While her friends were still having issues coming to terms with her absence, Yasmin was trying to come to terms with the fact that this was all real and not some vividly lucid dream she was having. After the whole punishment scene with Lord Javier– which she was still healing from– she could no longer delude herself and could only accept that this was now her reality. She had spent countless days laying around thinking about her situation. The fact that laying around was all she could do because of her injuries left her with only one option, which was to think.
She needed to figure out how to leave this world. The only clue she got was from the narrator on the first day and based on what it said she needed to change the ending of the book.
'And how am I supposed to do that now when I'm away from the variables?'
She was already failing at the first order of things.
With a heavy sigh she rolled over onto her side and sat up in bed. The wounds on her back have been healing nicely thanks to the extensive care of Lady Amari and the pain was quite manageable now. It wasn't really painful per say, just a dull throb that serves as a constant reminder of her injuries. She could fully move about now, afterall, medicine and medical care was very advanced in this world especially with the help of magic. But, Lady Amari insisted on her staying in bed until she was fully healed and continued to pamper her relentlessly. At one point Yasmin was starting to doubt her status as a slave and wondered if she turned into royalty overnight.
Yasmin carefully got up from the bed, stretching her spine gently and hearing it pop a few times. She wore a loose beige robe over matching silk pants and her poofy hair was let loose showing off her lovely curls. She wore her glasses before strolling her way out of the room and entering a more common area of sorts that hosted plush upholstery, a fireplace and many cabinets that held expensive liquor and the finest antiques. Her bare feet padded along soft fur rugs as she made her way across the room over to a smaller space that seemed to serve as an office. Inside had bookshelves that lined the majority of the walls, you could barely see its colour. The room was sparse of furniture except for the shelves and the wide, dark oak table that was stationed at the back of the room in front of a large window.
Yasmin entered the room easily since it was without a door and made her way to the figure sitting behind the table, their eyes cast down onto a book.
"You should be resting," they spoke without looking up.
Yasmin huffed, "I'm tired of resting, I fear that if I rest for any longer I'll start spouting mushrooms."
Amari snorted before looking up from her book, she too wore a robe similar to Yasmin's, only darker in colour. Her hair that was braided and had intricate designs and ornaments woven in was tied back and resting over her right shoulder. She beckoned Yasmin over with a finger and the young servant went over with ease.
She eyed Yasmin up and down, "you look well."
Yasmin resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Of Course I do– you made sure of it."
Amari hummed, a mischievous smile gracing her lips. She tugged the poofy haired girl closer to her by the front of her robe, "are you not pleased with my care?"
"I am not ungrateful," Yasmin replied, "but, I'm not one to stay in one place for long…. I'm growing restless. Can't I go for a stroll outside? You can even accompany me."
Amari only stared at her in silence, then she sighed. "You're not fully healed…"
"I feel fine! It barely hurts anymore."
The two were locked in a stalemate, chestnut brown clashed with golden amber and then chestnut relented with a soft sigh.
"Alright…. We'll go for a walk in the garden in a moment."
Yasmin beamed brightly and Lady Amari couldn't help but return the smile. She pulled the smiling face closer to her until she hovered directly above her face, eyes locked once again and breaths mingling. She closed the distance and placed a soft peck against Yasmin's lips before pulling back, still smiling.
Yasmin shifted slightly in her spot, her face felt warm. That was another thing she had to get used to, the intimacy between her and Lady Amari. After all, that was the reason she was here in the first place right? To be a plaything for the duke's sister, though– she didn't expect to be treated so well. It was a little unsettling at first and she wondered if this was some tactic to get her to lower her guard and to gain her trust, but after observing Amari for a while…., her actions seemed genuine. She still didn't trust her wholeheartedly but decided that she could use this to her advantage. All she had to do was play her cards right and she'll be able to go back to Marcellus and Isabelle in no time.
Yasmin had no problem acting intimately with a woman. After all, back in the real world, she had always had a preference for the same sex rather than the opposite. And Lady Amari was not only a compassionate woman but also a very beautiful one.
Yasmin was finally able to step foot outside after being locked away for days. She greedily sucked in big gulps of fresh air and exhaled with a pleased sigh.
"Better?" Amari asked, her tone amused.
"So much better."
The two walked side by side in the garden. Yasmin listened instantly and also nodded along to Amari as the latter shared her knowledge of flowers. Yasmin was honestly intrigued, she didn't know much about flowers or plants for that matter but had always wanted to learn. Unfortunately she wasn't blessed with a green thumb. One time she tried being a plant mom since her apartment didn't allow pets, her mother had recommended she started off with succulents since they were so resilient.
