The Little Noble

As Malinda strides down the broad staircases that belong to the DLO, she catches Taryna standing down by the cobblestoned road where they had stopped last time. Her golden carriage of wealth, the armored horses bred to run miles upon miles, and surprisingly, the same little noble girl who nods her head as she listens to Taryna’s preaching with a smile blessing her lips.

“Ah, there she comes—Remember what I told you, never lay your trust in a man, for they’ll only try to use you. But you’re still young and pure and lovely. So you can guard yourself plenty from a man’s contaminating touch. And I’m glad that your parents praised you for your honorable deed yesterday, too,” Taryna finishes, turning around to curtsy with hands gripping the sides of her dress.

They stand behind the golden carriage so the view of the street doesn't hide the spectacular DLO school on the other side. The little noble, too, grabs the sides of her dress, to bend a knee as she curtsies with a practiced elegance, which takes Malinda by slight amazement.

“Who have we here, Taryna? Wait, yes, I saw you yesterday…” Malinda recalls as she reaches them. Her sour mood has vanished since this little girl shouldn’t see her unladylike appearance. While she plays along with a hand supporting her chin, she gazes up and down at the little noble; wealthy with such fancy and gorgeous clothing. But why would she be here alone… again? “Dear, what are you doing here all by yourself?”

It’s as if the little noble’s whole life flourish upon hearing Malinda’s caring voice. A blush sprout on her cheeks, head lowering with innocent eyes that peek up at the armored maiden, and the swaying body, side to side.

“My… My cat… Abducted… I came to see if they found it… yet…” the girl responds with joy yet gloom. However, she can bearly keep her smile in check. Because talking to a Lady, a real Honored Lady that she has heard so much about, exhilarate her. Her parents had instructed her to do her best to gain her friendship in coming here even though their age gap. “And Ma-Malinda… I’m not alone.” She points toward a carriage a bit further away, on the other side of the road, where a man and a woman stand gazing at them.

The man, a butler, the woman, a handmaiden, though they’re way older than Taryna, who’s thirty. Around fifty years of age, Malinda guesses. Formally dressed too in a tightly fitted suit on the man, and the woman, a dress much alike Taryna’s that goes down to the feet, almost dragging on the cobble.

The little girl’s carriage with two horses has intricate carvings in wood; no gold or anything like that, but a beautiful scenery of art at its finest. Figurines of an untold tale. A warrior, a maiden, and how the two fell in love. Not something every noble can buy, since Malinda recognizes the light colored wood, a material that’s harder than standard timber which cost a lot to carve. Even a regular wooden statue in a miniature size would be pricey.

“Who are you…?” Malinda asks, raising her one brow in suspicion as her arms cross beneath her bosoms. Gazing at this little girl whose glittering eyes stare intently back at her.

“Miss, she’s the youngest daughter of House Artistone, Lady Vinery Artistone. You know, that family who owns the quarries by the west and south mountain, and does all the constructions here in Tertinum. They’re also managing the ins and outs of all the jewel businesses in the City,” Taryna introduces, putting her hands on the little one’s shoulders while she crouches.

“Well, well,” Malinda says, nodding her head as she remembers that household. A family of wealth and power here in Tertinum, yet, Malinda herself have never met any of them. Only Celyssa or her brother would have contact with such an esteemed family. It causes Malinda to tilt her head as curiosity get the better of her. “Your cat was abducted, you say? And you came to the DLO to gain help in finding it?”

The girl’s head spasm up and down, not having the courage to speak, but her eyes, still glued to Malinda’s beautiful azure globes.

“Why? Your family could easily find it if they hire some people… Hmm, maybe it was your idea to come to the DLO then…?” Malinda asks as her eyebrows lower in slight disappointment since she doesn’t like the DLO at all now that she has had dealings with them to this level. “One shouldn’t be drawn in by them because there are better ways to get the job done. But anyhow, Taryna, let’s return home, I must speak to Xe’Reth.”

