He had once been timid. Following along Valerie group in hope of courting favour from a figure capable of influencing the verbena household. In which case was Valerie, the second daughter of the household which held the possibility of influencing largely on her parent's decision. Not at all the cast aside silent unpredictable little girl which was Lucinda.
He had played his awkward card right and his father had manage to form a business relationship with the head of the verbena house hold.
" i see you aren't still interested in conversation. Like the good old days"
"Remind me what's so good about those days. Was it the time you guys tried to drown me or the other malicious intents you know it would be too vile to speak of". She raised her brows with a harmless smile on her face.
"Ah.. still so quick to call people out" he flicked his nose to the side, moving from one feet to the other.
" i was just trying to recall you like you said"
"Haha yeah " he burst into a series of fake laughter trying to dissolve the suffocating air around them.
"Um..." he trailed off looking away " I heard about what-"
"If it isn't Lucinda" the voice that interrupted Dane was familiar, too familiar for comfort. Oh how she so dreaded this fated moment.
She turned around slowly only to face the man that once upon a time destroyed her life. The incompetent man that was fool enough to not only break off their engagement for a ridiculous reason but to abandon his child with no regret. A real bag of cow dump through and through.
"I didn't think we were on such close terms to be called on first name basis Lord Magnus"
" i only thought to formally greet the woman who carried my child and say the final good byes".
"And i should consider it an honor for an incompetent poor excuse of a father to say his final goodbye. You talk like you can't wait to get rid of me." She stepped up closer to him now, more intimidating with each steps she draws closer.
"You seem to forget that i have always been a difficult thorn in your flesh. And you won't get rid of me until i cause immense pain" she grin up at him, challenging him. His brows furrowed together in displeasure.
As they faced up against each other, the socialites in the ball hall had all quiet down and was intently listening with undiluted interest.
•••
Theodore has been patiently sitting and waiting like he was told. He was on his best behavior like he was also told. He took the liberty to study the room. It was dimly lit, the flames wavering with each wind that blew past the open window fluttering the white curtains. A large bed sat at the middle of the room filled to the brim with stuffed toys of different shapes and animals. The walls lining around him was filled with extra large play toy things, they rivaled his height. Especially the too large teddy bear that sat adjacent to him his fake eyes glued to him since he sat in this incredibly high chair.
This place was just too creepy. Was his old daddy wife trying to scare him away. He would very much like to leave. But not in this fashion.
The door creaked open and sound of footsteps slowly walked towards him.
Theodore saw the feet first and he curiously trailed his gaze up the person. The woman walking towards him was clad in a white dress. She held yet another stuffed in her hands. Was this woman trying to drown him in cotton and feathers.
She held a sickly sweet smile on her as she came to stop before him. She crouched down.
"Young Theodore i would be your mother from today" she tilted her head, her tooth aching smile growing wider.
Theodore guessed his mum was right. Anything that comes out of this woman mouth was filled with bland stupidity.
The ghost dressed woman pouted "i know it might be hard for you, and you might not understand what's happening now but you'll be safe with me and your papa from now on".
No way! His mama said she's not gonna leave without him and he wasn't getting good vibes from this woman. If he was stupid enough, he knew he'll be fooled by her charms. So that means his old papa was either too blind to see her facade, or was too dumb to believe it. He'll go with both. No way did he want a papa like that. His new papa was better. He pats his head, takes him seriously and makes him feel like the best gift in the whole wide world, just like his mama.
"You see..." she sighed, resting the stuffed toy on her crouched legs. " My name is Valerie and i care for you. I saw that you are not healthy mentally with my sister, so as the wife of your father— your mother. I wanted to bring you here to experience the best thing of life ." Like she hasn't already brought him here. Valarie reached for his face " you poor thing. You must have be treated so badly and its so sad to not have a papa."
Theodore small faced scrunched up.
He used his small hand to pull her hand that felt more like claws off his face " Firstly, i am not unfortunate to stay with the best mama in the whole wide world, so don't make me out to be " his dignified way of speaking was coming to Play "secondly..." he carefully stood up on the plush wooden chair.
" if you really wanted to win a child affection. You should not do so by trying to badmouth the parent just to give yourself a chance. That won't work on me" he stood straight on the chair, the curtain fluttering behind him, giving his an outer worldly appeal and staring down at the now wide eyed baffled woman staring at him; his small hands poised at his waist.
"Thirdly. I thought to give you a chance to see what my useless ex- papa left me and my mama for and I'm sorely disappointed ". He shook his head side to side with a tsk. "I'm not sorry to say that, You are not even worth the time to be studied as an experiment. So here i part ways with you. I have better things to do."
Why did he have to entertain this poor actress. Seeing past a facade has never been a problem. She's Slow witted too, as she just stayed crouched there staring with her mouth agape and a daze shock look painted on her face. Enough time playing, time to find mama , he was done here. He hopped off the chair and ran out of the room. The small stuffed toy that was on the chair, in his grip. He couldn't wait to tell his mama about this. It seems like the woman started to recover, as with an unladylike roar of anger and a vein nearly popping out, she shouted Theodore's name. Turning after and following him. He's such a vermin like his mother.