A PHENOMENAL ENIGMA AMIDST THE GRENSWOOD

Year 1879

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 PERCHED UPON the third floor of the grand manor of the renowned House of Deloney, a young woman sat next to the beautiful window, industriously occupied in the art of drawing. Entranced by the wonderful sight of the beautiful scenery, she frequently became lost in a world of fantasies, as her dexterous brush drew lovely pictures that were a reflection of the loveliness of the countryside.

Unlike her brother and sister, who preferred outdoors, the fair maiden always took delight in the comforts and pleasures of indoor pursuits, particularly in the artistic sphere. However, despite the sparkling beauty that adorned her features, which exceeded those of her sister, the young lady from the esteemed Deloney family was to be chosen to be the bride of the Prince of Luxtonia. Though this was something that most girls would dream of, it was not the same for this damsel.

Her heart was filled with a yearning for the creative arts, particularly in the domain of sketching, and she had always hoped to make this her profession.

Alas, her dreams were dashed when her parents did not approve her rejection of the marriage proposal, causing her to shed tears upon her sketches.

As the maiden sat in the corner of her chamber, mourning her unfortunate predicament, she was summoned by a knock at the door.

* Knock! Knock! *

"Mí lady Charlotte, the breakfast is ready," a servant girl uttered, as she responded with a hollow "Come in." With tears still stinging her eyes, she tried to wipe them away, but the heart-wrenching thoughts of having to part with her dreams of becoming an artist had her tears flowing like a river.

Charlotte proceeds to do her sketches, as the young maidservant enters the room, bearing a silver cart overflowing with breakfast treats. 

"Mademoiselle, your Croque Monsieur is served, accompanied with a combination of Darjeeling tea," the maid confidently announced, as she prepared the breakfast table with fine silverware and delicate porcelain.

As the young maidservant was preparing the breakfast with her silver cart and setting the table, Charlotte, having put down her sketchbook, turned towards her with a wistful look. "Helena," she asked, "Have you ever considered fleeing from one's chains, even if it would break the heart of others?" She inquired, her brows furrowing and her emotions stirring, as she wondered about the what-if scenario of her future aspirations being hindered due to the pressure and weight of her royal status.

Helena, the young maid, was caught off-guard by the question posed by Charlotte, and could only manage a rather simple response. "Well, mí lady," she relayed, as she served breakfast to Charlotte.

"All I can say is if you truly desire to pursue the path your heart leads, you must take that journey, no matter if it leads to regret or not." She continued with her reply, as she placed the breakfast on the small breakfast table.

Charlotte let out a deep sigh, seemingly full of desperation and sorrow, Helena, the wise young maidservant, suddenly shifted the topic to something unrelated. "By the way mí lady," Charlotte heard her voice calling her attention, "Have you heard about the latest happening in the Grenswood?" she remarked, a curious look on her face as she regarded Charlotte.

"The Grenswood incident?" Charlotte echoed in response to Helena's question, her curiosity piqued by the news. "Yes, my lady," Helena explained with an air of excitement as she stood next to Charlotte who was devouring her breakfast.

"The whole news of the Grenswood incident had already spread not only in the countryside of Albiana but even here in Normaine." She continued; her voice tinged with fervor as her thoughts turned to the recent events in the Grenswood.

"But that sounds like earth-shattering news to me," Charlotte said, her interest still burning inside her as she attempted to hear more information about the recent Grenswood accident. "Do they already have a clue as to who the victim is? Because if the news reaches other nations, there's a chance that it might be some famous individual." She went on, a furrowed brow of intense curiosity on her face as she asked Helena, the maidservant, more questions.

"That is very surprising, in fact, because the Grenswood incident involved a low rank noble carriage. I've heard that the coach had been brought down by an individual and that there was someone in it, as the Marsheries reported. But what is more intriguing." Helena paused for a moment; her voice full of intrigue as she remembered the information about the Grenswood incident.

With Helena's explanation, Charlotte also ceased from nibbling her breakfast as she heard the interesting details. Helena, the servant girl, went on to explain "In order to make the case even more puzzling, the victim within the carriage was absent. That's the question mark." She continued, adding on "And speaking of which, the carriage I spotted in the photograph seemed to have dropped off a cliff." Suspense and confusion hung in the air as a wave of suspense and uncertainty engulfed it, and Charlotte listened intently on.