“A-As you wish, Miss, but, Lady Vinery wants to ask you something before we leave. Go on, honey,” Taryna says with hands still on the little girl’s shoulders, giving her the bravery she needs. Though, her flaming brows raise as she waits, ‘I wonder what her parents told her to say…’

“C-Can… Can I become your lady-in-waiting?” Vinery asks in such purity, tightening her lips as she awaits. Her tone, soothing to the ear. A child’s voice, but nonetheless a versed tone even though she’s soon reaching twelve years old.

A girl who doesn’t know strife. Just a noble’s child that have been pampered to the point of her becoming too naïve of outside matters beyond the Inner Layer. She’s indeed of high status, yet her personality hasn't turned arrogant nor vile. Though, she’s young, so she still might grow up to be a real noble of this Kingdom.

“Hm… You’ve caught me at a wrong time, unfortunately, little one. I can’t take you in as—Do you even know what I do…?” Malinda asks, leaning forward with plated layers sounding out. She’s a warrior of the Ebon Wall. A lady-in-waiting, lasting friendship, that’s what this girl wants. Malinda shakes her head as she’s about to disappoint her. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I don’t have time to take someone under my wing. Because I’ve recently found someone I love. And I want to spend all of my free time with that person, so… I do apologize.”

“You can’t…?” Vinery asks with eyes beginning to quake in sorrow and lips starting to spasm as Malinda grimaces upon staring at this little girl’s expression. Her role model doesn't want her. Nobody wants to be her friend.

“I can’t, I’m afraid. But…” Malinda bites her lower lip in conflict, not wanting to disappoint her image of herself to this girl. With averting eyes, she stares across the road to the two bodyguards, then back to the girl. She has no obligation to take her in, but she chuckles, “Hehe, how about this: when my love life has gotten to the point of becoming routine; let’s say when you reach your coming of age, I’ll take you in to be my first lady-in-waiting. However, I’m not like a regular noble as you know - I’m a soldier. And as such, you will also be like me when you grow up. Though, if you’ve changed your mind by then, I won’t hold it against you because… war isn’t something for the light-hearted. Or when the time comes, I have all the rights to still decline your request. What do you say?”

“Un,” Vinery answers immediately with yet another head of spasming up and down, being grateful even though it’s years from now. “M-My parents wanted me to become your lady-in-waiting, M-Malinda. But I… I got to decide if I wanted to or not, and I want to. I really want to.”

She gazes down at the cobblestone, to its square shape and its square crevasse. With a head whipping up, Vinery ogles while smiling at her role model. She wants to be like her; resilient, determined, and proud. Yet she’s weak, so weak. “I’ll ask papa and mama, so I can be taught… Yes, sword and shield… and other… stuff?”

“See, Lady Vinery. My Honored Mistress is the most generous person you’ll ever meet,” Taryna says as Vinery gazes into Taryna’s eyes with a broad smile and a spasming head. “Now return home and tell the news to your parents. Work hard so you won’t be a burden to my Miss, understand?”

“Un,” Vinery agrees happily in a daze. She glances one last time at Malinda as she blushes, “Thank you, Honored Lady Malinda…” giving one more elegant curtsy.

Her hands release her lower part in a formal etiquette.

As she grabs the sides of her dress again, she raises her arms to begin running, to cross the road, but she stumbles in the middle, letting out a small exclamation of pain, though thankfully, no traffic gallop on the road. Only the incoming caravan a bit further away that right now make a right turn to go straight through this street.

She manages to arrive at her carriage while Vinery’s handmaiden opens up the wooden door with a curtsy of excellence to show the prestige of her Mistress.

Vinery smiles at her faithful handmaiden, getting a pat on the head for her bravery in speaking to Malinda, too, then steps inside as she stares back at the golden carriage to witness Taryna waving at her, sitting in the driver’s seat. But with whipping arms, she turns the coach around to travel to the sloping entrance between the DLO and the City Guard’s headquarters, to drive it up to the Citadel’s elevated high ground.

However, even Malinda sits on the driver’s seat next to Taryna, to take in the sun’s radiating warmth, for it shines in its brilliant luster because the brooding clouds have released its hold over the Divine Sky.

