The dawn of a Rift
~
Miss Charlene's Personal Bed Chambers,
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
Town of Crimsonton
Kingdom of Velicia,
Dawn of Morning,
The Tenth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
~
Charlene awoke quite early that day, after seeing many pleasant dreams of romancing with the handsome prince. Her heart was excited and she couldn't help dancing across her room, cushions hugged against her chest.
She called for Head Maid Christy and the woman came scuttling in, smiling, for she could tell that the damsel was in high spirits. "What would you like, my lady?" the elderly maiden asked, bowing in service.
"Please draw my bath here in this room. I'd like it to be rose flavoured today", the daughter of the Duke said, running her hands through her golden hair that was let down the front of her shoulder, going all the way down to her chest.
"Of course, my lady. I shall be here with the maidens right away", Maid Christy said, before scurrying off to round up the ladies in waiting and attend to the Heir's service.
Meanwhile, Charlene walked over to the balcony where she could look over the courtyard and see if any of the members were visiting the book association.
She knew Baron Sean would come by, for a maid of hers had mentioned that he had visited late the previous night, but had not made any posts, nor visited her. Thus, it was expected that he would visit her in the morning instead.
The damsel of golden hair watched as Amelia Luna-dynn walked into the Estate demurely. A feeling of anxiety filled her chest at the very sight of her.
Now Charlene knew that the lowly peasant girl was no competition for her, for she scarcely fit into the standards of beauty etched by society for the women. However, she could tell that her cheerful disposition and curvaceous body could attract anyone's attention.
And she disliked that. Especially the fact that the damsel was she was lingering about when the vigilantes were at the woods, murdering the beastly, sabre teethed hounds. And the fact that the Crown Prince had mentioned to her father that he did not wish to annihilate the damsel for witnessing the vigilantism was stressful.
Charlene hoped Amelia didn't hold Prince Rayzenn's attention as well in some way. After all, she could gather that Head Knight had some attraction towards her.
The very thought of that made her heart churn with hurt. And just as the damsel was there on the balcony, feeling her gruesome emotions, she saw the very knight, dark curly hair moving to the rhythm of his horse, riding into the Estate.
Charlene felt jealous of the fact that he was coming when Amelia was still inside.
Did he know that she was there and follow her inside? Or was it casually a coincidence?
Feelings of anxiety poured into her stomach in waves, knowing that he would talk to her. And she absolutely did not want that.
The daughter of the Walterus Estate knew that no man would rather be with any other woman than herself. Thus, a simple signal to Erion was all she needed to do, before she could get him back on her hook.
She withdrew indoors to fetch her scarlet ribbon. It was tucked inside the novel she had been reading the previous night and she remembered how she had turned seeing the knight away, because her heart had been soaked with thoughts of the Prince.
Charlene knew he was very confrontational and so if he asked her why she had been that way, she decided that she would tell him what had happened with Duke Lemiron's intervention the previous day and tell him she had been tired and upset after the scandal.
She further thought she could tell him she hadn't wanted to dump all that trauma on him and upset him as well. Every time she had told him that earlier, he had believed her wholeheartedly and told her she was the kindest person.
As she walked back to the balcony, scarlet ribbon in hand, a maid followed, saying, "My lady, your tea is here."
"Yes, please leave it here, I shall take it", the damsel of the Estate responded, as she tied the ribbon to the railing.
Her eyes looked over the courtyard to see that Erion was there, walking towards his horse and Amelia was following him, and they seemed like they were chatting pleasantly.
Charlene felt her gut burning, for she disliked that he was slipping. She turned and flounced back into her room, deciding to pretend like she hadn't seen it.
She sat there, reading the book until a warm bath was drawn. The rose petals and essence were calming and the damsel decided to continue her reading at the tub. Undressing, she slowly dipped herself into the water and relaxed.
It was wonderful, with mild steam ascending all around her and fragrant petals adding to the ambience. A maid scurried in and poured a cool solution inside till the water stared bubbling.
Then, as she read the novel, the young maiden scrubbed her body gently, like it was a massage. Just then, there was a knock at the door and Charlene called for the maid to enter.
"My lady", Head maid Christy stepped inside.
"Yes? What is it, Christy? Is it urgent?", the damsel asked, returning to her book.
"No, my lady", the woman said. "Someone is here to see you. Shall I have him wait at the lounge or to come back after a while?"
Charlene couldn't help the smile that lifted a side of her lips. Knight Erion was always so easy to please. A simple ribbon was all it took to bring him back. "Please tell him I'm in a bath and will be there in a few minutes", the damsel called back.
"To Baron Sean, my lady?" Head Maid Christy asked.
"Oh", Charlene didn't understand why Erion was taking as long as he did. "No, never mind, Christy. Just ask him to wait."
~