Elaine wandered the library often. It was a smaller library, maintained with no care except for hers. There was three in total in the mansion, the grand library, which was only for the duke and the duchess, including their children and special guests. The other two old, abandoned libraries from the old Kingdom. One was being renevated into a kitchen, due to its location near the back of the mansion, and the other is isolated near the end of the mansion, near the gardens in the West side.
Elaine loved the isolated library. The books collected dust and the tall windows were covered by transparent cloths. There was webs in every corner and the floor boards creaked when you stepped. Since she was older, Sal gave her more freedom.
It was her space.
She discovered it around three months ago and since then has been visiting, sneaking cleaning supplies in and out and tidying up.
The books here weren't important to the mansion, they were childrens stories, old tales of gods and merceneries, princesses and outcasts, love and war.
She read a few before, one about a lost princess who cried diamonds, Elaine had loved that one, it was sad but heartwarming. The story followed a young girl who was born and raised by fairies, they protected her because the world would use her if they knew of her ability to create diamonds from tears. Soon, she was discovered by a knight when she was collecting berries. He had escorted her to the king, who then married her to his son. They had lived together since then. Thinking back on it now, it was a little messed up. The knight had brought the girl to the king to ask him to wed them, but the king who was astonished by her beauty but already had a wife, married her to his son.
Elaine felt sorry for the knight. If she was the princess, she would've fought the king until she was free. But of course, it was just fantasy.
Today, she was just cleaning up the few webs and dusting books here and there, she had the book she enjoyed arranged on a shelf, all in order of when she read them.
The library was quiet, you could hear the scratching of mice and the smell of dust. The windows didn't open so Elaine wasn't able to air it out. There was two stories to the library, the top story that looked on at the bottom over a marble balcony, but you couldn't see the marble because of the dirt. Elaine has never been up there, the stairs were broken and she wouldn't risk it. The bottom floor was all she had, even though it wasn't the top, it was enough for her.
There was one place in the whole world that could be Cesare's home. The garden. Cesare and his mother would walk those paths together, he'd pick her flowers and give them to her, the stems crushed together. She would give him a smile, her golden eyes staring only at him, taking the flowers while praising her son. Her red hair tied back into a bun.
The would sit on a picnic blanket and eat sandwiches, Cesare would dance around and sing for his mother, who would clap her hands to his beat. She would stroke his forehead and pat his back when he slept on the blanket, in that garden. They would argue, hug, sleep and dance in the garden. It was his safe space, a place made only for him and his mother.
Today, as Cesare walked the garden once again, he was alone. No mother around to hold his hand, or pat his head. It was a sunny afternoon, the air was cold, hinting the fall was making its way around. He and his mother haven't walked these paths since he was eight. He had left to the academy after awhile when his mother suddenly grew distant, pushing him away. He never understood why, but he accepted it. She was rough towards him, cold and distant. Cesare could never speak to her after that without an arguement, a disagreement, something to prove her love for him diminished. Maybe she was tired of him since his brother was born. Johanson, her lovely son.
Cesare was handsome in a more masculine way, but his brother was the pure opposite. He was still strong and muscular, but his features were delicate.
Pale skin, a small nose, long eyelashes and hair that curled to frame his face. Johanson and Cesare were a sight to see. Both were knights, but Cesare was a mage.
Then his mother began to treat Johanson the same way when she became pregnant. She coddled her daughter, Esmeray. Johanson was left alone like Cesare. Both sons abandoned.
Cesare didn't understand how to feel with his siblings. Johanson didn't like the same things Cesare did, so their only common interest was swords, whereas his baby sister, Esmeray, was only interested in what mommy was interested in.
He was lonely with too much time to spare. So he spent it at the academy.
Johanson soon followed, Esmeray not old enough to attend.
Cesare plucked a flower from a bush, a lily. Cesare was eleven when he left. Now he returned and it was his fifteenth birthday.
His mother and sister didn't come to congratulate him, only his brother. Not even in this garden did he feel happy.
…
The orchestra played a beautiful tune as couples danced in pairs. The gala was extroadinary, voered in flours, streamers and food and wine. Cesare stood in a corner of the banquet hall, surrounded by people.
They asked him questions about his future, where he would live and what he desired for his spot as the duke. He didn't have an answer.
The men tried to sway him by making deals, or giving good impressions, the girls puckered their lips and batted their lashes.
He wanted to escape.
It was too much today. Cesare woke up, and no one but Esmeray had told him happy birthday. She came in with her maid and set a tray down.
Esmeray has a limited budget in the dukedom. Since she's the youngest she doesn't have much say, so her present to her brother wasn't much, but it was thoughtful and it warmed his heart.
A gold pin, in the design of a flower and a sword, placed neatly beside it was a small chocolate cake with whipped cream. It was wrapped in a smooth and soft cloth.
"For you, brother." She sat the tray down. "Happy 15th birthday." Esmeray smiled.
The maid beside her was staring at her feet, but Cesare could tell she was overly nervous and maybe thinking of things she shouldn't be thinking about.
Now, all people want to do is think those things. Ways to woo the duke.
Cesare used the transition to the next dance as an excuse to find his sister, claiming she loved this song and they had practiced, but in reality he slipped away to the families designated balcony.
Here, it was quiet. Only him and his family were allowed to be here. The balcony was marble and cold from the outdoors, reflecting the moonlight. It lhad a staircase that lead to Cesare's garden, and if he wanted to, he could takena stroll. But he was feeling exhausted.
Cesare had always been alone. His mother was cruel, his siblings didn't care much for him. Esmeray did things for him because she knows she would get something in return, and Johanson just doesn't bother.
It felt even more lonesome now because everyone in that banquet hall only wants one thing from
him.
The wind pushed against his forehead. He had a small sweat beginning, but the wind quickly dried it.
":)8'jw"
"£\%?\@28!"
Cesare perked. The sound of people talking, no, arguing?
In his garden?
He began down the steps.