Lyra's voice was as gentle as always as she stared at the young lady before her, her brown eyes filled with curiosity.
"I... I did." Adelia stuttered, her voice timid. "Unfortunately..."
She hadn't realized the state she was in, and if she had, she would have undoubtedly taken steps to correct it before entering the castle.
Lyra shook her head, her expression a mix of concern and disapproval. "Honestly, my lady," she started, her tone gentle but reproachful. "I know how you can be, but this is..."
"I... I know," Adelia agreed, her voice tinged with regret. "But it's nothing to worry about, I promise."
"Says the lady who walks into her own castle looking like she has been defiled," Lyra prompted playfully.
A wave of horror and embarrassment washed over Adelia, her face turning bright crimson. "Lyra!"
"I only tease, my lady," her maid affirmed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Now come, I need to get you out of this horrid-looking dress," then she eyed the slender wood in her grasp.
"And put that useless bow aside, my lady. If the Duke were to see you in the state you are, he would not be too happy."
"Yes, please," Adelia agreed, a hint of urgency in her voice as she placed the broken weapon on a table closest to her. "Hurry, before it's time for lunch."
Lyra gave her an incredulous look. "Lunch?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "What lunch? Lunchtime passed over an hour ago, my lady."
"Oh..." Adelia exclaimed, her voice filled with a little surprise. "I... didn't notice."
Her maid shook her head again, a hint of exasperation on her face. "Of course, you didn't. When you spent most of your time in the forest doing only God knows what."
"My apologies..."
Lyra huffed, but there was a fondness in her tone. "I'm not the one you should apologize to, my lady," she told her gently. "The Duchess caught wind of your... err... little rebellion today. Apologize to her instead when you go to see her."
"What?!" Adelia yelped, her eyes widening. "Mother knows of what I did?"
"Yes, she does, and so does the Duke, of course." Lyra said matter-of-factly. "You didn't think you could run away from the castle so openly without them taking notice, did you?"
Adelia bit her lip wearily. "I did but I didn't expect Mother would find out…" She took in a shaky breath. "She didn't… she didn't worry too much, did she?" she asked, her voice quivering mildly. "She couldn't have found out on her own, who was the servant stupid enough to tell her?"
"Language, my lady," Lyra chided gently, her tone soothing. "I'm not sure how much she worried, but I saw some of the maids discussing it outside her chamber doors, she must have heard it from them."
"Honestly," Adelia clenched her fists as she gritted her teeth, frustration evident in her voice. "Idiots who don't know when and where to keep their mouths shut!"
"Language, my lady," Lyra reminded, her tone firm but affectionate as she guided Adelia away from the mirror. "Take off this rubbish," she said, gesturing to Adelia's dress. "While I prepare the bath for you."
Adelia nodded and began to take off her clothes for the second time that day, while her maid headed off into the bathroom to prepare the bathwater.
When she was done, she went and stood before the mirror clad only in her white chemise, she couldn't help but take a critical look at herself.
Her hair looked more tattered than it had ever been, and her body... her body looked very young for a lady of eighteen, not to mention frail. She gingerly placed her hands on her bosom, feeling a surge of heat flush her cheeks.
Was she—was she truly that unappealing that he would refer to her as a fellow man?
Adelia gnawed at her lower lip again, her gaze fixed on her reflection with furrowed brows. Why on earth were his words bothering her so much even? She wasn't one to care about other people's opinions.
She scoffed and turned away, discarding her chemise as she entered the bathroom, ready to immerse herself in the warm water that Lyra had prepared for her.
When she entered, Adelia was greeted by the sight of the bath water already prepared, and she gingerly stepped into it, sighing in a mix of relief and satisfaction as it enveloped her skin.
Lyra laughed softly as she approached, reaching for a jug of water to wash her hair. "You're still ever so fond of baths, my lady."
Adelia smiled sheepishly, cupping the warm water from the bath in her hands. "I just can't help it. It helps me relax for some reason..."
Lyra nodded even though Adelia couldn't see her. "I know…"
When Lyra finished washing her hair and bathing her, putting her in a long sleeved sky blue dress, she guided Adelia to sit in front of a mirror.
Adelia remained quiet, observing her reflection as Lyra skillfully gathered her voluminous locks into a single braid.
"I'm done, My lady," Lyra announced after a few moments.
Adelia gently touched the braid with slender fingers. "Thank you, Lyra. You're excellent at what you do."
Her maid huffed with a hint of pride. "I don't mean to brag, my lady, but of course I am."
Adelia laughed softly, then fell silent as she continued to study her reflection. After a while, she broke the silence. "Lyra..."
"Yes, my lady?" Lyra responded attentively.
Adelia hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to voice her question without sounding strange, but she carried on. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, my lady. I'm listening." Her maid replied, her tone reassuring.
"Do I..." She paused, her voice wavering with uncertainty. "Am I... am I unappealing?"
Lyra blinked several times, taken aback by the unexpected question. "What in heaven's name brought about this question, my lady?"
Adelia pursed her lips, feeling a sudden urge to escape the situation. She swiftly stood up from her chair.
"It's nothing important. Forget I ever asked," she told her, moving towards the large doors of her chamber. "I'm going to see mother now."
"...of–of course, my lady," Lyra replied uncertainly. "...Do send for me when you need me."
Adelia placed her hands around the door knobs. "I will," she said, prying them open and stepping out quickly, eager to avoid any further questions from her maid.
****
'Honestly, Delia,' Adelia chided herself as she made her way to her mother's chambers. 'What were you thinking, asking Lyra such a question? She must have thought you strange!'
She huffed as she continued to walk briskly, and a few minutes later, she stood in front of the grand doors that led into the Duchess' chamber.
She took several deep breaths, summoning the courage to knock on the door… she knew she was going to need as much as she could get.
"Who is it?" a feminine voice called from within.
"It's me," Adelia replied. "It's Delia."
"Oh..." the woman inside exclaimed in a small voice. "You may come in."
Adelia took hold of one of the door knobs, gently prying it ajar, and took a small peek into the room before stepping in and looking around.
The chamber was exquisitely decorated, with large, lovely paintings adorning the walls, plush rugs settled on the floor, and blinds covering the windows in a beautiful shade of purple.
A chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room with its gentle glow from the candles on it. It truly was a room fit for a Duchess.
Sitting on the large bed was a woman, her gentle but startling grey eyes fixed on Adelia as she entered. The rays of the sun cast a warm glow on her lush auburn hair, making it appear even more lustrous.
However, the woman's cheeks looked slightly gaunt, and her eyes seemed sunken with dark circles underneath. Her skin had a pallid color, as if she were on the verge of collapsing.
Adelia felt a pang of pain in her chest as she observed the woman's condition, but she knew that this was the best the Duchess had looked in years…
Forcing what seemed like a casual smile upon her lips, Adelia greeted her. "Good Afternoon, Mother…"