Night of Eden 35

Chapter 35

***

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah."

Celeste studied Dana's complexion.

She looked calm and collected as she stirred the tea leaves. It was both puzzling and reassuring to Celeste. If Dana had insisted on going to Belvida, she would have been in trouble.

Master Theodore would not allow her to go to Belvida.

He didn't hide his displeasure, saying that it wasn't like they were years apart. He wasn't entirely wrong, so Celeste couldn't help but turn away.

"Do you think this is enough?"

Dana held up a teaspoon toward Celeste.

"Huh? Uh, yeah, that's right."

She dumped the dried petals into the bowl and gently mixed them with the spatula. The sweet floral scent wafted to her nose.

"...Here."

Dana set her brewed tea down in front of Celeste. Celeste took a long, searching sniff.

"Mmm, it's good."

The words came out of her mouth unbidden.

Dana wasn't a prodigious talent, but she was getting better every day. It wasn't that she wasn't good at anything, but she was a quick learner.

She worked hard at everything she did.

As far as Celeste was concerned, ability wasn't something you were born with, it was a matter of how long you could keep up your diligence.

"Yeah, you’ve improved a lot."

Celeste said and took a few more swallows. Dana's eyes widened.

"Your tea is light and soft and has a blandness to it that everyone likes."

The corners of Dana's mouth curled upward, as if she had received an unexpected gift.

"Thank you..."

She pressed her hands firmly to her cheeks.

Celeste's spirits lifted suddenly.

No one dislikes a person who is happy for the little things. She also liked the fact that he didn't have a needlessly proud or inferior attitude.

So what if she couldn’t be a handmaiden? She said she didn't want to be one herself anyway...

Celeste thought to herself and pushed the guilt rising in her chest aside.

She had just mailed a letter to her mistress, the Countess. The same letter in which she had written that she did not think Dana Bordon was fit to be a handmaiden.

If it didn’t work out, she could take her to Peron. It would be better than a lifetime of menial labor in Belvida...

Celeste smiled and nodded to herself. Suddenly, there was a tapping sound at the window.

Both of their heads turned toward the window in unison.

It was raining.

Celeste's lips parted in surprise, then slowly formed a rueful arc.

"...they’re in the middle of the game... they might not win and come back. Isn't that right?"

"...Yes, I suppose so."

Dana replied grimly, lifting her teacup to her mouth.

***

Stan was also looking out the window. A light rain was dotting the glass.

"As for today's game, I guess the gods were against it from the start."

Stan said and closed the window.

Judging by the shape of the clouds, it didn't look like it was going to pour down like it had a few days ago, but it didn't look like it was going to let up anytime soon either.

"It's getting late, so why don't you go to bed?"

Stan's eyes flickered slightly as he turned to Theodore's plate.

The food was almost untouched.

It was the butler's job, of course, to entertain guests in the master's absence, and he was old enough and well-spoken enough that he rarely found it difficult.

But now he felt like he was faced with a mountain to climb.

Tea and food, dessert and cello music.

Everything had been prepared to Theodore’s exacting taste, and he seemed unsatisfied with any of it.

The fact that even Nicaea was overweight was causing the old man’s heart to race.

...What was wrong with him?

He had heard the master was a man of words, music, and art.

How else he was going to explain this to Master Edwin and Lady Liana?

The furrows in his brow deepened.

And for some reason, Theodore looked very angry.

The male servants listening right next to him all said the same thing. It's like he's holding dynamite that's about to explode...

Stan could see that Theodore was in a foul mood in front of the servants, especially the men.

"Why are there so many men in Belvida?"

After hearing that, he had to replace the male servants with maids.

"Tilly."

Theodore, who had been silent, suddenly raised his hand to the attendant standing by the door.

Tilly recognized it as a signal to return to the Shore, and quickly summoned a servant to get the carriage ready, then grabbed the Master's jacket.

"You're leaving already?"

Stan was uncharacteristically restless.

"Shall I send someone to Pemburg even now? Tell Master Edwin when he can come...."

"Never mind."

Theodore raised his hand.

"Tell him I had a good time, and I'll see him next time."

** *

When the Macmilan family carriage returned to the Shore, it was pitch black all around.

The damp grass glistened in the darkness. The grasshoppers chirped noisily as the carriage wheels stopped on the quiet cobblestones.

