Chapter 5: Hues of Flags

MIRASOL MCCAIN

Hattie, the assigned handmaid to me, opened the door of my called bed chamber. As what I have heard, the three guys' chambers are located in the west wing of the castle, which is quite far from east wing. As per Hattie, you would take several hundred steps to get in there. Because Lord Theodore do it even with the other Lords' family.

Amanda waved her hand to me before she entered her bedroom. She also has a young servant which is not far from Hattie's age.

Before I could enter the chamber, I saw Webster on the opposite side of the hallway, standing and watching us to get inside our rooms. I motioned my head down as he did the same, and for the first time, we were able to see the secluded place where we could spend our entire night.

Hattie follows me inside and she asked me if I want to soak on the hot water first before bed. Of course I answered, "I'd love to do that," I beamed.

"Alright then, I will prepare the tub for you, my Lady." Hattie said before proceeding on the other side of the room, which divided with double door.

While Hattie is preparing the water on the tub, I take the opportunity to take a sit on the bed. The smell of an old bed is comforting that I almost fell to sleep.

"You can use the tub now, Lady Mirasol." She gets back after few minutes, she just stood beside the threshold while waiting me to join her.

"I apply a lavender scent on the water, Lady Mirasol." She started.

I smiled at her because of her initiative. Lavender is one of my favorite scent of flower because it calms me so much whenever I sniff it.

Hattie go at my back just to help me removing my cloak, once she removed it I started to undo all the knots on my dress. Some of the fixtures inside the bathroom were made with light metal, so I could see my reflection aside of the mirror that was attached on the wall.

I thought Hattie turned her back on me, but I caught her looking at my body when I undo my dress until I was able to be naked.

I take a deep breath, "I will trust you with this." I said before approaching the tub with warm water and she just gave me a calm smile.

Hattie is just quiet while I am soaking myself on the water, which makes me better because of the serenity and the therapeutic feeling of soaking.

I almost fell asleep again. Fortunately, Hattie was there so she was able to pat my shoulder before I could have a slumber on the tub. She already gets a towel when she successful wakes me up. She immediately covered my body, she gets another towel to dry my hair. And when she gets done with my hair, she pulled a night dress from the drawer.

She quietly lies the white dress on the bed before she removed the towel around my body. I want to thank her for doing this to me, although she doesn't have to do this at all. I wear the dress that's so soft and comfortable in the skin.

She ties the laces at my waist and nape. I heard how she sighed when she gets done. I turned my back to see her and call her name to call her attention.

"Hattie?"

"Yes, Lady Mirasol?"

"You can leave me now; you must also rest by this time." I said, smiling.

She then sighed again as if she's really too tired. "I appreciate your empathy, Lady Mirasol, but I will wait until you get to sleep."

"No, I am fine. I will not roam anywhere if that's what you're worried about; I promise to you that I will sleep after you left the chamber. I just can't handle that there's other person with me, and I know how tired you are right now." I said, holding her hand to understand.

"Webster will scold me once he knew I left you as early as he didn't expect,"

I shook my head, "He won't. Trust me, you also need to rest."

"But—" she was about to say something again, but she chooses against it.

And soon, I convinced her to leave my bed chamber. I will not handle the fact that there's other person that would spend her night just to help me by wearing my clothes. She might be my assigned handmaid, but that doesn't mean that I should only rely to her.

As what I have promised, I lie on the bed when Hattie left. I felt really cold so I tucked the blanket up to my neck. I am so tired. It's been a long exhausting day, but we weren't able to get an answer about why we're here in Castle North.

--

I think an hour after I fell asleep on the bed that I only lie once, I felt someone touched my face. I wasn't that certain for I was sleeping and I am not in my full consciousness. And also, I don't know if it's a hand or something, or maybe I was just scaring myself. But that made me awake for several hours.

I tried to sit on the edge of the bed, but my curiosity went me on the balcony where I think I could see the labyrinth. I wiped the thick curtain in the side and open the door that's dividing the two part of this chamber.

I hugged myself as the wind blew. The whole place is not that dark, it's just gloomy as if it would rain. My mouth is also blowing cold air every time I breathe out.

It feels odd, but I couldn't tell what or which. I couldn't able to tell what is uncanny or wrong in this place. I just hope that it won't affect me and anyone of us here.

I spent few minutes on the balcony before I decided to get back inside. I lay in bed and tried to relax my body before I was able to slept again.

When I wake up, I see it's still gloomy outside. I thought it still time for bed, but one knock made me realized that it's brand new day. Unlike, to what I am expecting there's no sun that would kiss my skin.

