Chapter 5
***
🥀 The young maid's name was Trin, she introduced herself, and said it would be an honor to serve her. Aubrey felt like the title of "lady" was a gift she could only have for one day.
Even as she dressed properly with Trin's help, Aubrey somehow managed to keep the brand on her back hidden. As she grew, the markings, which were the size of an adult's palm, shrank a bit, but they were still clearly visible.
"There you go."
Trin said, wiping sweat from her brow. It had taken quite a bit of effort on her part, for Aubrey had been very clueless. Aubrey thanked her and mumbled something about being sorry.
"Miss, do you ever......."
Trin was about to ask something when she shook her head.
"You can sit here, I'll have your meal ready soon."
Trin led Aubrey to the bed. Before she could ask if this was where she was going to eat , Trin left the room. Dazed, Aubrey hesitantly approached and sat down on the bed.
"Ha..."
Her bottom, which she had intended to sit on only slightly, was soon pressed deep into the bed. It was just the right amount of firm and fluffy. Just like Barbara's voice.
"Everything in here is soft."
Aubrey murmured as she pinched the sleeve of the dress she’d changed into. She had just put her head in it, and it went all the way to her feet.
Knock. There was a knock on the door.
“Lady, I've brought your meal."
Trin called Aubrey a lady. Sh was not a lady, but what should she do ? Aubrey hesitated, then decided to tell her to come in.
"Why are you standing when you could be lying down?"
And she was on her feet in no time.
Reluctantly climbing into bed at Trin's request, Aubrey leaned back against the headboard. Trin pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed, holding a spoon.
"I made you some easy-to-digest spinach soup."
"Spinach soup?"
"Because the doctor said you should eat a liquid diet for a day or two, and it's an order."
Aubrey stared at the greenish soup Trin had brought her. It was unlike anything she'd ever eaten before, it actually tasted like human food. Aubrey slurped it down like a pig.
After she ate, she couldn't move. She didn't want to open the door to digest it, because Trin would come running in and ask if she could help.
Eventually, all Aubrey could do was lie down on her big, fluffy bed. But even then, she was in a terribly uncomfortable position. She felt like she shouldn't be able to roll around in this bed.
She didn’t think she could sleep well. She didn’t belong in this house. Barbara had told her she would be staying here, but it wasn't easy to accept.
It seemed unlikely that this luxurious mansion would take her in just because she was their niece. Besides, the place was too clean. She felt like if she did anything wrong, it’d get dirty.
Despite the fact that she'd already washed up, Aubrey couldn't stop thinking about it. Eventually, she dozed off, sitting with her back against the headboard like she did when she ate in bed.
She woke up with a start, her neck snapping forward.
The room was now dark. A lamp, which someone must have brought in, glowed dimly on the desk. Aubrey slipped out of bed and looked around the room once more.
The room was long from end to end. One wall was lined with elongated windows at regular intervals, and a bronze desk and chair sat opposite. At the far end of the room was the bed where Aubrey had slept. It was a large, useless room.
Aubrey cautiously approached the window and let out a small gasp at the sight of the darkened garden. She was tired of grass, woods, and trees, but somehow everything here was new. She wondered if this was what they meant when they said it was like a painting.
The garden at night seemed to have fallen into a serene sleep. After looking around the room for a while, Aubrey turned on her heel and headed for the doorway. It was late enough in the night that everyone should be asleep.
Thinking she might be able to explore the large, sprawling mansion, Aubrey cautiously put her ear to the door. Again, no sound. Aubrey cautiously reached for the golden knob and turned it.
"So what are you going to do, keep her?"
The sharpness in someone’s voice made Aubrey almost bite her tongue.
"Isn't that a given? I don't know why you're raising your voice like that."
Barbara spoke in a sharp voice Aubrey had never heard before. She was angry as hell, but even her voice was regal.
"How are you going to explain her to people? Are you going to tell them all about Diane's pitiful plight?"
"Jeffrik, how can you say that? It’s word for word!”
Aubrey eavesdropped on their conversation, neither leaving nor entering the room.
"Either way, I won't tolerate it, and I want her back at Herbaldi tomorrow."
"No. I'll keep her."
"Barbara!"
"Have you forgotten why Diane had to wander off, it's the same place that sent her to death, how can we send her child there!"
