Mariana Rosette couldn't forget the gray eyes that she had encountered in the woods.
Even as the iron gates of her aunt's courtyard came into view. Even as she examined the elegantly constructed mansion in which her aunt resided. Even as the horses came to a stop and she dismounted Calliope, the thought of those intriguing gray eyes never left her head.
"We're here Lady Mariana," Quin announced behind her.
Mariana nodded and threw another scrutinizing stare at the mansion. It was still the way she remembered it when she visited as a child. It stood on its own in its magnificence. It had a rich mixture of expensive and exotic woods from the best parts of the world as well as bricks that decorated some parts of the wall.
The house was the family home of the Romans, her mother's home. The Romans never had a male child and with Mariana's mother dead, every riches that they had was inherited by her aunt, Lydia Roman.
Lydia was the same person who had become Mariana's new guardian as her late father also had no relatives. She had no one else in the world except her aunt. Mariana didn't like the feeling of being at the mercy of her aunt. She kept feeling as if Lydia had a shocking surprise in store for her.
Lydia had never always been a nice and loving aunt. She was more of a dangerous and strict aunt who didn't like being crossed. The few people who Mariana remembered to have crossed Lydia, Mariana never saw again. Only the gods knew what Lydia did to them. She hated to be on bad terms with her aunt but the nagging feeling at the depth of her stomach kept telling her that what she feared was near.
Mariana looked around the courtyard. There was a circular spot in the center of the courtyard which was occupied with colorful flowers. She remembered the stables were to the left side of the building.
"We should proceed inside the house," Martins suggested.
"What about the horses?" Mariana inquired while patting Calliope.
As if on cue, a young boy who couldn't have been over thirteen emerged from the left side of the building. He wore dark shorts, a white shirt and a dark coat over the shirt. He had white socks on which were coupled with dark shoes. His hair was dark and ruffled. His skin looked very pale with freckles on his cheeks. Yet his big smile felt so warm.
"Greetings milady. I'm Jasper and I'll be taking care of your horses," He introduced himself.
"Ah, I was about to tell you about Jasper. Your horse is safe with him," Quin commented.
Mariana wanted to protest but the warm smile coming from Jasper was enough for her to give up the idea. She turned to Calliope.
"Be good to Jasper. Don't make him get worked up," Mariana told her horse while scratching its hair. It snorted in reply.
Jasper approached Calliope and outstretched an arm at the horse. When he opened it, there were three cubes of sugar in it. He said nothing. Calliope stared back at Jasper as if contemplating whether to trust him or not. In the end, Calliope gave up and started to eat the sugar on his palm. Jasper broke into a peal of triumphant laughter.
"That's a good girl," he said and brought his other hand to caress her hair.
"I see she has chosen to trust you," Mariana finally said after watching the entire thing.
"Horses love me. What's her name?" He asked.
"Calliope," Mariana answered.
Jasper beamed with excitement. "That's a very powerful name for a horse. Aren't you a beautiful horse?" He said to Calliope and the horse whinnied at him.
Mariana smiled. Her horse was in safe hands. She turned to the men. "Shall we?" They nodded and led the way into the house.
Inside, the house was just as beautiful. The sitting area was arranged before the fire to keep it cozy and warm. It was situated on the right side of the entrance. The Grand stairway was right opposite the entrance.
Four women were waiting in the sitting area for them. It was obvious that the other three women were maids from the way they were dressed. They wore simple kirtles of dull colors and aprons around their waists while the last woman was elegantly dressed in an exotic blue dress which had many layers.
Lydia Roman didn't seem to have aged a day since the last time Mariana saw her. That was ten years ago. Lydia was tall and she had sharp features. Starting from her cheekbones to her jawline. Her eyes were bright green orbs that could pierce into somebody's soul who stared too much. Her dark hair was tied up in an updo befitting a queen. Mariana couldn't help but feel as if her aunt was overly dressed. Perhaps, she was attending a ball today.
The other maids were short and cowered under Lydia's command. Only the gods knew what she could have done to them. The oldest looking maid was chubby and had brown hair which was tied into a low bun. The others were young, they could have been around Mariana's age. She couldn't tell. One had blond hair while the other had dark hair like Lydia's. They all tied their hair into low buns just like the oldest maid.
Mariana and her escorts finally approached Lydia and her maids.
"Welcome dear child. I trust the trip wasn't too rough. You should have been here since yesterday but due to today's event, I'll overlook it. We're receiving powerful visitors," Lydia Roman began without stopping for a breath. Her accent carried her wealthy roots.
"I don't care about your visitors, Aunt. Will you show me to my room so that I can have a good rest?" Mariana asked.
The maids seemed shocked by her reply but they say a word.
