I woke up with a new sense of determination brought about by my frustration and strong will to add another two years to my life.
Where will I be in two years' time? Will I still be alive? Will I live up to twenty-one? If I do, what will I be doing?
Mother invited me for breakfast with her, and I knew she wanted to give me her present. I could only hope that it wasn't too much. Would Teon be there? Or did he leave already?
I walked in and took my seat, trying hard to ignore mother's children. They were all glaring at me, which made me uncomfortable, but I couldn't say a word. Mother walked in, giving me a sense of relief.
"Good morning, mother," I said.
"Morning, Livi," she said, taking her seat. I turned and looked at the door, but as I thought, Teon was not coming. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing," I said, looking down.
"Are you expecting someone?" she pushed on.
"I just... I thought Teon was still here, but it seems like he already left," I said, and her expression changed. She looked surprised.
"Teon was here?" She didn't know? Didn't she tell him to come?
"He was here yesterday. I assumed that you invited him," I explained.
"None of my students had any idea of the debutante, except if someone told him," she said. So mother didn't invite him. Now I'm more grateful to Teon.
I looked down and didn't say anything else. I should check his present later. Teon is really thoughtful.
We ate in silence, as expected, but I could feel the hostility of mother's children. Why don't they focus on fixing their relationship with mother rather than take out their frustration on me? Now I wonder what was the reason behind those siblings' twisted personalities?
"Livi, come with me," mother said, and I nodded, walking out with her. "I have your present ready," she said. Please, don't be too much.
"Thank you," I said, and she glanced back at me.
"You haven't seen it yet."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I…"
"It's fine, Livi," she smiled and kept walking.
We walked into her office, and I stopped a few steps away from the table. Mother brought a few documents and dropped them on her table.
"I told you of all my plans, but I don't know what you want. I didn't raise you to be the next head, and I don't know if you're ready for that kind of responsibility," she started. "Personally, I don't want to put that burden on you, but if you wish to take it up, Dustin will be there to help you out," she said.
Mother is always considerate of my future. I don't even know what I want for my future. I don't even know if I have a future.
"In the meantime, I have prepared some small businesses that would be a stable source of income for you, so that no matter what you decide, you'd be safe financially," she explained. "I have some trusted people taking care of it. A former dorm mate of yours is in charge of overseeing everything, the Vermilion kid," she said. Wolfe?
"Thank you, mother," I said as a feeling of sadness settled in. She's doing all this and doesn't know that I might die soon.
"Just sign these documents, and they are fully yours," she said, dropping a pen on the table. I stared at it and hesitated.
"Mother," I called, and she hummed in response. "Can I make a request?" I asked, clenching my fist.
"What is it, Livi?"
"Can I also write a will?" I asked, and her eyes widened in shock.
"A will?" she asked. I should have stayed silent, but… "What do you need a will for?"
"Uh…" I might die in a few months and don't want your efforts to go to waste. "I…"
"It's fine, I get it," she smiled. You don't. "I'll have to call the family's magistrate to take care of it," she said, and I nodded. I signed the papers and handed them over to her.
A knock on the door made both of us look at it. "Who is it?" mother asked.
"It's me, Rufus," the person at the door said.
"Oh, come in," mother said.
"Your grace, you have guests," he said, looking uncomfortable.
"Who?" she asked.
"Messengers… from Rosen," he replied, and I stiffened. Rosen?
"What do they want?" she asked with a sigh.
"Well… they refused to state their purpose," he said.
"How did they even get here?" she grumbled as she stood up. "I'll go see them. Livi, come with me," mother instructed, and I nodded. I don't want to go.
We walked to the main entrance and saw three people standing there with gifts scattered around them. What's going on?
"What do you want?" mother asked, going straight to the point.
"A pleasant morning to you, your grace. We are vassals of Rosen from house…"
"I don't care. State your reason for being here or leave," she said.
"We were sent here to propose an alliance to the Alden family. Since the Rosen family is banned from entering the Alden borders and our letters are ignored, we decided to show up unannounced," he said.
"Is that so?" mother asked.
"Young Mr. Rosen has shown interest in Miss Alden and would like to propose a marriage," he continued. Huh?
"Mister? I don't know your name and don't care. It would be polite of me to let you and your horses rest, but I have no intention of being polite. Please tell your masters that Faina isn't looking for a spouse right now, so we'd have to refuse. Please take your gifts on your way out," she said and turned to leave.
What just happened? How could they propose a marriage? Apart from my fear of the Rosens, everything about this just feels extremely wrong. They were my siblings, after all.
"Don't worry about it, Faina. Just focus on work," she said, and I nodded.
I can't help being worried because now I know that my life is in danger. They won't just give up because mother said so. That would be out of character.
"How did they get in here?" mother asked Rufus as we walked back.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. They wouldn't be able to pass unless someone from Alden granted them permission," he replied.
"Those boys," mother said.
"We shouldn't blindly suspect them," Rufus said.
"You're right," she replied. "But it seems Livi is no longer safe here," she continued. What does she mean?
I walked back to my room and sat on the bed. Then my eyes landed on the box in the corner, and I stood up. I picked it up and stared at it. What did Teon get me?
I opened the box and saw a watch inside. I picked it up and stared at it. 'Tiny' was written on the back, and it could be opened to reveal another part inside. Inside was a four-leaf clover, probably preserved with magic.
I smiled and dropped it back. Teon has an interesting taste in gifts, and I like it.