The rain.

Expected.

Yet no drop dripped.

“Why can’t it always—Hmm…” Malinda says but stops herself from finishing her sentence as a sudden thought of Xe’Reth pops into her head. Darkness… He’s indeed the embodiment of darkness. Figuratively of course. So an unexpectant change of mind ooze into her psyche to transform her words into a different sentence all together… “I wish that it would rain even more than it already has. I rather now enjoy the weather. It’s… romantic…”

“Why Miss…? You’ve always hated the rain and the winter… Anything that takes away the sun. Is… is it perhaps because of… Sir Xe’Reth?” Taryna questions, frowning upon thinking of that son of a bitch. Even giving him the thought of a moment sicken her dearly, since if she doesn’t do anything by the end of the day… he’s going to taint Malinda forever. Her unpolluted Mistress, gone. To be replaced by a lustful lady that want her man.

“I guess… I guess, yes, it’s because of Xe’Reth, hehe,” Malinda giggles as she touches her lips to remember their last kiss before she left. “Ah, hurry now, let’s—Wait, what’s that?”

“Hoo!” Taryna pulls the reins to stop the armored horses. Their metal shoes grind against the stone, while the incoming caravan, too, halts in their track to greet the Honored Lady, who’s so easily recognizable by the DLO.

The current leader of the caravan, a spectacle-wearing Writer, pulls up with his horse beside Malinda’s carriage as he bows his upper body to offer his greetings and assistance, “Honored Lady Malinda Tertin, what a pleasant day we have. From your sudden cease of movement, can I aid you with something?”

“Ah… yes, greetings, Agent,” Malinda says as her eyes don’t even bother to connect to his. Only the huge dead black bear that lie on the wagon catch her interest. “Where did you find such a rare beast?”

The Writer, a man in his middle years. He can’t stare away from Malinda’s beauty. Even among the women, stare in awe as they stand, ride, and some peek out from their carriages’ windows or doors.

With a rasp of the Writer’s throat, he answers with a scowl, “That monster… We found it when we were scouting a valley in the east mountain where a criminal base is, I mean, was located, Honored Lady. That monster killed three Agents. It’s a pity. They were good Agents.”

“Yes… I’ve heard from Rissara’s secretary of that humiliating discovery. It’s as you say, it’s a pity that those who found it couldn’t capture a single one of the criminals,” Malinda says, shaking her head in dissatisfaction. “If you say three Agents died while exploring… don’t you think the DLO should be ashamed instead of pleased?

“I… well… H-Honored Lady, I didn’t mean it lik—,”

“Silence, I’ve heard enough of the DLO’s excuses, and I’ll not hear of it anymore, goodbye. Onward, Taryna,” Malinda ripostes with an unemotional expression, jerking her head for her handmaiden to drive, and she abides by her Mistress’ order with closed eyes.

The caravan of Agents is stunned at Malinda’s sour mood against their very own organization and to those who found the base of operation. As the Writer flickers with his eyelids, he stares at the golden carriage while it begins to drive away, toward where they came from.

“It’s true, isn’t it…? Three of our people died, and for what? An empty base? How can that be a victory for the DLO?” a male Agent asks as his voice resound for all to hear. Making the Agents doubt themselves of their success.

“Quit you bickering! Forward…! March!” the Writer shouts with a sweeping arm, stunning the Agents in check as they abandon their blasphemous thoughts of the Inquisitor's verdict of promoting the team that found the criminal hideout.

Vinery’s carriage trolls by the caravan of whispering Agents, while the butler nods his head to their leader, gaining a response back because the Writer does recognize that transport. But, only a head-nodding greeting is shared between them.

Both then disappear to their destinations; to Vinery’s household in the Inner Layer. To the DLO headquarter’s garage to unload the Ebon Bear and the Agents.

………

……

…

“I’ll leave you be, for now, Sir Xe’Reth. And it was a great honor guiding you through the Citadel. You’ve given me so much for picking me, you’ve no idea,” the bath-guiding servant says as she curtsies in the hallway, outside Theresa’s quarters.

