DAHLIA POV
The gate of Lord Skarde’s residence was even more impressive during the daylight and when I’m not trying to sneak in, it also looked a little bit intimidating. It was so tall I had to crane my head up to look at it. On the ironwork of the entrance the detailed wolf and sword carvings symbolized protective power. The golden object shone under the sunlight as I stared at the skilled design. It was quite impressive, I would admit but it brought an uncomfortable sensation to my stomach.
Lord Skarde knew what he was doing when he had asked for this gate to be built because this wasn’t just a gate, it was a warning or a statent.
Whosoever enters here with bad intentions will not make it out alive! I should know because I had barely!
Drawing in a deep breath, I hiked my skirt a little bit and approached the guards positioned at the entrance. The guards showed no expression though their hands stayed close to the weapons at their belts. The guards silently stared at as if they had no idea who I was but I knew they were just following protocols.
I straightened up then continued forward. Staring at the guards, I addressed them with formal words. "Dahlia of House Hawthorne, here to visit the lady of the house!"
The guards said no words although they gave a subtle nod in response before they turned to the door knocking on it twice. I watched the gigantic entrance open and I drew in another deep breath before I decided to pass through the creeping sunlight that entered the dim path ahead.
There was no use turning back now.
As I made my way inside I could see servants going about their chores with a grim expression on their faces. So of them dared not to look up at as I walked but it wasn’t out of respect, more like fear. The atmosphere in the air was thick and cold even though it was sunny outside. The chill wasn’t usual, it was the kind that was created from fear, created through the prolonged establishnt of control, alongside constant suppression since long ago.
Few of the servants I t watched with curious eyes but they moved away as soon as I stared at them. No one smiled, no one greeted . The air throughout the entire house just seed as if the air was suspended.
An exhausted boy no older than the age of twelve rushed by with trays of empty goblets that he carried with bent shoulders as if soone could walk up to him and strike him at any mont. He stumbled on his feet and I was approaching him to help but he picked himself and disappeared just before I could intervene.
I hated this place. Just the short ti I was already here, it already made start to dislike it treatnt of other people and most importantly, I hated that I couldn’t help them!
"Lady Ivana will see you now!"
A voice spoke all of a sudden startling . I whirled around only to find a woman who was dressed in all back with her pulled tightly to the back of her head, I wondered if it hurts her.
"Lady Ivana will see you now, my lady!" The woman repeated as if she hadn’t scared the crap out of .
"Right!" I said with a smile which she didn’t return but instead she turned and began to walk down the hall.
I made a face at her attitude before I decided to follow her. The an woman led down the corridors till eventually we ca across a door. The lady gave a stiff bow before she pushed open the door. I stepped inside and t Ivana who stood up when I entered, she bowed her head at before she turned towards the woman.
"Thank you Hagar!" Ivana responded to the woman with a smile but the woman didn’t return it, instead she stared at one last ti before she left.
"Yeah, I do not think she likes much." I said as I went to take my seat.
Ivana smiled wryly at that, "Hagar doesn’t like most people but she is actually a sweetheart at heart."
"That is sothing that I strangely believe!" I said before I turned to look at Ivana, "How are you though?"
"The princess and lady of house Hawthorne is in my ho, how do you think you think I am?" Lady Ivana asked as she reached for a kettle and began pouring tea, "A little suspicious, but mostly very curious which was why I accepted your invitation in the first place." She said as she handed a cup before she went to go and seat.
I chuckled as I sipped the honey sweet tea. "Well at least you are honest!"
Ivana laughed but it was one without humor. I looked up at her noticing she looked a bit tired and even though she was smiling they didn’t really reach her eyes. The tension in her shoulders was also evident in the way she sat down but she was trying her best to maintain a calm façade.
Perhaps she wasn’t just curious but afraid too?
I decided I had to tread carefully, so I sipped my seat while leaning back against the soft cushion. "Forgive Lady Ivana, but is everything quite alright with you?"
Ivana turned to look at her cup paused halfway to her mouth as she gazed at with a worried look on her face. "I haven’t the slightest idea what you an."
"You look tired."
The smile vanished from Ivana’s as she slowly set her tea on the table. She ran her tongue through her teeth before she turned to look at with a solemn gaze. "Listen, I only accepted this because I respect you as a woman. But one thing you won’t do is co into my ho and try to assess . You are not my friend, so let’s just skip the whole pretense and state the real reason why you ca here!"
Okay, so maybe I did kind of deserved that! I thought to myself as I drew in a deep breath as I set my tea down on my table. "Alright then if that’s how it is." I said as I stared up at her, "Have you heard of mount callum?"
Ivana arched a brow up at , "The story about where a group of monks live and have divine powers?"
Rolling my eyes, I shook my head at her. "They are called sisters of the light."
"What of the what now?" Ivana asked and there was no stopping the smile that ford on my face at the way of how similar we were.
"I said the sa thing but they are called sisters of the light and each ti a woman from the Lady of the house of Hawthorn gets pregnant she has to journey to the mountain and spend the rest of the days with the sisters to ensure her save delivery." I explained.
Ivana listened to attentively as I spoke not even interrupting at all. I tried to gauge her reaction as I spoke but Ivana gave no reaction whatsoever not even when I told her that it was her that I wanted to escort to the mountain.
Although, her brows raised up a little bit at the information. "You want to go with you?"
"You, Heather and Nikolai!" I stated and she humd at in response before she stared back with a look of confusion on her face.
"Why?"
"Because I do not want to be bored, I an it’s a long journey and if I have to stay alone with Heather I might just bash my head against a tree with all her constant nagging." I said with a laugh but Ivana just continued to stare at not sharing my humor.
Guess it was just who found the whole thing funny!
"So let get this straight," Ivana adjusted herself on her seat, "You co into my ho to invite on a long journey and your reason is that I am a source of entertainnt for you?"
I bit my bottom lip before I grimaced realizing just how terrible it sounded when she said it out loud. I cleared my throat awkwardly, "I an listening to you express it that way makes it sound a little bit horrible."
Ivana chose not to respond but instead maintained that stoic expression of her as she sat with her hands folded while watching curiously as if expecting more from .
"Look I want you to co with because I trust you..."I said to her, stopping to let the words linger in the air, no joke, no smile but just the truth laid bare.
Ivana’s brows lifted slightly at that confession but still she said nothing so I continued. "You are on of those people who have never minced words with , always calling things as you see it and you also know what I am and for so reason you are not terrified of and I know I pushed you away and said those hurtful things but that’s just because I am scared. I have never had friends before. The only reason people befriend I what they can get out of it and I made a mistake thinking you were soone like that. For that, I deeply apologize." I finished while holding my breath as I waited for her response.
Ivana stared at for a minute before she unclasped her fingers and reach for her tea, "Alright when do we leave?" She asked and I smiled at her.
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