Lady Andromeda woke up on her first full day in Lemia in a soft comfortable bed. She stretches her arms and legs out with a satisfied look on her face.Her eyes remained closed as she relished the most restful sleep she had ever had in her life. She wasn't sure if it was because the bed was so soft or if it was the relief in the knowledge that her father would not be forcing her to work or beating her today. That thought made her smile more. She really felt that she was really free from his tyranny over her.
A knock came at the door, "M'Lady are you awake?" Maid Corrine asked from behind the door. "If I say 'no' can I stay in this soft bed for the rest of the day?" Lady Andromeda asked. "Are you ill, M"Lady?" Maid Corinne sounded worried. "No, I slept so well that I just want to stay here." Lady Andromeda responded. Maid Corrine opened the door and approached the lady. "M'Lady, I understand that you are happy and like this part of your new home. But don't you think that you should get to know the rest of your home and learn about your new position?" the maid questioned. Lady Andromeda rolled over and groaned. "M'Lady you are the Lady of the house now. You have to learn what that means. I know that it is new to you but Sir Rahael and the people of Lemia are counting on you." Maid Corrine urged. "You are right." Lady Andromeda sighed and threw her covers off and started to sit up.
She got out of bed and allowed Maid Corrine to ready her for the day. She was dressed in a purple dress with a white collar and a white corset. She was wearing white stockings and a pair of black shoes. She was also wearing a pearl necklace and earrings. She had a gold chain around her waist and a gold bracelet on her left wrist. She had a gold ring on her right hand and a silver ring on her left hand. She looked at herself in the mirror and decided that she looked fine for the day. She had a smile on her face and she was ready to face the day.
She walked out of the room and sat at the dining table as the morning meal was served. She ate her breakfast and then she went down to the study to start hearing about Lemia and what her responsibilities would be. She would also have to be taught about how to run a household. Something that a mother would have taught their daughter but without her mother and her stepmother deciding it was useless to teach a sickly woman anything, Lady Andromeda was completely a fish out of water.
The staff were very patient with the very curious and eager young woman. She wanted to know everything about Lemia and about its people. She questioned about the exports and the imports for Lemia. How much the people relied on the exports for their livelihoods. She was more interested in taking care of the people than she was in her new role in running the household. She wanted to make sure the people were priority one. She wanted to make her husband proud and for him to return home to see his people happy and prosperous. When they were finished for the day, Lady Andromeda remained in the study and wrote her husband a letter.
She wrote about everything she learned about Lemia and her plans for the future. She commented on how much she loved the soft bed. She told him some of the changes she wanted to make in the castle. She told him that she was looking forward to him coming home to a cozy and welcoming home. She ended the letter by telling him to be safe and to return in one piece. She called the courier to take the letter to her husband.
The weeks passed, Lady Andromeda learned everything there was to know about Lemia. She ventured out into the city to meet the people and get to know them. She learned how to budget for the household and what it meant to take care of a staff of over a hundred people. She ended every day with a letter to Sir Rahael. She never left out a detail of how life was going and how she was adjusting to her new role. She even would tell him when she was having a rough day and not feeling well. She wasn't sure why she was so comfortable telling him but she felt compelled to do so. She normally hid when she was sick or in pain, that was until it was too bad to hide, even from her own maids. But she really felt like she could tell him anything. She was sure he would understand and not think any less of her because of it.
She had not received any letter in return but she did not worry because he was in the middle of a war and may not have time to write. She was sure that as soon as he could, he would write her a long letter answering everything she had told him. Lady Andromeda continued her work and stayed strong.
Life seemed to be going well for her. Lady Andromeda smiled more than she had since she was a child. She was happy and she felt like she could do anything she wanted. One day that happiness was shattered.
Lady Andromeda was in her study working out a new program to ensure every child of Lemia would be educated, regardless of social status or financial status. She was in the middle of a thought when she heard a knock at the door. She quickly put down her quill and called for the butler to open the door. When he opened the door, her father walked in. She looked up at him in shock. "What are you doing here?" she questioned. "Is that any way to greet your father?" he questioned. "Well, considering how you treated me, I think that is the way to greet you." She spat back as she rounded the desk to confront him. "Oh, we have gotten brave, haven't we?" he questioned. She just looked at him. She slapped her across her face, "I don't care if you are married, you are still my daughter and you will respect me." 'he growled. "I am the lady of this house and you will leave." she demanded. He hit her again, knocking her to the ground. She looked up at him in anger and pain. She tried to get up but he started kicking her in the stomach. She cried out with every blow.
The guards entered the room and pulled Lord Sabri from the Lady. "Remove him from the city and he shall be banned from entering with life." she gasped. Lord Sabri was drug from the room yelling at the young woman. The guards escorted him to the carriage and escorted him out of the gates. Lady Andromeda was taken to her chambers and healers were called in.