Xe’Reth puts his hand on her shoulder with a comforting smile.

“You’re most welcome, Inatriss. Apart from Malinda, you’ve shown me kindness that I’ve never experienced before from someone who I’ve just met, well, no, many people have shown me their generosity in welcoming me to this household. And I hope to get to know everyone in the Citadel, even if some are not glad that I’ve been chosen as Malinda’s lover,” Xe’Reth chuckles as he scratches behind his neck, being rather embarrassed to blurt out such flowery tones, yet fake words nonetheless. “I’m still getting used to all of this Sir and such, so, thank you…”

Inatriss smiles, also chuckling. Her expression, full of tenderness directing at this young man. Though she has no feeling of love, more of a tender emotion that tug at her. She’s in her late thirties, so of course, her time for love will never come. That she knows in her heart. But Inatriss has lived her life without such a possession, and that strengthen her soul of the opposite gender.

On the way, as she guided him around the Citadel, Inatriss decided, after much pondering, to thoroughly support and care for Malinda’s new lover as if he’s her own son. Because what better way to make one trust one’s self than to love the one who gives the faith of allegiance? She has never thought of anything other than being the best at bathing her Mistress. Doing her duties with conviction. And being utterly faithful to her chosen faction of the Tertin household.

“Sir Xe’Reth Quinery, do you desire anything else from me? Maybe a bath? Lunch? Or anything else. Please, you just have to say, and it’ll be arranged, immediately,” Inatriss asks, standing straightened and having her hands beneath her bosoms.

Xe’Reth gazes up to think, not wanting to meet those questioning eyes of servitude. He sighs with a shaking head, “I have nothing that I need at the moment, but later a bath is necessary because Malinda and I will… Well…” He peeks out to look both ways down the corridor. With no one there, he finishes, “We’ll have our first real night together. You know, sex.” Gesturing with his hands, one forming a circle, the other, stabbing with one finger into the formed hole like Maldoran did at the dinner table.

“Oh… Ohhh… I see…” She gawks as a head with flickering eyes stare down both corridors. Then she begins to ramble back and forth in a daze, “Yes… Clean sheets need to be prepared… Towels too. And since Mistress has never masturbated or has had any man before, lubrication must be arranged to ease the tear… Yes, yes.”

To casually talk about something as such, stun Xe’Reth in bafflement.

“Oh… Well, Sir Xe’Reth. We always expected this event to come, sooner or later. The act of lovemaking, that is. But unfortunately, none in Mistress’ faction but those who have been given permission to marry know about such… things. And, even I have limited knowledge of… of…” she shudders with a biting lip as she gazes away.

“Heh, all the lubrication that’s needed comes from Malinda herself, Inatriss,” Xe’Reth chuckles, trying to contain his laughter. “Heh, but yes, certain supplies would help. And it all depends on if she has her hymen intact. Because women can lose it by doing various acts, such as horse riding and intense training of any sorts, which she does. Some don't even bleed at all when they first have sex. However, since Malinda is a little older than me, she possibly doesn’t have it anymore. But…”

“…But… what…?” she gulps with wide intent eyes, wanting to know more.

‘Dear Divines… Why am I even speaking of this…?’ Xe’Reth rolls his eyes inwardly at his choice of conversation, “No, nevermind. I just hope I can… well… please her. It’s my first time, so I’m slightly scared to hurt her in any way. I know of a woman’s body through reading books, but as I’ve never experienced it before, I’m…”

“Sir Xe’Reth… Mm… Yes,” Inatriss nods her head while smiling, “Mistress is a strong woman, she can handle anything you throw at her, that I know. And she’s as inexperienced as you. So you two should just take it slow. And be careful so you don’t, you know… Or maybe you want to become a father?”

“Heh, you mean, to shoot inside her?” Xe’Reth smiles with teeth showing as his fake anxiousness disappears into nothingness. “Well, I do love her, so I don’t see the problem with me becoming the father of her child. Though Malinda would need to stop working for the army for awhile, if she becomes pregnant.”

He shakes his head while chuckling.