Wimfred, dozing soundly in the parlor, heard the call and came running out.

"Welcome back, master. I'll have some water ready for you."

Theodore shook his head and headed for the bathroom. Tilly helped him undress while Wimfred filled the tub with water.

A few minutes later, Theodore leaned back in the steaming tub.

Everything was the same as yesterday.

With his arms resting on the edge of the tub, he was clearly in a very bad mood. The way his head was tilted back and his eyes were pressed tightly shut, it was clear he was exhausted.

Wimfred shook his head and walked over to Tilly.

"Why does the master look so tired? I thought the shooting was canceled for today."

"Oh, that's because...."

As he lowered his voice to answer, he heard the sound of rushing water. Theodore held up his hand.

Tilly rushed over.

"Bring the girl."

Tilly frowned at the sound, but then his eyes widened as he understood.

His head jerked to the clock.

It was nearly midnight.

If it wasn't the maid on duty, she must be asleep.

"Tell her to prepare tea."

With that order, Theodore closed his eyes as if to give him no leeway.

****

...Why? Why?

Dana stared down at the cup, which Theodore hadn't taken a sip from.

The tea had long since gone cold, and the chill in it was enough to send a chill down her spine.

He wasn't going to drink it anyway, so why the hell?!

She wanted to scream.

She had a premonition that he was looking for someone to take out his anger on again when he summoned her late at night.

He was actually quite calm now, unlike before, when his name was enough to make her heart race with fear.

But after a few minutes of silence, it was enough to ignite a small fire in Dana's chest.

"...Shall I wake Ms. Celeste?"

Dana asked, her eyes fixed on the cold mug of tea.

The word 'wake' had an unconscious edge to it.

Theodore didn't answer. His eyelids blinked slowly, the only sign of movement in an otherwise motionless body.

Had he lost the game?

Maybe it wasn't canceled because of the rain.

Master Edwin must have won by a huge margin, and it was over so quickly that it was futile, and that's why he was so upset...

Maybe….

Dana clasped her hands together in her lap, trying to suppress the pain that was creeping into her chest.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, the hands of the clock diligently wandered over the silence.

"Tell me."

Theodore closed his eyes and pressed his temples together.

"What you love so much that you'd throw away the stars in the sky for it?"

He sounded like he was talking in his sleep. Dana frowned out of the corner of her eye, unsure of what he meant.

"His face?”

He asked coldly, then suddenly chuckled.

"I've heard that the Hastings family puts a lot of emphasis on the appearance of their servants, and there's an unusually large number of half-breeds, unless you work there."

Theodore took out a cigarette as he spoke, unbuttoning his tight shirt.

The tip of the chewed cigarette burned red as he flicked on the lighter. The man's throat cleared through the loosened collar, and he exhaled a puff of white smoke.

"It can't be that old bastard."

There was a faint tinge of anger in his voice, muttering to himself. He took a deep drag on his cigarette, then frowned.

"Did you fall for the sweet talk, or do you like that sort of thing?"

"Now... What... What are you talking about...."

"Marriage."

Theodore cut her off coldly. Dana's heart sank, memories of the hut flooding back.

"Who is he, a servant like you who knows nothing but moping?

"Tell me, who he is.”

She thought that was the end of it, but the downpour was about to begin again.

"No matter how I think about it, he's the only one who works there."

Theodore rested his cigarette-encrusted hand on the armrest. A thin trail of smoke snaked out.

"When are you getting married, start with that."

Dana flinched at the stern command.

"I... even though I'm... I'm a maid... there's no reason for me to tell you that. I have no reason to confide in you."

He didn't twitch an eyebrow. Instead, the corners of his mouth twitched up.

"You're being trained as a handmaiden. I hired you, I've trained you, and now you're trying to use marriage as an excuse to get rid of me?"

Dana was momentarily speechless.

She hadn't thought of that.

"What are you waiting for? Edwin Hastings is a joy to behold, and you've said as much."

The low voice buzzed in her ear like a swarm of bees, and her face grew pale.

"Why, are you so worried that I'm going to catch him and do something to him?"

Her heart tightened at the words, which she didn't know if they were a plea or a warning, and memories of the torrential downpour flashed before her eyes.

"I could ruin everything you love.”

He'd said it so lightly, like a joke.

Could he really mean it? How could he find someone and then 'ruin' them?