I had expected that Hattie is the one that's knocking outside, so I told her to get in.

Hattie is wearing the same dark mauve dress for handmaidens as she walked inside. There's a nice smile on her face as she approached me and says, "Lady Mirasol, you have to prepare for the breakfast, Lord Theodore is expecting all of the guests to be there in an hour."

I nodded, "Is there an available dress for me today? I don't think I can wear my same clothes yesterday."

"Everyone has a brand new clothes today, Lady Mirasol." She answered.

I beamed, "Really? Thank you!"

She saw me naked again as I start to take my morning bath. She helped me scrub my body with natural loofah scrub. She has a light hand that's why I fell in love on how she takes care of me.

"Is this your first time to take care of a lady?" I asked her while continuing to scrub my back.

"Yes, Lady Mirasol." She answered, which I appreciate her more. Imagine this is just her first time, but she really has a good hand for this.

"So what is your job before being handmaid?" This time she stopped, she stunned by what I asked her.

I saw her reflection on the mirror and there is how I knew her reaction, "I think it is not the scope of your information, Lady Mirasol." She said that actually made me overthink why there is a sudden change of reaction?

I thought by asking what's her personal life would make us close, but no.

"I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable," I caressed her hand.

"None taken,"

I rinsed my body until I finished, while Hattie came out to fix the clothes I was going to wear. When I get near the bed, I see an elegant dress lying there. I looked at Hattie and I caught her also watching me.

It was a yellow maxi wool dress; it was simple but really catchy in the eye because of its color, which also suites to my name sunflower. I quietly hold the fabric before decided to wear it. Hattie, of course, helped me. She tied the laces and fixed the flare sleeves of my yellow dress.

I thanked her after she brushed my hair. I don't know if we're okay or not after the question I asked. "Let me know if you need anything else, Lady Mirasol."

I nodded, "You're so helpful." I cheaply said before handing the capsule with liquid pomegranate extract. I used it to have some bright color on my lips.

I was able to get to the dining hall with Hattie before they even started eating breakfast. "You're late," Webster welcomed us with that words.

He also eyed the dress I am wearing right now. After seconds, he looked at my handmaid Hattie, "What's with the yellow dress, Hattie?" he questioned her.

On behalf of Hattie, I answered the question of Webster. "I don't know, Webster, Hattie just get the dress from the closet in my chamber. Is there a problem with a yellow dress?" I asked him back because I am not sure if the color yellow or the dress itself is the problem.

"For your information, Lady Mirasol, color yellow is not the color of North Castle." He said, poking his top clothe. Immediately, I get his point when I saw the flag that embroiled to his top piece.

I looked around in the dining hall and I see that all of the guests, Webster, and Lord Theodore are wearing black and silver clothes.

They were looking at me, "Should I change?"

"Take your seat," Lord Theodore ordered, not minding if what color of dress I am wearing right now.

I smiled to Webster to give respect to him before I sit beside Orion. I closed my eyes several times before I see how he changed by just wearing black and silver tunic. "Greetings to you, handsome." I sheepishly said.

"Good morning, beautiful." He greeted back. "You look fabulous in yellow," she commented.

"I appreciate that, but I think I have to change from yellow to black before Webster would scold me." I whispered, laughing.

"I am sure whatever color you wear; you will still look beautiful." He said, blushing.

"You're a great jester…" I laughed. "But do you know where Kingdom does yellow belongs to?" I asked Orion because he's fond of reading and I know he can answer my question.

"Long time ago, the elders suggested to own a color for flags so there will be an identify for every Land of Lords. And color yellow and brown owned by the Central Kingdom, where King Wyndam Molyneux and his family lives."

"Yellow does not just belong to them, but they owned it?" I was surprised.

We keep talking with low tone of voice. Orion nodded, "That's why every occasion that will occur and meeting to be attended, they must wear something according to their owned colors." He explained.

I nodded as I finally understand. "But does this affect the North Castle because I am wearing one right now?"

He shook his, "No, simply because Lord Theodore is the trusted right hand of King Wyndam." He said.

"Ah—" I was about to say something again, but Georgia, also the late guest aside of me, comes in the dining hall with red and orange flare dress.

She was fixing her hair when she just passed by Webster.

"Lady Georgia," her handmaid called.

"Get lost, kid! You're not being helpful!" She exclaimed until she finally seated beside Jacques.

"What?!" she asked angrily when she realized that we're all looking at her.

I then wait to Orion's answer as I asked about the red and orange color and what he answered made me think again about its history. "It's the color of Southern Land of Lord Jeremiah Devlin."