Night of Eden 67

 Chapter 67

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Early in the morning, when the clouds were low, the young ladies gathered at the stables, each with a handmaiden.

They were all decked out in colorful hats and gloves, and their horses were groomed for competition. Large bags were strapped to their saddles, filled with a change of clothes, water, snacks, and first aid supplies.

Dana was the first to emerge, waiting for them.

"Hello, Miss Angie Miller."

Bowing, Dana exchanged eye greetings with her handmaiden.

"You're giving directions today?"

"Yes."

"Oh, you're here too! I thought you weren't coming today, how Liana loves you!"

It was Rosa who approached, her cheerfulness infectious to the gathered group. The voices of the ladies raised a tone as they greeted each other.

Dana was inwardly relieved. No one mentioned what had happened on the polo field, and no one gave her a strange look. At least the rumor hadn't spread, she thought quietly.

In the distance, she saw Lady Liana approaching.

"We're here, aren't we?"

She tugged on the reins and turned the horse's head, not even glancing at Dana.

"Come on, let's go. Lead the way."

Dana's heart sank as she stood in front of the cold lady.

The ladies and maids exchanged glances, sensing the strange atmosphere.

Turning away from the gawkers, Dana urged Pooch to stand in front of the group.

"Don't you dare set eyes on my brother again.”

Her head was dazed, as if she'd been beaten to a pulp. All she could feel was the cold wind rushing through her pierced chest, and it all seemed so insignificant.

Her mangled chest was begging her to leave it all behind.

Nevertheless, Dana pulled her sagging shoulders up and straightened the corners of her mouth.

She had spent nearly two weeks learning to ride and rehearsing stories to guide the ladies today.

Sooner or later, she would be out of here like smoke, but she wanted to leave people with at least one positive memory that would make them think, "At least she did her job.”

Dana took a deep breath and tried to pull herself up from her sinking mood. She opened her mouth slowly.

"As far as the wheat fields in the distance, that's Belvida."

She said it deliberately, facing Rosa. She was the only one she could look in the eye, and she was a lively person, so she knew she'd get a good response.

Predictably, Rosa's lively eyes followed Dana's finger to the wheat field.

"Really? It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be?"

"Yeah. When I was a little girl, I thought it was some kind of kingdom. The Count of Hastings... I imagined he was wearing a crown."

Rosa laughed.

"I know, everything seems so big when you're a kid, and then you grow up and realize it's nothing."

After walking a bit further, they came to a fork in the road.

"Huh? What does this path lead to?"

"The forest. The Corinthian Forest. There are five entrances to the forest. This is the first one, and there's a gazebo at the second entrance. We'll take a break there."

"Five entrances, it's pretty big, huh?"

"Yes, I heard it's the third largest forest in the empire."

"... Does that mean the forest is all Belvida?"

"Uh... Only part of it."

Fortunately, Rosa's questions were all within Dana's range of expectations, and all she had to do was eagerly recite what she knew and what Stan had written down for her.

"I've heard that the forest is so big that it's divided between Belvida, the Shore, and state land. The head maids says it's thousands of acres. I've never been all the way there, so I don't know exactly, but those who have... say it's big enough to walk three days from end to end."

Hmph, Rosa sucked in a breath, then suddenly turned around and spoke to Liana.

"Belvida is your dowry, and it’s worth it!"

Liana didn't answer. Sitting atop her rattling, swaying horse, she seemed transfixed.

Rosa shook her head and looked back at Dana.

"But what's in the forest? I've never even heard of a forest that big."

"Uh... There's a pretty deep ravine... There's a small waterfall, and if you go deeper, there are caves and hot springs."

"Hot springs?"

"Yeah, I've been there once, but I couldn't take a dip, it was too hot, so instead... You can put a moon egg in it and it cooks very well."

"No, it's that hot?"

"Yes."

"And animals?"

"Of course there are. Rabbits, squirrels, snakes, boars... There's even a brown bear."

"Bears?!"

Rosa squealed in surprise.

Liana, who had been lost in her own thoughts, looked up.

Ladies’ were generally reticent and reserved, lest they make a mistake, so it was not uncommon for long periods of time together to become awkward with nothing to say.

Maids were there to break the ice.

Dana was supposed to give directions and talk about this and that on today's outing, and she did her part.

And yet, Liana's eyes had seen other things.

Was that how she seduced her brother?

With her sweet voice and sweet smile?

Her thoughts were too short. She hadn't anticipated this possibility at all and had allowed Edwin to get close to her.

How shocked would her mother be if she found out?

She would have been outraged that her son had called a maid by her first name so affectionately, and she would have sent her away without delay.

There was a reason the Hastings family had strict rules and boundaries for their servants. Liana had only allowed Dana to cross the line, and the consequences were disastrous.

"Are there really bears in the world?!"

Rosa's excited voice pierced Liana's ears once again. She was focused on Dana's story like she was being sucked in.

