Chapter 4 - Welcoming smile

This is my first time getting on a carriage, it made me feel like I don't belong here, because of how the cushions were so comfortable, clean, and firm, the carriage also has a clean window that I can see anything outside, the window in our house always cracks as to how other kids in town used to throw rocks in it, we never fixed it because we never really thought it was necessary to fix something we can't afford,

The carriage left our house and the count was sitting in front of me, he was staring full of an emotionless face, I don't know what he was thinking but it did make me feel uncomfortable,

We stopped in the middle of the forest and the duke stood holding the door handle,

"I will leave the young lady alone and let her fit the dree first",

The count opened the door and left, I was left there totally thinking if what I did was too much, shouting at Penelope while saying I will kill her might get me in trouble,

I opened the box again and I put on the socks along with the shoes, and the next is the dress as j put on the dress I didn't know how to tie the ribbon at the back, I knocked at the door thinking if the count could help me,

Knock knock,

"Are you done yet, My lady?"

The count asked,

"I don't know how to tie the ribbon",

I replied,

"I am a man my lady I cannot come in unless you are dressed",

The count replied to me,

What does that mean? Why can't he help me?

As I am curious about his response I asked him again if he could help me, and he opened the door and came in, he said that he will be careful, he was gentle as if he was so careful about something,

"Why is he acting like this?, I'm just a child why is he acting like I'm a full-grown woman?",

I said in my thoughts,

"You are done now",

The count slightly opened the door and he signaled a sign, the carriage continued and the count proceeds to sit across from me,

The air is still uncomfortable as it made me anxious,

"You must never mention Niña in front of his highness",

The count suddenly talked, he was staring at me full of seriousness as if he is warning me to take care of my life,

"Is the Duke nice?"

I asked, curious if the count had caused my sister to commit suicide if he hurt her,

"... You'll see"

The count replied,

"How is my sister?"

I asked again,

The count looked at me and said,

"The duke gave her a job to another manor",

"Huh? Does that mean she's alive, or is this count lying?"

I said in my thoughts,

"Is my sister happy there?"

I asked,

"Yeah she's happy working there"

The count said while he averted my eyes, and he licked his lips,

I know when people lie, they make unusual behavior and they avert a person's eyes, this person is lying which means my sister is dead, and he is hiding it from me.

The carriage made a stop as it was night and we were unable to move because of the dark road,

"It seems we must camp here for tonight",

The count stood up opened the door and left,

While I was deep in thoughts, I see people outside were making a bonfire and was cooking food, and the door suddenly opened,

"My lady excuse me again but is there something you need?"

And it's just the count asking me,

"I-i do need to use the restroom",

I asked full of embarrassment,

"Oh we do not have a restroom but you can do the job in the forest",

The count replied,

I came out of the carriage straight through the forest, and I took a piss what a relief I've been holding on to this since we left our house,

As I was holding on to the dress carefully for it not to get wet because of my piss, I heard a sudden brushing on the bush,

Which had my ears so focused on it that it frightened me, I came closer to the bushes and I opened the bush as I saw a little rabbit,

"What the?"

[The next day]

We are finally arriving at the duke's mansion, I wonder how big it is, is it true that a wealthy Nike has a big mansion where there are parts they've never been to before?

I was looking out the window seeing many people, many stores, and many bakeries is a beautiful town it's the total opposite of my hometown, the town where I aI am is more active at night you will hear many laughs from adults, you will see stuff normal child would never imagine seeing,

As I grew to understand more of the surroundings my mind became more aware of everything, maybe that's also why my sister became mature for her age, she saw too many things,

The carriage took a turn and I still see the count looking at me, as the carriage was going fast with the help of the horse, we suddenly felt like walking on a floor bump, the horseman shouted,

"Who's a child is that do you know ho--"

The other words were too far away that I wasn't able to hear them anymore, the count was staring at me but now he had something to say,

"You must take care of those eyes, they're beautiful",

He said while directly looking at my eyes, I turned my head down feeling anxious about the stare the count was giving me,

And soon after that I looked out the window and u saw the horsemen whipping a person, that person might be the one we ran over, however, saw him helpless unable to stand with his feet swollen, his head was full of blood and all if the person standing was only staring,

Yeah, I'm used to this commoners don't have the right to fight against people on top of us, and if fight against them, we will receive a huge punishment,

Their responsibility was to help us, but we were the ones who helped them instead, funny right?

"We have arrived",

The count opened the door and he came out while I see his hands offering me to come out,

When I came out of the carriage I saw the duke standing there, there weren't any other people but just the duke, the count, three knights, and me as if the world is still not awake,

The atmosphere was just blue and foggy, the sun was only rising and the cold temperature put chills in my body,

While the duke was standing there the sun's rays of light were slowly lighting him up, giving him a spotlight,

"What a beautiful person..."

I thought in my head,

"Welcome Pia, this will be your home now",

He greeted me with a welcome smile, I felt happy and welcomed but there was this uneasiness I've been feeling, as I also know that my sister might've died because of this person,

Sooner or later there will be an event I will never be able to escape from.