How should I explain this? The Capital is very much different from ours. There is something very warm in this region that I could not point out. A sudden gust of wind entered the carriage and slight shake inside that I ended up squeezing Aria.
I opened my eyes and saw my mother. Her head is poking outside the carriage's window, waving her hands and shouts, "Brother Galan!"
To our head maid who's asking me who I take after. I finally know the answer... and it's my mother.
"D-Duchess! Please get inside."
"Brother!!"
If Jemina is here, she will remind my mother of her dignity as the Duchess and well, maybe the threats outside.
"Your grace! Please close the window!" and there is Jemina on horse, huffing as she tried to maintain the distance.
"Your Grace, The Duke is going to kill us if something happens to you!!" the knights are in tears and probably trying to send my mother inside the carriage. After all her head is poking out the window.
Mother didn't seem to care as she continues to shout. Father will not only kill them. He will initiate a war if something were to happen to our mother. Based on what I remember, Mave started a small war when Carina died on that day. I can't remember exactly the scenes of it, however his relationship with his children drifted off after the war.
The carriage finally stops and just like the wind... my mother gets off the carriage and runs outside. Of course everyone is sweating but still follows my mother. A pregnant woman running off.
"Sister..." Astreia rubs her eyes and yawn. Amazing, she just woke up despite the bumps we encountered.
"Brother are you on your way to Count Holton?" I peered over to see the remaining knights in front of the carriage.
Mother and Uncle Galan talked over in front of a pastry shop, "Are they always that close?" Aria also peered beside me. Her eyes are focused on Mother and Uncle Galan.
"Yes..."
Astreia's grumbling stomach threw me off as we stared at her, "Mmm... I'm hungry"
"..."
She didn't ask questions again nor say anything. Her gaze is unusual though. It's like she's observing everything. Like with Aunt Mavis... she did that too.
They bid farewell after an hour while we continue on our way to Count Holton. As soon as we entered their territory my mother's eyes is sparkling. Don't ask me, but I know what she's going to do next. It was to run off the carriage and greet Aunt.
"Sister Eve!"
"I hope travel does not tire you," and there's my Aunt. Already waiting outside with her servants.
I bowed at my Aunt when Aunt Mavis also got off the carriage. Aunt Evelyn is openly showing her displeasure upon seeing Aunt Mavis with a wide smile on her face.
"So you really came when I specifically told you not to."
"hoho, I couldn't miss your daughter's birthday after all." both of them are smiling but I can feel their annoyance and glee.
We entered the mansion while our maids were getting our luggage inside. The countess looked back at us and she asked a question,
"Galan isn't with you? I thought he was coming today."
I am not sure if she was disappointed or relieved to see that Uncle Galan is not with us. Because her tone does not harmonize with her facial expression.
Anyway, Uncle said something to me that he will come here tomorrow afternoon. He also said something to me that I didn't quite understand.
'Watch yourself out there. There might be something lurking around especially at the library...'
I'm sure I heard him right since he escorted mother inside the carriage. I am unsure what it is, but I just nod at his words. I almost thought of something like a ghost and it is impossible to have ghosts here. My thoughts scattered as I heard a loud thump followed by heavy footsteps in the room.
"You are pregnant again?" Aunt Evelyn scoffed and climbed the stairs.
She can't be more obvious with her annoyance. With that heavy clacking and her voice that is so stern.
"Hayst, That horrible beast! This is your 4th child. I can't believe he's trying to make another copy of him!"
Heh, it looks like she is saying that three of us took off after our father. Everyone says Caesar is the only one who looks exactly like father though.
"I can agree with you calling my brother a beast." Aunt Mavis winked at the countess as she bit an apple before stepping away. Mother laughs while trying to calm Aunt Evelyn.
"You should tell your husband that this is the last! You don't know if you can handle it."
I can see from Aunt Evelyn why she is so mad... it is rare for some noblewoman to have 4 children especially in Mother's situation. Mother has been a frail noblewoman since her childhood and she always goes to the temple for recovery before.
While giving birth to Astreia she almost died and it is a miracle that she woke up that time.
"What if you really die giving birth to this last one? You already experienced being on death's door with Astreia!"
"..."
Mother is not destined to die giving birth to my little sibling. Ever since I remember some parts and I keep track of the date. Carina, my mother is going to die 4 months from now and not because of childbirth.
