Standing in front of a large mirror in her own water room, still in her nightgown, she stared at the young girl’s face and body, trying to memorize it all. This was now her. She was now this little girl. She was now a six years old child with long red hair and forest green eyes. Britannia Annabeth Delacour. Britannia Annabeth Delacour. She repeated her name a great number of times to make sure it would become a reflex to respond to it. When she felt that she could believe it, Annabeth smiled to herself and found that dimples easily appeared on her face.
For the past month, she didn’t try to break free nor did she restrain people from entering her room, so, they grew to relax, and finally started believing that the young miss's health was going better. The doctor came every morning to ask her questions and also make her drink some infusions. His name, he said, -when he tried once to calm her down as she was shooing him out of the room, scared of what he was giving her, doubting it to be the reason of what she thought was her hallucinations,- he said he was called Merry and that he was here not to hurt her but help her get better. At that time, of course, she wasn’t inclined to believe him and was dead set on trying to flee this place. It took her time to calm down and finally accepted that this was her new life.
Having her last life took medicine every single day of her existence, she couldn’t say she was happy to keep on doing so in this one too, but doctor Merry was really kind thus she couldn’t exactly keep on shunning him out and moreover, his infusions really helped with the occasional headaches she sometimes felt and the discomfort she experienced.
Her grandfather -since this was really what he was-, came to her bedroom too. Not every day but with two to three days of intervals, he would come and sit by her bedhead asking brief questions about her health. Sometimes he wouldn’t talk at all and bring things to read in silence while glancing at her from time to time. It went on like this for three weeks or so and when she finally voiced that she didn’t feel any headaches anymore, nor were her ribcage and thigh painful anymore, the doctor said that she could stop with the infusions. As for her memories, since they had yet to come back, they would do so in due time. As he was saying so, she thought that it was simply impossible, for she wasn’t the original child but still, she didn’t interrupt him nor disillusioned him.
Nowadays, she wasn’t restrained in her bedroom and had been authorized to go out; she would eat with her grandfather during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At first, in front of all the spoons and forks, she quite panicked a bit not knowing which was for what but whatever she used, the man would look at her for a brief moment, before returning to his plate. She wondered a bit what he thought in his mind.
Contrary to her very own grandfather, this one wasn’t talkative, he rarely smiled and there was always a frown that marred his face. It was quite an intimidating sight sometimes. Though, no harsh words or rebuttal escaped his mouth no matter what she did. And she did plenty of things actually. In her ‘I should escape from this place’ phase she tried knocking down the servant that usually bring her food, trying her luck at leaving, only to be brought back before she even set foot out of the corridor, then she went on a hunger strike when she failed the first attempts, she tried after that to hide and tamper with the medicinal infusions she was given only to have her headaches worsening when she didn’t take the medicine in the appropriate time. Instead of losing their temper with her, everyone in the house tried pacifically to tell her that she had nothing to be scared of. No one seemed angry. The servants would politely call her ‘young miss’ and tried to soothe her saying that and this were the foods she preferred and had been cooked especially for her, the doctor would say in a gentle manner, ‘miss Delacour’ then proceeded to explain everything he put in this medicinal brewing of his, while her grandfather, in a brief and curt voice, would say ‘Annabeth’; he wouldn't add anything after that, but his eyes betrayed a certain distress which usually made her paused whatever she was outrageously doing.
Though, she had yet to be familiarized with the name to respond when called, thus the time she took to train every morning.
Though, she had yet to be familiarized with the name to respond when called, thus the time she took to train every morning.
A knock sounded and she raised her voice a bit to permit the person to enter.
“Young miss?”, asked a young woman's voice with uncertainty and a bit of fear from the entrance.
“Here, Iris.”
Annabeth imagined the woman sighing in relief like she did almost every time she suffered a fright from not immediately seeing her mistress, only to hear her voice not far away. Iris directed herself to the water room where her young miss was in.
Annabeth imagined the woman sighing in relief like she did almost every time she suffered a fright from not immediately seeing her mistress, only to hear her voice not far away. Iris directed herself to the water room where her young miss was in.
“Good morning, young miss,” smiled the maid from the door, “do the young miss wants me to draw a bath now?”
Iris was a bit short for the nineteen years she pretended to have, she was quite a slim woman with short brown hair. Although she was as flat as a board, she had gentle gestures and a delicate voice which didn't let people doubt her gender.
