The Henderson duchy is known for its collection of rare and beautiful plants. Melody loved plants so as to make things more comfortable for her.
Vincent hired different gardeners to plant the most beautiful and exquisite flowers. But it went unnoticed by Melody who never for one day went out to admire the garden.
She just stayed in her room avoiding Veronica and Vincent till the day she died.
"My lady would you like more tea"
"Yes I would"
A maid pours tea in a cup and sets it done on the table. It smells lovely, if this is the life of a noble lady I have no complaints. I could enjoy living like this for a while. I stand up and straighten my gown.
"My lady are you going somewhere?"
"I'm just going out for a walk''
I wander around the duchy's gardens. It's a really beautiful place. Roses and other lovely flowers are everywhere.
The sun is especially beautiful today. This really does looks like a place straight out of a fairytale. If I can avoid my banishment this might be a good place to live out the rest of my days in peace.
My thoughts are interrupted by childlike laughter. There aren't any children on the duchy. Veronica was an only child she didn't have any siblings.
But the laughter continued echoing all over the place. I look around me but I can't see anyone nearby. I walk around searching for the kids making the noise.
But I don't see anyone around. I'm almost beginning to think I'm hallucinating but the laughter I'm hearing sounds real enough. I try my best to follow the laughter going in between hedges and bushes. Till i find them. Two children sitting under a tree playing and laughing. I can't see their faces properly.
"Hey promise me that you won't leave me" A girl's voice floats through the air.
"I promise I promise okay. You're someone special to me. I'll always be on your side" Another voice replies her, this one sounds like a small boy
"You'd better keep your word"
"I will !! Now let's go inside I'm sure the maids are worried about us"
"Awww I don't want to go just yet"
"Come on you'll get in trouble if you don't go back"
"Mmmph! You're no fun"
"I'm heading back now if you don't hurry I'll eat your share of the cake"
"Huh! Wait up!! Damien you're such a meanie!!!"
Wait did she just call him Damien!!! I run out hoping to catch a glimpse of the two
children. But I'm moving unusually slow. It takes time for the words to leave my throat.
"Hey! Wait!!"
The two children turn around and look at me. The sunlight is blocking me from seeing them clearly. Ugh! My legs won't move any faster. I tripped over something and fall down. I turn around to see what caused me to fall but I don't see anything. I look back at the two children who have since turned their backs to me and resumed running away.
"Lady Veronica!!!"
I look behind me, I can't see anything nearby so who was it that called me. It sounded like Hermione. I try to stand up but I buckle and sway. I collapse to the ground again. My head hurts and my skin feels itchy. I look down at my skin only to see red blotches all over my arms. My entire body feels irritated
I'm furiously scratching my arms and legs but the irritation won't go away. I try once again to stand up but fall down again.
My chest hurts and I start coughing almost like I'm trying to spit something out. Like something is lodged to my throat and isn't letting me breathe
I'm rolling to and fro on the grass. The irritation is getting worse and my coughing won't let me breathe. The pain I'm feeling only gets worse as my vision is tainted with red splotches.
"My lady"
"My lady"
"My lady"
"Nooooooo"
"My lady why are you screaming"
I'm in my room on the bed and Hermione is standing beside me. Then it was all just a dream. I sigh in relief. It was just a bad dream.
"My lady are you alright?" Hermione asks with a look of worry on her face.
"Oh yeah I'm fine I just had a bad dream" I say sitting up on the bed.
"I apologize my lady I hope it didn't bother you too much"
"No I'm fine. It's just felt so real. Now I have a bad taste on my tongue"
My tongue feels flaccid and dry.
I need something sweet. Preferably a nice big chocolate to wash away this awful taste.
"My lady if you would hear my thoughts Nightingale Tea is sometimes drunk by mages trying to glance into the unknown. There a rumor that it helps in future divination" She pips up excitedly.
"So people can see into the future if they drink it" That's interesting. I wonder if that dream I had is a vision of the future.
"My lady as I said before it's just a rumor with no concrete evidence to back it up. It's probably a rumor made up by merchants wanting to sell their goods at higher prices"
"Hmmmm I suddenly don't feel so good"
"Would you like a cup of tea my lady. A new shipment just came in from the East. We have a new assortment for you to choose from"
"You know what I think I'll skip the tea this time"
I think it's best I that I avoid tea from now on. I feel uneasy remembering that dream.
I still look down at my hands from time to time.
"By the way Hermione why are you in my room" What's she doing here.
"My lady you're the one who said i should wake you up at this hour. You said you had something you needed to do" She says with a puzzled look on her face.
"Something I needed to do eh?"
I turn and stretch on the bed. I get up from the bed and push my messy hair back. I'll have to have it brushed later. Long hair like this is pretty but it's a pain to take care of. If it's too much trouble I'll just cut it short.
"Please prepare a bath for me. And get me some clothes as well"
"I'll have the others prepare a lovely dress for you my lady"
"I don't wanna wear a corset again don't you have something more comfortable"
"My lady I'm not sure I understand what you're saying" she gave me a confused look.
"Hermione please find me something like a shirt and trousers maybe" How do these people dress up all fancy like everyday. Comfortable clothes are better than beautiful clothes.
"My lady please forgive me for what I'm about to say. But being honest no normal noble lady would but caught dead in what you're suggesting I bring you"
"Hmmph you're saying I'm not normal. If you ask me it's those noble ladies who aren't normal. I'm not going out neither am I expecting guests. So who am I dressing up for? I'm in my own home so I'm not going to give myself unnecessary stress and wear that nonsense" I spit out venomously.
"If you're insist my lady. I can only do your bidding" Hermione replies moving away from me like she was walking away from someone who was mentally ill.
"Good"
"Your bath will be ready in fifteen minutes my lady"
"Thank you"
Hermione bows her head and leaves the room. I really don't want to wear another frilly dress. Those things don't suit me at all.
Time passes and I hear a small knock on the door.
"Come in"
"My lady I've prepared your bath"
"Thank you"
"Now if you'll just follow me I can get you ready for the day"
"Okay"
We leave the room and enter another room nearby. Hermione holds the door open and I walk in. The room has roses painted on its walls. There are some plants placed at different corners of the room other than the tub at the center, it's almost completely empty.
I walk over to the tub and test the temperature with my elbow. It's a little bit hotter than what I'd like. But I'd rather not complain and cause Hermione any more trouble. I slip of my clothes and sink into the tub. The water soothes my aching muscles and I finally relax.
After this bath I'll start thinking of a way to avoid my banishment to Aragan. A land full of wandering demons and some of the worst elemental storms in the kingdom.