"Go ahead."

Dana's mouth opened reflexively at the insistent words.

" ...No...I didn't mean...right now...to marry... I didn't...."

His face, as hard as she'd expected, didn't soften a bit.

"Does he know that you'll be a handmaiden, that you'll be at your master's side twenty-four hours a day, like Celeste?"

Dana's heart fluttered again.

It was better to be sarcastic than to use hurtful words.

Now Theodore was asking her the questions he was entitled to as an employer, and Dana was not good at lying.

...What should she do, just come clean and say it was a lie?

Her mind went blank as she tried to make up a story about a marriage that didn't exist.

A voice echoed from deep within her, telling her to tell the truth. But when she finally opened her mouth, what came out was something else entirely.

"...I... I... I never... said I wanted to be a handmaiden... not even once."

For the first time, the man's statuesque face cracked.

"...You're saying it was because of him, that's the only reason you've been reluctant to become a handmaiden all this time?"

How could he come to such a conclusion?

Dana was puzzled, but on reflection, her words could easily be interpreted that way.

"No. That's not... No."

Theodore looked disbelieving.

"...What kind of a guy is he?"

The conversation had taken an unexpected turn. Sweat broke out between her intertwined fingers.

Who was he?

A carpenter, a chimney sweep, or the cashier at Rolls & Weiss general store?

Dana found herself recalling the men she'd met in passing outside Belvida.

"Let me guess?"

Theodore stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette. The red flame flickered and died as if on its last breath.

"He works for Belvida, so he dares to say he's going to marry you, even though you might be a handmaiden. Isn't that right?"

He crossed his arms in an air of finality, then shot Dana a look.

"Is he a footman or a gardener?"

His voice was filled with contempt and disgust, as if he didn't even want to say the words.

"Butler or trainer?"

Noah, butler Stan, Kenneth, Noah...

The men Dana knew flashed before her eyes.

Her heart fluttered in her chest at the thought of the strange misunderstanding they might have.

"No, no, no... he doesn’t work at Belvida... no...."

"...Then who is he?”

His voice was sullen. Dana's mind went blank again and again.

"Who?"

"...I...can't...tell you."

The man's eyes flashed in the dim light.

Her heart sank, but Dana held her breath and kept her face impassive. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing she was afraid.

"You... you... you said... you might do something to taht peson...... I'm afraid... that's what you said. How can I tell you, I'm... I'm not stupid...."

Dana replied in a shaky voice, and then simply shut up.

Was it quite shocking that a toy didn't even dare to rebel?

Theodore stared at Dana in disbelief. Slowly, anger welled up in his cold pupils.

"I don't know what kind of bastard you've fallen for, but you're not getting married, not ever."

Each word, spoken with force, stabbed at something inside Dana.

For the first time in her life, anger had overtaken fear in the face of Theodore's threats and intimidation.

"No. Even if you’re a master... you can't... you can't... you can't go that far... ...."

"You seem to keep forgetting, I am your master."

"No."

Dana narrowed her eyes and shook her head vigorously.

"You're not my master, and... And I am not... a slave... No. I'm just... employed by Belvida... a maid."

A part of her head was screaming at her to hold on, to hang in there, she'd done so well so far.

The problem was, something inside Dana that was barely holding on was threatening to snap.

"What if... Master... really... hurt the people I care about...tormenting... I... I won't stand for it... I can't take it...."

What little reason she had left begged her to stop, to please stop. But her heart had crossed the river of no return.

"I'd rather be accused of being a thief...... A ring, a teacup... It's up to you...."

Dana continued, even as her heart sank further.

"I... I can marry anyone, anytime, without anyone's permission... Not just you... or anyone... or anything... like that... You can't stop me... Ever."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she was afraid to finish. Dana quickly wiped them away and pressed her palm against her eyes.

But it was no use.

A sob escaped her lips, a choking sob.

Tears cascaded down her face like a waterfall. Her sobs echoed in the silent room for a long time.

****

*Thought: I don’t see how this is going to end well for any of them. Theo is obviously developing feelings for Dana but he can’t process it or understands it so he uses force. Poor Dana. Then there’s Edwin and Noah who both have feelings for Dana too. And the fact that Theo is engaged to be married.

To donate for extra chapters for my series or to tip me visit my kofi page 

https://ko-fi.com/doradora