"Lucas!!!" I almost fell on the floor running towards the small stature of the child who was gone for a while. I cupped his face worriedly. Knowing that my little guy was safe and sound, I proceeded to hug him.
"Mum??" I sniffed my son.
I was just glad that he was back. I didn't know that the welcoming commencement would go that long.
But this scent...
I shook my head. It must be my imagination...
Anyway, knowing that my baby was nearby was enough to calm my shaking heart.
"Where have you been my baby?" I asked him worriedly, putting his fringes aside on his forehead. The small bangs revealed his blue wondering eyes. "I'm sorry mum left you sleeping, have you seen the Lady Seiz?"
"Lady Seiz?" He tilted his head cutely.
Now he's asking who was Lady Seiz? She was the servant of her ladyship that I asked to look over Lucas for a while.
Realizing that my child woke up with no one around made my heart fall.
Was my little one scared?
"Mum! Don't worry! Don't make a sad face!" He gently patted my cheeks. "Luke is strong, Luke is cool. I am also the best kid mum! Like dad!!"
"Dad?" For the second time, I felt my heart drop.
What does he mean by dad?
And why was Luke speaking of a word that... he had never spoken about before?
The corners of my spine tingled.
"Yes! A dad! A big man! Luke is a big man!!" And he proudly showed his biceps that were still yet to grow in adulthood.
"Where did you hear that from Lucas?" I asked him, trying not to make him feel as if I was interrogating him.
"In the lake earlier, Dad helped me. A big man did, he said Lucas might fall and he gave me cookies."
Slowly, fear crept up my heart.
"Did you know how he looked?"
"Uhn! Blue eyes!!"
Heavens.
"Ouch! Mum!" I immediately let go of Lucas's arm after he pulled it away.
"I'm so sorry, baby." I let out some air at the area where Luke seemed to be hurt.
I unknowingly hurt my child because of such fears.
Blue eyes... were common.
And within the empire, there are a multitude of people who have blue eyes varying in different shades.
I'm sure it was just a coincidence.
Also... it looks like the man looked over Lucas for a while.
Knowing that a child was near the lake and even luring him cookies... it sounds dangerous. But seeing that my Lucas is safe and sound.. then it must be a good man.
It also looks like he felt very safe and happy with the times he spend with the man.
"I'm really sorry about hurting Lucas, mom was just really worried."
Between work and Lucas, it was hard to choose. Since I need the first one to raise Lucas and of course, I will always choose Lucas.
"But next time you want to play, could you wait for mommy?"
"Hmm... okay." He nodded obediently.
"Promise me, baby?" I raised my pinky finger.
"Promise!" My baby sealed the pinky promise with his small little bones.
I kissed his forehead happily.
Now then...
It looks like Seiz is not willing to look after Lucas.
*****
"Milady." I greeted her ladyship as soon as I entered her room. It was just beside mine and Lucas's room.
She's currently being groomed and prepared by Seiz for her trip to the Darsein Road. In there, she was meant to visit a clothing shop in preparation for the ball in three days.
My mood immediately changed after seeing Seiz but I did my best to remain as calm as possible.
"You're right on time, I was just ready." Lady Austen stood up from her seat and gently twirled to look at me. "What do you think?"
What is this outfit?
This time, the crinkles in my forehead cannot help itself.
My Lady's beauty is akin to royalty, a tall slender-powerful figure. She was someone who just needed to stand and she will already overpower you with all the charisma that she have.
But what is this?
Why was she wearing a puffy baby-blue ball gown with a lot of ribbons and frills that were also against her color palette?
"The lady is gorgeous but I believe that the dress was lacking."
"Lacking? This was the most expensive dress!!" Seiz blushed after hearing my remarks. "It's the most beautiful dress Miss Eustia!"
"The dress is indeed beautiful, Seiz." I answered her. "But the lady could even be more beautiful." I looked at the dresses scattered on the bed.
Right... I noticed this before the lady came to the capital but she does not have a very great sense of taste.
"If you may, can Milady allow me to cast an even better magic spell?"
"You seem to also have a keen eye for fashion, Eustia."
"And Seiz, could you please help me find the lady's black heels from the baggage?"
"What?" She retorted with a snort.
"You know Seiz, I suggest we listen to Eustia." But I'm glad that her ladyship sided with me.
With her tail between her knees, Seiz followed.
"You were adamant to drive her out." Lady Austen said as soon as Seiz left the current room. The baggage was after all in the far end of the walk-in closet so she would not be hearing us talk. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I'm glad that my lady knows my heart." I smiled at her question.
I wanted to talk to Lady Austen about Lucas and a possible guardian, of course, which will be coming from my own pockets since she has already given me a lot and I cannot ask her for more.
