Chapter 19: Alone with the Velthornes.
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Evening.
Grand Dining Hall, Wyfkeep Castle.
Wyf-fellon, Wyfn-Garde.
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The evening had grown heavy with the approaching dusk, and finally, Lilian, whom Salviana has mentally nicknamed ’Narc-Princess’ and Margaretha, the Gaunt-gaudy-quack lady-in-waiting, had left. Salviana felt an overwhelming sense of relief as the door closed behind them.
She desperately craved a moment of solitude, to just breathe and collect her scattered thoughts. But even that was a fleeting hope. Dinner with the Velthornes was fast approaching, and the maids were already bustling around, preparing her for the next phase of royal expectations.
With a small sigh, Salviana decided to take a walk around the chambers, hoping the brief escape would clear her mind. Emma followed closely, though Salviana wasn’t sure the maid had any more idea of the layout than she did. At one point, they circled the same corridor twice, and Salviana couldn’t help but let out a tiny laugh under her breath. "I think we’re lost," she murmured, glancing at Emma, whose eyes widened in silent panic.
But Sarah came to their rescue, and they continued their walk, the walk led them outside, to what Sarah enthusiastically proclaimed as the "flower garden." Though, to Salviana’s surprise, there wasn’t a single bloom in sight. Instead, the space was barren—only patches of soil and the occasional dry leaf. She raised an eyebrow, genuinely confused. "Are you sure this is the flower garden?" Salviana asked, her voice lined with scepticism.
"Oh yes, my lady," Sarah chirped, her cheerfulness unwavering. "It’s just that the flowers haven’t bloomed in a while. They say it’s because of the weather or... maybe because no one’s been taking care of them."
Salviana nodded, offering a faint smile despite her disappointment. "Maybe they just need a little attention," she whispered, unsure if she was talking about the flowers or herself. Still, Sarah’s bubbly personality lifted her spirits a little, and for that, Salviana was grateful. After all, this dark part of the castle needed all the light it could get.