A GRASP OF NOWHERE

October 27, 1879 

  CHARLOTTE was gripped by a wave of confusion when the butler before her seemed utterly entangled in deep thought. His eyes were firmly trained upon her, and the silence of the moment weighed heavily upon her soul. Before she could conjure a reply, the butler roused and offered a gentlemanly introduction.

"Pardon myself, mí lady I am Vladimir Kurt Roosevelte, Head Butler of House Grimoard."

Vladimir intoned; his manners steeped in formality. Charlotte somehow felt the flush of discomfort and uncertainty as she attempted to think of some engaging form of conversation. In an effort to dispel her social uneasiness, she responded with a polite curtsey as she greeted the butler, "Well... It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Roosevelte." She said, attempting to muster a comfortable and friendly smile, though internally her mind was abuzz with questions as to why the butler had been looking at her ever since she had stepped into the gallery.

"Strange, but why do I feel uneasy while looking at him?"

"Not to mention, he had been starring at my face for a quite a while now."

Suddenly, before Charlotte could answer Vladimir, she was interrupted by her mother's sudden appearance. "Oh, Charlotte, there you are, my darling! I was looking for you," Cordelia remarked, as she firmly grabbed her daughter's wrist. "I do apologize for my daughter's interruption while you were admiring the painting. She is quite fond of the arts, much like me." She continued with a motherly smile. "Do not fret, Madame, for your daughter did not interfere with my appreciation of this painting at all," Vladimir replied to Cordelia, offering an apologetic gesture for himself as he interrupted the young lady.

He seemed intent on assuaging any concerns Cordelia might have in regard to Charlotte's behavior, as he considered it to be a minor inconvenience. While maintaining a respectful demeanor, Vladimir was also eager to display his good manners and social grace, as he was careful to keep up appearances while in public settings. Cordelia's expression softened as she offered a polite smile in response to the butler's words, though she quickly whisked away her daughter from Vladimir's side.

She whispered with impatience to Charlotte, "I told you not to converse with strangers, especially servants." Her words were sharp, as she admonished her daughter on the need to maintain social norms and refrain from being overly friendly with certain individuals. Charlotte was left without words as she followed her mother's instructions to leave the conversation with

Vladimir. Meanwhile, Vladimir stared after her, musing to himself.

"She... seems... familiar."

Vladimir murmured to himself as he watched her depart, the sight stirring curiosity in his mind, even as his attention was soon diverted by his pocket watch. With a glance, Vladimir seemed to be making note of the hour, presumably for some important errand that required his attention. As he set off to his intended destination, he gave no further thought to the mysterious young woman that struck his interest. Upon completing their errands in the town of Vercesia, Charlotte and her mother set out on their journey back to the family mansion. As they traveled in their carriage, the vehicle was filled with boxes piled high with clothes and other essentials for the party that was being planned for that evening.

Although they were returning home with mixed emotions, they both knew that their arrival would mark the start of the celebratory festivities planned for Charlotte's much-anticipated 18th birthday. "Don't forget to lift up your chin, Charlotte," She cautioned with a gentle tone. "You wouldn't want to disappoint the prince now, would you?"Charlotte furrowed her brows with uncertainty as she listened to her mother's words. "You invited the prince?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, shocked by the revelation.

"Oh yes of course, my dear, the prince is one of the most distinguished guests of your grand ball tonight," Cordelia replied as she looked up from her lists and coldly stare at her daughter."And we shall also make the announcement of your engagement to Prince Dominique." Cordelia added as she perused her list of invitations.

Upon hearing her mother's words, Charlotte shook her head in protest. "But mother, I have no intention of marrying this prince. I hold no interest in the royal bloodline," she calmly objected."How many times have I told you that this is for your own good?" Cordelia countered as she regarded her daughter firmly. "Me and your father have made this decision, and it is what's best for your future," she added with conviction. Charlotte let out a heavy sigh in response to her mother's words, her eyes drifting to the window and taking in the view of the outside world.

She was seeking some escape from the stress and pressure she was feeling, desperately wishing to pursue her artistic ambitions, rather than being forced into a marriage with a royal to satisfy societal expectations. She felt as if the path to her future was being charted by others, and she had little said in the matter. The carriage came to a gentle halt outside the imposing entrance of the family mansion, the maidservants awaiting their return with their heads lowered.