“Heh, anyway, we’ve gone off topic. It isn’t even twelve o'clock yet, but at the moment, I’ve no need of you. You can, well, do whatever you’re supposed to do. I’ll probably see you when it’s time to bathe. And the other two also, right?” Xe’Reth asks, smiling to break the discomfort of thinking of being washed as a child.

Last time, they did touch his whole body, well, except for his private parts. Though he had been scrubbed like that before, rather, every time he went to the landlady’s house to do her bidding as a mere boy toy, he was cleaned by her handmaidens.

‘Wonder what she’s doing right—No, screw her. I want nothing from that rapist, she’s just a thorn in a bush. Many in number, yet easily burnt. I must take care of her when I’ve impregnated Malinda. I can’t have her messing my life up if she feels the need to spread rumors,’ Xe’Reth ponders in his mind while smiling toward Inatriss, waiting for her head to stop nodding.

“Indeed, they will be coming with me. But, I’ll leave you be, for now, Sir Xe’Reth. Thank you again for allowing me to be your guide,” Inatriss says, bobbing her head as she turns to walk away, but rotates her body again toward Xe’Reth.

He raises his palm outward, trying to stop her from speaking as he says, “I’ll see you later. I must tend to my mother, so goodbye for now. And you don’t need to thank me because I’m the one that should be thanking you.”

Turning his body, he closes the double doors. Leaving Inatriss standing there with a smile on her lips. A pleasant morning it has been. She had never experienced such closeness with a man before, but still, she likes that Malinda chose him and not any of those other noble scum that tried to woo her.

“Until we meet again, Master Xe’Reth…” Inatriss whispers as she bows with her whole body. Her expression, beyond pleased. Then, shaking her head to get rid of her fatigue, she disappears down the hallway, leaving only the double doors, which Xe’Reth has his back pressed against.

“I’ll have to keep up with this facade of gaining friendships. She, Tanya, Cerinn, Maldoran, those gatekeepers to the Sanctuary, and maybe Recina? Hmm… I must have everyone around my grasp,” Xe’Reth says, returning to his usual planning self.

Holding his chin, he pushes his back backward to bud forward with his body, to walk toward the staircase while holding the piece of paper which is supposed to be between the doors. ‘No one has even tried to take a peek… Disappointing, really…’

While treading on the crimson carpet, Xe’Reth clicks with his tongue in annoyance, “Dammit, how am I meant to handle Madelyn…? Though, she did say two days…” he sighs, “Oh well, I need to be prepared for whatever she has in store for me… And that jealous bitch must be watched. I can’t let anything happen to mom.”

Arriving at the foot of the stairs, he takes his first step to begin again.

To change the stained sheets, to clean her bandaged body off of the blood and discolored skin. To wash her, to care for her, to be a son bound by his own mother’s grave illness…

………

……

…

As the sun’s radiating warmth spreads across the land of Ellenoria, the inhabitants cheer to the Divine Queens for removing such weather, because the rain plague too many days a week, and that causes the people to be grateful for their Queens in the sky.

Yet inside the Citadel, in Celyssa’s office, Madelyn stands in front of the main desk while having her head lowered and arms crossed, gazing away. She’s now robed in a gorgeous long sleeved dress in crimson, with frills at the bottom and around her sleeves while her chest displays those alluring bosoms that poke out. Her face, newly done with makeup, and her body radiates her pleasant scent; a bathed body that ooze perfume.

“To harm your handmaiden… What madness has overcome you, Madelyn?” Celyssa questions with intent eyes. However, they’re not the only two who reside in the office. The head-handmaiden, Linadra, and her daughter, the beaten Liriana, too, stands in the room, next to the seated Celyssa, who inspects the fiddling girl in front of her. “Do you have any idea what could’ve happened if it wasn’t someone in your wing? Someone so close to the family?”

“I, I’m sorry…” Madelyn murmurs with pouting lips, but Celyssa won’t have any of it.