The shouting and yelling ceased, and then there was silence. Silence after a heated argument. The tension made Aubrey's hands sweat.
"There were so many wounds on her body. Almost everywhere on her body.”
After a long moment, Barbara spoke. Her voice was filled with sadness.
"And she's so much smaller and skinnier than Emily, even though she's only two years older than her, and she's obviously not eating properly, and I'm not going to let her grow up like that anymore."
"······."
"I trusted that you would at least understand, if not support, my decision. Then….."
Barbara sighed.
"We'll talk again tomorrow."
"Wait, Barbara."
"I don't want to talk to you anymore right now."
That was the end of the argument. There was a small stir as Barbara left the room. Jeffrik's deep sigh followed. Aubrey quickly ducked behind the door.
She hadn't thought she'd be staying in this huge mansion. She considered it a great honor, a luxury she would never have again.
And now she might be living here.
Aubrey swallowed dryly, feeling like she'd gotten her hopes up when she shouldn't have. If the gods could see into her head, they would chastise her for daring to be so greedy with someone like her
But.
Maybe, just maybe, I.......
Aubrey backed away slowly. If she wanted to stay in this house, she couldn’t be a burden.
She lifted her heels to muffle the sound of her footsteps and closed the door quietly behind her. Her luminous green eyes faded into the darkness.
***
The days at the mansion were some of the best days of Aubrey's life.
When she woke up, food was prepared for her, and when it was time, a doctor came to examine her. All she had to do was sit still and people would move for her.
Barbara and Jeffrik’s arguments went on for quite a while. Trin noted that she'd never seen them fight that loudly before. So Aubrey stayed in her room as much as possible. She was well aware that she could be kicked out of the mansion at any moment.
After eating and sleeping in her room, Aubrey's condition quickly improved. She looked quite human, except for the scars that still marked her face.
But how long could this life last, Aubrey always wondered.
When she was feeling uneasy, she would drag a chair over to the window. Sitting in a spot with a clear view of the garden, she would stare out the window for hours.
Spring was in full swing, and the garden was bursting with color. The gardener, who was seen once a day, sometimes stayed in the garden all day.
Aubrey closed her eyes. She was suddenly aware of how many people moved about the mansion, quietly and bustlingly.
The sound of footsteps, the sound of small talk, the sound of pots and pans, and the sound of the wind. Aubrey would add her own imagination to all of these sounds to create a picture of the world outside her door.
And then she'd sneak in a little bit of herself.
She would wear colorful dresses, her face clean and well-groomed, her long hair neatly combed or tied up. She would wear silk socks and polished shoes and have tea in the garden.
In her imagination, she always looked like Emily. Emily, the darling of an aristocratic family.
Aubrey opened her eyes slowly. Outside the window, like she somehow had conjured her, was Emily.
A white table and a single chair were set up at the end of the row of earliest blooming flowers. Emily was sitting there.
Blue dress like a cloudless sky, gorgeous blonde hair cascading down her back. A white face, with full eyes. Despite being a fairly young girl, even her gesture of sipping tea was graceful.
Emily Ravant, young lady of the Count of Ravant.
That was how Trin had described her. Aubrey was impressed by the introduction. A glorious name she would probably never have.
At the same time, she felt a gaping hole in her heart.
She's a lady of noble birth, enjoying fragrant tea and refreshments, and Aybrey was on the verge of being thrown out of this house. How could they be so different?
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Aubrey, may I come in?"
A friendly voice. It was Barbara. Aubrey jumped to her feet and ran over to open the door for her.
"Auntie!"
Aubrey squealed in delight.
Barbara was dazzling again today, wearing a green dress the same color as her eyes. Aubrey felt a small sense of relief bloom in the pit of her stomach every time she saw her. She loved the feeling, the warmth that flooded her body.
"You must have been bored."
Barbara hugged Aubrey tenderly, soothing her.
Then the two made their way to the window where she had been sitting.
"What were you looking at?"
Barbara looked out the window and let out a small sigh. Aubrey stammered out an excuse, wondering if she would look at her suspiciously for spying on her daughter's teatime.
"Well, I was just looking out and Emily came out, I didn't mean to spy."
"Of course. I know."
Barbara replied that she did, but her face didn't show it, and Aubrey wondered if she was being weirded out.
***
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