The door of the carriage opens by the coach in a gentle manner, Cordelia was the first to alight, followed by Charlotte. The boxes they had earlier were swiftly escorted by the butlers and maids as they all made their way inside the manor. The atmosphere within the house was suffused with the bustle of activity as preparations for the impending festivities ramped up. Her mother headed straight to the drawing room to attend to the various tasks that needed to be finished before the grand celebration. The atmosphere filled with the vibrant energy of preparation for the upcoming celebration.

The opulent decorations and lush upholstery created a breathtaking backdrop as the staff moved swiftly and efficiently to create the perfect setting for the celebration. The elegant furnishings, the stunning works of art, and the delicate fabrics all came together to bring an air of enchantment and grandeur to the interior of the mansion. The preparations continued, she seemed far from enthusiastic about the day's events, despite the fact that this was a special occasion meant to celebrate her 18th birthday.

Instead, she appeared to be in a state of gloom and despair, perhaps feeling that her dreams of pursuing her artistic aspirations were being crushed by the expectations of her family. Seeing her mother and the staff working to set up an opulent party, she couldn't help but be filled with a sense of dread and hopelessness, knowing that she had no option but to participate and play the role expected of her as the future of the family.

"Mí lady, aren't you going to take a rest? You've been staring at the decorations for so long." Having zoned out for a moment, Charlotte was suddenly brought back to reality by the gentle words of a maidservant asking if she needed to rest. With a faint smile on her lips, she shook her head, trying to hide any indication of distress. "Everything is fine Delphine," she replied calmly, although her tone was slightly subdued.

The thought of having to take part in yet another social event was weighing heavily upon her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of despair and anguish. However, she knew that she had to hide her true feelings and put on a brave face for the celebration to come. When she redirected her attention to her surroundings, she suddenly recalled the task of returning the book that she had borrowed from the royal library.

"Crap! I forgot to return the books to Mrs. Del Mar! I'm screwed."

To this end, she turned to her maid, Delphine, with the questions about Helena's whereabouts. "Delphine, might you happen to know where Helena is? I would like to have her presence immediately," she said with a touch of concern, to which Delphine responded with a nod of acknowledgement.

The thought of being late in returning the book had caused her some distress, and she was eager to rectify the matter as soon as possible. Not long after receiving the message, Helena made her way to Charlotte's room in order to offer her assistance with the crucial task of returning the borrowed books. Upon entering the room, she witnessed the young lady rummaging through the shelves in search of the literature that was meant to be handed over to the royal library.

"Mí lady, this is the tenth time you have neglected to return the books when due. Wouldn't that old gran-gran, Mrs. Del Mar become wroth with you?"

She cautioned gently, voicing her concern regarding the possible implications of failing to promptly return the items in proper time."I don't believe that the old crone would become incensed with me. Moreover, the assistant librarian has informed me that she is not in charge of the library this day," Charlotte reassured Helena, as she finally laid her hands on the required volume and began to exit the room with her maid. In a bid to ensure that her companion was accompanying her, she clasped tight onto Helena's wrist and whisked her away towards their destination.

Without bothering to seek the permission of her mother, Charlotte quickly fled the mansion, fleeing through the gates with the borrowed book in hand. The maidservant, Helena, was hard pressed to keep pace with her, panting and out of breath from the quickened pace that her mistress was setting."Mí lady, do you not grow weary of running? Simply requesting the assistance of Mr. Braun would enable us to reach the library with relative ease," Helena panted as she tried to keep up with Charlotte, her voice strained from the physical exhaustion.

"The library is not far off, and we can still make it," Charlotte replied casually, seemingly unconcerned with the pace of her run, or the exhaustion that Helena was experiencing in her attempts to keep up. She appeared to be confident that they could still reach the library on time, motivated by the looming deadline of returning the borrowed book.

After a few moments of swift running, they finally arrive at the library, breathlessly running out of energy to push forward. The library was a significant establishment, comprising of various shelves and bookcases stacked with a myriad of literature that Charlotte's eyes took in with curiosity. As Helena tried to catch her breath, she offered a panting dog, her tongue lolling out. "I told you we'll make it on time," Charlotte replied, taking Helena's wrist, and leading her inside the library.

