"My lady might I ask what you are doing"
"What does it look like I'm doing" I say breathing heavily
"It looks like you're destroying the gardener's hard work"
"What are you talking about?" I ask Hermione as I do one last tug.
I'm in the garden pulling at a large plant. Hermione is standing by and watching me in confusion. Veronica used Red Ivy when she poisoned Charlotte. There was no argument on whether it was really her or not. The give away factor was the fact the the poisonous plant did not only grow in the duchy. But it was also cultivated there as well.
When she decided to poison Charlotte there was no playing innocent. If you're gonna do something bad at least do your best or make an effort not to get caught.So rather than make myself a target. I'll get rid of the plants.
Not that I have any intention of poisoning Charlotte, I just think it's best it I play it safe. Why are there even poisonous plants here in the first place?! Who in their right mind would agree to such a thing?!
"Those are Nightingale leaves and they took quite a while to grow" Hermione said a small hint of despair in her voice.
"Well why didn't you say something?" I said exasperated.
The plant falls over dejectedly. I doubt any professional help could resurrect it.Rest in peace poor plant. This is just awkward and embarrassing.
So much for my plan to survive in this world. If this is the best I can come up with I might as well throw in the towel and accept my fate gracefully. I could live in this world without involving myself in any part of the story but for whatever reason I get a really bad feeling whenever my mind wanders to that possibility. I'm somewhere around the beginning of this story. Charlotte has already met Damien and she's probably already seduced him. She has some time to build a close relationship with him until she gets to know Erick. So before that I need to win him over before that she does.
I head back inside the manor, I doubt getting rid of a few plants will prove beneficial to me. I'm the Villainess in this story, The character no one likes.
A character who's inevitable fate is to act like the bad guy so as to highlight the hero's good qualities. A mindless ploy to show off how much of a perfect human the heroine is.
I don't see any reason why Veronica fought tooth and nail like a mad dog over some guy who couldn't care less about her. In my opinion she was better off without the douche bag. The idiot can't tell when a good thing is right in front of him.
I slap both my cheeks until they sting. No use worrying about those two. I'll just stay out their way and let the story unfold on its own. Then I'll settle down and enjoy the rich life. Charlotte can have the male leads for all I care. I'm a duchess with fame, money and power. I don't need a man. In fact I don't need anybody. I'll live out my days in grand style. Surrounded by money and good food.
"Hahahaha" I laugh out loud maniacally.
I need to stop I sound like a mad person. All this self convincing isn't going to get me anywhere. Before I can move along I hear crying somewhere close to me. Soft shaking sobs that eventually break out into an inhumane wailing. Someone crying this early in the morning??
I follow the sound of the wailing to find a maid crouched beside a wall crying her eyes out. I wonder what's wrong, a part of me wants to approach her to ask what's wrong but another part of me says to wait until she's done. And that's exactly what I do. I stay hidden in the corner watching her.
Wiping the tears in her eyes away the maid gets up to resume her duties. Another scream escapes her mouth when she turns around and sees me standing there.
"Eeeek!"
She squeals in a high pitched voice. In a flash she gets on both knees and begins to mumble under her breath, What I think is a prayer of some sorts.
Her ear shattering scream destroys my ear drums.
"What do you think you're doing screaming like a mad person this early in the morning" I whisper shout to her
She seems confused as she takes a good look at me, almost like she's seeing me for the first time.
"My la.la.lady! Thank goodness it's only you" She stutters in response.
I remember her she's was one the maids I saw when I first got here.
"Who did you think it was?"
"To be honest I thought you were the devil coming to collect my soul and all" She said wiping her tears away more furiously.
The devil!
I can't help but hiss in annoyance.
"Anyway why were you crying "
I ask her. She seemed shocked at my question and takes a moment to compose herself. She buried her head into her thighs. Almost trying to hide herself from me.
"I wasn't crying my lady I just hit my leg on a piece of furniture and I couldn't stifle the shout sorry" She says bowing her head down.
"I don't appreciate lying, if I'm asking about something then I want an honest reply"
She freezes up not knowing what to say all the while looking at the floor. I lean against the wall as I wait for her to give an answer. I watch her visibly contemplate on what to tell me.
"It... it's nothing my lady some dirt got in my eyes that's all" She says as she gets up dusting her clothes with her hand.
She insists on lying even when I know that's not true. I guess it'd make sense for her to be afraid of me.
Nobles do have a habit "educating" their servants. And by "educating" I mean they beat the crap out of them if they are shown the slightest disrespect.
I let out a sigh and approach her trembling form. Stretching out my hands I pull her in for a hug. Not the best when it comes to this kind of stuff but I'm pretty sure it helps. I pat her back and run my fingers through her hair. It's coarse and rough a sharp contrast to my soft and silky hair.
"It's okay. So please tell me what has you so troubled this morning" I whisper into her ear.
Her body softly shakes as a soft whimper escapes her mouth. She hugs me tightly as she buries her face into my shoulder. Holding back her tears until it was nothing but hiccups and soft sobs. She falls to her feet with tears streaming from her face. I hold her close all the while not saying anything. I hear footsteps coming from where I'd been a while ago.
It's Hermione. I signal to her to keep quiet and she quietly retreats leaving the two of us alone.
I continue to stroke her hair and shush her quietly.
The only sound that can be heard are the soft chirps of the birds and her coarse breathing.
We stay still on the floor not moving an inch.
"Are you alright" I ask softly
Burying her head deeper into my shoulder she shakes her head. Her fingers grip the fabric of my clothes tightly. She shakes a little but calms herself.
"No...no I'm not" Her voice sounds distant and far.
"What's wrong?" I ask using my free hand to tilt her head so that she's looking at me.
She hesitates. Her body tenses and her lips quiver. Tears form at the corners of her eyes that threatened to spill out.
"It's...it...it's m..my br.o.ttther" she stuttered out.
I wipe away her tears with my hands and tell her to calm down.
"Yes? What about him"
"A couple days ago he got in a fight....with a nobleman" A soft hiccup escapes her mouth briefly interrupting her before she decides to continue.
"He was arrested and I haven't heard anything about him since then. I'm worried about him. I don't how he's been or what's happened to him. And it's driving me mad" She bursts into another round of tears.
"It's Okay, I need you to calm down do you know the name of this noble"
"He's the Baron Kent"
Maybe there's something I can do to help her brother.
"Calm down I'll see what I can do about it"
She looks at me with surprise in her eyes. Before squeezing me tightly and thanking me profusely.
"Tell me what's your name"
"It's Sonya my lady"