In this case, I want to hire the maid personally and make that maid appear as one of Milady's people so that there would be no confusion with the natural order and identity of maids.
But before that...
I once again looked at my lady's childish dress.
"Please, how about wearing this one milady???"
*****
"Who is that?"
"Beautiful..."
"She's like the goddess from the tales."
Everyone stared in awe as my brave lady walked the streets of Darsein Street.
She wore a deep purple body-hugging laced dress. Others would think of it as too showy or too seductive, but my lady's charisma overrode that point of seductivity and instead reflected it as 'power' with a little bit of 'sensuality.'
I raised my nose high.
I'm very proud that I was able to dress her so beautifully.
I lived a quiet servant life in the baron's home, not being able to experience how to dress someone like my ladyship. And now that I have tapped into an old hobby of matching pieces and dressing up, it looks like I still love the same things I used to do before.
So this is how servants felt when their masters and mistresses swept the town with their beauty and handsomeness.
"Oh! You must be happy Eustia." Her ladyship teased me.
I shyly smiled at her hiding my proud flushing cheeks.
"I never experienced being praised this much."
"Don't give too much credit for me milady." Although it made my heart swell, it was the fact that it was only possible because of her powerful demeanor. "You are the one who truly brings out the dress."
"Hmmm! Too humble. But I wonder what would my brother think if he saw me?? At least this time he would not call me a 'brat' right?"
"I'm sure the master will also find you beautiful."
"Oh! He better!!" Lady Austen giggled at my answer. "You know, people used to fear me no matter what I wear. It's the first time I saw myself being admired rather than intimidating." She gazed and admired the very same reflection in the mirror.
As we walked, some of the people at the street curtsied and greeted her. She returned it properly and even gave them a smile.
"And the first time that people approached me only for being me and not as a daughter of a merchant."
Is that why the princess always had a cold look?
Being put on the spot and knowing that everyone expects something from you makes it very hard to trust people.
It makes me think that Lady Austen had somewhat of a grey world.
Watching her now, the lady looked more like a proudly standing tall peony than a thorny rose. People were friendly towards her and so was she.
Like a child who was first allowed to play.
And then we passed by a candy apple vendor.
I looked at Lucas who was touching my hand. Darsein Street was not a very populated street since it was exclusively used by nobles so I asked the sweet Lady Austen if we could bring him.
And just as I thought, he was looking intently at the Candy apply store. His eyes were brightly shining.
My Lucas is so pretty...
"Do you want one Lucas?" Lucas gently gripped my hand.
"M-May I?" He shyly asked. "But we need to follow Princess!" He looked at Lady Austen then back at me. From the view of his head, one can see him gently pouting and worried.
"Oh you little gentleman." Lady Austen patted my little boy's head. "And calling me a princess, how could I not allow it? Should I get you 3 boxes?"
"Huh?" Luke's face left its soul. "Just one is good princess, or three, for the princess and mum!"
I sighed.
It's cute to see Luke and Lady Austen like this but.... it sometimes bothers me that the princess spoils Luke a lot when she is also helping us live this comfortably now.
"Should I buy three?" I raised three of my fingers.
"Uhn!"
"Yup!!"
I happily nodded at them before we approached the stall.
"Three apple candies please." I kindly asked the vendor.
"Yay!! Thanks, princess! Thanks mom!!"
"Thank you, milady." I'm glad that the Lady allowed us to bring Lucas even if I have to attend to both of them.
There was no greater joy than letting my son experience the things that he loves.
"Oh, no need to thank me, Eustia."
"I'm sincerely thankful for everything the lady had done for us."
"You do know it's not for free though?" She grinned at me. I nodded almost immediately.
"The same way goes for the lady."
"Eep! You can't be joked on Eustia." I giggled at her answer.
It was a relationship of contracts and benefits, but an occasional banter is not so bad.
"Right! How about we pick outfits for all of us?"
"Yes??"
"Let's attend the ball together! Do you want to see Mommy as a princess Baby Luke??"
"Mum as a princess?" For the second time today, Luke's eyes shone as if they were filled with stars. "Yes!!"
"That's settled then!!" She grabbed Luke's hands and Luke followed her like a little bunny.
"Wait milady!" We need to be frugal with money!! And...
And that's the ball where they'll be officially introduced to Erden Abaddon!
We can't simply just---
"Eustia!"
"Mom!"
The children in front of me stretched out their hands at me.
The afternoon sunset setting behind the road that we stood at.
Today too... I was closer to the Lady and my dearest little Luke.
"Ah! Really." I smiled happily.
Not knowing that taking this step will ultimately make the following nights cold deep in my heart.