OLD FRIENDS IN NEW PLACES
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The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Early hours of the morning,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
The doors opened, and Amelia Luna-dynn looked over to see Knight Erion walk out of Miss Charlene's chambers, with a pleasant expression in his eyes and a blush hanging about his ears.
She felt her heart die a little, as the man she had been fantasising about walked past her, seeming content after a personal meeting with a fair lady. He had hardly noticed that she was there in that very hall, but calmly walked past, like he had business.
The damsel of long, curly, auburn hair held the book in her hand tight against her chest and waited till he left the room. It seemed nearly like he was so dazed from the meeting that he hardly needed to spare any of his surroundings a glance.
She knew that there was no official courtship between the two, but there certainly were sparks. Of course, Amelia hadn't believed entirely that he would have fallen in love with the daughter of the Duke, but it seemed greatly likely, given his disposition.
She silently sat down upon the long, exquisite couches of the hall and placed the novel on her lap, intending to hopefully distract herself with the reading.
The doors of the chamber opened yet again, to allow the exit of one of the hand maidens. And at that moment, the damsel from the dressmakers was allowed a brief glimpse of Lady Charlene Walterus:
She was most elegant and comely in every way, with not a single blemish upon her face. Her skin was dazzling and her hair was fair golden coloured, sashaying down to beneath her slender hips like a waterfall of honey, no tendrils out of place in their dance. Her cheeks were rosy, with some splashes of freckles written over her nose in constellations. Her eyes were ocean blue and glassy, enough to look innocent, yet to captivate the onlooker and to keep them seduced.
The glassy, wine coloured garment that Amelia had brought was being draped over the young lady's slim body, making her look like a feast to the beholder.
Yet, all the sight of beauty that captivated the Luna-dynn damsel's senses had not enticed her enough to be mesmerised, but had left a sad feeling of longing and defeat in her heart.
Then, a young hand-maid, who had stepped out, closed the door behind her and scurried over, saying to Amelia, "Please do make yourself comfortable here; I will have the chef serve you some delicacies whilst you wait."
In response, dame of long curling hair nodded, and bowed, holding her skirts in hand, and said, "Thank you for the service."
She stayed there, seated on the couch, reading the novel that seemed to be about a couple with an unhappy marriage and great deals of misunderstanding betwixt them. She twisted a lock of her curly brown hair with a finger as her senses dived into the book in hand.
The story she was writing on her own accord was a love story in itself, but the current read was one bearing a completely contrary perspective, yet was contemporary romance. The damsel wondered if she could incorporate such heartbreaks into her own writing to spice the storyline.
She looked up and gazed at the shelves of books lining the walls of the place. There were many decked in the cupboards, preserved by glass doors, from varied genre, sorted by authors and tropes. There were mostly non-fictions.
It was natural to have such assorted variety and collection, since the Duke was invested in the business of publications. Although it was mostly the broadcasting of news and decrees of the King and bringing the affairs of the land to the people, owning tides of other books, scribing the copies of books and lending to libraries was also consisted in the duties of the Walterus entity.
As Amelia sat in her place and mused over how she would one day have a novel of her own published in like array, there was the sound of nearing footsteps. She turned around to see who had entered the hall, and found that it was the approaching shadow of a young lad bearing treats.
"Lia?" his familiar voice sounded and the damsel perked up in response.
"Daren?" asked she, excited that there was native acquaintance in exquisite environment. The damsel of deep coloured eyes had always known that her friend and neighbour from Drift-combe village had moved to Crimsonton city after finding a job at the Duke's estate. But crossing paths with him in the great area had not been something she had envisioned, for she had earlier assumed that he was appointed as one of the scribes or reporters at the Hall of Publications, and not a man servant with the chefs, posted at the manor itself.
"Yes!" Daren replied, pushing the trolley carrying trays of delicacies. "I didn't realise you were a guest here."
Amelia let out of soft giggle, feeling the heavy weights of emotions lifting off her chest, even slightly, upon making company with a familiar friend. "I am indeed", she admitted. "I was appointed to come by and deliver a dress made for Miss Charlene today. It was an urgent request and the other ladies at the boutique are engaged with duties. So I was to come by."
Daren nodded, "I see." He cast a gaze towards the door behind which the daughter of the wealthy duke was getting dressed and then back to the guest and said, "I believe the Prince is coming today, to meet the Duke and make discussions and arrangements. It is a very frequent affair, but also highly private. It is practice that Duke Walterus pays visits to the Imperial Castle for these communions, but he is visiting our estate today instead."
~