“Saying sorry isn’t good enough! You can’t beat someone because of… Why did you even hit her?” Celyssa asks yet somehow knows deep in her heart of Madelyn’s ongoing pain. For she had heard about what happened with Cerinn, and about the man who rescued that traitorous little whore, from her servants who had been put in Madelyn’s service years ago. “I’m ashamed to even look at you at this moment, Madelyn. So disappointing. Just see, you hit her too many times—,” she slams the desk, “I SAID LOOK!”

Madelyn's face flinches in shock, lowering her head further down, not complying with Celyssa’s request because she doesn’t want to witness those eyes of tears that plead for her mother to stop Celyssa so Madelyn won’t hate her. Liriana tugs at her mother’s dress, pulling for her dear life while her lips shudder in anxiety. She had never thought it would blow up this much. She only told her father, but even he reported to Celyssa with such fury since Madelyn did slap her around carelessly.

Liriana’s legs tremble, she tries to stay resilient as she begs, “Mama, please stop Madam, please…”

But her mother’s head remain directed at Madelyn, glaring at this pompous girl who dared to harm her daughter, her daughter that Linadra against her better judgment, made to be Madelyn’s handmaiden. Only the last choosing was when Liriana began to work under her Mistress, and everything went fine until now. Of course, Madelyn can be arrogant and foul-tempered, but never had she hit one of her servants or handmaidens before.

“Madelyn, I said look for the Divine Queens’ sake! You should not test my patience, for I’ve other more important business to attend to, so look at your handmaiden, now!” Celyssa shouts while slamming her fist on the table again as a pointing hand erects toward her. However, Madelyn squeezes her arms tighter and tilt her head even further down, not listening to her sister-in-law.

‘I didn’t do anything wrong… She was the one who made me angry. She should know when to be quiet… Yes, she deserved the beating, for she’s my handmaiden, and I decide what to do with her. But I shouldn’t have hit her that many times, though,’ Madelyn reflects, being motionless while Celyssa almost leaves her chair to shake some sense into this naughty girl.

“Haaa…” Celyssa sighs, touching her chin as she raises an eyebrow. She gazes to Linadra, gaining a rather puzzled expression while biting her lip, but she sighs again, giving up since she needs to leave in a couple of minutes. To travel to the Inner Layer to visit her family’s estate.

She had ordered Madelyn to be brought here so she could scold her, but now, Madelyn’s stubbornness exceeds her expectations. Usually, she doesn’t put up a fight, yet now, she holds her ground as fiercely as she can.

“Madam, I think that Lady Madelyn should be punished, by restricting her from buying anything for the time being. It will be the hardest task you’ve put on her,” Linadra proposes, placing her arm around Liriana, then cuddle her against her side, so her head snuggles on her bosom.

“What?! Nooo!” Madelyn protests, whipping her head up but shuts her mouth immediately as she lowers her head again, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit her, I was just so angry… so furious… But please,” she peeks up at Celyssa with pleading eyes and hands clutching in a prayer, “Don’t take that away from me! Please, Celyssa! Please… sister-in-law!”

“No shopping for a week, your servants nor your handmaidens are allowed to leave the Citadel. That’s my final verdict. You may return to your wing, for I don’t want to even look at you right now. Hurting someone so much younger than you…” Celyssa shakes her head in displease as glaring eyes defeat Madelyn’s upcoming counterattack.

With a hand whipping Madelyn away, she flings her arms into the air, then she spins her body around to stomp out of the office and into the servants’ workplace, screaming and shouting and yelling her heart out at the wide-eyed servants.

“Haaa…” Celyssa sighs with a palm covering her prettied up face. She stands up while pushing out her grand chair. Linadra and Liriana, staring, but she doesn’t say anything. Only breathes in fresh air to ready herself for the journey to her family’s estate. “Prepare the carriage, and let’s hope it will go smoothly. Where is my daughter?”

“I’ve already arranged for our departure, Madam,” Linadra responds with a curtsy as she lets go of her daughter, “And Lady Merissa is with her oldest handmaiden awaiting our arrival at the front courtyard. She’s rather healthy today, thank the Divine Queens.”

Celyssa simply nods as she begins to walk around her desk, but stops in her tracks, “Linadra… thank you, my friend.”