"Of course... I haven't seen one myself, but my trainer friend says he has, and... every few months, I hear of someone dying."

"From a bear bite?"

"Yeah."

"Ugh, that's horrible!"

"Why? What is it? What are they talking about?"

Alexandra, who was sitting next to her, looked curious. Rosa filled her in on the story so far, and Dana, who had been waiting, spoke again.

“Butler Stan said that another name for the forest is 'Maut'. which means 'death' in Old Romany."

"The Forest of Death, then?"

"Death... What? What the hell are you talking about?"

Liana watched as even Angie Miller, who was next to her, craned her neck to hear Dana's story. She remembered Dana's first day, when she had stolen all the attention of her friends by offering them a box of blends.

Then she couldn't take it anymore.

"Dana, wait."

Despite her sharp tone, Dana calmly turned her horse's head and stood in front of her.

"I need you to go back to Belvida. My head is really hurting."

Dana's eyes immediately showed concern. Liana's stomach churned again.

"I have some painkillers in my room from Peron, and I'm sure the head maid knows exactly where to find them. She'll be waiting for you at the gazebo, so go get them."

Dana looked down the hill.

"Then the directions...."

"Never mind. I need the medicine more urgently."

Liana replied coldly and walked back to her friends.

"What? Why is she going back?"

Rosa glanced at Dana, who quickly turned the horse the other way.

"I forgot something."

Liana calmly explained. Then she pushed through the crowd and took the lead.

"Come on, let's go. I'll tell you the story. There's a reason Corinth is called the Forest of Death, and it's for another reason: there's something much scarier in the forest than bears."

"Scary? What is it?"

Her friends asked curiously.

"Poisonous mushrooms."

"Poisonous mushrooms?"

"It was probably two, maybe three hundred years ago. Back then, a man named Lennox was the owner of the manor......."

She went on to tell them about the wiping out of the family and the annual poisonous mushroom hunt organized by Belvida's maids.

The ladies soon forgot about Dana and flocked to Liana's side.

***

Dana had just exited the main building when she ran into Nicola Richter again.

He was talking to a group of what appeared to be musicians from the orchestra.

It was the first time she had seen him outside, surrounded by people, not in the music room. He was smiling and talking with his head slightly bowed, a little higher than the others.

It was different from when he was playing the piano or drinking. His eyes and gestures were animated. The corners of his mouth curled upward, and the sides of his face were deeply creased like dimples.

He turned his head, catching Dana's gaze belatedly, his dark eyes instantly half-gowned.

"Miss Bordon!"

He came running, his jet-black hair flying in waves.

Facing him, Dana's body naturally assumed a flight position. For a moment, she felt ridiculous for turning away so quickly.

She hadn't done anything wrong, so why was she being watched?

Besides, the men were probably out on the polo field right now. There was little chance of running into them.

Dana clenched her jaw and faced her opponent boldly.

"Did you get the letter?"

Nicola started with that.

When Dana didn't answer right away, he sighed.

"I suppose the Lady hasn't delivered it yet."

"Lady...?"

"Yes, I asked Lady Liana that day, but I still wish I had given it to you myself."

Celeste's reason for writing was obvious. It was probably just to say hello, so what could be so important?

"Perhaps she forgot to tell me. I'll ask her later, don't worry about it."

Nicola nodded, suddenly relieved.

"I hope she doesn’t forget, I don't know how many times Ms. Celeste has asked me to make sure you received it."

Dana blinked at him, then remembered the pouch in her hand.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have an urgent business for the Lady."

"Wait a moment, Miss Bordon."

Nicola called after her once more.

"Did he......."

His eyes took on a dark glint as he paused.

"Is young master Macmilan giving you a hard time?"

Dana stopped dead in her tracks.

"No. Not at all."

She answered without hesitation, but she couldn't hide the hardening of her expression. Nicola seemed to sense the subtle change.

"I've talked to Ms. Celeste quite a bit in Peron. She's been worried about you, and she wants to help."

Dana held up a hand to block the sunlight, hiding her expression.

"That's probably what the letter was about, because she said she wanted to go into business with you, and that it would be better than working for Belvida or Macmilan."

The news came as a surprise to Dana. It was like finding a ray of light in a dark cave.

At the same time, she wondered what it would be like to tell Ms. Celeste all of this. But Dana didn't trust her that far.

Ms.Celeste was a Macmilan, after all. Besides, she had no idea what had happened since she left.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Richter."

Dana replied with a deliberate smile. Nicola’s gaze hardened at her unnatural smile.

"I'll be sure to take the letter and read it, but aren't there people waiting for you over there?"

Dana jerked her head and flicked her eyes toward the fountain. Nicola turned his head to confirm.

"Go ahead and go. We'll talk later, if you have time."

He opened his mouth as if he had something more to say, but Dana had already turned away as if she hadn't seen him. The man's gaze lingered on her back for a long moment.

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