Two days had passed after Andrea's celebration and all she could recall was the dance that she shared with the king. He was the only man who deserved her and though it was the first time that he had talked to her, she kept on smiling every time she thought about him.
Her mother who had noticed the growing feelings of her daughter to the king brought up a conversation that elevated her daughter's mood while they were having breakfast.
"Locking yourself in your room while fantasizing a man is not going to help you. You should find a way to get him but I don't think it is going to be easy because his repution of debauchery is well known to everyone."
Lady Louisa,just like any other woman of high society wanted her daughter to be married to a rich and influencial man and the king had surpassed all that and she knew that if her daughter would play her cards well, she would be the queen of sitian.
"Father, I heard from the king that Clara is not feeling well, would it be a problem if I paid her visit tomorrow?" Andrea asked her father politely. Not getting a reply from her father, she turned to look at her mother who was quick to support her daughter's words. "It's a good chance for her to see the king Edward, just let her go."
"Alright, you can go. But tell your daughter to behave while she's there. I don't want embarassments." Her father's words were directed to her mother which they lightened her mood, but she tried to make it less obvious as she took a glass that was filled with blood and drank from it.
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That evening, Rose and one of the maid's had just finished washing the utensil when the butler came to her and told her that lady Louisa wanted to talk to her. Wiping her hands with the front of her apron, she walked out of the kitchen while following the butler who was two steps ahead of her.
Lady Louisa was standing in front of a rack of books in the study room when Rose got there and since she had heard her footsteps, the lady turned around while holding a small brown covered book in her arms.
"Roselyne, my daughter will be going somewhere tomorrow and you will go with her. Go and get prepared because you'll leave first thing in the morning." With those words, she was dismissed.
When Rose got back to the servants rooms, she chose a decent dress that she could wear with the help of her aunt. She also picked an extra dress because she knew that wherever they were going, they might spend a night which was why Andrea needed a maid.
"Are you sure you want to go with that spoilt woman?" Her aunt asked while folding a dress and putting it in a cardboard. "It was madame's order, you know I can't disrespect her." Rose replied to her aunt who took her hand into hers as they both sat on the edge of the bed.
"Rose.., I _ I have a strange feeling about this. Just promise me that you will be alright."
"Aunt, you know that I will always come back to you. There is no need to worry." Though Jade tried to calm her aunt who had a look of worry, Vivian's heart kept on telling her that something was not right. She always trusted her intuition and it was now warning her against Rose's plan to go with Andrea but with how confident her niece seemed to be, she finally nodded and tried to put her feelings aside. "Maybe tomorrow would not be possible for me to say goodbye." With that, Vivian kissed her niece's forehead. " I will pray for you. Now sleep because you will wake up earlier than us.
As Rose covered herself with an old light blanket, sleep was quick to catch up to her but not her aunt who was internally praying for her niece's safety. The last time that a maid had gone with Andrea, she disappeared and no one has ever had of her. She just hoped that God would protect her niece as she closed her eyes and welcomed the darkness.
Rose was woken very early in the morning by one of the maid's and after a quick cold bath, she put on a dress that she had chosen the previous night. With one glance at the broken mirror that was on the wall, she walked towards the door but before she could open it, she turned to look at her aunt who was sleeping peacefully in the slightly dark room. " Bye aunt, I will be back before you know it." Not wanting to leave just like that, she went back to where her aunt was sleeping and kissed her cheek.
The coachman and Rose waited for Andrea at the gates of Dawson's mansion where the carriage was parked.
When Edward's daughter got out of the house, Rose was stunned by how beautiful she looked. She wore a beautiful off shoulder red gown that was made of pure silk. "It seemed like she was dressed like that to impress a man. Maybe Eric's prayers would be answered soon." Rose thought as she walked towards the woman so that she could assist her in carrying her luggage.
When they got outside the gates of the mansion, Rose who sat next to the coachman looked at the sky admiringly. The horizon had a red hue that could be seen near the hills which indicated that the sun would rise at anytime. She recalled with a smile on how she and her cousin used to make a wish before sunrise because her aunt had told them that if they made a wish at that time, it would come true.
As the horses continued to gallop in the lonely alley, she closed her eyes with a smile. Her smile was gentle and innocent as her hair which she had not tied properly continued to get blowned by the strong wind covered her face. "I wish that one day I'll be able to give my family a comfortable life." She thought internally and opened her eyes so that she could watch the sun that had come out partially and its orange rays protruded through the hilly landscape.