"Not yet", Annabeth responded flashing her a smile through the mirror as she started stretching, "did you bring it?"
The young maid's smile faltered a bit and in the end, she could only apologize while saying, "the sewing isn't done yet."
She was avoiding Annabeth's gaze and the other didn't insist, just continued stretching her muscles for in a bit. She needed to stretch, after all, she was going to run around the garden after that.
These last days, she couldn't stay in place anymore. For fifteen years, she had trouble just standing now that she had a healthy body, not putting it to use or maintaining her physique would be a waste. The only downside was that she had no clothes to run with. All her clothing was made of dresses and gown, so she had no choice but to run in her nightgown. It was ample and didn't bother her when running, just that it was too long. Her maids had made a fuss when she started her running activities but in the end, they were forced to calm down when they saw that the duke himself said nothing. However, they were adamant that she couldn't lift her too long nightgown to run. It was too indecent they said. Well, as compromise Annabeth could only ask for some pants to be made for her, but who knew that even after a full week these usually fast working people still hadn't finished even one. Clearly, they were waiting for her to grow bored of her game or maybe did they hope she would forget? Whatever it may be, she didn't quite care, she had plenty of nightgowns, so sweating in some wouldn't bother her at all!
Iris could only watch powerlessly as her young miss hurried out of the room almost running and she could only let out a sigh. This young miss was quite energic recently, the moment she could, she was always running!
The manor residents weren't completely awake, those that were, had already lit up the different rooms and respectfully call out to the young miss when she passed by them. It was still a bit dark outside, so not many people were in the corridors. Annabeth had memorized the passages by now, so after taking the long stairs and crossing the living room, she was taking a deep breath of fresh air. It was really good to be able to experience going out by herself.
It was a big garden where the different flowers had been arranged in different styles and patterns. There were mostly tulips, in all kind of colors, whether white or pink, red or violet, orange, yellow or green, every color was there. Apparently, tulips were the flowers that were most present in Rosacrea, maybe this was also the reason why the Duke of Rosacrea was also called Duke of tulip.
Annabeth took off her slippers and felt the lawn under her feet directly. It was such a sweet feeling she couldn't hold back her smile. She stretched a bit more before running at a slow pace first, along the lawn, regularly picking her pace.
From his chamber, the duke could see her perfectly. He had seen his granddaughter going down at the crack of dawn for two weeks now. She seemed to be full of energy each time and every time had a silly smile on her face. Annabeth had always been an optimist person, agreeable to be with, but now, she seemed even more carefree. Maybe it was for the best, he thought, that she couldn't remember the circumstances in which she lost her brother and mother.
Iris was a bit short for the nineteen years she pretended to have, she was quite a slim woman with short brown hair. Although she was as flat as a board, she had gentle gestures and a delicate voice which didn't let people doubt her gender.
"Not yet", Annabeth responded flashing her a smile through the mirror as she started stretching, "did you bring it?"
The young maid's smile faltered a bit and in the end, she could only apologize while saying, "the sewing isn't done yet."
She was avoiding Annabeth's gaze and the other didn't insist, just continued stretching her muscles for in a bit. She needed to stretch, after all, she was going to run around the garden after that.
These last days, she couldn't stay in place anymore. For fifteen years, she had trouble just standing now that she had a healthy body, not putting it to use or maintaining her physique would be a waste. The only downside was that she had no clothes to run with. All her clothing was made of dresses and gown, so she had no choice but to run in her nightgown. It was ample and didn't bother her when running, just that it was too long. Her maids had made a fuss when she started her running activities but in the end, they were forced to calm down when they saw that the duke himself said nothing. However, they were adamant that she couldn't lift her too long nightgown to run. It was too indecent they said. Well, as compromise Annabeth could only ask for some pants to be made for her, but who knew that even after a full week these usually fast working people still hadn't finished even one. Clearly, they were waiting for her to grow bored of her game or maybe did they hope she would forget? Whatever it may be, she didn't quite care, she had plenty of nightgowns, so sweating in some wouldn't bother her at all!
Iris could only watch powerlessly as her young miss hurried out of the room almost running and she could only let out a sigh. This young miss was quite energic recently, the moment she could, she was always running!
