In white, crumpled sheets of fabric, the warm morning sunlight filtered through the heavy ambiance of the curtains, pooling over the bed where she lay until late noon. Her body ached in pain, a lingering reminder of the passion shared the night before. When she slowly reached her hand across the vast expanse of the bed, her fingers met only cold silk. He was not beside her.
In the quiet corner of the grand room, two servants stood in waiting, patiently watching for her to step out of the bed.
The first servant slowly approached the bedside, bowing her head. "It is late at noon, your Ladyship. The young master Aiden is not in here."
The other servant smiled warmly, stepping forward to assist. "He was required to accompany the mistress on an important matter early this morning. I am Marie, and this is Annie. We will be your personal servants for the time being."
Kelly lifted her head from the pillows, her gaze drifting toward the window. She missed the crisp morning breeze of her very first day as a wife, but as she looked at the glass, she realized something that touched her heart.
"Aiden knew I love the morning breeze," she said softly, a tender realization washing over her. "Is that why he left the curtains open wide for me? So I could feel it even in my deep sleep."
She faintly smiled at the two women, the lingering exhaustion in her bones easing slightly. "It is nice knowing you two. Please take care of me while I am still here."
With their help, she rose from the sheets and sat on the ornate chair facing the only mirror in the massive bedchamber. Marie and Annie worked in perfect harmony, gently brushing the tangles from her hair and dressing her in a gown suited for the estate. Though it was far too late for a proper morning meal, she knew it was required for her to endure the physical demands of the day. As a new member of the bloodline, she was expected to speak with the head of the house later in the afternoon, a meeting she could not afford to attend looking frail.
"My lady, the butler is waiting for you in the garden," Annie murmured, putting the finishing touches on her attire. "He will guide you and show you the layout of the garden. Do not fret, as we will be right by your side."
"As Annie said, your ladyship, we will guide you safely to the garden," Marie added, offering a supportive arm. "Shall we go, my lady?"
As her beauty sparkled in the dim room, Kelly stood up, walking through the doorway with the effortless grace of a woman straight out of a fairy tale. "Thank you so much. You two are a big help to me."
As she walked down the long hallways of the house, a strange sensation washed over her. She felt a deep warmth she had never experienced before within these walls. The towering, cold stone walls had felt agonizing and suffocating back then, but somehow, after last night, the layout already felt warm and familiar to her. Yet, with every step she took on the polished floors, her mind drifted back to the same lingering thought: When will he be back?
Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind rushed through an open terrace window, brushing roughly into her shining hair. A delicate sunhat caught the breeze, flowing wildly down the corridor. Kelly's eyes widened. From a distance, a fine young woman appeared in the hallway, smiling back at her with an eerie, knowing expression. In the literal second she blinked, the woman disappeared completely into the shadows.
Time seemed to pause for a second. "Who is that?" Kelly asked, her heart quickening as she stared at the empty space.
"She is no one, my lady," Marie replied quickly, her face turning instantly blank. "She does not concern you."
"This way, my lady!" Annie added hurriedly, her voice a bit too loud as she gestured toward the exit, deliberately cutting off any further questions.
They stepped outside, where the vast open field revealed the cultivated, navy blue garden of the house of Laurdy, a breathtaking landscape of deep, royal colors. A small glass pavilion stood silently in the corner of a massive greenhouse. From a distance, the elderly butler spotted them and offered a formal greet.
The three of them slowly walked across the lawns toward him.
"It is nice meeting you, my lady Kelly Laurdy Buenavista," the butler said, his voice clipped and traditional. "We should not haste, as it is necessary for you to pick flowers in this garden to create ten bouquets. You have plenty of time until your schedule this afternoon."
It was an unyielding rule of the estate. It was required for her to personally craft ten bouquets of flowers to offer to the ten previous headmasters of the family. The tribute was necessary for her upcoming visit to the sacred tombs of the Laurdy family alongside the head of the house.
For hours, Kelly dragged herself through the vast, beautiful garden, selecting stems that suited the solemnity of her visit. The estate's roses were undeniably beautiful, but they felt too common for what she envisioned. Instead, she sought out the rare, cool-toned flora of the grounds, gathering morning glory, Blue Hydrangea, Clitoria ternatea, Amsonia, and Campanula.
In the far distance, a lone, ancient wisteria tree stood tall, completely surrounded by a dense sea of pristine white roses. She stopped in her tracks, completely captivated by the beautiful, contrasting combination of the purple cascades and the pale petals. She spent half an hour at the base of the tree just to pick those specific white roses, losing herself in the quiet task.
She then spent another hour meticulously creating a magnificent arrangement of bouquets. The only difference in her work was the final piece, she crafted three extra flowers made of Irises, Daisies, and white roses, weaving her own silent thoughts into the gift she will offer the the man and woman of the house. Then to the man she offers her life.