"Quin, Martins, you may go now. Your services aren't needed here anymore," Lydia said while dismissing the butlers. Then she turned to the maids. "Cassandra and Sarah, go back into the kitchen to make sure the preparations are in check and nothing has gone wrong. Nothing must!" Lydia ordered.
The chubby maid and the blond-haired maid nodded and walked towards the kitchen which was behind the grand stairway.
"Leandra, you follow us to my niece's room. You're going to help her get ready for the visitors," Lydia instructed as she turned towards the grand stairway.
Mariana gave her aunt a questioning glare. "I don't understand. Why do I have to get ready?"
Leandra followed her mistress quietly without saying a word. Which left Mariana with no choice but to follow closely behind. They mounted the stairs quickly and it came to an end before a corridor. Lydia led the way until she came before a room at the far end of the corridor. It was on the left side of the house. On the same side as the stables.
Lydia pushed the door open and allowed the two women following her to walk in. Mariana saw that the room had already been prepared for her. The draperies were blue like the sky. The bed covers were the same. The walls were painted white like snow. The bed was beside one of the windows and the dresser was on the other side. A wardrobe that led into the washroom was at the foot of the bed.
"It's important for you to get ready because Prince Leonard Luther is coming to see you so that he would make the final decision of either accepting you or rejecting you as his bride-to-be," Lydia broke the news.
Mariana froze as she stared at her aunt. Her mouth came open in shock. She searched her aunt's face for any sign of a joke or laughter. It was only seriousness she found.
"You can't be serious Aunt," Mariana scoffed.
"We don't have all day. The prince will be here any moment from now. You need to get dressed and be on your best behavior," Lydia instructed.
It was at this point that Mariana realized her aunt wasn't bluffing. She was telling the truth. Rage started to boil within her. When had her aunt arranged all this? Didn't Lydia even think to involve her in something as grand as her own wedding? Besides, she never remembered saying she wanted to get married!
"Aunt Lydia, I don't remember having a certain conversation with you where I told you that I was desperately in need of a husband and that I would be so glad if you came to my aid and arranged my marriage!" Mariana exclaimed.
Leandra gasped but she made sure to remain quiet. Lydia stared at her niece in shock and for a moment, considered murdering her.
"Leave us!" Lydia instructed Leandra.
The maid— without any word hurried out of the room. Lydia let out a heavy sigh. She was trying hard not to lose her temper and lash out at her niece.
"Dear child. You're right, you never had such a conversation with me but your aunt knows best and I only want what is best for you. Prince Leonard Luther is the heir to the throne of Asgaria. If he accepts your hand in marriage then you tend to become the future Queen of this kingdom. Your future will be secured with the amount of power that you will wield. No one will dare to harm or disrespect you. Do you even realize the gravity of that?" Lydia explained to her niece. The last thing she wanted was for her niece to ruin what she tried so hard to build.
"Aunt Lydia, I don't want to get married. If I ever marry, then I want it to be of my own accord. I want to marry for love. I want to be the one to choose my own husband. I certainly do not want to marry the prince of this place. I'll be caged, trapped in one place. I won't have the freedom that I have yearned to have. I refuse to get married!" Mariana protested.
"Are you foolish, child? There is no such thing as love! All that is a stupid fairy tale told to silly girls like you. The prince is coming and you will meet him. Remember! You're under my roof. You have to work to keep your place!" Lydia exclaimed as she was already beginning to lose her temper.
Mariana gasped at her aunt's harsh words. "I'm beginning to think it's your future you're trying so hard to secure here!" Mariana retorted.
This hit a nerve in her aunt. Lydia threw her niece the harshest glare and swiftly grabbed her niece by the cheek as she squeezed hard.
Mariana still shocked by her aunt's behavior tried to blink back the hot tears that threatened to flow out due to the stinging pain that her aunt was inflicting on her.
"I'm sure you've heard that people don't cross me," Lydia reminded her and her green eyes became so dangerous. "What is the name of your horse again? Ah, yes, Calliope. It will be really devastating if some bad misfortune were to befall the poor horse. It's up to you though, if the horse will remain safe or not," Lydia finished and released Mariana.
Mariana stared back at her aunt in shock. She had never once thought that her aunt could stoop this low. Her heart thumped violently against her chest. Her body began to tremble.
"Leandra will be here shortly to help you dress," Lydia announced and walked out of the room.
The tears which had been wanting to fall out the entire time came streaming down her cheeks. She wiped the tears angrily away. She hadn't seen this coming. What had she gotten herself into? Had she known about this then she would have never come here. She would have fled and gone to find herself a home elsewhere. Now Calliope was in danger and she knew well that her aunt was capable of hurting the animal.
She was hopeless but she couldn't just accept defeat. She would meet the prince today, she would go along with her aunt's plan. But she will secretly think up a way to break away from the marriage without hurting anyone.
She will be fine.