The poor cactus didn't even make it for two weeks…., to say her mother was shocked was an understatement. She bluntly told her daughter that she was better off caring for plastic plants than the real thing and Yasmin's dreams of being a plant mom met a dreadful end.
"You know, you remind me of a flower."
Yasmin looked at Amari with visible interest, "oh? Which one?"
Lady Amari suddenly grabbed Yasmin by her hand before leading her over to another part of the garden. This area was relatively more sunny so Yasmin had to squint her sensitive eyes to block out the sun. They came to a stop before a flower bed with tall, vibrant flowers that had large, yellow petals with dark brown centres and along their stems were broad, heart shaped leaves. Also, if you looked closely, it seemed as if the flowers were facing the sun.
"Sunflowers…"
"Yes, you know them?"
"Yes, I've seen them before." Yasmin stretched out a hand, gently caressing one of the large yellow petals. "I particularly like eating the seeds."
"These are my favourite flowers, I like how vibrant they are."
Yasmin eyed Amari from her peripheral, "and how do I remind you of them?"
Amari hummed with a smile, "you see how these flowers are turned facing the sun?"
"Yes…?"
"Well, it's a strange phenomenon that I haven't managed to figure out yet but– no matter where in the sky the sun is, these flowers will turn to face it and that aspect reminds me of you."
Yasmin tilts her head, "how so?"
But Amari only gave her a smile and Yasmin smiled back unconsciously.
Amari burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
Amari's laugh was melodious, a sweet sound to anyone who had the pleasure of listening and even though Yasmin was confused by it, she wouldn't mind listening to it for longer.
Amari ended her laughter with a pleased sigh while wiping tears that clung to the corner of her lashes. "Nothing, my little sunflower."
"Is that what you'll be calling me now?"
"Don't like it?"
"it doesn't matter, you're free to call me as you–"
"It does matter," Yasmin looked up only to be met by a frown. She blinked twice, surprised by her countenance. "You matter."
Their eyes met for the third time that day and Yasmin was shocked by the intensity of those chestnut pools.
'Did Amari actually–'
"My dear sister," Yasmin was brought out of her thoughts by a familiar voice. She couldn't stop the scrawl from forming on her face.
"So this is where you've been, I've been looking for you."
Amari smiled at her brother in greeting, "Javi."
Javier flashed a blinding smile. He was dressed lavishly, even though he was in the comfort of his home. He walked over to his sister with two servants trailing three feet behind him and once he spotted Yasmin, his smile got impossibly wider.
"Ah, I see that you have the little one with you. Hello there."
"Your grace," Yasmin curtsied.
"Taking your pet out for a walk I see," he joked. Yasmin bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from relying.
"Javi, behave." Amari admonished her younger brother.
Javier only chuckled, "You seem well."
It took Yasmin a few seconds to realise he was talking to her. "Ah yes, Lady Amari has been treating me well."
"That is to be expected, my sister has always been known to cherish her toys…" his tone was mocking and if Amari noticed it, she didn't comment on it.
"What are you doing out here Javi, you're not one to go for a stroll?"
"Ah, yes!" Javier's eyes lit up, his right index finger pointing towards the sky as if he came to a realisation. "I wanted to invite you to dinner. You've been so busy caring for your...., for the little one that we haven't had dinner together in days."
"Hmm, you're right." Amari hummed, "I'll join you later then– along with Yasmin."
Javier's lips twitched slightly at his sister's last statement, he couldn't help but retort, "haven't mother taught you not to bring your toys at the dinner table?"
"Amari smiled, but it held no warmth. "Indeed, she also taught me how to discipline my younger sibling if he were to forget his manners."
Javier's body tensed– only for a second– as if he remembered something unpleasant. "Very well then, I'll see you at dinner," his eyes passed over Yasmin, "both of you." And with that he promptly left.
Amari sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "He acts so tough and mischievous but he's still just a stubborn and headstrong boy. Don't pay too much attention to his harsh words."
"It's fine," Yasmin shrugged. She turned her attention to Amari, her expression Sombre as she looked off into the direction her brother went. "Would you like to continue our stroll…?"
Amari looked down at Yasmin, she was a few inches taller than the young servant. She stared down at her in silence before showing a small smile.
"Sure."