"This is why I hate the duke!"
Yes, Aunt you are openly showing your hatred and Aunt Mavis pops out again this time with Yessenia and Azi besides her. She wasn't mad at the Countess' remarks. Instead she was smiling too wide.
"This often happens that this is becoming amusement for me." It is now confirmed that Aunt Mavis really looks for amusement in every way possible.
Something loud and hurried steps can be heard on the floor, then giggles followed by a question from Yessenia, "Where is Raelle? I don't see her."
A solemn voice answered behind, "I'm here. Good Afternoon Duchess Carina, Lady Mavis. Thank you for coming all the way here."
My mother just smiled and walked upstairs with Aunt Mavis. Aunt Evelyn sighs and says, "Raelle, take your cousins to their rooms and play there."
Wow, what a way to get rid of us, Aunt. However... I caught a glimpse of my mother looking at us.
Seeing that I am not moving with Astreia. Aunt obliges us to go, "Go on, Your mother needs a rest."
Right, mom will be tired especially right now after being pregnant and we have been travelling for days. Aunt Evelyn didn't wait for our response and left us here. We stared at each other when Raelle crossed her arms.
Yessenia runs down in excitement, "Yay! Let's go and play outside---"
"You can't go there. The garden is out for revision." and Raelle just dropped a bomb at Yesssenia. The last time someone stopped her was Anna who was now nodding happily.
Yessenia's shoulders droop as she walks gloomly, "Hmm..."
"Let's play with dolls!" Astreia suggested and grinned, "I'm going to read in my room." Azi said and turned his back on us.
"Boo, No fun!" Yessenia said and sticks out her tongue.
Just now Azi said he's going to read books? How about their usual bickering? Did something happened to that kid?
"Young miss Yessenia do you want to eat first?"
A chill spread across my body as I felt a pair of eyes on my back. I turned around to see the maids busy moving around, assisting us. No one is staring at me.
"Young Miss Wren, Let's get you change," I looked at Jemina and she was smiling brightly she then looked at Aria, "You too, Young miss Aria."
This must be what the chills meant about. Another hellish time for changing clothes.
*********
"Young Miss we brought you some light snacks." Jemina pushed a trolley with delicious pastries.
'I am hungry just by looking at it.'
Just look at how the pastries are presented. It is beautiful enough to make my mouth water. Knowing Yessenia she will go first with the macarons and it will be gone when I come back for it.
"Waahh! Macarons!" Both of us picked one macaron at a time. See? I was right about her picking first the macarons.
'ahh... I can taste the rich flavor of the fruits.'
"Are you being starved?" I rolled my eyes at Raelle and picked another macaron to eat.
We are inside of Raelle's room since Astreia suggested we do some activities. Astreia is playing around with some dolls. Sometimes Raelle and Yessenia join her. While Aria is resting in her room and I am doing my best not to sleep here on my seat while eating.
"Young Miss, why aren't you playing?" Jemina looks at me curiously. I forgot that Jemina is also with us.
"You like playing dolls before..." she tilts her head like she was reminiscing about something. Oh right, before I always play with dolls. Now that I remember my past life, I started to act less child-like.
Swallowing the macarons along with my saliva. I'm nervous about what she's going to say. "Perhaps... Young lady---"
"Wah!" I accidentally dropped the plate that has my macarons in it. I am getting nervous. But think of it... no one will suspect anything.
"I knew it..."
Suddenly, I felt her warm palm touch my forehead. She looks worried for a minute then sighs, "I thought you caught a cold."
I stared at Jemina, "Well, these past few days you are not playing your toys and you are always tired."
First, I can't play with my toys. Second, the reason why I'm always tired is because I keep hearing those flapping sounds and crackling every night.
"Wren did you and the prince..."
Yessenia is starting with her prince talk. This won't do. I looked at Jemina and said, "I'm hungry, Jemina."
Raelle raises her eyebrows at me, "You just ate..."
"What I ate is just snacks. Not dinner, they are very different."
She looks suspicious but I'm telling the truth that I am still hungry. Jemina lifts me down the sofa and Yessenia suddenly suggests something, "Before that, let's explore the mansion. Right, Raelle?!"
Anna looks at her and moves closer to say, "Young Miss you can do that tomorrow morning," and as usual Yessenia did not listen to her.
