The old Grand Duchess Laurent.
In her younger years she was one of the greatest knights in the kingdom of Edzhilflare and was declared as a war hero along side her husband the Grand Duke Laurent, the champions of the 3rd war. She was of commoner blood but was fostered into a rich family because of her physical talents and was trained to become a knight. Through knighthood, it was also where she met her husband. Duke Laurent was a promising knight ever since his childhood and with his noble family's background his skills were polished even more. The two fell in love in the battlefield and soon became husband and wife. They were happily in love and wanted to start a family but sadly, they discovered a dreadful truth.
The duchess…was infertile. Therefore, she could not bare any child for their marriage, it was devastating for the couple but even so they loved each other dearly that they didn't need a child to prove it. The two only ever cherished each other more after that, the Duke didn't even get a second wife to bear an heir for his lineage for he cared not for his wealth but only for his wife. They spent many years in a gleeful marriage growing old together until, unfortunately at the age of 54, the old duke passed away from an illness.
That left the duchess with anguish and heartbreak. They were each others world and so without him, she fell apart. Drowning herself in liquor day by day and neglecting her duties as a duchess, only mourning for the loss of her husband it was the only thing she did. And so, her title was stripped down to that of a lowly Baroness and most of her wealth taken away. It was said that not a day goes by where she doesn't think of the duke and pray for him. And rumored that she never wore anything of bright colored clothing after his death.
Sigh. Their love story is so famous that a book was even made dedicated to it in this verse. I folded my outline and hid it under my dress after I finished reading it.
Yes, and that duchess is none other than Nicaise's foster --(or soon-to-be) foster mother.
It has been another 2 weeks since I got here and the duchess has yet to show up.
'Fuck'
I throw away the wood I was holding. Itching on my side and head from frustration as I reclaimed the wood I had just thrown away.
'If I had known that I would've had to wait for this long in this smelly old orphanage, I would've came later'
Another 2 days had passed and her arrival was all I could ever think about. I don't get nervous easily but I'm starting to think he had gotten involved and changed a plotline and the old duchess died on her way here or something.
The last guest we had was of 4 days ago where 2 of the kids were picked, I even supposed to be one of them but I acted very sickly in front of the distinguished guests and forcefully vomited to avoid getting picked. They left me alone after thinking that with my body, I'd probably need more money to be treated than for donating in the orphanage.
If this drags on any longer, I'm gonna lose it. I can't only be eating one measly meal a day (and with enough struggle at that) and how long ago has my last bath been?
I scratched my side and hair again. 'I'm dying for a bath'
"Tsk! You haven't grown one bit since you got here even though we've been feeding you well, it even looks like your condition's getting worse. I know the other kids have been harsh but what if it's because of an illness or something?", the lady care taker complained after handing out my portion.
"Jeez, there goes another kid wasted", she shook her head at me being malnourished.
I don't know what happened but since we got back from picking up firewood a few nights ago and them screaming at me because after that they've been elusive and silent towards me almost as if they're scared. They still hate me though, calling me all sorts of exaggerated insults. They would only shut up when I look at them. I was so hungry that day that I ate the bird.
I was deep in thought when the lady left and so I was about to quickly eat my bread but Nicaise came in front of me before I could and stomped her foot on my side of the table.
"Are you going to be greedy this time too?", even she got distant from me for a while but now I guess she's back.
The caretakers had thought of my action as problematic and when they asked about it, I honestly just told them that someone had been stealing my portions and I wasn't able to eat for days. Everyone got shit for it but at least I got to eat at last.
Sigh. I'm not in the mood for her shinanigans.
"I can't fucking stand you acting all cocky and bossy around here. You think you'd be saved simply because you're smart? You also haven't been picked yet"
"No", I quietly answered as I devoured my soup before she notices.
"Because of you, we had to do be punished! Didn't I told you not to snitch huh!?", getting agitated she tightly grabbed my arm making me spill the soup.
"Didn't you learn your lesson alre--*SPLACK!*",without a moment of rationality, I slammed the bowl of spilled soup to her face. The rest of the meal scattered and turned to a mess as she screamed from the pain.
"If you want it so bad, then take it, since it looks like your brain needs the nutrition more than I do", with that said, I got out of my seat and hurriedly left.
'Sigh, there goes my meal for the day. I might have to ask Scoffy to share some of her rotten apples with me again'
Had she not let her guard down and realized my action, my face would've probably been the one in the bowl.
I'm getting frustrated over rushing things I have no control over. My god is probably delaying things on purpose to mess with me again, shouldn't forget about that.
….
The next day, I spent my time in hiding and avoiding Nicaise because of my impulsive feat yesterday which I undoubtedly regret because now, I have another problem to deal with. She was so upset that when she had caught me, she locked me up in the shed after beating me up.
"Hmp. Make sure it's sealed tight", I heard her order her lackeys from the other side of the shed door as they wrapped around a tight rope on the door handle while I tried to push through from my side but to no avail.
"What if the caretaker notices she's missing?"
"Shut up, I'll just tell them that she's sleeping with the horses again"
"Right, right"
"Since they never check the stables anyway"
'Tch! These stupid kids'
"Oh crap, it's time for morning call, let's go!"
While they ran and left, I tried again to push the door open but I realized this thing can only be opened from outside and in panic, I resorted to kicking and banging the door with the hopes of someone hearing me.
"Help!"
*Bang!*
"Is anyone there!?"
*Bang!*Bang!*Bang!*
"Help! I'm locked up in the shed!"
*Bang!*
"Someone! I'm…locked up…"
I halted. I calmed down from panicking. Looking through the small crack on the door, what I saw was only the fast gush of snow blowing with the wind and its loud howling. From a distance I could see the caretakers scolding and rushing Nicaise and the others to get inside the hall. I'm going to be locked up in here while there's a snow storm outside.
Strangely, I turned silent and faced the ground. What was I so desperate about calling out for help away from this shed? My heart was racing from the thought of being stuck in here and to never be found again, like some cowardly child.
'...'
Right. I am just a child.
Rather than being found, isn't it safer to be here instead of out there? Despite my mental age, I am tired of acting grown when I am still very young. I haven't had a any rest since the day I got here, I had to keep fighting to survive. I so desperately want a break.
I made myself comfortable, looking around the small and tight old shed, hugging myself from the growing cold. I climbed on the wooden stored boxes in the corner where there was dried cattle skin hanging from the side. I took it off from its rope and covered myself with it. It had a foul smell but it was warm.
What's the point of being with the others anyway, I'm not safe anywhere there. In here, I wouldn't have to worry about being jumped and bullied. No one will annoy me and I can sleep peacefully without Scoffy having to move around and do her loud nickering at night. I also feel warmer with the cattle skin than with the hays and the thin blanket. The only thing of a disadvantage though is food and water. But I'm sure I can find something here to eat, this shed is a storage after all.
Feeling refreshed from the thought of comfort and safety, I laid on the box to yet again sleep. When I sleep, I'll feel less hungry. It's probably the best advice I had gotten from my mother. I'll just stay here until the duchess arrives, plus there's a snow storm going on so I can't go outside anyway…even if I wanted to. The heat of my tears and this cattle skin shall be my warmth tonight.
*Scoffy- The name of the nice horse that she sleeps with in the stables