"Oh… right." Ashelia exclaimed softly at Lyra's answer. "I forgot."
Her maid shook her head again, a hint of exasperation on her face. "Of course, you did. When you spent most of your time in the forest doing only God knows what."
"My apologies..."
Lyra huffed, but there was a fondness in her voice. "I'm not the one you should apologize to, my lady," she told her gently. "You should prepare a thorough apology letter for both the Duke and Duchess for when they ever find out."
Ashelia flinched. "Right…" Then she looked up at Lyra. "What about Mother? Do you know if she's awake yet?"
Lyra clapped her hands together loudly as if she just recalled something, startling Ashelia. "Of course!" She exclaimed excitedly. "I forgot to tell you, my lady. The Duchess woke up this afternoon just an hour before lunch."
Ashelia stood up abruptly. "What?!" Her eyes were practically glistening. "How was she? Did she look okay? Has she gone back to sleep?"
Lyra had somewhat of a sad look in her eyes as she stared at her. "My lady…" She started. "Well, she was able to speak but I don't know if she has gone back to sleep because I was only called to deliver her food."
Ashelia's brows furrowed slightly. "I see… I should go and see her." She concluded and started to walk toward the door.
"Not in those rags, you're not!" Lyra shrieked, pulling her back. "You have to take off this rubbish, my lady. Unless you intend to give your already ill mother a heart attack!"
Ashelia flinched. "Oh… alright."
Lyra nodded in satisfaction. "Do that while I prepare a bath for you. After that, then you can go and meet the Duchess."
* * *
The first thing Ashelia did after her maid had cleaned her up was go to the manor's kitchen. The moment she stepped into the space, all the maids working there curtsied to her in greeting.
"Good day, Lady Ashelia." They chorused.
Ashelia showed them a tight-lipped smile. "Thank you." She answered. "You know why I have come here. If you would, please give me some space."
"Of course, my lady." The maid who looked like the leader among them answered and started to usher everyone out.
When the last of them had left, Ashelia let out a sigh of relief and started to work. Her intention was to brew herbal tea for the Duchess.
She had been doing this for more than a year now, which was why the servants knew to give her the space she needed. She took out a few leaves from one of the cupboards and started to prepare the tea.
After she was done, she fished out a small vial from the pocket of her dress and added about three drops of the liquid in the vial into the tea pot.
Ashelia pursed her lips. 'This should be enough.' She thought, slipping the strange potion back into her pocket. 'I will have to meet Reagan soon for more. This one is almost finished.'
Soon enough, she took the tea tray and started to head toward the other end of the east wing in the manor where the Duchess' room was located. A few minutes later, she stood in front of the grand doors that led into her mother's chamber.
She took in a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" a weak female voice called from inside.
"It's me, mother." Ashelia replied. "It's Shelia."
"Shelia?" the woman inside exclaimed in a small voice. "You don't have to ask for permission, my dear."
Ashelia took hold of one of the door knobs, gently prying it open, and took a small peek into the room before stepping in and shutting the door behind her.
The chamber was finely decorated, with large, lovely paintings adorning the walls, plush rugs settled on the floor, and blinds covering the windows in a beautiful shade of purple.
A chandelier hung from the ceiling, lighting the room with its gentle glow from the candles on it. It truly was a room fit for a Duchess.
Sitting on the large bed was a woman, her gentle but striking grey eyes fixed on Ashelia as she entered. The rays of the sun cast a warm glow on her lush auburn hair, making it appear even more lustrous.
But the woman's cheeks looked slightly gaunt, and her eyes seemed sunken with dark circles under. Her skin had a very pale color, as if she were on the verge of fainting.
Ashelia felt a sharp pain in her chest as she studied her mother's condition.
She bit the inside of her lower lip. 'She's not looking good at all…'
Forcing what seemed like a casual smile on her lips, Ashelia greeted her. "Good Afternoon, Mother. I'm glad to see you're awake today."
The Duchess narrowed her eyes at her daughter. She sat silently for several seconds as she observed her, only opening her mouth a moment after she felt she was done.
"Afternoon, Shelia," she voiced quietly with a smile. "Where have you been? I thought you would have come to see me earlier."
Ashelia winced at the question. 'She won't even let me get a word in first.' She thought as she dropped the tea set on the bedside table.
"I would have come if I had known, mother. But I was sleeping in the orchard up until a few moments ago." She lied as she poured the tea into a cup and stirred it.
The Duchess furrowed her brows at her suspiciously. "Sleeping in the orchard?" she asked. "Then how come you smell like the wild?"
Ashelia flinched at the question, deliberately avoiding her mother's gaze. She squeezed her eyes shut in regret. 'Argh! I should have asked Lyra to scrub me more! Mother's sense of smell is monstrous!'
She sighed and her form deflated. "I'm sorry, mother," she apologized immediately. "It's just… the manor can get so boring at times that…"
The Duchess pursed her lips. "But you know it is forbidden for you to leave the manor without your father."
Ashelia just silently stirred the tea, praying the truth wouldn't complicate her mother's condition.
The Duchess let out a long sigh, then stared up at her daughter with warm affection in her stormy eyes. "I suppose what matters most is that you are safe."
Ashelia stared at her mother in surprise, gently hanging her head to hide her suppressed smile.
After a few seconds of silence, she handed her mother the brewed tea. "You should drink this, mother. It will make you feel a little better."
The Duchess nodded and took it from her. Then she inhaled the scent before taking a sip. She sighed in satisfaction. "Really, what kind of magic do you use in your tea, my dear?" She asked with a smile. "Anytime I take it, it really does make me feel better."
Ashelia stiffened for a moment before finally regaining her composure. "You flatter me, mother. What sort of magic could possibly be used on tea?"