Reya wandered the grounds of the estate,the cold walls doing nothing to soothe the secrets it hid. Morning had found her again,in a different place much better than the loneliness of Vire. Here,she woke and slept with her husband.
Alaric had given her three handmaids at her disposal, believing it was fruitless to let his beautiful wife toil while wealth existed.
"That's Betsy,Heather and Heart," Alaric said proudly,introducing the three red-headed girls to her.
Their hairs and skin raised brows at the sight,too beautiful to serve as maids.
"Are you sure these aren't your mistresses?" Commented Reya with a grin,taking a seat before the mirror.
"Funny,darling! They may or may not be. Your comfort is my priority anyway," he kissed her cheeks,ruffling her hair and leaving her to the grace of the experts.
She found Heather,the youngest of the two,who claimed to be just about sixteen very loquacious. Having escorted Selene to almost all her banquets,she came across as someone with all the gossips.
The tall,slender Betsy spoke less but had the hands that made women fall in love. She knew her way with hair and Reya found the girl had been a fighter,after noticing the callouses on her tips.
Shy to ask,she concluded she must be around twenty.
For Heart,she only delivered tools and did as asked,turning her eyes from Reya and ignoring anything that might lead to an unpleasant,time consuming conversation.
By the time she stepped out,she had been forced into a light blue dress,deadly corsets and hair dangling beautifully before her eyes.
"I look...different from my appearance!," she blinked,curling her lip in disapproval.
"It's something the noble women do in Ravenswood often. Everyone is to wear blue on the second day."
Reya turned,amused. "Why?"
Heather cleared her throat. " It's a rule! We can't elaborate further,"
Descending the stairs into the main hall, her eyes darted to the maids working tirelessly. Blinded by the whole drama yesterday, she failed to notice the delicate grace and beauty each maid posssesed.
They were grouped into six batches: the ladies with satin clothes served Selene, cotton clothed maids served Evona, Amber's maids probably had no assigned attire.
Then came the porcelain skinned women who attended to Bastian, her maids Heart,Betsy and Heather then another who appeared odd.
She watched the maids bow to her,carrying breakfast for the household and ascending the stairs with seriousness. She counted the plates in curiosity.
Was there an extra mouth to feed?
"Who's this for?" said she curiously turned to the odd girl.
Some questions fell on dead ears,
Other times they landed in the air,
Yet this question drew the girl's face ashen ; her hand trembled with mortification , turning her head quickly to flee Reya's gaze. Her grip on her arm did her no good either.
"Did you not hear?,"
"Apologies,ma'am!" She bowed,the teacup threatening to fall."I can't tell you about--"
" I'm a lady of this household. It's rather acceptable if I knew," Reya said,tightening her grip on her arm.
"What is going on here?" Evona barked from afar,startling the maid - relying on this event to flee upstairs.
"Good morning,Mother!,"
"What's good about this morning?" She narrowed her eyes. "Nevermind,but you should be reminded your place here. You are nothing but a foreigner. "
She turned,hurling her hair over her shoulders."So keep out of this family's business. After all,curiosity kills the cat"
Reya smirked," And again,I am no cat"
Evona, usually the loud - quick tempered woman, miraculously offered a smile,remembering her wish to crumble Reya when she least expected.
She cleared her throat,tidying her sleeve with newfound glee. "Anyway, I've got quite a demanding meeting to attend. I'll see you later,dear."
Reya watched flabbergasted as she twirled outside, humming melodically to herself.
" ooo-- the day is great! See my smile and tell me it is!"
Outside,she paused, adjusting her shawl with reverence and a laugh no one had seen. The cold wind turned hot,awed by Evona smiling for the first time.
Whatever was cooking in her head was no news for festivities.
Thereafter, Reya strolled quietly down the hills, mind occupied by Evona's unsettling reaction. She had heard of her laughters when counting gold coins and her bitten -back smiles when she was full of mischief. Still, this deeply troubled her soul.
She gazed at the mews,the scent of green grasses and the flowers bleeding with the smells of magnolia, roses,daises,wisteria and ivies she thought would not appear here.
After all, Ravenswood was said to be full of crime. She had expected a blood field with haunted houses and screams.
"Ah,you!"
She turned to see Amber, playing with a horse beside her.
Reya beheld the woman's features with awe. Her long red hair,kissed with streaks of white fell beautifully on her dress like flowing water.
Beauty was said to not be ethereal, and would fade anyway, still her beauty proved logic wrong.
She was fuller and naturally sculpted than Selene. Reya could not fathom why suitors fell at Selene's feet and none dared to spare Amber an eye.
Were they blind?
"Good day, Lady Amber," she smiled,walking closer.
"Mhmm"
The atmosphere felt uncomfortable; she knew too much of businesses that she never interested herself in the affairs of beauty and jewels.
"So..." she smiled," You are not receiving suitors too? Selene is--"
"I'm not interested in men. Let's skip the lectures,"
" Oh! I was only trying to--"
"Find a suitable topic?" Amber shot a mock-smile. "As much as I fancy the thought of a good laugh,I'd prefer to be left alone"
Reya quirked her eyebrows,"Matters of the heart? "
Amber let out a brief chuckle,gazing into her palms. She yearned to let her guard down and trust someone,but trust was not a game she could afford to play again. She sighed,turning her eyes to the flowers. "I suppose you could say...that!"
"Well I could help if you--" Reya gasped,eyes widening as they fell on something baffling. There,right beside Amber's heavenly white gown was blood; one mistake and you'd think it were glass.
It stretched a thin line from the hem to her hand.
"Are you..hurt,Lady Am--?"
"Nice meeting you!" Amber rose,a faint glint of fear in her eye before disappearing faster than legends. She steadied her gown,turning back to Reya with the same calm she bore. "And I must say...speak of this to no one."
Reya stood stupefied,watching Amber leave with a calm face. Simply stoic and unbothered.
-------------
Elsewhere in the heart of Ravenswood,darkness clouded the empire,all finding comfort in the warm cushions of their rooms.
Others resorted to satisfying clients; dancing with every part of the soul.
Solely for money
Yet others disappeared into the cold of the night,some looking back while a few weren't offered the chance to scream.
"Where are you going?," said he,slapping her and fondling her harshly.
"Leave me! Leave me!" She cried out.
A woman came,looking like a rescuer in her blue garments,one stained with arrogance like spice. "Do leave her! Five hundred gold coins. I want her delivered into my warehouse in 3."
It happened quicker than she had assumed. Just for sale..
For 500 coins??
Gold coins??
"Ai," he pulled away, greedily counting the coins with awe. That was the first time he had seen that much in his life. "You can take her now"
The girl knew not what to fear,the man who had forced her into serving in the inn to pay off her debts, or this woman who looked at her like a daughter.
"Thank you,ma'am! Thank you! I..I..I'll do anything to repay you. I owe you my life," she crawled to her,holding her leg and sobbing.
The woman only stepped back. "You sure?"
"Yes! Yes!"
But when she saw her face under the cloak,she regretted being sold. "No,no,no ! Sir,take me back! Sir don't leave me. Take me back"