in the social circle who was unaware of Ophelia's past, and neither was Lucian. ''Miss Barnette, do you like flowers?''
Ophelia smiled a little at the question. ''I do, sir. '' She replied, still looking outside.
''I see. Any favorites? I am sure there are some.'' Lucian tried adding an expression of some enthusiasm to his voice, although he failed miserably at it. Ophelia quickly caught on to his attempt of lighting her mood, to which she chuckled softly.
''I, fancy the snowdrops quite a lot. Tiny little things, are they not?'' She said, now looking at Lucian.
He smiled at her reply. ''I see.'' He took a brief look at the upper pocket of his knight's uniform where he placed the few yarrows yesterday. ''How about these?'' He asked pointing at the flowers.
Ophelia looked at the yarrows. ''I find them to be quite pretty.'' She simply stated with a diplomatic smile plastered on her face. Her effortless answer was enough for Lucian to know that she demanded explanation. She wished and was ready to listen to his context of the yarrows. But Lucian believed now was not the right time for it.
''I see you have a fine eye for flowers, lady. Had I been courting you, I would have been in a great pinch while making the right selection for the proposal bouquet.'' Lucian said with a small grin. Ophelia covered her mouth to seem less rude as she was trying her best to laugh outrageously at his hilarious comment. Later, both engaged themselves in rather inconsequential but similarly amusing chatter till they reached the Duke's residence.
The Duke's residence was nothing less than three of the whole Barnette's mansions put together in comparison. It was archetypal of the mighty Duke's standards, but still wasn't as gaudy as Ophelia imagined.
Ophelia got down as Lucian forwarded his hand to help her. They could see the Duke rushing hastily towards them followed by the Head Butler.
''Greeting to the Sword of the Lilian Empire, His Grace the Honorable Sebastian Burnham.'' Ophelia curtseyed the young Duke. Sebastian felt a little uncomfortable with Ophelia's formal gesture which he didn't really wish for.
''My sincere apologies Lady Barnette. Had I been even least expectant of your early arrival, I would have made the most appropriate arrangements for welcoming you.'' Sebastian said with a formal bow. Ophelia and Lucian greeted him back.
''You need not worry yourself over such minutiae, Your Grace. I am most grateful of your kind invitation itself.'' Ophelia answered. Sebastian smiled at her and turned to look and Lucian.
''I must thank Sir Lucian to have escorted you all the way here. Please do join us for the meal and tea as well.'' Sebastian had known Lucian since he was six years old. Though the he was not very fond of the Prince and vice-versa, he found Lucian to be absolutely admirable. There were times when he trained with Lucian and was also guided by him. Lucian was like an older brother to him. Though they could spend only little together owing to the proliferating work due to their positions of authority, they did share a respectable understanding for each other.
Lucian smiled gallantly. ''I am honored by Your Grace's gracious invitation, but I am afraid I'll be the killjoy for your time together.'' Lucian ended his comment with a simper to which Sebastian blushed slightly. ''Then I'll be off now Your Grace. And Lady Barnette, thank you for letting me chaperone you. I hope to see you soon again.'' Lucian said placing a formal gentle kiss on top of her knuckles.
''Sir Lucian!'' Ophelia called out to him as he was walking towards his carriage. He turned to look at her. She stood once again wearing an expression indicative of her astute personality. ''I promise to serve and succor the Princess with utmost sincerity.'' Her resolution took Lucian's breath away. He felt something rising inside his chest, but he couldn't come to name it. He could feel it- a lid sealed for so long could be felt shaking. He just knew it. Things were going to change. She was going to change the destiny of those around her.
*****