"-Flaudette-"
Dust filled the air as I open a door, showing a spacious dusty and more importantly its entrance was hardly visible, perfect for my hiding spot. The room, fortunately, has things I need inside as I wonder if someone had used it as a hiding place a long time ago, the spot was hardly seen, leaving the things untouched by anyone than dust and webs. Books and documents scattered on the table were messily arranged. I climbed up the table the moment I saw it as my curiosity exploded attempting to look through it.
Strange. These documents are filled with designs, dresses, gowns, and clothing designs. The books are related to sewing knowledge but strangely the room was spacious enough to keep fabrics and sewing equipment but there aren't any. She must have spent time here only to draw designs, or maybe to hide them here. Observing those documents, a name was written.
'Noralisa'.
What a beautiful name. I felt an urge to investigate more about her than going back to find Nicholai, I planned to search this room as I ditch him when we are playing hide and seek. The room was full of papers and books as I roamed my eyes and caught a figure at the corner. It was a piece of old paper pinned in the wall of another table with a little chest placed on it. I stared at it and saw these words.
"To Luthavez..." I read and I realized I was a man's clothes design. The name was kind of familiar to me, it felt like I heard it somewhere.
I reached out to the chest and it was surprisingly unlocked, making ways easier for me to investigate. It was letters. And I encountered the name Luthavez for about 47th time. The letters were sent by Luthavez to Noralisa. Judging this evidence, the two of them has a bond. An unbreakable bond. They love each other.
Oh, I stayed too long. I swiped the dust off my dress and rushed outside. Nicholai was no longer hiding. I ran towards him as he glared at me crossed arms.
"You been out for about an hour, do you mind telling me where you went?"
"Oh yeah, sorry I was got distracted at the garden..." Wiping off my sweating forehead.
"But I was hiding in the garden, isn't it strange I didn't see you or even notice you, tell me where did you go?" I froze at his question. Come on just let it go!
"I come back at the mansion, then my daddy called me to play board games, I'm sorry"
"Then, I'll train now" He turned and walked away after giving me a long silent stare. Phew, he's gone.
To the library, I spent my time reading books and to my surprise, the old librarian approached me. He was smiling.
"I was overjoyed to see the young lady reading a book, In your age, shouldn't you be playing dolls in your room?" He laughed and I smiled as well.
"I love books so I read them, they taught me new things!" Cheerfully, It is true. Books have always been a companion to me other than Genieve.
"Let's see, what are you reading?" He glanced at the book I was holding and fixed his eyeglasses, making sure he had read it clearly as he make a stunned face. "You are reading a herbology book? Isn't hard for you to understand, young miss?" I can see the amazement in his eyes.
"No, not at all since I'm enjoying it, well can I ask you a question?"
"What is it, young miss?"
"Do you perhaps, know who is Luthavez?" His eyes widened to my question. But it suddenly shows a hint of melancholy to them.
"Yes young miss, he was the duke of the manor centuries ago, my great grandfather served him in his life here" To hear something unexpected, my jaw dropped.
"A duke, then he was related to me then?"
"Yes young miss, he was your ancestor"
"So do you know who is Noralisa?"
"Yes miss, I shall tell you a story as I notice you are interested in them" I nodded, my eyes were in fire in curiosity as he continues. "Lord Luthavez fell in love with a commoner seamstress madam Noralisa. They adored each other even their love was criticized by the society, especially the aristocracy" Sadness was visible in his face and I nod as a response for him to continue. "But madam Noralisa was abused by the lord's fiancee, Lady Vishamon of Thaddeus family. The Lord truly loves Madam and marries her instead, but little did the lord know, madam was suffering a disease. At the moment lord had promised to come back safe as a war hero, he finds out madam had died, he lived his life in regret for not know her suffering. The lord hides all the madam's things and paperwork as it only reminds him of the pain of their memories and until now no one knows where the lord hid madam's works" Everything is clear and I was certainly the one in the past centuries who found the room where he hides those.
"That was a bad ending..." I could only sigh in disbelief.
"Indeed, young miss.."
After the drama, hours have passed and Alodia had call me to have dinner. Alodia help me up to my seat as the duchess stared coldly at me, I showed her the most annoying sly smile I did in my whole life as her face red with anger. Ha~ It felt good, her expression was worth to annoy. I giggled silently at my seat. While we are eating the duchess opens her mouth to talk.
"I heard that Flaudette is playing with that filthy child, is that true, Flaudette?" Her gaze went on me. She was trying to embarrass me to everyone. My stepsisters grinned as if someone good were to happen.
"Yes, Nicho is fun to play with!" I smiled at her, I was facing my father so I need to act adorable.
"Ha! Just like what I've expected, you must have been influenced by that filthy boy since you lack etiquette, your way of talking was disrespectful! Well, a bad attitude is so contagious these days" Her villainous face turned to disgust as her daughters did the same.
"Just as you said mother it was contagious, you shouldn't you talk to me and just focus on eating? And your not the only one who heard the news~ I've got one too, do you want to hear it, daddy?" She froze as I called father as she throw me her threatening stare. Her lies are my weapons, she can't bring me down with everything she had.
"Forget it, I'm not like mother here whose mouth itch when she did not let others know any secrets" The Duchess was about to explode when father clears his throat.
"My daughter Flaudette, please do mind your words, and my wife, do not be strict on the child, as long as she's happy she can play anyone she wanted to play with" My father smiled at me. Woah~ my stepsisters are throwing me daggers of hateful stares. It's amazing how their face twitches like crazy. The dinner ended up somehow peaceful, and I pretended to be asleep.
I planned to sneak outside and organize the room. I never thought I have a talent for being unnoticeable since it was the second time I wasn't getting caught. I never liked cleaning but the room needs the most attention to get cleaned for me to get it occupied without any problems.
It took me the whole night to clean it. My body suffered muscle ache and fever after that night, I was tired as hell.
But I know, that my plans start here.
I will survive no matter what.