Ella and Gena stayed up all night in Lyra's room, one of Duke Kleo's orders to prevent Lyra from running out a few days ago. Even though she wanted to protest, it seemed that the truth in her eyes could still be obviously detected, that there was a plan to escape that night.
She urged Ella and Gena to sleep soon and promised that she would be a good girl that night. But, even after she told the biggest secret about Duke Kleo proposing to her, the two maids still didn't believe her completely. This is a little painful and understandable.
Barely failing to sleep, Lyra finally found a solid reason to put off her escape plan. That night, when Ella and Gena were still awake but staggered from sleep, she crept over to the window area to take a peek.
The moon was still like a silver ball in the sky as well as being a beacon in the dark sea in her heart, as well as the future she has. Her eyes saw the soldiers standing guard under the windows, just like the previous nights, with the quantity multiplying.
"Dead end!" she shouted angrily, settling down to peek at the guards at the door, which should have been only two, but had turned into six. "Prison!" she cursed, rubbed her face roughly, then settled back into the room to lay her body on the bed.
Her body lay with the face looking far away at the beautiful night sky, the same sky where Duke Kleo was, the same sky where Tania and Gerald were, but they all had their predicament.
"When can I get out of this place? I have to save Tiny," she whispered slowly drifting into dim dreams.
The moonlight disappeared as if swallowed up by the gray sky at dawn, replaced by a ball of fiery, fiery fire. The warm light stung Lyra's cheeks, causing her to blink now and then as she rubbed her red cheeks.
Her body inched to sit up straight, finding emptiness in her room. Shortly after that, she found two other maids who would take care of her, replacing Gena and Ella who had to rest for a few hours before returning to serve her.
"My Lady, it's time to take a shower," said one of the maids, who led Lyra to quickly clean herself, followed by putting on a suit, doing her hair, and applying make-up.
That day she was wearing a rosy blue dress, one that was very much in her wardrobe. She didn't understand whether it was Duke Kleo's order, or he asked someone to choose a color and also a model for her, since she didn't like blue, it was less conspicuous.
But hey, now what's the point of that? She even had to quit for a while to tempt the nobles.
'Usually early in the morning like this, I would go to the market to buy some ingredients for cooking. There I will meet many nobles or knights, write letters, and then establish a more intimate relationship,' thought Lyra. 'Now I'm like collectibles in a museum, which no one can even legally own.'
Oh, heart-wrenching sorrow! When will she be free from all this?
"Is Duke Kleo home yet?" she asked when a maid applied lipstick to her lips.
"Not yet, My Lady. Probably by noon His Grace will be in Wereal."
"Am I not allowed to do anything other than embroidery? I want to ride." Lyra's eyes darted to the maid, pleading with great effort. It's easy to do, with her beautiful face, and stunning eyes.
"I think you'd better get His Grace's permission on that, My Lady. We're just maids."
"You may ask Mr. Bertus for permission or perhaps Mrs. Melisa?" Lya's eyes blinked a few times, like those of an adorable doll.
Like melting. The two maids looked adoringly at Lyra as if bewitched. But sadly they are smarter than Ella and Gena.
"Sorry, My Lady. But we are only servants." Finals! Lyra wouldn't be able to get what she wanted by tricking the two new maids. Secretly she missed the sweet and innocent Ella and Gena.
Breakfast was served, followed by Lyra's presence in the dining hall. The room was too large for her to occupy alone, especially when her world stretched out without a single object that she needed to pay more attention to.
No Duke Kleo was there, which automatically made her realize how grand the hall was, and how vast it was. Even the last house she rented couldn't take up half of the room. Secretly she wondered what Gerald and Tania would do if they could have a building of this size?
"Maybe Gery will open 10 shop stands," she muttered with a chuckle. "Then Tiny will start her dream of having a florist."
Her thoughts drifted, remembering the wedding gift that Duke Kleo had talked about, a large plot of land that was fertile and also beautiful. Suddenly a ridiculous thought flashed through her head, which she quickly dismissed because it was too far-fetched.
Now she preferred to eat breakfast, sang a little song, and tried to enjoy whatever she was facing right now. After all, she was too tired of wailing, exhausted to think hard. When Duke Kleo is not around, she will get the most perfect me-time.
Even though there was emptiness, at the far end of the chair where she sat, where a man would usually glance at her and smile secretly at her, a place where a manly and well-mannered man ate his food in elegant style, a place where the emptiness began. suffocating and making her feel strange and empty.
Her hands hit her chest now and then, trying to sober herself up.
After finishing breakfast she went back to her room, to do some things, until then decided to go to the common room, started to embroider. But soon boredom began to creep in, causing her to take a deep breath as if she was the most miserable human being in this world.
The sky was clear and beautiful, with the sun seeming to rule the universe. Lyra looked out as if waiting for a prince on a white horse to fetch her from the cage of a giant.
Ella and Gena arrived shortly after, with slightly puffy eyes though with very cheerful expressions.
"My Lady, would you like to take a walk outside?" asked Gena, tying her hair very tightly, wearing some kind of light make-up in her eye bags.
"Is that okay?" Lyra lit up, looking hopeful.
Ella nodded without hesitation. "Of course! Come on!"
The three of them immediately got out, walked towards the outside of the palace, headed to the garden, and took a small walk there. Various beauties were displayed, like a spill of heaven's aura. Blooming flowers, buzzing bees looking for nectar, then green grass, intersect with the clear sky.
Lyra covered her forehead with her hand, gazing out into the distance where the lake was. The lake water that looks greenish and clear, seems to get it cunningly.
Her brain automatically remembered memories of the past, when she was happy with someone, loved each other, and cared for each other in a warm and romantic way. They boated the lake, fishing as if they had to feed their children.
Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at the lake water, as well as the birds flying around her, the wind blowing her hair as if to convey the bitter taste she experienced several years ago.
Before she knew it, Duke Kleo had already arrived at Wereal, standing at the far end, looking at her with a frown. "Why does she look sad?" he whispered.
***