"Mí lady w-wait!" Helena gasps as she tries to manage her footsteps and breath while being pulled by her. They stepped through the threshold, and the young lady glanced around quickly to identify the librarian in charge, determined to meet the deadline of returning the book. She was eager to settle the matter quickly, so she could get back home.

Helena took a seat at one of the unoccupied chairs, ready to rest after a tiring errand. Meanwhile, Charlotte continued to roam through the library, on a search for the assigned librarian who works on shift. She was determined to find the person in charge, so that she could finally hand over the book and rid herself of the nagging reminder of the task that had occupied her thoughts throughout the day.

Her search and walk through the library eventually brought her to the main counter, where she noticed a presence of a gentleman seated behind it. She approached with a smile on her face, expecting to meet the librarian assigned to the task of managing the library today. She took a step closer, her smile faltered slightly, as she noticed something unusual about the man, he has a blonde hair and the blindfold that this man was wearing. "Glad to see—hold on, you're not the assistant of Mrs. Del Mar, do you?" She inquired with a raised eyebrow, curious about the individual she was now interacting with.

Upon approaching the individual at the library counter, Charlotte was greeted with a cheerful greeting. "Good afternoon, have you come to return the books? Or perhaps to borrow them instead?" The blindfolded man inquired with a smile. However, Charlotte's attention was suddenly piqued by a flicker of recognition as she studied the man before her. "Wait a minute, you are the stranger I encountered in Vercesia earlier today." She uttered this realization in a tone filled with intrigue, as the man's identity sparked her curiosity.

"Ma'am, I have no idea what you are talking about" he delivered with such ease and innocence, leaving her unsure of whether he was playing ignorant or simply had a short memory. There was no denying that the man's response was baffling to Charlotte.

"What is he thinking? I'm sure he's the one I met from earlier—or did I just make a mistake? But I have no doubts it was him." She speaks through her mind, her brows meeting each other on her forehead.

His casual demeanor and carefree smile served to heighten the enigma surrounding his person. As she looked up at him, she could not help but be enticed by the intrigue the stranger's identity and role in the events of the day brought with it.

She was eager to unravel the mysteries surrounding the man before her.

In a flash of recognition, the man finally recalled his interaction with Charlotte earlier in the day. "Ah! I remember now, it's you! The brave girl who intervened on behalf of myself and those dear ladies from the drunken lout," he proclaimed, his tone now tinged with admiration and gratitude.

Charlotte felt a sense of pride at having been remembered as the "brave girl", and a small smile played on her lips. However, her mind was quickly drawn back to the pressing matter of her impending marriage. The man's reminder of the events in Vercesia only intensified those feelings of anxiety and apprehension.

"Ah, well anyways, I am here to return this book. I was wondering that the librarian would be..." But before she could finish, the blindfolded blonde man interrupted her and introduced himself. "Theodore? He's unavailable today to perform his duty for the time being. I am Lucien by the way, and I have taken over as his substitute." The interruption left Charlotte momentarily confused and taken aback, but she quickly recovered from her surprise.

Charlotte, with grace and elegance, responded to Lucien. "I see. Well then, I shall return this book to your care so that I, along with my humble friend, Helena, may depart with haste," declared the beguiling young lady. As she handed over the book to Lucien's custody, she quickly scribed her signature upon the parchment.

With a final farewell to the gentleman at the counter, she and her maid set out on their way, each eager to return home and peruse the book in solitude. "Wait–! Ugh...never mind," Lucien called out with haste and urgency, striving to halt the pair's quick departure. Yet, alas, his efforts were in vain, as they had already left the premises.

"She didn't even bother to write her signature." He sighs, rubbing the back of his head before returning to his 'own business.' "Now where is that thing I've been looking for?" 

As for Charlotte and Helena, upon stepping out of the library, they were quite startled by the sight of a black carriage that had stopped right in front of them. The door to the carriage suddenly opened, revealing a tall woman who sported a large hat and had her eyes blindfolded, together with her two servants, a butler, and a maid.

The woman swiftly snapped her fingers, prompting the two servants to reach for Charlotte and Helena and to attempt to drag them inside the carriage despite their resistance.

"G-Get your grubby hands off us, you scoundrel?!" Charlotte exclaimed with vigor and shock. Yet, the butler took hold of her face and forcibly turned it towards his person. In that instant, Charlotte's eyes widened as she recognized the man's face.

"You're—!?"