"Sure. I'll come along." Yessenia looks petrified when Raelle agrees with her. I guess she expected that she would reject the invitation but did she think that the young lady of this house would not join us?
"I see. Alright, Anna you will look out for the children as I am going to assist the Duchess."
Before Anna could ask for help Jemina had already left. Closing the door, Anna looks at us blankly. This must be the effect of Yessenia then she will look out for more children.
"Don't worry we will not go far. Also, there are no ghosts here."
Why did she say that out of the blue? Is she going to scare us while we roam around her home? Wait. I kinda remembered what Uncle said to me earlier.
'Watch yourself out there. There might be something lurking around especially at the library'
His face is serious and he looks distressed. What if there is really a ghost here? I mean in this world magic is real. I am not surprised if there is really a ghost lurking around.
Raelle sighed as she patted my shoulders, "Ghosts are not real."
With that sentence, I calmed down when Raelle added something that made my heart beat faster.
"for those who haven't seen one," I looked at Raelle and she was smiling wickedly before leaving the room. I was left inside with Astreia who was staring at me.
"Sister they all left,"
"I can see that,"
"Then... Im going too," I grabbed her wrist and walked outside of the room with her, "Sister are you scared?"
"I'm not."
How can I show that I'm scared when the younger ones are roaming around.
"You can't do that, Astreia she will lose face." Yessenia, I thought you were on my side.
"Anyway, this room is mine."
"Raelle, you're not in the mood to show us your home," she looks at me and replies, "I'm not. It's just that there is nothing to explore here."
Yessenia looks around and checks everything as if she was inside the Vacarella Duchy.
"If I don't know you, you will see yourself outside already. Starts with you, Yessenia." Raelle mumbles which made us stop. YOU agreed to show us around though. She wasn't bothered by our gazes and instead pointed at the big door.
"This is the library."
...
"There's nothing in there besides books." She said. Again I remembered Uncle's words. It can't be that there is a ghost.
"Obviously, that's what libraries are for," I said and looked at Anna, "Open the door" she followed me.
Well, we are a bit short to reach the knob. Anna pitying our heights opened the door.
"Let's read something," We entered the library, leaving Anna outside.
The library wasn't too large, the tables had stacked books on them and I can say that it is messy. I think Count Holton loves reading since there are many books on the shelves and they are obviously well taken care of, despite the room being messy.
Yessenia growled, "I thought we were going to..."
A low yawn, fabrics rustling, books falling, as well as inaudible words like whispers echoed inside the large library. Yessenia stops in her sentence and looks around. Clearly, I am not the only one who heard it.
"Sister you should just sleep," I glared at Astreia, "I am not the one who yawned."
Really! I know I always look sleepy but I'm not the one who yawned!
"I think there is something behind that shelf."
"Stop, it must be our imagination." Raelle is clearly denying what we heard just now. More yawns and rustling of papers at that side.
"Now tell me that there is nothing happening here."
"There is supposedly no one here." Raelle blurted out which made us look at her then she looks at Yesenia.
"What? Azi is staying in his room when I checked on him, Euphy is only at least months old and she's with our mom right now." apparently she completely understood what that look meant.
Yessenia became pale as her shoulders drooped, "T-Then w-who is that...?"
Yesenia is stuttering, I am not scared really. I felt Astreia tugs at my dress, "Sister, A ghost..." she pointed at a corner when a loud crash echoed in the room followed by the loud flung of the door in the left corner of the room.
"Kyah!" We shout synchronously because another loud thud and several books fall from the shelves. We move closer to the shelf when I hear light footsteps.
Wet and sound of liquid dropping and squelching on the ground. The marbled floor is squeaking when a figure appears behind the shelves.
"A-ahh," My jaw dropped as I stared at a young girl with disheveled hair almost completely blocking her face and her white dress had red liquid in it.
"Ahm...t-this..."
It takes us a minute when we finally realize that it talks and even raises her bloody hands, "WAAAHHH!!"
"Young miss'!" We run outside, fast. Not taking a breath as we closed our rooms. Apparently, everyone heard our shouts as they got outside of their room.
My mother even called us, but I'm too scared to stop in fear of seeing the ghost we saw at the library. Dear Uncle, Your Niece dropped her guard and saw what you meant. Tonight's dinner is cold tomato soup making me remember the girl in the library as I stared at the wall trying to forget what happened earlier.