Dill met a pair of blue, gentle eyes of a young girl in a silky white nightgown, smiling blushingly at the stranger. Dill was almost certain that this was exactly what Mrs. Lester had looked like in her youth.
The young girl surveyed Dill for a moment and then quickly noticed the large white goose poking around her, probably never having seen such an odd combination before, and she couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
It was good timing, and Dill curtsied briefly, "My name is Dill, my dear young lady. I've heard that you were unwell, but I was so looking forward to seeing you; please don't blame Tina."
Rosalie seemed to be in good spirits except for a slight pallor. "I was looking forward to meeting you as well, but I didn't sleep well last night, and I apologize for being so rude. Would you like to have a cup of tea with me? I've heard you're from the east coast, so I'm sure you won't refuse me."
The young girl hadn't yet had the fully solidified modesty of her mother, and she blinked those similar blue eyes in a cute and mischievous manner.
Dill couldn't help but smile. "It's my pleasure. I happen to have some East Coast tea here, if you're interested."
Rosalie immediately sent Tina to fetch the teapot and teacups, clearly eager to try something new.
The hot water instantly scalded the dry tea leaves, the aroma of the burnt red tea broth flourished, and a few young girls of her age soon opened up a conversation. The inquisitive Rosalie was captivated by the anecdotes Dill had told, and she instantly took a liking to the schoolmistress and was soon chatting non-stop.
"It's a shame that the Lord has forbidden me to go riding since my last accident. I haven't ridden along the riverbanks in a long time." She mumbled.
Dill saw that she was not in the right frame of mind and changed the subject, Rosalie was interested but she was too tired and soon began to drift off to sleep. Kristina, on the side, duly handed her a feather pillow and she fell into a deep slumber with a tilt of her head.
Kristina picked up her teacup and gave it a sniff, "Balsam herb, hops... tranquilizing tea?"
"Don't say you didn't see it coming, she's haunted by nightmares." Dill puts away her previously relaxed expression
"She hasn't slept well since that day when the horse spooked." Kristina sat down on the other side of the bed and looked at Rosalie's peaceful sleeping face.
"His Excellency doesn't have a son, so as the eldest daughter Rosalie's engagement is extremely important, just a short while ago she went out for a ride and in the middle of the ride her horse went crazy and had an accident. It was the eldest son of Earl Rein of White Oak Beach, Guise, who saved her just in time and asked for her hand in marriage."
Dill affirmed, "Mrs. Lester doesn't believe him."
Kristina didn't deny it, "White Oak Beach once fought with Green Fei City for control of the Green Valley River, and only in recent years has it declared its submission. If they are truly loyal to saving Rosalie, it's not impossible for the two families to make a friendship, and Your Excellency is still hesitant.
Dill was more concerned about something else: "Does Rosalie want to?"
Kristina had a complicated look on her face. "She was willing, but when Mrs. Lester asked her about her condition at the time, she couldn't say anything about it; she just kept saying that she was willing to marry Guise but kept having nightmares."
Dill frowned. Was this under a spell? She hadn't heard of any male witches in the world she'd lived in so far.
"Mrs. Lester probably doesn't really want you to teach Rosalie to be a bride."
Kristina said with a rare grimace:
"She was hoping that you would learn the truth of the day from Rosalie's mouth, in time for both engagements."
Dill nodded without making a sound.
Before the two could finish, Nanny Mag rushed straight in, relieved to see the sleeping Rosalie at first, then looking at the two, her serious face already silently shooing them out.
Dill hurriedly picked up Turnip and pulled Kristina down the tower so quickly that they could still hear the locks on the doors slamming shut behind them.
Outside, the dome view was halfway through the night, and the breeze that blew was taking on a slight chill. Dill was still warm from hugging the big white goose, and she was still thinking about Lestat's mother and daughter when Kristina pulled her along beside her.
"Rosalie's business aside, there's a party in a few minutes, and I'm going to help you get dressed, and likewise, you're going to help me."
A party? Dill couldn't help but start to get a headache as she looked at the exuberant Kristina.
One could only pray that the wolf wasn't that fast on its feet.