Anger boiled inside me, without thinking my eyes scanned for something, anything I could use against him, making sure it was expensive I grabbed a detailed vase on the nightstand, smashing this on the ground will surely gain his attention, but my throw was too high, I panicked as the vase came for his head.
it was like a blink of an eye as the vase rotated for his head but my breath caught as the vase stopped in mid-air close to his head, the vase was held up frozen in time, I just stared at it in awe.
He turned slowly, the vase still hanging, I gulped as his furious eyes met with mine, and I have done it, who knows what he will do to me, I feared for the worse but rather with just a flick of his fingers the vase rotated back to the nightstand and took the exact position it was in.
His intense gaze pinned me down right where I was. It was almost as if I couldn’t breathe, like the air was being sucked out of the room.
Without any word he turned and left the room as the doors opened and then Olivia walked in. I was still left in shock.
"My Lady" Olivia said walking up to the bed, her eyes drifting to my clothes on the floor, she gasped but then cleared her throat.
"I’m here to get you ready, mother of the house will see you soon," she said.
I sighed as I cleaned the tears that fell, I slowly got off the bed with the blanket around me, my eyes drifted to the bed as Olivia gathered the sheets, I blinked. There wasn’t any blood.
Olivia didn’t seem to notice anything, she was too focused on arranging the bed. What really happened last night? I was left in a never-ending loop in my head.
☆☆☆
Bathhouse
My hands felt the petals on the water, the bathwater was smooth and silky against my skin, Olivia poured some ointment in it, I silently crumb my skin with the towel.
"You shouldn’t have to do that my lady I can help you with that" Olivia offered, smiling.
"It’s okay I’m already used to bathing myself," I said.
"As you wish my Lady, call me if you need anything," she said.
I nodded as she left the bathhouse. My mind lingered to last night, but I couldn’t remember anything other than falling asleep on the couch. What did Cedric do to me?!
☆☆☆
Olivia opened a wide wardrobe, inside was well arranged with only one color of different gowns.
"Why are they all yellow?" I was puzzled.
"It’s the color of the Hartford house, it’s only what you will wear," Olivia explained looking for a dress for me.
"I see," I said as she brought out a dress for me.
She smiled but I didn’t smile back, her face dropped.
"I’m sorry my Lady, what you never wanted to happen happened last night, the least I could do is cheer you up," she said softly.
I forced a smile.
"It’s okay Olivia, what’s done is done," I said, not even sure of what happened.
Fully dressed, I walked the halls of the castle, with Olivia by my side, I was dressed in a slender yellow gown with several golden designs, I also wore a long kimono-like robe, it was white and transparent with designs. My hair let down in waves, designed behind with a golden peacock pin, packed at the center top of my hair.
My eyes went back and forth to the hall, it was really huge with so many antiques, and I was amazed by it.
Olivia leads me to another part of the castle away from the eastern wing to the northern wing.
"The eastern wing of the castle belongs to you and Lord Cedric, this wing belongs to the mother of the house" Olivia explained.
"What about the southern wing?" I asked curiously.
"Well it’s put out, it’s more of a storage room," she said.
I just nodded. We got close to a door and the doors opened by the guards and we both walked in.
Mother was seated in the wide hall, the window glass was colored that sent rays of different colors into the hall.
"Nice to see you, dear," she said.
"Good morning mother," I said.
Like my papa always taught me, always have respect for elders even though they didn’t like you or you didn’t like them.
"Come sit, I trust you have had breakfast," she said.
I walked towards her and took a seat in front of her.
"No," I said.
"Why not, you and Cedric should have eaten together" she reasoned.
I rolled my eyes at her response, forgetting myself.
"Why? Is there a problem?" she said sternly.
"Oh no mother not at all," I said nervously.
"Good, it appears you have a lot to learn," she said signaling her servants for something.
"And I will take that privilege of teaching you the things you need to know as a wife of this household like I said last night" she began.
I nodded.
"Your training will commence tomorrow but for starters, why do I wear black? I’m sure you know the color of this household is yellow" she said.
I looked sideways.
"Well, black is what widows wear," I said.
"Correct" she nodded.
"There are four wealthy Houses in the Empire, and you’re a wife to one, note you will be meeting with other wives and I expect you to represent us with your best behavior," she said.
I just nodded all the way. The servants came with a tray of foods and placed them on the table, I gulped at the sight of the juicy food.
"Eat my dear" mother said while taking her cutleries.
I did and dug in, but making sure I composed myself, I was sure it was a thing here.
"You need your strength after last night".
I choked instantly on my food. Olivia rushed and gave me water, I gulped it down, setting the cup on the table.
"Last night?" I said, taking a breath.
"Of course, on your wedding night something did happen right?" she reasoned.
How could I bring myself to tell her nothing or something happened when I wasn’t even sure of myself.
Nervous I grabbed a napkin to wipe my mouth, in taking it I paused, and then my head sparks and my eyes widened, like an illusion, the memories flooded in as I looked at the window.