Chapter 98 - Coming Home

"Do you think Lady Danette and Camille will come by again?" Alice asked.

"Well they have been coming over, being alone in their castles must have caused them to be bored," Mother said.

"Yes it is, I wish they would come around, I really had fun at the last riding event, the Empire has so many events and it's entertaining"

"Yes it is indeed"

"My favorite part is the Eternal Garden, I love the sprites there and oh the flowers and treats are truly amazing, don't you think Lady Sylvia?"

I paused my sewing, I was working on embroidery, as Mother instructed, Alice was too.

"Yes, it is," I answered with a faint smile.

It has been a week since Olivia has passed on, everything was leisurely going back to normal but there was this void without her.

"Sylvia my dear when are you going to get a new maid, you can make your selection we have numerous," Mother said.

"I can take care of little things like bathing and dressing, I have done all that quite well for two weeks," I said, the truth is the thought of replacing Olivia didn't sit well with me, I prefer to do those little things on my own.

Mother sighs. "Sylvia you're a wife to this household you can't do those things yourself, you need a maid"

"But Mother"

"Hush it's decided... it's the Laws, a new maid will be brought to you tomorrow" she said finally.

I sighed.

"Lady Sylvia, Mrs. Hartford has your best interest at mind and I think she's right, you're a lady doing those things yourself isn't quite good," Alice said with sad eyes. "I know you miss Olivia but it's time to move on"

I lowered my gaze to the embroidery I sew, it wasn't that much good work but I would rather stare at it right now, come to think of it Olivia wasn't the only void I felt, it has been weeks since Cedric and the ambassadors traveled to the North, they were yet to return and there was a longing I felt, I felt like I was missing a part of myself, I really miss him but I didn't want to believe.

Alice, on the other hand, kept talking about him sounding worried and saying she wondered what he was doing right now and she hoped he journeyed safely there and worried about if matters were settled with her people. It ticks me off, I mean I should be the one being worried out loud and all but she took the spot as any wife should and Mother just consoled her.

My grip tightened on my embroidery. I mean I should give those remarks too, I bit my lips, I didn't feel like much of a wife right now. And not just that according to Mother, the moment Cedric comes back from his travel he is to wed Alice, the thought of it made my heart sink, I couldn't help the dark feeling that flowed through me, I didn't want him to come back if it meant kept marrying Alice, I know that's inhuman for me to think but I just couldn't take it, I had a feeling my nightmares were about to come through, to see them marry and say vows to one another and more spent a night together!

I cringed at the thought, surely he would waste no time to have her, she was a beauty, after all, Yes he has touched me but he has never thought of making love to me before, I know I didn't give my consent or anything neither did I tell him but the feeling did cross me, maybe I wasn't his idea woman to make love with, maybe I wasn't what he craved for. The thought of him touching another woman made my heart sink.

The maid coming into the room broke me out of my mind, she hurried In with a letter at hand that she handed to Mother, she opened it, reading the content.

"Oh, at last, Cedric and the ambassadors will arrive tomorrow," she said in joy.

I felt my heart warm just by it, Cedric was returning.

"Really Mother, oh thank the gods!" Alice said excitedly, taking the words off my mouth, like I said she was acting like a better wife.

I just went back to sewing to not let the thoughts consume me, but it didn't help, I couldn't help the rush of feeling that overwhelmed me, Cedric was finally coming home, I couldn't wait to see him and I didn't want to see him, ugh!

***

I placed a bunch of roses on Olivia's tombstone, a faint smile on my lips as I felt the marble stone.

"Do you think she would love them... silly of me, I never asked what her favorite flowers were, now I wish I did" I said sadly.

"Me too," Mint said behind me, his tone heavy, I turned to him.

"It's okay Mint I'm sure she's in a better place now, I wished for it"

A faint smile crossed his lips but it wasn't as cheering as it usually was, it was like his humor died the same as Olivia.

"Thank you, Mistress, you're very kind"

I turned to her tombstone, feeling my hand on it. "It might sound crazy but I feel..." I said with trembling eyes. "I feel she's in a better place"

"There's something you need to know mistress"

I whirled to him.

"When I found her body I did smell a wild animal on her but there was this lingering scent"

"What lingering scent?" I asked as my body stilled.

"I was so consumed by my grief that I couldn't think straight then but right now... I think there was another scent but I couldn't trace it, I have never smelt it before"

My eyes shook. "D-do you think -"

"Yes, mistress," he said sternly. "I think Olivia's death wasn't an accident"

My heart momentarily stops. "You think someone wanted her dead?" I said in horror. "But why?"

"I do not know but I know this mistress, your life might be in danger, so I beg if you feel threatened in any way, call for me"