“Anything for my Honored Madam,” she says with a gentle smile.

……

…

Out in the courtyard, one carriage, even larger and more expensive has rolled up.

A couple of servants tatters while securing the horses of terror. Their gleaming black armor reflects the light, so much so that it’s almost like a dark mirror. One servant sits in the driver’s seat, a woman of her middle years, for her slight appearance causes her to have a maternal ambiance that exudes from within. Neither thin nor fat, a proud woman with head high and two round mountains poking out beneath her dress.

Though, as she jerks her hands upward, two more women climbs up on either side of her since an abundance of space have been made so more regular servants can come along wherever the destination need their attention.

Inside the carriage, seats clothed with crimson dyed leather on either side; at the front and at the back, room for six people. Two windowed doors. The floor has layered fabric so it sinks with one’s weight. Hanging on the windows, red drapes as the rest of the interior décor.

A place of relaxation as the carriage rolls to whatever journey's end the owner want it to go. And sitting in the back, Merissa whose eyes stare into nothingness, only darkness clouds her mind continuously, never ending, never again will she witness the light of lights...

But, a frown has embedded on her expression with those down curved lips. She’s angry, though why? Visiting one’s relatives should be something one enjoys, not hates. Maybe she’s impatient, and wants to leave now? Because she’s someone who doesn’t like waiting. Even at yesterday’s dinner, she wanted to start eating, but no, she had to wait until the arrival of Malinda and Xe’Reth.

“Do I really, really need to come along, Ellenia?” Merissa asks as if she’s speaking to someone in front of her, but the person in question sits beside her, only a few centimeters away. Her eldest handmaiden. “I… I want to stay home. Can I, please?”

The handmaiden pauses for a moment, staring at her little Mistress, for she needs to disappoint her time and time again. With a hidden away grimace, she answers, “Miss, Madam Celyssa will have none of your complaints. You’re going, and that’s final. It’s as your mother said at yesterday’s breakfast: You’re growing more stubborn as of late. And she is displeased with how you acted at yesterday’s dinner, too.”

Merissa sinks her head while she moves it in minute movements because she’s rather perplexed since she has no memory of ever going to dinner. She gnaws on her lips, whining out, “But I don’t remember anything… It is unfair… Ellenia, it is unfair…—“

“Now, now. Relax, Miss, relax,” Ellenia comforts as she closes in on Merissa, to take her in her embrace. To hold her like Celyssa does when she’s about to have a relapse. As Ellenia rubs Merissa’s arm up and down to calm her, she goes silent, placing her head against her handmaiden’s bosom. “There, there, you wouldn’t want your mother to see you like this again, now would you?”

Merissa shakes her head, coiling her arms around Ellenia’s waist. A snivel escapes from Merissa’s nose as Ellenia dots with a handkerchief to remove the new tears which begin to appear around her eyes.

However, as Ellenia’s ears twitch upon hearing the muffled voices outside, Merissa, her little Mistress, lets go of her to sit straight as an arrow, for she recognizes the vocal sound of her mother.

Dotting and wiping away the rest of her Miss’s tears, Ellenia, too, straighten herself to sit with dignity since she wouldn’t want to be seen holding her Miss when Celyssa comes into the carriage. Not wanting her to think that she’s trying to take her place as a mother.

“We depart,” Linadra orders outside with a hand gesturing for the driver to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Then placing her hand on the door’s handle, she steps inside as her head bob toward Merissa whose eyes stare directly at her, but a few millimeters to the side.

Moving her head sideway in a quick jerk, Linadra expresses to Ellenia to sit at the front, for Celyssa comes right behind her. And Ellenia does what the head-handmaiden orders her to do, without question.

As Celyssa heaves herself through the door with high heels weighing on the soft floor, she says to her daughter, watching Ellenia going to the front seats with a bowing upper body, “Honey, you’ve been crying again, have you?”

Merissa’s straight posture slump upon hearing her mother’s sighing voice. She asks, reaching her arms out, “Mama, I don’t want to come along. Please, can I stay home, please?”