In the middle of unraveling the enigmatic mystery at the Grenswood, the unanticipated arrival of Madame Cordelia – Charlotte's mother – caused a surprise. With her very old age, Madame Cordelia still had beauty to match her descent, featuring silk-like black hair, violet eyes that were so bright with a star-like radiance, and red lips to match her alabaster complexion.

Charlotte was not the sole recipient of her mother's charm, for they captured the attention of the people around them in such a captivating and appealing way.

"Charlotte, the carriage is waiting for you," In a manner that is as arresting as it is enigmatic, Madame Cordelia's voice as well as her eyes both conveyed a certain refinement and hinted that she well deserved the reputation of being one of the great ladies of the upper class.

By her attitude, Madame Cordelia indicated that she wanted Helena to leave, so that she and her daughter could talk in private.

As Helena turned and withdrew, back to her job at the mansion, Charlotte's warm and pleasant personality transformed into one of icy detachment. Her expressions on her face immediately changed to one that was emotionless, as if she had transformed into another individual.

This dramatic shift in attitude indicated that Charlotte was willing to speak seriously with her mother, and perhaps she might have an entirely different face when confronting Madame Cordelia, compared to how she shows herself when dealing with people.

It may be due to the complex dynamics between a daughter and a mother, and the need to hide secrets from outsiders.

"My dear, we will be heading to the city for preparations for your upcoming 18th birthday. Aren't you bursting with excitement and joy?" Madame Cordelia addressed her daughter in a soft, but encouraging tone. The tone of her voice and the expression in her eyes both expressed how much she loved and anticipated celebrating Charlotte's milestone birthday.

But even Madame Cordelia's affectionate and inviting words could not stir Charlotte from her reserve and detachment, her eyes fixed only on eating her dinner.

Her lack of interest teetered on the brink of contempt, radiating an aura of disinterest and detachment. It was as if the coming celebration meant nothing to her, as if it were another mundane day in the life of a young woman on the threshold of adulthood.

After an extended silence, Charlotte at last interrupted the stillness that had fallen on the conversation, speaking after eating. Her words bristle with a bitter flavor, as she uttered,

"I have no interest in celebrating the day of my birth, mother."

Upon hearing her daughter's voice, Cordelia's expression changed from a look of satisfaction to one of discontent. It appeared that Charlotte's words had disturbed her mother, who promptly rejected her daughter's dreams and ambitions and imposed her own expectations regarding her future.

"Isn't that because of your pursuit in art? Charlotte, forget about that right now," she replied, her tone turning colder and deeper. Madame Cordelia went on to state: "You're marrying the Prince of Luxtonia no matter what happens. For the sake of our bloodline, do what me and your father wanted."

A look of defiance crossed Charlotte's face when she heard her mother's request, and a frown graced her features. "There's no way I would let you take away my freedom to decide my own future, mother." She boldly and confidently declared, staring her mother squarely in the eye.

Charlotte's conviction and determination were evident in her manner, as she made it clear that she intended to fight for what she believed in.

With that, Charlotte added to her previous statement, saying, "I may have the bloodline of nobility, but that does not mean that I must pursue becoming the bride of the Prince of the Ruthania family." She made it clear that she refused the idea of being married off to the prince simply because of her noble heritage.

She indicated that she desired to choose a path in life that reflected her true desires and ambitions, rather than the expectations of society or her family.

As Charlotte's words struck a nerve, Cordelia's anger rose. However, she managed to hold back her rage, and instead turned away from her daughter, hiding it behind a cold façade. Before she left Charlotte's room, she spoke in a stern and dominant tone: "Whether you refuse or not, you will do as I say!"

These last words spoken by Cordelia made it clear that her decision was final, a decision that pricks her daughter's heart in utter disappointment.

There was no room for negotiation or objection, further highlighting the control and expectations she had over her daughter's future.

Once her mother had left the room, Charlotte brushed through her hair with her fingers, trying to hold back the tears that streamed down her face.

Yet, those tears insist to flow continuously through her soft cheeks.

She was overwhelmed with sadness, realizing that she was powerless to fight for her freedom and the right to choose her own future.

She was forced to accept the reality that her mother's decision was unchangeable. The moment further highlighted Charlotte's struggle and frustration as her aspirations were not being respected and her dreams were seemingly out of reach.

"What should I do? I don't want to marry him..."