The manor residents weren't completely awake, those that were, had already lit up the different rooms and respectfully call out to the young miss when she passed by them. It was still a bit dark outside, so not many people were in the corridors. Annabeth had memorized the passages by now, so after taking the long stairs and crossing the living room, she was taking a deep breath of fresh air. It was really good to be able to experience going out by herself.
It was a big garden where the different flowers had been arranged in different styles and patterns. There were mostly tulips, in all kind of colors, whether white or pink, red or violet, orange, yellow or green, every color was there. Apparently, tulips were the flowers that were most present in Rosacrea, maybe this was also the reason why the Duke of Rosacrea was also called Duke of tulip.
Annabeth took off her slippers and felt the lawn under her feet directly. It was such a sweet feeling she couldn't hold back her smile. She stretched a bit more before running at a slow pace first, along the lawn, regularly picking her pace.
From his chamber, the duke could see her perfectly. He had seen his granddaughter going down at the crack of dawn for two weeks now. She seemed to be full of energy each time and every time had a silly smile on her face. Annabeth had always been an optimist person, agreeable to be with, but now, she seemed even more carefree. Maybe it was for the best, he thought, that she couldn't remember the circumstances in which she lost her brother and mother.
***
Annabeth ran until the sky completely cleared up. She panted, regaining her breath as she slowly walked. It wasn't that she used to dream of being an athlete or anything like that, rather, she liked that feeling very much. Adored it actually: the exhaustion of her limbs, her heart beating at a rapid pace without the fear that it would suddenly stop. All of that still provoked no pain in her body, no terrible reaction, no vomits, no dizziness. Her feet were supporting her body just fine. She was, for once, a functional, normal human being!
Running around before breakfast was the best!
Iris stood not too far and when she saw that the young miss was finally finished, she went forward and draped her with a long sheet, covering her whole body. Annabeth didn't resist, and let herself be led inside.
As they were entering, Annabeth caught sight of the duke standing behind his windows, his gaze on her.
Struggling a bit, she freed her right hand and energetically waved at him, shouting at the top of her lungs to make sure he heard,
"Goodmorning grandfather!"
In the end, after a moment of hesitation, he lifted his hand and waved a bit before retreating further in his room, closing the heavy curtains. Despite that, Annabeth had a bright smile on her face.
Buckets of hot water were brought to her water room and filled the bathtub. Annabeth disrobed and by herself, she cleaned her body before entering the tub. The soap had the fragrance of tulips.
Meanwhile, Iris was taking out for her what she would wear for the day.
Running around before breakfast was the best!
Iris stood not too far and when she saw that the young miss was finally finished, she went forward and draped her with a long sheet, covering her whole body. Annabeth didn't resist, and let herself be led inside.
As they were entering, Annabeth caught sight of the duke standing behind his windows, his gaze on her.
Struggling a bit, she freed her right hand and energetically waved at him, shouting at the top of her lungs to make sure he heard,
"Goodmorning grandfather!"
In the end, after a moment of hesitation, he lifted his hand and waved a bit before retreating further in his room, closing the heavy curtains. Despite that, Annabeth had a bright smile on her face.
The first day she had managed to persuade Iris to let her run around, Annabeth thought that if he found, this person would never let her continue and at the beginning, she didn't plan on running every day either, she just wanted to feel that sensation once in her life. Who knew that this duke had actually seen her from the very beginning and although he had a stern look on his face, he still didn't rebuke her. From her understanding of him now, this was his silent approval. Even if the temperament were different, she couldn't help but feel that this person was alike to her own grandfather, ready to support her.
***
Buckets of hot water were brought to her water room and filled the bathtub. Annabeth disrobed and by herself, she cleaned her body before entering the tub. The soap had the fragrance of tulips.
Meanwhile, Iris was taking out for her what she would wear for the day.
It wasn't that Iris wasn't in charge of bathing her too, or that Annabeth was shy and unwilling to be naked in front of someone. Actually, she was more accustomed to being helped in her bath than not. There were so many things that were restricted to her previously and she almost never bathed by herself. However, now that she had the possibility and the ability to do it, she rather does it. Although Iris was always there to scrub her back, after that, Annabeth would finish the rest by herself.
In the beginning, Iris would stand in the same room to make sure she properly bathed but now the maid would just come back later to help her dress.
A big smile on her lips and as she was scrubbing her short legs, Annabeth thought, she quite liked it here.
A big smile on her lips and as she was scrubbing her short legs, Annabeth thought, she quite liked it here.
No comments:
Post a Comment