Celyssa goes to sit as Merissa wobbles her hands to be hugged, and Celyssa does hug her. Making her daughter lean on her bosom like Ellenia did. But she doesn’t answer, only raise her head to give the order to Linadra, which causes her to knock on the wall behind her.

“Mama…?” Merissa shakes her mother, trying to get an answer, but just Celyssa’s hand that smoothes Merissa’s braided light-brown hair respond. It causes Merissa to push away her mother, to shout with frowning eyebrows, “I DON’T WANT TO GO TO THAT PLACE, MAMA! I DON’T WANT TO! I HATE IT THERE!”

However, Celyssa embraces Merissa in a forceful hug, holding her, calming her so she doesn’t get an attack. She can be a loud, a stubborn, and a rebellious daughter, though Celyssa can only be thankful to have her like this. To be lively, to be alive, for she has had her moments of no return.

“I know, sweetie, I know… But we’ll just be there for an hour, all right?” Celyssa says while touching her own braid as she measures it against Merissa’s, and she gains a smile since her daughter’s appearance has grown into herself. Not her father, but herself.

Merissa’s body sink back into her mother's embrace as she nods her head up and down, in the process, rubbing her cheek against her mother’s bosom. Those two protruding breasts which nurse Merissa’s woes, because even though her constant stubbornness, she wants to be near Celyssa since her warmth is what she desire.

The carriage rolls, and with it, the start of humming tunes which Merissa has heard beyond counting. With eyes closing, she falls into even more darkness…

The sleep…

……

…

“I wonder where Celyssa is going…” Malinda says as her carriage enter through the inner portcullis, going into the front courtyard, then circling around the four-cut fountains as Celyssa’s driver bows at the opposite side to recognize Malinda’s Honored presence. The carriage doesn’t stop, it goes around the fountain, too, and out from where Malinda came.

“The Madam is visiting her family with Lady Merissa is what I’ve heard,” Taryna answers, steering the horses to the stairs where a bun-haired woman hurries down the steps, and as she reaches the foot, she curtsies while waiting for her Mistress’ arrival. “And, Miss, you haven’t trained in a day, you shouldn’t slack only because of Xe’R—“

“Are you out of your mind?!” Malinda startles, going agape with mouth and eyes, “I can’t be all sweaty for tonight! I mustn’t do anything today, I only must prepare myself for…” she bites her lower lip while tilting her head with a smile, “for Xe’Reth to… heh, take me…”

Taryna turns her head away, to grimace with a twitching lip, yet unseen by Malinda. What can she even do to cancel their night together? She must think carefully, for the only thing she has managed to plan won’t stop their night, just put suspiciousness on Xe’Reth, but even then it can backlash toward her.

The carriage finally arrives back home; the clouds have vanished to brilliantly display the blue sky, the Divine Sky.

The bun-haired woman readies to take the reins off of Taryna as both of them climb down, and with creaking joints declaring, Malinda asks, putting her plated feet on the ground, “Where is Xe’Reth?”

“Sir Xe’Reth is currently tending to his mother, Miss. He finished his tour around the Citadel sometime ago. S-Shall… Shall I sent for him?” the servant asks while still bending her body in an elegant bow. Her voice, in conflict, since she doesn’t know if she just said something rude or not.

“No need,” Malinda forwards her palm, then steps onward as something tugs at her heart. She has been away for about two hours give or take, but as she climbs the stairs, she can’t help but blush a smile on her lips.

A smile of anxiety and longing and joy.

For she desires to be with him. To be touched, to be kissed, and to be drowned in her own bliss of warmth.

Reaching the head of the stairs, she breathes in through her nose, closing her eyes and tightening her now knuckled fists. As the air flows out, she gains an even greater beam on her expression. Then with her left plate boot tremoring on the floor of the Citadel’s marble, she strides forward, toward her love, her precious one…

Thanks for reading!

Sorry for the late release again, but I can't seem to find the time to put out once a week anymore.

Anyhow, don't forget to voice your thoughts, it helps me keep going! :>

Until... Next Time.

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